Finding the "Sweet Spot" (Statistical Failure Rates)

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BigBriDogGuy

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I was watching an episode of "LR Time" (second to last) and they brought up an interesting point. They were showing a chart with failure rates for the LR4s. Most vehicles have a failure rate plot line that looks like a "bathtub" while the LR4s have a line that looks like a bathtub with a single camel's *ump in the middle. Apparently, the reason for this is that vehicles will fail early on due to manufacturer's defects (typically under warranty) but then the remaining vehicles will hold fast until they get to their life expectancy and then the failure rate begins to climb again (thus the "bathtub"). So why the "*ump" in the middle for LR4s?

The host of the program believes the reason for the rise in failures during the middle years are due to the depreciation of the vehicles and later owners that can get into the LR4s cheaply, but can't afford to maintain them. He (Christian) was saying that the LR4s get incredibly cheap to buy once they get past their first or second owners (maybe third). Then people that normally would not be able to buy one snap them up, but they can't afford the expensive maintenance costs and the vehicles start to deteriorate and fail quickly (thus the "*ump").

The good news is that once that middle section gets run through, the vehicles go back to the normal "bathtub" curve. The failure rate plots out much like any other vehicle from that point forward. Christian described these later owners as "enthusiasts".

He also makes some interesting points about whether it is better to repair a component or replace it. He suggests that often times people think the solution is to replace entire components, but that opens up the door to those early failures due to manufacturer defects. Hearing that, it made me rethink my strategy a bit and wonder if some of the problems people have are due to pre-emptively replacing OEM parts with substandard or defective ones. Food for thought.

 

ktm525

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The V8 LR4s are now at least 10 years old. As a daily driver you are asking a lot from them. As a niche second/third/fourth play vehicle they are supreme.
 

Mozambique

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The V8 LR4s are now at least 10 years old. As a daily driver you are asking a lot from them. As a niche second/third/fourth play vehicle they are supreme.
Oh that sounds depressing :)
2010 with 106k miles and its our daily driver. Nothing I feel like replacing it with so on we go.
 

f1racer328

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Oh that sounds depressing :)
2010 with 106k miles and its our daily driver. Nothing I feel like replacing it with so on we go.
Also my daily, however I'm looking at EVs in the near future for commuting to work.
 

ftillier

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The EV/LR4 combo is great, you keep the LR4 for adventures (whether on-road or off, no matter the season), and the EV for around town, charging at home during the night - depending on how far your commute is. We've managed with a level 1 charger for the 3 years we've had our e-Golf, and it's been great.
 

CRYA

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Oh that sounds depressing :)
2010 with 106k miles and its our daily driver. Nothing I feel like replacing it with so on we go.
Also my dd here, '12 107,000 miles, from commute mode to adventure mode. I probably should get a civic or something, but don't need more depreciable assets.
 

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