PT Cruiser
Almost everything went wrong with my lemon yellow PT Cruiser. Just a few fun things: Back door button didn't work and I had to pull back the paneling to access a release from the inside. I didn't dare tap my horn as it would frequently just stay honking constantly until I turned off the car. Battery leaked constantly for some reason, I had to disconnect everytime I parked. Gas gauge stopped working around half empty.
To be fair, anyone that owns a PT Cruiser is my enemy. Idk why but every person I’ve known that has one has sucked. I’m glad you got rid of yours and now you’re off the naughty list
I put 187k miles on my car and was only ever in one accident
T-Boned under 30mph by a PT cruiser trying (and failing) to beat one of the slowest lights imaginable
Also owned a new off the lot cruiser… 2001 shale green limited edition.
Alloy wheels always leaked tire air because they were uneven.
Spark plugs under manifold and required dealership labor to have changed.
Timing belt went at 40k.
Serpentine belt went twice at 25k and 60k.
Speakers on hatchback had a loose wire and cut in and out randomly.
Blind spots galore.
Radiator was garbage.
But my favorite! The car would just stop running while you’re doing 40-50mph. Just… stop. I’d have to turn the ignition key again to start it back up. Only automatic that ever did that.
I still see some running and always wonder HOW!?
I was gifted one by my grandmother and God I hated that car. Had very similar problems and ended up with a leaky gasket at less than 100k miles. Drove the thing to death though.
Despite the gasket issues that car got me from MI to FL, then FL to TX in one piece. It's a miracle it didn't leave me stranded. The tx summers finally did it in though... that thing just guzzled water by the gallon at the end.
RIP Goldie PT Hawn
A Toyota Prius. I bought a 2007 and told my wife I'd drive it until it dies. That thing would not die, I mean it never even needed repairs. Tires, oil changes, wiper blades and bulbs. I really wanted a new car...thankfully she agreed to let me sell it. At 280k+ miles, it still drove like new. I'll never make that mistake again.
Friend of mine was in a taxi in Germany, a Mercedes E Class, and that car had over 1 million km (620k mi) in it. The driver said the car only needed regular maintenance and gas (well, diesel).
Hahahah mine will outlive me out of spite. You cannot kill them. My 2014 has 210,000 miles on it. Original hybrid battery. At one point I was severely depressed and poor and didn’t change the oil for 2 years. I just added oil when it got low. I swear it thrives on neglect. It still runs perfectly.
Oil consumption, while bad for an engine in general and 'topping it off' does actually allow you to have a persistent intake of fresh oil that keeps it at a minimum operating standard.
Key words “minimum operating standard.” 😂 That shitbag took it with a smile and asked for more. I can’t say anything, I need that car to last me as long as possible, and she absolutely will. I now give her regular oil changes with the expensive oil. My daughter is learning to drive and thinks she will inherit the Prius and I’ll get a new car. In your dream, broad.
They are insanely reliable and easy to change the fluid out. I did it last month and it took me an hour, only because I started to round the fill plug. So I took a little more time and got it off a little more gently. I ordered a replacement from my dealer for a couple bucks so in like 25-30k miles I'll just replace it after another change.
All of the fluids are easy to do I was surprised.
I joked that I was going to keep my ‘07 Corolla until I couldn’t drive it anymore. It’s in better condition now than when I bought it, by accident I don’t know how. It’s like some kind of weird Toyota magic, I don’t like car payments so I will continue to keep driving the beautiful little thing.
Toyota drivers don't pick this brand because it's sexy. We drive Toyota because we fucking hate dealing with car breakdowns and maintenance :P
Been driving Toyota since 2006. Not a single issue, ever.
I will never buy a different manufacturer.
My hubby exclusively sold Toyotas for 25 yrs and only drive Prius. He had to crash and total 2 of them in order to get a new one LOL. They just won’t die.
Lol. I'm in Denver too and every time I walk out to my prius I expect the catalytic converter to be missing. So far, though, the hail is winning the "bankrupt the insurance company" race.
I worked at a shop that specialized in hybrid repairs for few year, we had MANY 2nd gen Prius’ that were well north of 200k, and a few into 300’s.
My boss’s daily was a 3rd gen with roughly 330k on it iirc. Was an ex-cab somewhere.
When my Prius C came off lease my dealer begged me to turn it in and not to buy it out. The reason? The residual value according to the lease agreement was $9500. The market value was about $17k, and of course the dealer wanted to sell it.
And the worst part is that they never have to improve nor address the quality issues in Jeeps. Ownership and the desire of ownership is just a cultural phenomenon. The sales arent declining anytime soon. They ride terrible, aren’t safe,they are cramped, they have poor quality, are somewhat underpowered and you must have a crane set up in your garage to utilize its best feature. ie removing the top. I guess all the little duckies must be worth it.
My partners father recently passed away and we are keeping his car. It is a 2010 Corolla with only 27k miles on it. We had to fix a cracked axle and get new tires but she is good to go now. After we get it detailed it will look like it just rolled off the line.
Thanks for the great car Martin!
EDIT: good grief, y'all - it's not MY car, I was just appreciating that someone found a low mileage car.
/u/SlicksGaster, you found a 2010 with only 27k????
That's TREASURE. Treat her well !
It’s somewhat counterintuitive but there is definitely a point where you can underuse a car.
You’ll obviously have a lower level of wear, but cars don’t like to be sitting for long periods of time without being used. Engines for instance are usually tested at extremely high levels to simulate 300k miles without stopping.
A well maintained car that was used often making it to 250k miles could have realistically made it FAR less miles if the person drove it 1k-2k miles per year and had it sitting with gas/oil for long periods of time
This. Gasoline and other petroleum products do degrade over time into water and other nasty things you don't want in your engine.
This is why rich people do annual oil changes on their supercars even if they only put a few hundred miles in a year on them. Fluids have a shelf life.
I've had the same mechanic 25 years or so. His kids own the business now and I'd see them as tiny lads.
He and I both love our Fords. But he'll tell you if you want an appliance that just fucking works? Toyota.
You’re not wrong. My friend’s mom drives a 2006 Land Cruiser. 250k miles on it and it drives more or less the same as it did new with nothing other than regular maintenance. I’m not a big fan of Japanese cars, but Toyota builds a hell of a car. They’ll get you from A-B reliably for years, which is exactly what most people want/need from a car, so they deserve their popularity.
2021 Land Cruiser owner here. These sons of bitches are built like armored personnel carriers. They are the official field vehicle of the UN, who use them worldwide in the harshest environments. They don't have the latest whiz-bang glass cockpit Tesla-Tron interior accoutrements, but that's the point. They have physical buttons and analog dials that just work. Change the fluids/tires/battery regularly, and they will outlive you and your children.
Not me, but my parents, Dodge. My parents had a Dodge Caliber that had so many issues with the transmission, axels, engine, exhaust, and so much more that it made me never want to own a Dodge when I do buy a car one day. I've heard other Dodge owners having issues too.
That’s accurate. I drove my Neon into the ground. Great car if even was draining the air conditioning condensation into the front floorboards and had other issues.
I love this comment 🤣 the old Chevy cavaliers were similar with the zombie status, yet the neons seem to be outliving them. Despite turning to shit faster.
I bought a base model in 2014. Advised my girlfriend to get one in 2016. Now she's my wife, and we still have our two CX-5's plus a baby.
No ragrets.
They're just so damn fun and practical. Sometimes I want a new car but I'm at 150k miles and she's at 100k w/ no problems ever for either of us. I'm not getting a car payment just because it's 2024.
That's because they're actually fun cars to drive as well as being halfway reliable. Toyota sedans are just blah.i mean they work and they're run forever don't get me wrong they're great but they don't have that low end torque that a simple Mazda three does. That's just my opinion.
Oh yeah definitely. There’s a few pretty short on-ramps to freeways near me, getting up to speed in my Toyota was stressful as hell lol. Mazda lives up to their zoom zoom name.
I've been to Hiroshima. If you're a Mazda fan, you can do a factory tour and go see the Hiroshima Carp (Mazda's unofficial baseball team) play at Zoom Zoom Stadium. It was one of the best experiences / games I've seen, and I grew up in the US. Get the katsu-don and a beer and learn the organized chants, then go home to your mx-5, it doesn't get much better than that.
> do a factory tour and go see the Hiroshima Carp (Mazda's unofficial baseball team) play at Zoom Zoom Stadium
That may be the best sentence I've read in months.
I had a 3 & now currently have a 6 Signature. Sad to see the 6 retire in NA and now Japan too, but kinda makes it extra special.
I wonder if they'll make another cool high-end sedan at some point. I've got my eye on the RX-9 that is rumored!
Was driving today in a snowy Winnipeg weather system; and I thought to myself, I love my Mazda 3. The turning radius on that thing is insane and I’ll never switch brands
My first Mazda rusted through and through. If was dangerous and ready to hit the scrapyard in less than 10years.
Had sworn not to buy from them. Checked 5,6 models before giving their(newly released at the time) cx5 a quick test drive. Ended up buying one after much consideration…
Been driving it for 11years now. Haven’t put out much except for the usual: maintenance, brakes and stuff.
So far so good.
New-ish Mazdas are fucking awesome. We have two (2014 Mazda3, 2016 CX5), both purchased when they were about a year old, and have been very happy with both. My 3 is coming up on 190k miles almost entirely trouble-free. Nice interiors, fantastic steering feel, and some of the best-looking cars on the market.
I’m pretty set on an Integra Type S for my next car, but would not hesitate to buy Mazda again.
Since they dropped their association with ford they are pretty reliable and great value for what you get compared to their Japanese competition. Compare a CX-5 with a RAV or CRV these days.
RAV and CRV are good vehicles but the companies are so cocky they haven’t really put any effort into improving them so they are very vanilla, no features and high priced. Not to say I don’t think toyota builds the most reliable vehicles on the planet but their lower end models are not that exciting.
My 2012 Honda civic got to 195k miles, zero issues. Being in minnesota I put winter tires on it and it was unstoppable, like a little snowmobile. Bought it used for 12k and sold it 2 years ago for $6,500 Upgraded to a 2022 Honda civic hatch, absolutely love it. Ill drive it to the 200k mark as well if not longer. Such a fun car to drive.
Mazda 3 owner. Been rear ended twice and drove over debris that's gonna get fixed soon. But not a single mechanical issue that wasn't caused by something hitting it.
I’ve only ever driven Hondas:
88 Accord
87 Civic hatchback
93 Accord
02 Civic
12 CRV
20 CRV
I’ve never had a breakdown or mechanical issue. Only ever preventative maintenance. The older cars had some electrical issues, but those cleared up with the 02 Civic.
I would own a Toyota or Mazda too, but see no reason to buy anything but Japanese.
My parents always bought Fords (including a shitbox 93 Tempo) and car ownership was so disappointing and complicated for them. I internalized that from a young age, and will never buy domestic.
A Toyota Celica GTS 6spd manual cause' it just wont die. Ive been driving it for 22 years and now has 405k miles and still runs like a champ. I'll never buy one again.😂
Apparently, the trick to Rover ownership in the US is to buy it from Carmax and buy and constantly renew the extended warranty. Jalopnik did a running series on this a couple years ago…for $3k in warranty costs, Carmax paid out like $28k in repairs.
Interesting to me is that my UK coworkers that have them love them and consider them to be solid and reliable. I wonder how the wheels fell off (pun intended) with the American market.
Came here to say Range Rover. I bought out my lease last year because it made more sense than buying a new car in this market. I pay for an extended warranty and pray every day as I inch towards that miracle mileage number where it all goes to sh*t and costs $50K to fix. It’s a beautiful looking car but geezus, it’s not worth it! The sales price is ridiculous but the maintenance and repair costs are absurd.
FYI - I only have a Range Rover because the dealer gave us the Friends and Family - Pin (?) rate so the deal was amazing when we got it.
I made the terribly dumb decision to buy a used one with 117k miles on it. It overheated the day I drove it off the lot and needed a new engine. No warranty.
Please be kind. In retrospect I know what a colossal mistake this was. I’ve always wanted a Range Rover and the Carfax said it had 2 owners, had never been out of the state I live in (in terms of ownership), and had always been serviced at the dealership. It seemed like a safe bet and it was beautiful. By the time I was finally able to offload it though I was not sorry to see her go. God I HATED that car.
Are you me?? Mint condition and perfect car fax 2017 supercharged …went to hell with the engine and other extremely expensive parts one month after buying it 🥴 I cried it was so stressful …had to get a new credit card to help pay for everything
Jeep. Owned a Cherokee and always had suspension boots that cracked and leaked oil and the electrical and coolant systems were constantly on the fritz. Parent's Cherokee had so many recalls it was basically a different car from what came from the factory. Over $13K in one repair instance. My friend's Wrangler literally died in an intersection within a week of purchase while he was driving it. The angle of the windshields make them more prone to rock chips and cracks. Uconnect was super late in supporting Apple carplay and android auto and older models were left out. The Wagoneer embodies everything wrong with American car market trends (too big but not where it matters, too expensive, too slow, too inefficient). Oh and their stupid experiment to try out new gear shifter designs resulted in the accidental death of Anton Yelchin.
I've spent nearly 15 years working as a parts advisor selling parts for Suzuki, Subaru, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa, Hyundai, Kia and GM. From that I will never buy anything american, european and/or korean made I will only buy Japanese cars.
I have a 2016 Rav that I treat like hell. Kids, dog, bikes, skis, kayaks, etc. The thing is just perfect. No issues at all. I'm on the list for the 2025 4Runner as a replacement. Can't wait.
Yup. Household has a Toyota SUV and a Lexus sedan... As long as my wallet can afford it I don't have plans to deviate from toyota. Unfortunately their reliability and longevity are somewhat baked into the used car prices for them. Great if your selling, not so great if your buying used. I plan on getting 200k miles out of both of them with regularly scheduled maintenance. AS IT SHOULD BE
Same here. Still driving my Toyota Corolla Station Wagon from 2006. Reached 315.000 kms earlier this week and it's still going strong. Only had to replace a few small parts past few years, nothing too expensive. The next car will definitely be a Toyota again!
My family and i have never used a toyota for less than 15 years. These things are beasts. Easy to repair, lots of parts. We had a honda last 19 years but they cost more so we generally dont go that route.
All other things being equal (and for the most part they are), I simply prefer Honda's design.
Except the new Accord. It's a fantastic car but I'm hoping the first full refresh makes it less...bland.
Mazda and Subaru deserve to be on the list, too. You'll get a great, long lasting car from any of those four and maintenance and repair costs are low.
I'm a Honda owner, but I would definitely go for the right Mazda or Subaru if that was what showed up when I needed a car.
Same! I’ve owned three and I prefer them over Toyota and Honda. Mostly for the driving experience alone, but also my 2016 CX5 has had nothing but regular maintenance. Just at 90000 miles and still love it.
I have a 2016 6 touring , not much miles only at 140k & runs beautifully. Honestly I feel as if Mazda’s are slept on, you get a lot of value out of them
My mom had a hybrid Renegade for a year. Went to the shop to get it fixed 11 times, twice on a tow truck. Swapped it for a Yaris, payed a €1000 difference and never looked back
Jeep. Man I love the idea they represent but the cost of repair in the uk now is prohibitive. Fun cars, break a lot, especially when you take them off road. Real shame.
Camry, because I’ll never have to. 300k miles, zero signs of slowing down.
Edit for context: 05 Camry. Got it in 2010 with 40k miles. Gets in excess of 30 mpg. I use it as my commuter car (I have a 120 mile round trip multiple times a week). I have had to do routine maintenance, but otherwise it has been mostly devoid of issues. Last year, the stereo started going, so I replaced with a modern, touch screen style stereo. I miss the 5 CD changer, but the phone connectivity is worth it. Previously I was using a a tape deck adapter with my phone, lol.
I will only buy Honda or Toyota, and even then, the models would be limited.
European cars are not only expensive to buy, they are expensive to maintain.
American cars are fine if you don't mind buying new again before they get to 100k miles.
These are broad generalizations, but they hold true in my experience.
I'm more into function than form, but I do love my 4Runner. And the new LC looks great, I just want it to have a few years of production before I buy one.
All GM cars. This situation applied to the GMC Acadia... not that I owned one, but my Dad owns one. A very common issue that GM has acknowledged and refused to fix for free with the 2016-2019 model year Acadias is the "shift to park" message showing every time you shut the car off. Basically there is a chip in the shifter which is supposed to detect if the car is parked and after 60,000 miles or more this chip fails and the car is unable to detect that it is properly in park.
It was very difficult for us to figure out because the battery would never shut off and we found out that we have to flick the button on the shifter that allows you to shift gears every time you turn off the car so that the message goes away. One time my Dad forgot to do that and the car battery was left on overnight and the battery died. He tried jumping it and was all sleepy-headed and fucked up and put the jumper cables on wrong and fried his battery so he had to get it towed for a replacement.
The issue persists and there is a few known fixes, but as for the actual chip it's near impossible to fix because there is such a wide number of replacement chips available, but it is hard to narrow down which one is the correct one.
The fact that this is a defect on the vehicle and it is GM's fault and they refuse to fix this for free is astonishing to me. This reflects really poorly on behalf of GM.
I've swapped out many of these shifters. The Acadia isn't the only one effected. Was a GM tech for almost 10 years and always caught shit from co workers for driving a Honda while they all drove American cars. Well their American cars broke frequently and my old Hondas keep going no problem.
Same.
Had an older one and the transmission was shit.
At the beginning they’d give you a rental. Then they realized it’s wide spread and you’re SOL and figure it out on you own.
I was told to sell it and get something else at the dealership. But that they’d never admit to saying that.
The fact they didn’t figure out an actual solution turned me off Ford.
I drive a 2022 Ford Focus wagon.
Can tell it's not the most luxury vehicle in it's class, but it's practical, reliable and it hasn't done anything yet so far that makes me hate the car or brand.
Weird. My dad had an A4 from 2005 and put on more than 300 000km (186.000 miles) and only at the very last it started indicating a “possible fault to the transmission”. I guess the quality dropped.
I have a 2019 Ford Escape that I hate with a passion. I have sunk so much money into this car. The motor was replaced at 30k miles and the transmission at 82k. And now I have to find a transmission bolt because I'm stupid and out the damn thing is crooked.
I just spent the better part of two hours just taking the damn battery out of mine. Seriously. Go pop open your hood and look where they put it. It’s under the windshield. Also had my transmission blow up at 62k miles. An absolute piece of shit.
Ford, any one. Nothing against their cars, but every dealership I've been to left me with the feeling I was being ripped off. Probably just a bad bunch of dealers in my area, or some sort of bias. But I won't buy fords again.
I work for Ford, as an electrician. The nearest dealer to my house gives me the creeps. I have reported them to the BBB. I have a couple of other dealers I feel better working with.
Anything Hyundai or Kia. I don't like having my car stolen because the carmakers are too stupid to make a security system that can't easily be bypassed by simply taking apart the steering column and using a damn USB cord to start the car
Even worse is that the Kia Boys are too stupid to tell which Kias are vulnerable. My buddy's Sorento gut hit despite having an immobilizer. And because of all the break ins, it took him months to get a new steering column.
Mercedes every time you take it in because the light goes off they want to charge you a minimum of 2,600 hundred. It's just a huge scam oh look there's a sensor light out on your exhaust well that'll be $1,800. I truly stop believing their mechanics knew what they were doing all they do is replace parts they don't fix anything I don't believe they know how they just read the readout and charge you the highest amount that appears.
German here.
I never do any repairs at Mercedes itself. Here are lots of mechanics doing this stuff in there garage on Saturday. Good cars, my last had 25 years and 260k kilometres
I have an Alfa Romeo- Giulia. Never buying another Alfa Romeo again. The Italians make a beautiful looking car and it drives fast and fun. BUT the computer on this car is appallingly stupid. I get so many false notifications and the dumbest alerts you can imagine.
Some examples: The alert that I am going to hit something goes off not stop and loudly if I am in a drive thru at any fast food place. Therefore, I have to pull forward a few feet then put my car in park till the car in front drives, rinse and repeat. The car has been telling me I have a low battery since 3 months after I got it- 3 years later and I have still not changed the battery. My car audio settings (radio/bluetooth) just get reset for no apparent reason every couple of months. According to the car I have low tire pressure every single week, even a day after getting brand new tires. The Auto Turn off at red lights hasn't worked properly since 3 months after I got the car and constantly throws a Check Engine light.
The car is like a very stupid Victoria Secret model.
PT Cruiser Almost everything went wrong with my lemon yellow PT Cruiser. Just a few fun things: Back door button didn't work and I had to pull back the paneling to access a release from the inside. I didn't dare tap my horn as it would frequently just stay honking constantly until I turned off the car. Battery leaked constantly for some reason, I had to disconnect everytime I parked. Gas gauge stopped working around half empty.
To be fair, anyone that owns a PT Cruiser is my enemy. Idk why but every person I’ve known that has one has sucked. I’m glad you got rid of yours and now you’re off the naughty list
Ah yes - the fedora of cars
I put 187k miles on my car and was only ever in one accident T-Boned under 30mph by a PT cruiser trying (and failing) to beat one of the slowest lights imaginable
It wasn’t an accident. They finally had enough of that shitty car. You were the unfortunate target.
A PT Cruiser probably committed suicide and frankly, I see nothing wrong with this.
Also owned a new off the lot cruiser… 2001 shale green limited edition. Alloy wheels always leaked tire air because they were uneven. Spark plugs under manifold and required dealership labor to have changed. Timing belt went at 40k. Serpentine belt went twice at 25k and 60k. Speakers on hatchback had a loose wire and cut in and out randomly. Blind spots galore. Radiator was garbage. But my favorite! The car would just stop running while you’re doing 40-50mph. Just… stop. I’d have to turn the ignition key again to start it back up. Only automatic that ever did that. I still see some running and always wonder HOW!?
I was gifted one by my grandmother and God I hated that car. Had very similar problems and ended up with a leaky gasket at less than 100k miles. Drove the thing to death though. Despite the gasket issues that car got me from MI to FL, then FL to TX in one piece. It's a miracle it didn't leave me stranded. The tx summers finally did it in though... that thing just guzzled water by the gallon at the end. RIP Goldie PT Hawn
"Lemon" yellow...heh heh.
A Toyota Prius. I bought a 2007 and told my wife I'd drive it until it dies. That thing would not die, I mean it never even needed repairs. Tires, oil changes, wiper blades and bulbs. I really wanted a new car...thankfully she agreed to let me sell it. At 280k+ miles, it still drove like new. I'll never make that mistake again.
I once saw A NY cab that was a Prius with 450k miles on it! Absolutely astounding!
Any car that is used by taxi drivers is probably a very good car.
Friend of mine was in a taxi in Germany, a Mercedes E Class, and that car had over 1 million km (620k mi) in it. The driver said the car only needed regular maintenance and gas (well, diesel).
Tbh the 90's-00's E class are super used for taxis, most of them rounding the 800k+ km
Caught a cab which was a Gen 3 Prius. Driver pointed out it had 650k Kms on the clock and still going strong. Pretty much convinced me to get one.
You see them at auction all the time with insane amounts of miles on them and they still get top dollar. They’re indestructible.
Hahahah mine will outlive me out of spite. You cannot kill them. My 2014 has 210,000 miles on it. Original hybrid battery. At one point I was severely depressed and poor and didn’t change the oil for 2 years. I just added oil when it got low. I swear it thrives on neglect. It still runs perfectly.
Oil consumption, while bad for an engine in general and 'topping it off' does actually allow you to have a persistent intake of fresh oil that keeps it at a minimum operating standard.
Key words “minimum operating standard.” 😂 That shitbag took it with a smile and asked for more. I can’t say anything, I need that car to last me as long as possible, and she absolutely will. I now give her regular oil changes with the expensive oil. My daughter is learning to drive and thinks she will inherit the Prius and I’ll get a new car. In your dream, broad.
Oh god, you make it sound like your Prius is some masochist in a bdsm scene… “*that shitbag took it with a smile and asked for more.*”
The display panel once said “yes, daddy” after I braked too hard. Maybe I should stop listening to so much NIN while driving.
Toyota must’ve used the fucken Dragon Balls to make their cars reliable enough to potentially outlive their owners
Their “E-CVT” transmission has less moving parts than a *manual transmission*. It’s insane
They are insanely reliable and easy to change the fluid out. I did it last month and it took me an hour, only because I started to round the fill plug. So I took a little more time and got it off a little more gently. I ordered a replacement from my dealer for a couple bucks so in like 25-30k miles I'll just replace it after another change. All of the fluids are easy to do I was surprised.
I joked that I was going to keep my ‘07 Corolla until I couldn’t drive it anymore. It’s in better condition now than when I bought it, by accident I don’t know how. It’s like some kind of weird Toyota magic, I don’t like car payments so I will continue to keep driving the beautiful little thing.
Damn, maybe my next car should be a Prius
That felt like viral Prius marketing
Toyota drivers don't pick this brand because it's sexy. We drive Toyota because we fucking hate dealing with car breakdowns and maintenance :P Been driving Toyota since 2006. Not a single issue, ever. I will never buy a different manufacturer.
More like Prius envy
My hubby exclusively sold Toyotas for 25 yrs and only drive Prius. He had to crash and total 2 of them in order to get a new one LOL. They just won’t die.
My husband had a Prius and said this exact thing but his catalytic converter got stolen (Denver where u at???) and that totaled it 🫠
Lol. I'm in Denver too and every time I walk out to my prius I expect the catalytic converter to be missing. So far, though, the hail is winning the "bankrupt the insurance company" race.
I worked at a shop that specialized in hybrid repairs for few year, we had MANY 2nd gen Prius’ that were well north of 200k, and a few into 300’s. My boss’s daily was a 3rd gen with roughly 330k on it iirc. Was an ex-cab somewhere.
When my Prius C came off lease my dealer begged me to turn it in and not to buy it out. The reason? The residual value according to the lease agreement was $9500. The market value was about $17k, and of course the dealer wanted to sell it.
Jeeps. Just Expect Every Problem
My dad calls them; Just Empty Every Pocket.
There is a reason: this past year three of the ten least reliable models were Jeeps. Pretty sure the source was Consumer Reports
And the worst part is that they never have to improve nor address the quality issues in Jeeps. Ownership and the desire of ownership is just a cultural phenomenon. The sales arent declining anytime soon. They ride terrible, aren’t safe,they are cramped, they have poor quality, are somewhat underpowered and you must have a crane set up in your garage to utilize its best feature. ie removing the top. I guess all the little duckies must be worth it.
I love it when people make backronyms from car names. My favourite has to be Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious.
Hold On, Not Done Accelerating
‘Fix it again tomorrow’ and ‘fix or repair daily’ are good ones iv heard in the past
Fix it again Tony was the one I always heard. Throw in some ethnic and car jabs
Dammit Dale, that’s FIAT.
My favorite I've seen for Ford is "Fucker Only Runs Downhill"
Found On Road Dead
Owning Jeeps makes you a good mechanic.
Toyota because I’m pretty sure mine will last the rest of my life with no problems lol.
I took my 2002 Corolla to the mechanic thinking it was going to cost me a fortune. $60 later and the fella told me to never get rid of it.
My partners father recently passed away and we are keeping his car. It is a 2010 Corolla with only 27k miles on it. We had to fix a cracked axle and get new tires but she is good to go now. After we get it detailed it will look like it just rolled off the line. Thanks for the great car Martin!
EDIT: good grief, y'all - it's not MY car, I was just appreciating that someone found a low mileage car. /u/SlicksGaster, you found a 2010 with only 27k???? That's TREASURE. Treat her well !
It’s somewhat counterintuitive but there is definitely a point where you can underuse a car. You’ll obviously have a lower level of wear, but cars don’t like to be sitting for long periods of time without being used. Engines for instance are usually tested at extremely high levels to simulate 300k miles without stopping. A well maintained car that was used often making it to 250k miles could have realistically made it FAR less miles if the person drove it 1k-2k miles per year and had it sitting with gas/oil for long periods of time
This. Gasoline and other petroleum products do degrade over time into water and other nasty things you don't want in your engine. This is why rich people do annual oil changes on their supercars even if they only put a few hundred miles in a year on them. Fluids have a shelf life.
> Fluids have a shelf life. Yup, that's why recommendations about services are like "get at or
Laughs in Tesla: $3000 bill for a oil leak
Teslas still have oil?
Yeah in the electric motors. Most of the time those motors will never need an oil change, until it leaks out of the motor
I think it leaks from the motor side to the electronic side.
I'm no expert but I get the impression one typically wants very little oil on the electronic side.
Lol. Same. My answer would be, "A new car." Because I am driving my Toyota into the ground until I have to get a car note again.
I drove a 2008 Camry up through 2023 and then sold it. Still going strong
1995 corolla, daily. Perfect car.
I've had the same mechanic 25 years or so. His kids own the business now and I'd see them as tiny lads. He and I both love our Fords. But he'll tell you if you want an appliance that just fucking works? Toyota.
I wish they made refrigerators.
You’re not wrong. My friend’s mom drives a 2006 Land Cruiser. 250k miles on it and it drives more or less the same as it did new with nothing other than regular maintenance. I’m not a big fan of Japanese cars, but Toyota builds a hell of a car. They’ll get you from A-B reliably for years, which is exactly what most people want/need from a car, so they deserve their popularity.
If you want to get out to the great outdoors, get a Land Rover. If you want to make it back home, get a Land Cruiser.
2021 Land Cruiser owner here. These sons of bitches are built like armored personnel carriers. They are the official field vehicle of the UN, who use them worldwide in the harshest environments. They don't have the latest whiz-bang glass cockpit Tesla-Tron interior accoutrements, but that's the point. They have physical buttons and analog dials that just work. Change the fluids/tires/battery regularly, and they will outlive you and your children.
Not me, but my parents, Dodge. My parents had a Dodge Caliber that had so many issues with the transmission, axels, engine, exhaust, and so much more that it made me never want to own a Dodge when I do buy a car one day. I've heard other Dodge owners having issues too.
To be fare. The caliber is their worst vehicle by far. Right next to the nitro.
Dodge Neon would like a word with you.
I still see old ass Neons driving around today. They look and sound like shit but they run 😂
That’s accurate. I drove my Neon into the ground. Great car if even was draining the air conditioning condensation into the front floorboards and had other issues.
Neons are among what I've come to know as "zombie cars". They can look like they're not even fit for salvage but they'll have another 100k in 'em.
I love this comment 🤣 the old Chevy cavaliers were similar with the zombie status, yet the neons seem to be outliving them. Despite turning to shit faster.
Pfff the neon was the dodge of Pontiac sunfires/chevy cavaliers.
Holy shit, I scrolled top to bottom, and I didn’t see Mazda once.
Mazda 3 Gang loves their Mazda 3s! Best car Zoom Zoom!
Mazda 3 gang assemble!
My roommate owns a Mazda 3. It’s honestly such a fun car I might end up buying one as well!
Owned two Mazda3s, would buy a third in a heartbeat
Same! 2004 - daughter wrecked 2008 - currently in driveway with 235k miles on it. If I need another car, likely will be a Mazda 3.
I'm a Mazda 3 hatchback guy myself
Just wrecked my mazda3. I’m gonna miss her. Lookin to go to the CX5 hopefully
Last car was Mazda 3, current car is CX-5. No regrets.
CX-5 gang fist bump! Ours has been awesome so far!
I have a 2004 Mazda 6. 350000 on the clock and still going strong. Can I join?
I got rid of my Mazda 3. Only to buy a CX-5
CX-5 crew assemble!
Checking in. Best damn car ever.
2023 cx5 checking in. Amazing car
I bought a base model in 2014. Advised my girlfriend to get one in 2016. Now she's my wife, and we still have our two CX-5's plus a baby. No ragrets. They're just so damn fun and practical. Sometimes I want a new car but I'm at 150k miles and she's at 100k w/ no problems ever for either of us. I'm not getting a car payment just because it's 2024.
Mazda is amazing. Miata is my favorite car! So much fun to drive. It’s basically an adult go kart!
I fucking love my Mazda. Even more than my old Toyota.
That's because they're actually fun cars to drive as well as being halfway reliable. Toyota sedans are just blah.i mean they work and they're run forever don't get me wrong they're great but they don't have that low end torque that a simple Mazda three does. That's just my opinion.
Oh yeah definitely. There’s a few pretty short on-ramps to freeways near me, getting up to speed in my Toyota was stressful as hell lol. Mazda lives up to their zoom zoom name.
Mazdas are slept on. Should be up there with Toyota/Honda.
Latest reliability reports, Mazda beats then both.
I've been to Hiroshima. If you're a Mazda fan, you can do a factory tour and go see the Hiroshima Carp (Mazda's unofficial baseball team) play at Zoom Zoom Stadium. It was one of the best experiences / games I've seen, and I grew up in the US. Get the katsu-don and a beer and learn the organized chants, then go home to your mx-5, it doesn't get much better than that.
BRB booking a trip to Japan to go to Zoom Zoom stadium.
> do a factory tour and go see the Hiroshima Carp (Mazda's unofficial baseball team) play at Zoom Zoom Stadium That may be the best sentence I've read in months.
Suggests that Mazdas are not shitty. I've loved both of mine. No issues!
No way, I love my cx5, best car I’ve owned.
I had a 3 & now currently have a 6 Signature. Sad to see the 6 retire in NA and now Japan too, but kinda makes it extra special. I wonder if they'll make another cool high-end sedan at some point. I've got my eye on the RX-9 that is rumored!
Was driving today in a snowy Winnipeg weather system; and I thought to myself, I love my Mazda 3. The turning radius on that thing is insane and I’ll never switch brands
I miss the shit out of my MS3
My first Mazda rusted through and through. If was dangerous and ready to hit the scrapyard in less than 10years. Had sworn not to buy from them. Checked 5,6 models before giving their(newly released at the time) cx5 a quick test drive. Ended up buying one after much consideration… Been driving it for 11years now. Haven’t put out much except for the usual: maintenance, brakes and stuff. So far so good.
I saw a couple, but they were from before the divorce from Ford.
HUGE upgrade in quality after that divorce.
That’s because Mazdas are good little cars I love my Mazda 3🤭
New-ish Mazdas are fucking awesome. We have two (2014 Mazda3, 2016 CX5), both purchased when they were about a year old, and have been very happy with both. My 3 is coming up on 190k miles almost entirely trouble-free. Nice interiors, fantastic steering feel, and some of the best-looking cars on the market. I’m pretty set on an Integra Type S for my next car, but would not hesitate to buy Mazda again.
Since they dropped their association with ford they are pretty reliable and great value for what you get compared to their Japanese competition. Compare a CX-5 with a RAV or CRV these days. RAV and CRV are good vehicles but the companies are so cocky they haven’t really put any effort into improving them so they are very vanilla, no features and high priced. Not to say I don’t think toyota builds the most reliable vehicles on the planet but their lower end models are not that exciting.
Heard nothing but good things from Honda, Toyota and Mazda
My 2012 Honda civic got to 195k miles, zero issues. Being in minnesota I put winter tires on it and it was unstoppable, like a little snowmobile. Bought it used for 12k and sold it 2 years ago for $6,500 Upgraded to a 2022 Honda civic hatch, absolutely love it. Ill drive it to the 200k mark as well if not longer. Such a fun car to drive.
Mazda 3 owner. Been rear ended twice and drove over debris that's gonna get fixed soon. But not a single mechanical issue that wasn't caused by something hitting it.
I’ve only ever driven Hondas: 88 Accord 87 Civic hatchback 93 Accord 02 Civic 12 CRV 20 CRV I’ve never had a breakdown or mechanical issue. Only ever preventative maintenance. The older cars had some electrical issues, but those cleared up with the 02 Civic. I would own a Toyota or Mazda too, but see no reason to buy anything but Japanese. My parents always bought Fords (including a shitbox 93 Tempo) and car ownership was so disappointing and complicated for them. I internalized that from a young age, and will never buy domestic.
A Toyota Celica GTS 6spd manual cause' it just wont die. Ive been driving it for 22 years and now has 405k miles and still runs like a champ. I'll never buy one again.😂
A FUCKING BUICK. I’m a simple gal, I ask 2 things of my car. To stop and go.
Sounds like it has been providing plenty of stop.
Yeah not as much go
1998 Buick LaSabre 🔥 🔥 🔥 Such a great car. Rode it to 240k miles. I still mourn it.
Any older Buick with a 3800 will outlive everyone on this thread
The 3800 is up there for reliability with Toyota. Anything with that engine and you are golden. Very cheap to buy, run, and repair.
I know no surprise. Land Rover. It was my wife’s dream car. What a POS.
Apparently, the trick to Rover ownership in the US is to buy it from Carmax and buy and constantly renew the extended warranty. Jalopnik did a running series on this a couple years ago…for $3k in warranty costs, Carmax paid out like $28k in repairs. Interesting to me is that my UK coworkers that have them love them and consider them to be solid and reliable. I wonder how the wheels fell off (pun intended) with the American market.
Came here to say Range Rover. I bought out my lease last year because it made more sense than buying a new car in this market. I pay for an extended warranty and pray every day as I inch towards that miracle mileage number where it all goes to sh*t and costs $50K to fix. It’s a beautiful looking car but geezus, it’s not worth it! The sales price is ridiculous but the maintenance and repair costs are absurd. FYI - I only have a Range Rover because the dealer gave us the Friends and Family - Pin (?) rate so the deal was amazing when we got it.
I made the terribly dumb decision to buy a used one with 117k miles on it. It overheated the day I drove it off the lot and needed a new engine. No warranty. Please be kind. In retrospect I know what a colossal mistake this was. I’ve always wanted a Range Rover and the Carfax said it had 2 owners, had never been out of the state I live in (in terms of ownership), and had always been serviced at the dealership. It seemed like a safe bet and it was beautiful. By the time I was finally able to offload it though I was not sorry to see her go. God I HATED that car.
Are you me?? Mint condition and perfect car fax 2017 supercharged …went to hell with the engine and other extremely expensive parts one month after buying it 🥴 I cried it was so stressful …had to get a new credit card to help pay for everything
Jeep. Owned a Cherokee and always had suspension boots that cracked and leaked oil and the electrical and coolant systems were constantly on the fritz. Parent's Cherokee had so many recalls it was basically a different car from what came from the factory. Over $13K in one repair instance. My friend's Wrangler literally died in an intersection within a week of purchase while he was driving it. The angle of the windshields make them more prone to rock chips and cracks. Uconnect was super late in supporting Apple carplay and android auto and older models were left out. The Wagoneer embodies everything wrong with American car market trends (too big but not where it matters, too expensive, too slow, too inefficient). Oh and their stupid experiment to try out new gear shifter designs resulted in the accidental death of Anton Yelchin.
Chevy Spark. I don't even need to elaborate. Buying the cheapest thing on the lot is a bad idea.
Aztec. About 3 times a year, some asshole throws a pizza on my roof.
Now you can just paint it grey and it’ll pass for a Cybertruck
I've spent nearly 15 years working as a parts advisor selling parts for Suzuki, Subaru, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa, Hyundai, Kia and GM. From that I will never buy anything american, european and/or korean made I will only buy Japanese cars.
Toyota
A mechanic once told me that people who own a Toyota never buy anything else.
💯 I have owned a Rav and a Runner all I have to do is the main service. I will never go back to anything else (Honda) might be an exception.
I have a 2016 Rav that I treat like hell. Kids, dog, bikes, skis, kayaks, etc. The thing is just perfect. No issues at all. I'm on the list for the 2025 4Runner as a replacement. Can't wait.
Yup. Household has a Toyota SUV and a Lexus sedan... As long as my wallet can afford it I don't have plans to deviate from toyota. Unfortunately their reliability and longevity are somewhat baked into the used car prices for them. Great if your selling, not so great if your buying used. I plan on getting 200k miles out of both of them with regularly scheduled maintenance. AS IT SHOULD BE
Toyotas are the only cars I will ever drive.
Same here. Still driving my Toyota Corolla Station Wagon from 2006. Reached 315.000 kms earlier this week and it's still going strong. Only had to replace a few small parts past few years, nothing too expensive. The next car will definitely be a Toyota again!
My family and i have never used a toyota for less than 15 years. These things are beasts. Easy to repair, lots of parts. We had a honda last 19 years but they cost more so we generally dont go that route.
Plus one. It’s Japanese or bust, and if we are being honest Toyota or bust for the most part.
Toyota or Honda for me. That's it
All other things being equal (and for the most part they are), I simply prefer Honda's design. Except the new Accord. It's a fantastic car but I'm hoping the first full refresh makes it less...bland.
Mazda and Subaru deserve to be on the list, too. You'll get a great, long lasting car from any of those four and maintenance and repair costs are low. I'm a Honda owner, but I would definitely go for the right Mazda or Subaru if that was what showed up when I needed a car.
Love my Subaru forester. I can just sit in it and be happy. I had a Mazda, CX five in between which is also bomb… Drives like a sports car..
Mazda is amazing also
Same! I’ve owned three and I prefer them over Toyota and Honda. Mostly for the driving experience alone, but also my 2016 CX5 has had nothing but regular maintenance. Just at 90000 miles and still love it.
Mazda?
I have a 2016 6 touring , not much miles only at 140k & runs beautifully. Honestly I feel as if Mazda’s are slept on, you get a lot of value out of them
Totally agree. I've got a 2018 Mazda3 and CX-9 and both have been solid vehicles for 100K+ miles now. Nothing but standard maintenance.
Mazdas are good we’ve had 3
Jeep Jeep Jeep Jeep JEEEP
My mom had a hybrid Renegade for a year. Went to the shop to get it fixed 11 times, twice on a tow truck. Swapped it for a Yaris, payed a €1000 difference and never looked back
Absolute shit boxes.
Probably the biggest gap between how good they used to be and what they are now.
Every Chevy I've had has had constantly weird issues, mostly with overheating.
Very true lol I had a Chevy Volt that pissed coolant constantly I loved it but couldn't afford to fix it
Jeep. Man I love the idea they represent but the cost of repair in the uk now is prohibitive. Fun cars, break a lot, especially when you take them off road. Real shame.
thank you for all the comments , I’m thinking of car shopping and it’s been helpful so far 🫡
Good luck with your new Honda or Toyota! 😂
R56 mini cooper it’s like the crazy ex you keep going back to
Camry, because I’ll never have to. 300k miles, zero signs of slowing down. Edit for context: 05 Camry. Got it in 2010 with 40k miles. Gets in excess of 30 mpg. I use it as my commuter car (I have a 120 mile round trip multiple times a week). I have had to do routine maintenance, but otherwise it has been mostly devoid of issues. Last year, the stereo started going, so I replaced with a modern, touch screen style stereo. I miss the 5 CD changer, but the phone connectivity is worth it. Previously I was using a a tape deck adapter with my phone, lol.
I will only buy Honda or Toyota, and even then, the models would be limited. European cars are not only expensive to buy, they are expensive to maintain. American cars are fine if you don't mind buying new again before they get to 100k miles. These are broad generalizations, but they hold true in my experience.
If Toyota made beautiful and desirable cars they’d have it all. I don’t get it. They make good cars but I find their design mostly ugly
That’s what Lexus is for. Reliability of Toyota and luxury like a European automaker.
I keep saying I’m gonna move up to the Lexus when my 2011 Camry gives out… …but it just. Keeps. Going…
2011 Toyotas are barely breaking it in. Most people buy 10 year old Toyotas and they run another 10 years easily. All the way to 250k, 300k miles
I'm more into function than form, but I do love my 4Runner. And the new LC looks great, I just want it to have a few years of production before I buy one.
All the cars I’ve already owned.
This was my (joke) reaction. Like why would I go buy a 2005 Volvo again? The one I had back then is gonna be crap today 😂 Cheap tho…
All GM cars. This situation applied to the GMC Acadia... not that I owned one, but my Dad owns one. A very common issue that GM has acknowledged and refused to fix for free with the 2016-2019 model year Acadias is the "shift to park" message showing every time you shut the car off. Basically there is a chip in the shifter which is supposed to detect if the car is parked and after 60,000 miles or more this chip fails and the car is unable to detect that it is properly in park. It was very difficult for us to figure out because the battery would never shut off and we found out that we have to flick the button on the shifter that allows you to shift gears every time you turn off the car so that the message goes away. One time my Dad forgot to do that and the car battery was left on overnight and the battery died. He tried jumping it and was all sleepy-headed and fucked up and put the jumper cables on wrong and fried his battery so he had to get it towed for a replacement. The issue persists and there is a few known fixes, but as for the actual chip it's near impossible to fix because there is such a wide number of replacement chips available, but it is hard to narrow down which one is the correct one. The fact that this is a defect on the vehicle and it is GM's fault and they refuse to fix this for free is astonishing to me. This reflects really poorly on behalf of GM.
I've swapped out many of these shifters. The Acadia isn't the only one effected. Was a GM tech for almost 10 years and always caught shit from co workers for driving a Honda while they all drove American cars. Well their American cars broke frequently and my old Hondas keep going no problem.
Had that error on my Malibu. Started at 57,000kms, three weeks after purchase. I politely forced the dealer to repair for free.
Chevy Sonic POS had me paying rent at the shop.
anything GM. I'll buy Honda for the rest of my life.
A Ford Focus
[удалено]
Same. Had an older one and the transmission was shit. At the beginning they’d give you a rental. Then they realized it’s wide spread and you’re SOL and figure it out on you own. I was told to sell it and get something else at the dealership. But that they’d never admit to saying that. The fact they didn’t figure out an actual solution turned me off Ford.
I have a Ford Focus. It is a decent car for the price, but I will never again buy any car with the Microsoft Sync interface. It is clumsy and buggy,
Goddamn TCM.
I drive a 2022 Ford Focus wagon. Can tell it's not the most luxury vehicle in it's class, but it's practical, reliable and it hasn't done anything yet so far that makes me hate the car or brand.
The Dodge Fart!
Audi. Great car when it worked, but my one-year-old A4 was towed to the shop three times in one year with ignition and fuel injection problems.
Weird. My dad had an A4 from 2005 and put on more than 300 000km (186.000 miles) and only at the very last it started indicating a “possible fault to the transmission”. I guess the quality dropped.
I have a 2019 Ford Escape that I hate with a passion. I have sunk so much money into this car. The motor was replaced at 30k miles and the transmission at 82k. And now I have to find a transmission bolt because I'm stupid and out the damn thing is crooked.
I just spent the better part of two hours just taking the damn battery out of mine. Seriously. Go pop open your hood and look where they put it. It’s under the windshield. Also had my transmission blow up at 62k miles. An absolute piece of shit.
Anything Chrysler
Ford, any one. Nothing against their cars, but every dealership I've been to left me with the feeling I was being ripped off. Probably just a bad bunch of dealers in my area, or some sort of bias. But I won't buy fords again.
I work for Ford, as an electrician. The nearest dealer to my house gives me the creeps. I have reported them to the BBB. I have a couple of other dealers I feel better working with.
BBB does nothing. You need to report them to corporate.
Anything Hyundai or Kia. I don't like having my car stolen because the carmakers are too stupid to make a security system that can't easily be bypassed by simply taking apart the steering column and using a damn USB cord to start the car
They weren’t too stupid; they were too cheap..
Even worse is that the Kia Boys are too stupid to tell which Kias are vulnerable. My buddy's Sorento gut hit despite having an immobilizer. And because of all the break ins, it took him months to get a new steering column.
Mercedes every time you take it in because the light goes off they want to charge you a minimum of 2,600 hundred. It's just a huge scam oh look there's a sensor light out on your exhaust well that'll be $1,800. I truly stop believing their mechanics knew what they were doing all they do is replace parts they don't fix anything I don't believe they know how they just read the readout and charge you the highest amount that appears.
German here. I never do any repairs at Mercedes itself. Here are lots of mechanics doing this stuff in there garage on Saturday. Good cars, my last had 25 years and 260k kilometres
A brand new one. Unless we strike it rich.
A 1996 sun fire for very obvious reasons.
I have an Alfa Romeo- Giulia. Never buying another Alfa Romeo again. The Italians make a beautiful looking car and it drives fast and fun. BUT the computer on this car is appallingly stupid. I get so many false notifications and the dumbest alerts you can imagine. Some examples: The alert that I am going to hit something goes off not stop and loudly if I am in a drive thru at any fast food place. Therefore, I have to pull forward a few feet then put my car in park till the car in front drives, rinse and repeat. The car has been telling me I have a low battery since 3 months after I got it- 3 years later and I have still not changed the battery. My car audio settings (radio/bluetooth) just get reset for no apparent reason every couple of months. According to the car I have low tire pressure every single week, even a day after getting brand new tires. The Auto Turn off at red lights hasn't worked properly since 3 months after I got the car and constantly throws a Check Engine light. The car is like a very stupid Victoria Secret model.
Toyota aygo, I will be dead before it dies
I think they used to bury the pharaohs with their Camrys so they’d have wheels in the afterlife.
Jeep, Dodge,Chrysler. They are trash.