Their base was actually vehicles who were three years old. These worked out as their respondents as the cases from which they would be basing their conclusions. They call the study the Vehicle Dependability Study and it actually measures and quantifies the problems and systems that owners of vehicles that are three years old experience. Then, the vehicles are later on scored based on the number of problems that each vehicle brand has per 100 vehicles (PP100).

Neal Oddes, the current director of J.D. Power and Associates? product research and analysis group, says, ?The industry continues to make improvements in long term vehicle quality, and not just among luxury makes that benefit from smaller production volumes on the assembly line. Many high volume, mass marketed brands have acquired a foundation of quality products from which to challenge the normally strong performances of the luxury brands. What this means for consumers is that they don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get a high quality used vehicle, and vehicles with high long term dependability ratings retain more of their original value than brands with lower dependability ratings. This pays off for the customer when it's time to trade in their vehicle.?

The luxury Lexus brand takes on the lead on the list as the top nameplate. This one has got 136 PP100. After all, what could go wrong with a brand that has got luxury stamped on it. Although the Mercury brand follows Lexus by having 151 PP100. this brand is also set on providing the auto industry with cars are that semi-luxury. Old brands Buick and Cadillac make it to the list with 153 PP100 and 163 PP100 respectively. The Toyota brand goes home with 179 PP100 followed closely by its co-Japanese auto maker Honda who received 194 PP100. Luxury brand Jaguar gets some 210 PP100 and the BMW brand which creates luxury BMW parts and vehicles go home with a close 212 PP100. Infiniti follows suit with 215 PP100 and Lincoln takes on the last spot on the best list with 220 PP100.