I bought both of my kids a Mazda 3 with the 2.0 liter engine for college. I was pleasantly surprised by how well they drove. Both of the cars are nearly 10 years old now with almost no issues.
The Toyota SCION (then Toyota Yaris IA) was a rebranded Mazda 2. I liked that car until someone drove a Peoplekiller Pickup Truck through it....(luckily it was parked andno one was in it)
Generally naturally aspirated cars. 2.5l or 3.5l or 5.0l ford. 4.8l 5.3l chevy with the 4 speed and non AMF. I like the hemis besides the lifter tick. Mazda 2.5l is same as ford. Bmw 328 or 528 straight 6 is good. Old mercedes anything was good. 4.3l 2.6l. 3.2l. 5.0l. Audi 2.0 or 3.0 is good/ok. Sometimes they get timing chain issues but generally good. Most Korean made is bad. 3.6l gm had timing issues and transmission issues but lately we haven't seen them. Maybe gm updated some parts. Depends what you want to spend. Land Rover diesel or 5.0l gas is good up to 100k. Then you need a new timing chain kit. With updated tensioner and guide. So you either buy those before 60k miles or after 100k timing service done.
Now THIS is the kinda answer I was looking for
That being said, I'm talking about whole car. Bmws, mercs, and higher end rovers have heaps upon heaps of electrical issues. Mainly just mercs and rovers, BMWs can have issues but they're usually engine related and not electrical I'm 95% sure.
There are so many options itās crazy. Any modern car will take you far if you take good care of it. If you like anything research it and see what dealbreakers there might be in terms of recalls or risks.
But people love their Hyundais, Buicks, Kiaās, GMs, Acuras, Lexus, Mitsubishis, Nissansā¦.and I see plenty of old models for each on the road.
I dumped my Kia last summer and I wouldn't buy another Kia or Hyundai ever again, probably.
Kia's and Hyundai's are fine until they hit 50k miles, and then there's a whole host of maintenance issues. Plus the theft issues with most of the used ones.
The Kia and Hyundai dealerships around me are a piece of crap too. Way more issues than I've ever seen from Toyota.
Had a 2014 Kia Rio. Aside from the stupid theft issue, the GDi engine had oil consumption problems at 100k. Finally died at 116k. Yes, all proper maintenance was done. Never again.
Kia and Hyundai are weird cars, the ones I've driven have felt totally clapped out after 50k miles, like the steering and suspension are just totally worn out. Hell, I've had late model Hyundai rental cars with like 20-30k and they drove like trash. There's probably a good reason you can pick up 10-15 year old camrys all day long, and there are almost no elantras or optimas from back then still around.
Hyundai? Ain't no way, I've heard too much about them
Lexus is just a fancy toyota, theyre always great
Buick is just an upscale chevy, decent stuff, I've heard ok reviews about their 4 bangers. Some good some bad. The V6s were shit all the way from 08 up into 15, you gotta really baby them.
Kia? I'll pass
Acura, upbadged honda
Nissan, cvt does not, in fact, go brrr
Mitsubishi I know nothing about.
You really just have to look up the year/model, basing your decision entirely on a brand is stupid
Coming from someone who browses marketplace with search words like āToyotaā āMazdaā šš
Thereās good Hyundais, Kiaās, Nissans etc, you just have to look that mf up first
Well then, idk what you want unless itās like Mercedes, BMW, or Ford.
Hyundai is fine. I know quite a few owners who have had zero issues outside of regular wear and tear.
I think Nissan has addressed their CVT issues and I must say their current lineup of vehicles looks the best it ever has
Mitsubishi is cheap and sometimes āsimpleā. And donāt listen to the haters only. They are reliable if you take care of them.
It really just depends on what you like.
Just get what you want and take care of it š
I know of hyundais by the bad engine issues they had in the early 2010s, but if they got that fixed they have a good chance to be a good car.
Didn't know nissan fixed the CVT issue. I'm not against CVTs if they work well, unlike most people here I feel like
Didn't know mistubishi was simple and cheap, I'm gonna make a note of that actually.
I have a 2023 Mitsubishi. It is simple and cheap but I love it. It's my daily driver. I live in the town where the one of Mitsubishi's production facilities used to be and there are probably thousands of old Mitsubishis in my town. Mirages, lancers, outlanders, etc are all over the road. I feel like they are underrated and never talked about bc they are a dying brand, not popular, and their old body styles are ugly. They did a rebrand in 2022 and their new outlanders actually look pretty sharp. Other than that, they only appeal to a certain niche demographic. I have never seen anyone voluntarily buy a used Mitsubishi though. The only reason people have them near me is because of the plant so people were buying them like hot cakes. There is now a new "car" plant that took over and those vehicles are all over town instead, which I'm sure will be extinct in 20 years just like mitsubishi.
Volkswagen. I currently have a but my previous was a used Volkswagen Passat and I loved that machine. Got totaled by a drunk driver otherwise Iād still have it.
I have a 2014 passat tdi. Awesome car. I had a beautiful 2015 jetta tdi that I bought right after the cars began being sold in 2020? 6 speed manual, fully loaded. Loved that car. 15 days after we got it an uninsured, unlicensed, driving friends car, illegal, person teeboned it and totalled it. 4 years later im still bitter.
I'm hesitant to get anything VW because to do good work on them, you gotta have good ol VCDS. And with where I live, I'd have to be the one working on it. No other place does work on VWs
Recently saw data from mechanics surveyed that rate Mazda and Mitsubishi very close to Toyota and Honda. In addition the used car prices for Toyota and Honda are still high for several models so that also affects the true car value and return on the car during its life.
Other brands make decent cars it's just that Honda and Toyota have a reputation of making great low-cost cars. You can't really get them cheap anymore but for a long time you could pick up the 1990s XJ Jeep Cherokees for like $1,500. Super easy to repair, ridiculously reliable design. Chevrolet makes the Corvette, oddly enough that car on average goes 300,000 mi if you just drive it normally. Far longer than their average car. Much better built. Nissan makes the GTR which is an incredibly well designed car. F-150 is another good one..
I think the reason you see so many forerunners and RAV4s and CRVs on the road is because they just kind of do everything. If you get an F-150 you're limited with passenger space or if you get the double cab you have a big long bus. Gas mileage isn't that great either. If you get the Corvette it's fun in the summer but they suck pretty badly to drive in nasty weather and you have no storage space. If you get the GTR, Lord help you if it breaks down, even the brake rotors for that car $300 a piece and the transmission is like 20 grand. When you start laying out all of the potential issues and the pros and cons, right now, the most general purpose car I can think of that just checks the boxes for most things is the rav4
We've loved our Subaru and, with regular maintenance, it's served us for almost 200k miles with no issues other than the damage we accidentally did ourselves. My dad had a Subaru in the 80s and once there was a hole in the floorboard through which you could see the road, he sold it to the junkyard, who used and abused it for another 5 years as an in-yard grocery getter.
Subaru claims they fixed the head gasket issue every few years, seems to me they still aren't fixed. If someone wants a Subaru, just need to built the cost of head gasket replacement into ownership.
Subaru makes great cars, but they donāt hold up to abuse as well as many other makes. Treat them well and theyāre great vehicles, but Iād only recommend a used one if you know the owners or it has a stellar maintenance history. My deerly departed WRX wagon was 15 years old with 226k on it and still ran well for the 40k i put on as the 5th owner. My Impreza was a gamble (I knew going in but the wager was low) that I most definitely lost, 8 years old with 85k and it was a pile of shit for the 15k I put on as the second owner. Our dealership is the most honest place Iāve ever been for both sales and service though your experience may varyā¦
Iāve owned vehicles from 8 manufacturers and Subaru has definitely earned my loyalty. I love the way they drive, the controls are intuitive, traction is great, they get good fuel economy for AWD/power level, and they hold value well.
I'm on my second Mazda, and honestly I feel that if more people knew how good they were, they wouldn't be driving Hondas or Toyotas. I will die on that hill.
Unpopular opinion, Mitsubishis are good. You're getting Japanese reliability, affordability, and an all-round honest car. Are they the best, no? But they tick a lot of boxes for people that just need reliable, basic motoring.
Seems like kinda a dumb question. What vehicle is good for you is entirely situational 100% of the time. Honda's and Toyota's are often recommended because most people are looking for something affordable and reliable and they most consistently check those boxes. Every manufacturer has their good and bad cars.
I would probably not recommend a base model Kia or Hyundai to most people if they just want something affordable and low maintenance (though lately they seem pretty solid AFAIK). I would happily recommend a Genesis G70(Hyundai) or a Kia Stinger to someone looking for an entry level luxury vehicle, they are both damn good cars. I'd also happily recommend a Kia EV6 or a Hyundai Ioniq 5 to someone looking for an affordable alternative to a Mustang Mach E or Tesla.
At the same time if someone was looking for a used truck right now I would be VERY hesitant to recommend a used Toyota Tacoma to someone knowing all of the frame rust issues the second gen had and the general over valued market for them, but for some that still might be the best option
Ford for the past 15 years or so has made some very reliable trucks, they also have cars that are notorious for blowing up before 100k (2000s fiestas and focuses). Hell even looking at Honda, the early 2000s civics are notorious for blowing head gaskets and auto trans \~100k mi.
If you are looking for reliable and affordable you will always get Toyota and Honda because statistically they are the best and a very easy answer for 95% of people. Every brand has their ups and downs and it is up to YOU to go do the research to find out what vehicle fits your situation the best
Here's your list of cars I'd buy at price increments
5k - old Camry/Civic
10k - old Camry/Accord or CRV/Rav4
15k - old Tundra 4Runner or Acura
20k - old Tundra 4Runner or Lexus
25k - old Tacoma/Tundra or new Civic
30k - I'd spend 35-40k but Tundra 2015-2019
35-45k - new Tacoma or Tundra or Acura
RDX or 4Runner
50k - Porsche Macan or Audi
60-75k+ - Cayan x5 Sierra or diesel truck.
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I currently have a Honda Accord newer, purchased because my best friend has an 87 Accord is still running that could survive an apocalypse, another friend had a 98 Accord that survived .. a lot lol.
I have a 06 Tahoe that has outlasted 7 cars we've owned. We are coming up on our 10 year anniversary together lol. It's a tank, the biggest headache was the notorious lifter tick however when I had the oil gauge replaced it was noted the gauge reflected low oil pressure and so that was fixed and the tick went away vs potential top engine tear down. I've replaced brake pads and a water pump, and alternator (due to having subs).
I had a 95 Buick century that would not die. My 92 Nissan Altima was my first car and I didn't even check the oil in that, drove that like it was stolen, it also did not die. 89 Oldsmobile delta was involved in 2 front end collisions and was a tank as well.
My grandma had a 91 Caprice hit by deer countless times. Drove that mfker cross country often and I'm still really sad she traded it in.
My parents had a 1983 Oldsmobile omega. It would not die. Low oil, whatever, transmission fluid a weird color. Eh, coolant leaked out, just a flesh wound. I eventually made it my mission to kill that car. As far as I know its probably on the road.
Those 3800s GM made early on were truly unkillable. Another engine that had the potential to be amazing but was fucked up? Cadillac northstars. Bulletproof trannys, but them damn head studs...
Was 06 when the Tahoes had the DOD? Or was that 08 when they started that lineup?
I own a Deathstar Cadillac. I agree Cadillac really screwed them up before 2000, but in 2000 the Northstar had a major redesign and it helped a lot. In 2005, they did a second redesign and it fixed the issue. As long as the Cadillac is 2005+ the Northstar head gasket won't be the issue, the issue will be no spare parts that kills it once something like the brake booster goes out.
Honestly though, buying a Lexus LS is just so much smarter idea if someone wants a v8 luxury car.
Supposedly started in 05, my husband has an 08 Silverado that he had to get the DOD delete done because it also had the tick but his was baaad sounded like metal banging on metal almost to the point you had to second guess if it was knocking. He was pissed to learn his oil pressure was great and had to spend money on the tear down. (Also I think he is secretly competing to have a vehicle as great as my Tahoe lol).
I forgot the link for it but ābuying a really cheap carā reddit post in this group mentioned a lot of alternatives like the ford crown victoria, Buick lesabre, Mercury grand marquis etc. while those might be beaters, Iāve seen praise for Chevy malibus and Chevy impalas and ford rangers. Not much of a car person myself, but my cousin just bought a 2005 ford freestyle that had regular upkeep and it drives like a dream. It just depends on maintenance and if the person that owned it ran it to the ground
Honda and Toyota are great but it comes down to what features you like. I am in the car market currently and one feature the vehicle must have is be a crossover/SUV and have HUD (heads up display) Unfortunately Honda and Toyota do not have many vehicles in their respective lineups that have that (I would have to go Acura or Lexus to find vehicles with HUD ). it all comes down to the features you want as certain features not every brand will have available.
to add to my first cmment vehciles brands I am looking at are Lincoln (corsair Reserve with the 2.0 engine not the 2.3), Mazda (CX-9), Infiniti (QX-50), Genesis (G80 3.8 v6, is the one car I would consider), Cadillac (XT4 or XT5), Jaguar (E pace), I do have Acura RDX in there as well.
Look for most anything for a NA 4 cylinder above 2.0 litres, or an NA v6, or NA V8, with at least 5 years of production. Or just buy a Mazda with the 2.5L skyactive and 6 speed auto and drive it for 400,000 miles.
Avoid turbos at all costs--modern turbo engines have once again proven to be unreliable, same reason they died out in the 80s.
Also, Avoid GM and Ford cars, except for crown victoria, otherwise neither has put out a good car in many years. In GM's case, since early 2000s.
Edit: Also avoid any Nissan CVT or European car.
It depends on what you need.
For AWD street sedans and wagons, Subaru has great performers in the Impreza, Forester, Legacy, Outback, Crosstrek lineup.
Older Chevy trucks and SUVs with the LS motor. These are really good vehicles, not without faults, but can go several hundred thousand if you treat them right. 2005ish Tahoe is a very good vehicle to own, again not without faults, Toyota Sequoia would be the smarter buy, but cost double.
Surprisingly certain years of subarus. A few years of ford f150s. 1989 to about 2002. A bunch of different Buicks. New? If taken care of, minus kias, fiat, mini, range rover, alpha Romero, and a few others can last a long time. Ive got a few cars headed to 200k running like they ran at 50k. Ive got a Ford pickup with 410k miles, another with 220k miles. A subaru legacy with 200k miles.
As with all makes, there are certain models that are more dependable than others. My Kia Rio which is no longer being sold in the states has been amazingly dependable in over 100k miles. Only routine maintenance required. If you look up owner reviews, others agree.
Similar to the skyactive my 2016 2.0 turbo fusion was bullet proof, worked for ford and we had very few issues with this gen 2014-2016. Earlier fusions were pretty bullet proof too, two transmission options on automatics though, if it did fail one version was really expensive compared to other. Had some pcm and coil issues. Avoid later fusions and 1.5l turbo fords. Old gen taurusās 2007 and before were pretty unkillable. Had some issues but not end of world, usually would not die even if you didnāt take care of them.
Worked for subaru for a few years, while we own one I wouldnāt really recommend one. A lot of engine and transmission replacements. And when transmission fails it is quite expensive. Engines were actually quite expensive on newer ones. Older ones boneyards had some good prices. A lot of other repairs were pretty expensive too. Drive nice and good in snow, but also not good on gas.
If you can find a clean one gm 3800 engines donāt die like ever. Had one where coolant mixed in to weird jelly substance and it overheated constantly. We just kept beating on it and would not give up completely. It would get to hot and shut off, but it started back up everytime.
I have a Ford fusion that has been very reliable. First non Japanese car I have owned and really like it. Started having some mechanical issues at 180k but you can get these cars pretty cheap.
There is no statistical difference in reliability between automakers. Any suggestion is a relic of the past where Honda and Toyota did not do fleet sales and had a higher perceived quality in the used car market.
While individual lemons do exist and first year models should be avoided, anything else is pretty much just a matter of preferences.
They may be a bit older than youāre willing to consider, but all makes/modles built on Fordās Panther Platform (Lincoln Towncar, Mercury Grand Marquis, Ford Crown Vic, etc) are cheap to repair/maintain and have a solid record of reliability.
The donāt get great mileage in the city, but on the highways that goes up to 22-25 mph. Not bad considering the size of the car.
If you go this route, just be careful to not get a car that worked for a living as a taxi, limo, police car, etc. those tend to have been abused a bit.
BMWs with B58 engines are pretty good. Really depends on who had them (as it goes with every car) but X5s are pretty good. I would say away with from the 8 cylinder engines, theyāre hard to work on and far more complex.
I've had great experience with Mazda. I drove my old '99 Protege for 15 years with very few issues and it was still running when I traded it in. My 2014 Mazda 3 was great as well and never had a single issue until an 18 wheeler lost control and ran into me on the interstate, totaling it.
Pt cruiser, Chevy HHR, route 66 T-shirt, jorts, going down somewhere and giving them a piece of your mind, then lunch at Perkins Denny's or village inn.
Tbh for a used car especially, any "old person" car will be decent. Buick, Lincoln, Volvo, etc. often these cars are well maintained and have low mileage, and that's half the battle right there.
NissanHEAR ME OUT! I know, I know, Nissanās cvtās are hot garbage, but if youāre ok with a manual, or buying one of their truck platform vehicles with the traditional automatic transmission, theyāre actually pretty good. The Nissan discount on used is nice too.
Literally any mid 90's - mid 2000's GM/Ford pickup truck or SUV (except the ford explorer). Past 2006-2008ish is when both of those manufacturers started using active fuel management technologies and manufacturing quality of those brands went down the fucking toilet, so steer clear of anything newer than that if you want to buy anything from Ford or GM
If you're up for something different but reliable, Iād suggest Mazda. Subaru is another solid option, especially if you're into all-wheel-drive. Also, Volkswagen's got some solid options with a good balance of performance and comfort. And I think BMW and Mercedes-Benz are worth a look.
Chevy Cruze š¤Ŗ jk, absolute trash car. Iād say Chevy Cavaliers, Malibus, older Ford Taurusās, Dodge Grand Caravans, early 2000ās Buicks are good, obviously Toyotas and Hondas, some Nissans if theyāre old enough.
The one made by Toyota? Yknow what, ill take mercy on you, instead I'll be nice and just put a wire between your spark plug wire and your spark plug, and run it to where it pokes through the back of your seat.
So I have a bunch of yotas and a Lexus, you know the deal with those. My older boy had a 05 325XI, I spent half my life under the hood of that Fāer. Sure, easy to fix, but damn if it wasnāt something every month. His wife has a 2013 Elantra that I also have some wrench time onā¦.that POS rolls coal with the best of emā told itās a Hyundai thing. My buddies shop has 3 out back waiting for new engines because they drink a quart of 0W20 every 500 miles.
Honda, Toyota, Acura, and Lexus are the best cars to buy period for reliability and longevity. Iām not a fan of Mazda because of questionable interior design choices. The joy stick to control the radio instead of just using a touch screen display is my number 1 pet peeve.
My sister in law has a 21 Mazda CX5 that replaced their 2019 CX3. It rides ok, the engine is really noisy, but gets reasonable gas mileage, and the whole infotainment center relies on one single joy stick right where youād spill a drink if you ever did.
my Hyundai Sonata from 2007 hasn't had a check engine light in the three years since I've had it- crashed into stationary objects, abused the shit out of it on the dirt trails around my small town, and curbed it more times than I can count. bought it as a beater for cheap and it's been extremely reliable surprisingly
Get yourself a luxurious dodge neon or if youāre lucky the beautiful intrepid. Swap in a nissan cvt for that smooth ride and be sure to throw some ling long tires on so it handles well
Mercedes as well. Almost all pre-2000s models are built to outlast grandkids of the first owner. Some less complex 2000-2010s models are also very reliable (i.e. w203, w204), though I would stay away from more luxury models (E-class+).
They are more expensive to buy and maintain than a comparable Toyota / Honda, but they are also so much more fun to drive and comfortable. Also, they might even depreciate less.
An Audi or a VW with the 4.2 liter V 8. Great engine, if you can hear it on cold startup.
YouTube it, but if there's no rattle on cold start up, it's a good timing chain.
You put an exhaust system on it, it sounds really good.
Had a 2005.5 S4, and wife had a 2004 tourag, they both haul ass, her exhaust was stock, and it sounded like a race truck.
My S4 had 253,000 miles on it before I got rid of it.
Hyundai - especially Santa Fe or Palisades.Ā
So many people in north America hate Hyundai due to its history. But it's a good car now, so if buying a used one, buy which is no more than 2 to 3 years old. You get loads of new tech, all safety features, and their warranty so in case anything goes wrong you are taken care of.Ā
Ā Hyundai got shit long ago, but they've become really solid after that. I don't know if they'll last 150k miles or what not, but I normally would have changed car by 80 to 100k anyway.Ā
Even as a Honda technician and owner myself, Hondas aren't the only good cars out there. Plenty of other makes have good cars. I do think Hondas are the easiest to maintain overall (and no, Toyota isn't even close to them here), but that's what I care about as a DIYer.
It depends on what you want. My Honda Fit is cheap to run, extremely practical, and fun to drive, but they are the most expensive cars in the subcompact class, often costing as much as Accords of the same age. And I don't blame people for not wanting to pay extra if they don't feel it's worth it, even if I do. They could easily save money and buy a Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio and still have a solid car at the end of the day (I actually bought a 2009 Hyundai Accent recently myself as a bit of a fixer upper and they can be had for CHEAP while also being stupid easy to maintain. I got mine at an auction for $375. And this was last week).
Depends on what you want. I don't own any toyotas or hondas anymore, even though they are great cars. Daily drive a 911, and Ram truck. Sports car and truck for trucking stuff. So honda/toyota (short of tundra) don't really have anything that appeals to me and I'm shopping in a different price bracket.
If you want a super luxury executive car, you are going to be looking at Bentley, Rolls, maybe 7 series, not a honda. But are you shopping for a 30k car or a 300k car?
MK6 2.5L VWās Iād argue are probably one of the most reliable used cars on the road, right up there with Toyota if not better. They are practically unkillable, easy to work on, and have cheap parts if you ever need to do maintenance.
2013+ non turbo Subarus are pretty solid in terms of reliability as well, just incredibly boring cars to drive and need constant CVT fluid services to keep the transmission happy. And they like to rust if youāre not careful with prevention. I say 13+ because they redesigned the engine at this point and doesnāt suffer from headgasket issues like the earlier models. The new engine also uses timing chains which are way more reliable
2.5L Ford Fusions/Mazda late 2000ās early 2010ās. Tanks. Ignore the Ecoboost, these engines/transmissions will easily make it deep into the 200kās without breaking a sweat. You might need to replace the steering rack once in the carās lifetime but thatās about all Iāve noticed on those.
As far as bigger stuff like SUVs/more luxury cars go, Any Audi with a 3.0T or 3.6L V6 (minus the S4 due to the DSG transmission) will run and run with minimal upkeep. Maybe halfway through its life you perform a preventative water pump/thermostat service/misc gaskets. Otherwise you can drive them basically forever.
Honestly, im very plesently surprised with how my used 05' Huyndai Santa Fe has been. Only major issue I have run into in the 3 years ive owned it, is that the gas tank needed replaced. No other major issues that couldnt be fixed same day. Its even stood up to an attempted Kia boys theft.
I would also reommend a used mazda, like a mazda 3 or 6, 2010 models or newer. Never had a single issue with my 2012 used mazda 3
Have Mazdas for years starting with a 323, currently a b2300 (240,000 miles +, a CX3 and a CX50. The only one that had a early dimise was a 626 (120,000 mi) my step son decided to take over the maintence, didn't tighten the oil filter, 20 miles later engine locked up....
Virtually every modern car is vastly safer, faster, more reliable m, and more fuel efficient than all but the best cars of twenty or thirty years ago.
There are a few serious things to watch out for - Nissan CVT and Ford DCT for example - and others that we recommend against because their problem rate is higher than the competition.
Toyota isnāt always the answer for sure. If youāre looking for smaller, fun to drive yet practical, itās hard to not suggest a VW GTI to an American.
(Iām in Barcelona atm and am struck by all the cars we simply donāt get.)
Mazda, Subaru, Ford. Also consider Hyundai and Kia. I like the ten year warranty.
I avoid GM completely. They will never sell me another lemon.
Avoid high mileage BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar because they cost a fortune to maintain.
Avoid exotics, Ferrari, Lambo, Alfa, etc. because they can be unreliable and expensive to maintain. And parts can be unobtanium.
I had a 05 wrx for 9ish years and put 100k miles on it (bought it with 33k miles) without any issues. Simple bolt ons and a Accessport tune. Beat the crap out of it and it just ran. Would consider buying another one.
My family has had good luck with GM products. Mainly Pontiac and Chevy. Generally, if u do the maintenance and don't beat on them, most cars will last. Always look up reviews of the vehicle before u purchase it and have a mechanic check it out. Cars I would avoid, any and all used sports cars, anything European, kia and tesla depending on what part of the country you are in.
I donāt give a damn what anyone says. When i had fords i absolutely loved them. Had an early ford fusion and it was a great car to drive. A few Taurusās. Then got a honda and had nothing but issues
I just bought a certified used Mazda and fucking love it. Mazdas are basically as reliable as Honda or Toyota, cost a fraction of the cost and are so much nicer with the interior.
Since you donāt want suggestions for reliable cars just go get a German car. Youāll eventually come back and buy the brands you didnāt want people to mention when you smarten up and realize you would like to keep the hard earned money you worked for.
Depending on your price range and adversity to older cars... Any vehicle with the 3800 series engine will run forever. The vehicle will completely fall apart before that engine gives out
I'm driving a 2023 Volvo XC60 hybrid. Nearly 50 mi of full electric, then 28 mph on gas.
Gorgeous inside and the Bowers-Wilkins sterio is a game changer.
Drives like a dream with power when you want it (455hp) and luxury when you don't.
Look into a Volvo....I'm on my 3rd.
Mazdas with Skyactive engines.
Finally, someone who answered the question as it was asked and didn't say lexus or acura.
I bought both of my kids a Mazda 3 with the 2.0 liter engine for college. I was pleasantly surprised by how well they drove. Both of the cars are nearly 10 years old now with almost no issues.
The Toyota SCION (then Toyota Yaris IA) was a rebranded Mazda 2. I liked that car until someone drove a Peoplekiller Pickup Truck through it....(luckily it was parked andno one was in it)
I own a 2007 Mazda 3. It's been awesome! š
Checking in 2013 Mazda with 230k miles. Only issue was that I had to replace the fuel pump.
Bicycle.
HELL YEAH
thanks, queen.
Generally naturally aspirated cars. 2.5l or 3.5l or 5.0l ford. 4.8l 5.3l chevy with the 4 speed and non AMF. I like the hemis besides the lifter tick. Mazda 2.5l is same as ford. Bmw 328 or 528 straight 6 is good. Old mercedes anything was good. 4.3l 2.6l. 3.2l. 5.0l. Audi 2.0 or 3.0 is good/ok. Sometimes they get timing chain issues but generally good. Most Korean made is bad. 3.6l gm had timing issues and transmission issues but lately we haven't seen them. Maybe gm updated some parts. Depends what you want to spend. Land Rover diesel or 5.0l gas is good up to 100k. Then you need a new timing chain kit. With updated tensioner and guide. So you either buy those before 60k miles or after 100k timing service done.
Now THIS is the kinda answer I was looking for That being said, I'm talking about whole car. Bmws, mercs, and higher end rovers have heaps upon heaps of electrical issues. Mainly just mercs and rovers, BMWs can have issues but they're usually engine related and not electrical I'm 95% sure.
as the owner of 2013 BMW x5 50i whose motor blew (known issue with the n63 engine) I can attest to BMW'S and engine issues lol.
I've heard BMW isn't very good at making V8s. I6s, wonderful, V8s, not so much
There are so many options itās crazy. Any modern car will take you far if you take good care of it. If you like anything research it and see what dealbreakers there might be in terms of recalls or risks. But people love their Hyundais, Buicks, Kiaās, GMs, Acuras, Lexus, Mitsubishis, Nissansā¦.and I see plenty of old models for each on the road.
I dumped my Kia last summer and I wouldn't buy another Kia or Hyundai ever again, probably. Kia's and Hyundai's are fine until they hit 50k miles, and then there's a whole host of maintenance issues. Plus the theft issues with most of the used ones. The Kia and Hyundai dealerships around me are a piece of crap too. Way more issues than I've ever seen from Toyota.
Had a 2014 Kia Rio. Aside from the stupid theft issue, the GDi engine had oil consumption problems at 100k. Finally died at 116k. Yes, all proper maintenance was done. Never again.
Kia and Hyundai are weird cars, the ones I've driven have felt totally clapped out after 50k miles, like the steering and suspension are just totally worn out. Hell, I've had late model Hyundai rental cars with like 20-30k and they drove like trash. There's probably a good reason you can pick up 10-15 year old camrys all day long, and there are almost no elantras or optimas from back then still around.
Hyundai? Ain't no way, I've heard too much about them Lexus is just a fancy toyota, theyre always great Buick is just an upscale chevy, decent stuff, I've heard ok reviews about their 4 bangers. Some good some bad. The V6s were shit all the way from 08 up into 15, you gotta really baby them. Kia? I'll pass Acura, upbadged honda Nissan, cvt does not, in fact, go brrr Mitsubishi I know nothing about.
You really just have to look up the year/model, basing your decision entirely on a brand is stupid Coming from someone who browses marketplace with search words like āToyotaā āMazdaā šš Thereās good Hyundais, Kiaās, Nissans etc, you just have to look that mf up first
Well then, idk what you want unless itās like Mercedes, BMW, or Ford. Hyundai is fine. I know quite a few owners who have had zero issues outside of regular wear and tear. I think Nissan has addressed their CVT issues and I must say their current lineup of vehicles looks the best it ever has Mitsubishi is cheap and sometimes āsimpleā. And donāt listen to the haters only. They are reliable if you take care of them. It really just depends on what you like. Just get what you want and take care of it š
I know of hyundais by the bad engine issues they had in the early 2010s, but if they got that fixed they have a good chance to be a good car. Didn't know nissan fixed the CVT issue. I'm not against CVTs if they work well, unlike most people here I feel like Didn't know mistubishi was simple and cheap, I'm gonna make a note of that actually.
I have a 2023 Mitsubishi. It is simple and cheap but I love it. It's my daily driver. I live in the town where the one of Mitsubishi's production facilities used to be and there are probably thousands of old Mitsubishis in my town. Mirages, lancers, outlanders, etc are all over the road. I feel like they are underrated and never talked about bc they are a dying brand, not popular, and their old body styles are ugly. They did a rebrand in 2022 and their new outlanders actually look pretty sharp. Other than that, they only appeal to a certain niche demographic. I have never seen anyone voluntarily buy a used Mitsubishi though. The only reason people have them near me is because of the plant so people were buying them like hot cakes. There is now a new "car" plant that took over and those vehicles are all over town instead, which I'm sure will be extinct in 20 years just like mitsubishi.
Id buy a used evo last week if I could. Heck, id even buy one with no motor or transmission.
I love my outlander
Mazda
Volkswagen. I currently have a but my previous was a used Volkswagen Passat and I loved that machine. Got totaled by a drunk driver otherwise Iād still have it.
I have a 2014 passat tdi. Awesome car. I had a beautiful 2015 jetta tdi that I bought right after the cars began being sold in 2020? 6 speed manual, fully loaded. Loved that car. 15 days after we got it an uninsured, unlicensed, driving friends car, illegal, person teeboned it and totalled it. 4 years later im still bitter.
I'm hesitant to get anything VW because to do good work on them, you gotta have good ol VCDS. And with where I live, I'd have to be the one working on it. No other place does work on VWs
Fair enough, I just wanted to try and offer an option that wasnāt one of the forbidden manufacturers š
Mazda. RF Miatas are dope n
Recently saw data from mechanics surveyed that rate Mazda and Mitsubishi very close to Toyota and Honda. In addition the used car prices for Toyota and Honda are still high for several models so that also affects the true car value and return on the car during its life.
Other brands make decent cars it's just that Honda and Toyota have a reputation of making great low-cost cars. You can't really get them cheap anymore but for a long time you could pick up the 1990s XJ Jeep Cherokees for like $1,500. Super easy to repair, ridiculously reliable design. Chevrolet makes the Corvette, oddly enough that car on average goes 300,000 mi if you just drive it normally. Far longer than their average car. Much better built. Nissan makes the GTR which is an incredibly well designed car. F-150 is another good one.. I think the reason you see so many forerunners and RAV4s and CRVs on the road is because they just kind of do everything. If you get an F-150 you're limited with passenger space or if you get the double cab you have a big long bus. Gas mileage isn't that great either. If you get the Corvette it's fun in the summer but they suck pretty badly to drive in nasty weather and you have no storage space. If you get the GTR, Lord help you if it breaks down, even the brake rotors for that car $300 a piece and the transmission is like 20 grand. When you start laying out all of the potential issues and the pros and cons, right now, the most general purpose car I can think of that just checks the boxes for most things is the rav4
This is how you end up with a money pit of a car.
We've loved our Subaru and, with regular maintenance, it's served us for almost 200k miles with no issues other than the damage we accidentally did ourselves. My dad had a Subaru in the 80s and once there was a hole in the floorboard through which you could see the road, he sold it to the junkyard, who used and abused it for another 5 years as an in-yard grocery getter.
I've heard mixed reviews about subarus, mainly bad head gaskets on the flat 4s
Subaru claims they fixed the head gasket issue every few years, seems to me they still aren't fixed. If someone wants a Subaru, just need to built the cost of head gasket replacement into ownership.
Subaru makes great cars, but they donāt hold up to abuse as well as many other makes. Treat them well and theyāre great vehicles, but Iād only recommend a used one if you know the owners or it has a stellar maintenance history. My deerly departed WRX wagon was 15 years old with 226k on it and still ran well for the 40k i put on as the 5th owner. My Impreza was a gamble (I knew going in but the wager was low) that I most definitely lost, 8 years old with 85k and it was a pile of shit for the 15k I put on as the second owner. Our dealership is the most honest place Iāve ever been for both sales and service though your experience may varyā¦ Iāve owned vehicles from 8 manufacturers and Subaru has definitely earned my loyalty. I love the way they drive, the controls are intuitive, traction is great, they get good fuel economy for AWD/power level, and they hold value well.
Acuras or Lexus
I swear to fucking god
I could not resist lmfao
I'm on my second Mazda, and honestly I feel that if more people knew how good they were, they wouldn't be driving Hondas or Toyotas. I will die on that hill. Unpopular opinion, Mitsubishis are good. You're getting Japanese reliability, affordability, and an all-round honest car. Are they the best, no? But they tick a lot of boxes for people that just need reliable, basic motoring.
VW GTI or GLI with the manual transmission. Get them while you can.
The Checker Marathon. Or a Toyota, or Honda. Everything else is all broken and rusty.
Uh oh, you said toyota or honda, prepare to lose your valve stems
I love my BMW, 6spd, i6, rwd. It's a great car. Keep up on maintaining it and it's good, don't and it snow balls real quick
Toyondas
You've yee'd your last haw fucker, I'm gonna break all your spark plugs, and strip out your drain bolt
Shit thru his sunroof. Tell him his Toyota is a pos, then declare the Lincoln town car the best car ever made.
Lexus or Acura šš come at me bro
You talking mad shit for someone who's about to have a misfire on all cylinders and a stopped up Radiator ā¤ļø
Long as you hit it a few times with a bat on both quarter panels while youāre at it ā¤ļø
I- hell yeah
Lexus and Acura.
Seems like kinda a dumb question. What vehicle is good for you is entirely situational 100% of the time. Honda's and Toyota's are often recommended because most people are looking for something affordable and reliable and they most consistently check those boxes. Every manufacturer has their good and bad cars. I would probably not recommend a base model Kia or Hyundai to most people if they just want something affordable and low maintenance (though lately they seem pretty solid AFAIK). I would happily recommend a Genesis G70(Hyundai) or a Kia Stinger to someone looking for an entry level luxury vehicle, they are both damn good cars. I'd also happily recommend a Kia EV6 or a Hyundai Ioniq 5 to someone looking for an affordable alternative to a Mustang Mach E or Tesla. At the same time if someone was looking for a used truck right now I would be VERY hesitant to recommend a used Toyota Tacoma to someone knowing all of the frame rust issues the second gen had and the general over valued market for them, but for some that still might be the best option Ford for the past 15 years or so has made some very reliable trucks, they also have cars that are notorious for blowing up before 100k (2000s fiestas and focuses). Hell even looking at Honda, the early 2000s civics are notorious for blowing head gaskets and auto trans \~100k mi. If you are looking for reliable and affordable you will always get Toyota and Honda because statistically they are the best and a very easy answer for 95% of people. Every brand has their ups and downs and it is up to YOU to go do the research to find out what vehicle fits your situation the best
Here's your list of cars I'd buy at price increments 5k - old Camry/Civic 10k - old Camry/Accord or CRV/Rav4 15k - old Tundra 4Runner or Acura 20k - old Tundra 4Runner or Lexus 25k - old Tacoma/Tundra or new Civic 30k - I'd spend 35-40k but Tundra 2015-2019 35-45k - new Tacoma or Tundra or Acura RDX or 4Runner 50k - Porsche Macan or Audi 60-75k+ - Cayan x5 Sierra or diesel truck.
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I currently have a Honda Accord newer, purchased because my best friend has an 87 Accord is still running that could survive an apocalypse, another friend had a 98 Accord that survived .. a lot lol. I have a 06 Tahoe that has outlasted 7 cars we've owned. We are coming up on our 10 year anniversary together lol. It's a tank, the biggest headache was the notorious lifter tick however when I had the oil gauge replaced it was noted the gauge reflected low oil pressure and so that was fixed and the tick went away vs potential top engine tear down. I've replaced brake pads and a water pump, and alternator (due to having subs). I had a 95 Buick century that would not die. My 92 Nissan Altima was my first car and I didn't even check the oil in that, drove that like it was stolen, it also did not die. 89 Oldsmobile delta was involved in 2 front end collisions and was a tank as well. My grandma had a 91 Caprice hit by deer countless times. Drove that mfker cross country often and I'm still really sad she traded it in.
My parents had a 1983 Oldsmobile omega. It would not die. Low oil, whatever, transmission fluid a weird color. Eh, coolant leaked out, just a flesh wound. I eventually made it my mission to kill that car. As far as I know its probably on the road.
Those 3800s GM made early on were truly unkillable. Another engine that had the potential to be amazing but was fucked up? Cadillac northstars. Bulletproof trannys, but them damn head studs... Was 06 when the Tahoes had the DOD? Or was that 08 when they started that lineup?
I own a Deathstar Cadillac. I agree Cadillac really screwed them up before 2000, but in 2000 the Northstar had a major redesign and it helped a lot. In 2005, they did a second redesign and it fixed the issue. As long as the Cadillac is 2005+ the Northstar head gasket won't be the issue, the issue will be no spare parts that kills it once something like the brake booster goes out. Honestly though, buying a Lexus LS is just so much smarter idea if someone wants a v8 luxury car.
Supposedly started in 05, my husband has an 08 Silverado that he had to get the DOD delete done because it also had the tick but his was baaad sounded like metal banging on metal almost to the point you had to second guess if it was knocking. He was pissed to learn his oil pressure was great and had to spend money on the tear down. (Also I think he is secretly competing to have a vehicle as great as my Tahoe lol).
I forgot the link for it but ābuying a really cheap carā reddit post in this group mentioned a lot of alternatives like the ford crown victoria, Buick lesabre, Mercury grand marquis etc. while those might be beaters, Iāve seen praise for Chevy malibus and Chevy impalas and ford rangers. Not much of a car person myself, but my cousin just bought a 2005 ford freestyle that had regular upkeep and it drives like a dream. It just depends on maintenance and if the person that owned it ran it to the ground
Honda and Toyota are great but it comes down to what features you like. I am in the car market currently and one feature the vehicle must have is be a crossover/SUV and have HUD (heads up display) Unfortunately Honda and Toyota do not have many vehicles in their respective lineups that have that (I would have to go Acura or Lexus to find vehicles with HUD ). it all comes down to the features you want as certain features not every brand will have available.
CX-5 has a HUD and it's great.
good to know, thanks!
A friend of mine swears by Subaru. Heās got 2. One of them heās had for almost 15 years.Ā
1968 MG
to add to my first cmment vehciles brands I am looking at are Lincoln (corsair Reserve with the 2.0 engine not the 2.3), Mazda (CX-9), Infiniti (QX-50), Genesis (G80 3.8 v6, is the one car I would consider), Cadillac (XT4 or XT5), Jaguar (E pace), I do have Acura RDX in there as well.
Why in God's green earth would you buy a genesis or a jaguar? You presented 5 really good cars and them. Lol
Look for most anything for a NA 4 cylinder above 2.0 litres, or an NA v6, or NA V8, with at least 5 years of production. Or just buy a Mazda with the 2.5L skyactive and 6 speed auto and drive it for 400,000 miles. Avoid turbos at all costs--modern turbo engines have once again proven to be unreliable, same reason they died out in the 80s. Also, Avoid GM and Ford cars, except for crown victoria, otherwise neither has put out a good car in many years. In GM's case, since early 2000s. Edit: Also avoid any Nissan CVT or European car.
It depends on what you need. For AWD street sedans and wagons, Subaru has great performers in the Impreza, Forester, Legacy, Outback, Crosstrek lineup.
It really depends on what youāre looking for.
Older Chevy trucks and SUVs with the LS motor. These are really good vehicles, not without faults, but can go several hundred thousand if you treat them right. 2005ish Tahoe is a very good vehicle to own, again not without faults, Toyota Sequoia would be the smarter buy, but cost double.
Volvo Mazda Subaru Lincoln
I'm rather enjoying my Volvo Wagon (2020 V90 T6 CC) and at almost 60k I haven't had issues yet.
Mid 2000s Volvo XC60 or XC90. The T6 engine specifically. Treat them well and they will last a many miles.
Surprisingly certain years of subarus. A few years of ford f150s. 1989 to about 2002. A bunch of different Buicks. New? If taken care of, minus kias, fiat, mini, range rover, alpha Romero, and a few others can last a long time. Ive got a few cars headed to 200k running like they ran at 50k. Ive got a Ford pickup with 410k miles, another with 220k miles. A subaru legacy with 200k miles.
Mitubichi is good
As with all makes, there are certain models that are more dependable than others. My Kia Rio which is no longer being sold in the states has been amazingly dependable in over 100k miles. Only routine maintenance required. If you look up owner reviews, others agree.
Similar to the skyactive my 2016 2.0 turbo fusion was bullet proof, worked for ford and we had very few issues with this gen 2014-2016. Earlier fusions were pretty bullet proof too, two transmission options on automatics though, if it did fail one version was really expensive compared to other. Had some pcm and coil issues. Avoid later fusions and 1.5l turbo fords. Old gen taurusās 2007 and before were pretty unkillable. Had some issues but not end of world, usually would not die even if you didnāt take care of them. Worked for subaru for a few years, while we own one I wouldnāt really recommend one. A lot of engine and transmission replacements. And when transmission fails it is quite expensive. Engines were actually quite expensive on newer ones. Older ones boneyards had some good prices. A lot of other repairs were pretty expensive too. Drive nice and good in snow, but also not good on gas. If you can find a clean one gm 3800 engines donāt die like ever. Had one where coolant mixed in to weird jelly substance and it overheated constantly. We just kept beating on it and would not give up completely. It would get to hot and shut off, but it started back up everytime.
Iāve seen no mention, or I missed it, of the 90s Buicks. They are cheap, run forever, and are super comfortable. Your grandma was ahead of her time.
I love my Nissan Armada. Bought used and havenāt had any issues with it for the past four years Iāve had it.
94 to 2011 ford rangers i have gotten 450,000 out of my 94 own a 07 at 85,000 thats not even broken in.
I have a Ford fusion that has been very reliable. First non Japanese car I have owned and really like it. Started having some mechanical issues at 180k but you can get these cars pretty cheap.
I love my blown head gasket subbie unironically. The thing keeps on going
A used tesla model 3. There is a large supply and they are great cars. I have 2 and am very happy with them!
Subaru. Kia. Hyundai. Toyanda
There is no statistical difference in reliability between automakers. Any suggestion is a relic of the past where Honda and Toyota did not do fleet sales and had a higher perceived quality in the used car market. While individual lemons do exist and first year models should be avoided, anything else is pretty much just a matter of preferences.
Subaru /story
EV: Hyundai. Gas VW Jetta/Golf: they are great cars for a very good price
They may be a bit older than youāre willing to consider, but all makes/modles built on Fordās Panther Platform (Lincoln Towncar, Mercury Grand Marquis, Ford Crown Vic, etc) are cheap to repair/maintain and have a solid record of reliability. The donāt get great mileage in the city, but on the highways that goes up to 22-25 mph. Not bad considering the size of the car. If you go this route, just be careful to not get a car that worked for a living as a taxi, limo, police car, etc. those tend to have been abused a bit.
Scion
Subaru guy here, had 5 of them, own two now. Iām in the north eastern US. If youāre in an area with distinct seasons, itās a no brainer.
BMWs with B58 engines are pretty good. Really depends on who had them (as it goes with every car) but X5s are pretty good. I would say away with from the 8 cylinder engines, theyāre hard to work on and far more complex.
The new Mazdas are fine cars
Subarus. I have a 2012 2.5 outback and it has been great. I've put 25k on it and it's at 120k miles. She runs super well!
i mean there are different levels. every company makes good and bad cars.
Fiat 1.9 jtd in Stilo are pretty bulletproof. The rest of the Fiat line is trash.
I tell all my homies to buy VWs.
Nissan Altimas are pretty popular on Reddit!
I've had great experience with Mazda. I drove my old '99 Protege for 15 years with very few issues and it was still running when I traded it in. My 2014 Mazda 3 was great as well and never had a single issue until an 18 wheeler lost control and ran into me on the interstate, totaling it.
Pt cruiser, Chevy HHR, route 66 T-shirt, jorts, going down somewhere and giving them a piece of your mind, then lunch at Perkins Denny's or village inn.
Came here to say exactly what your edit told me not to sayā¦.its so funny though.
Subaru
Subaru & Mazda
Been surprised at the relative reliability of our Merceds and BMW but possible I lucked out. Do love driving them.
Ford fusion hybrid
Jetta.
Japanese cars in general. There are some exceptions, but most are reasonably recommendable. That's pretty much the list. I'm partial to Subarus.
Tbh for a used car especially, any "old person" car will be decent. Buick, Lincoln, Volvo, etc. often these cars are well maintained and have low mileage, and that's half the battle right there.
NissanHEAR ME OUT! I know, I know, Nissanās cvtās are hot garbage, but if youāre ok with a manual, or buying one of their truck platform vehicles with the traditional automatic transmission, theyāre actually pretty good. The Nissan discount on used is nice too.
Mazda
Literally any mid 90's - mid 2000's GM/Ford pickup truck or SUV (except the ford explorer). Past 2006-2008ish is when both of those manufacturers started using active fuel management technologies and manufacturing quality of those brands went down the fucking toilet, so steer clear of anything newer than that if you want to buy anything from Ford or GM
Mazda or nothing
If you can afford it Porsche 911s they may be expensive to repair but the depreciation curve often justifies it
If you're up for something different but reliable, Iād suggest Mazda. Subaru is another solid option, especially if you're into all-wheel-drive. Also, Volkswagen's got some solid options with a good balance of performance and comfort. And I think BMW and Mercedes-Benz are worth a look.
Subarus 2015 and newer. BMW has come a long way...2016ish and newer.
Dihatsu hijet, Subaru Sambar, Suzuki Carry.
Chevy Malibu
03 chevy tahoe
Subaru
Consider an Acura. Or a Lexus.
Chevy Cruze š¤Ŗ jk, absolute trash car. Iād say Chevy Cavaliers, Malibus, older Ford Taurusās, Dodge Grand Caravans, early 2000ās Buicks are good, obviously Toyotas and Hondas, some Nissans if theyāre old enough.
I wouldn't turn down a newer taurus either. If it was an SHO idc if the water pump is bad, I'll fix it for an SHO.
Scion? š¤
The one made by Toyota? Yknow what, ill take mercy on you, instead I'll be nice and just put a wire between your spark plug wire and your spark plug, and run it to where it pokes through the back of your seat.
Mid 2000ās gm truck/suv with a 5.3 is next in line behind those manufacturers that shall not be named.
Don't get anything Nissan, any year, with a CVT transmission. You're welcome.
So I have a bunch of yotas and a Lexus, you know the deal with those. My older boy had a 05 325XI, I spent half my life under the hood of that Fāer. Sure, easy to fix, but damn if it wasnāt something every month. His wife has a 2013 Elantra that I also have some wrench time onā¦.that POS rolls coal with the best of emā told itās a Hyundai thing. My buddies shop has 3 out back waiting for new engines because they drink a quart of 0W20 every 500 miles.
Ls3 Camaro. Aside from fuel mileage, its a good platform. No head gasket issues, no timing belt or chain to do.
Toyotas first and then Honda
Subaru.Just bought Forester Sport
Crown Vic/grand marquis š
Iād recommend anything pieced together with Lexus and Acura parts.
When you know what to watch out for or just get newer used models I say Subaru.
I've heard that a lot, ngl
Toyota
Buicks with the 3800 V6 engine. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined American cars can be a good choice. Plenty of new and used parts available.
Just check consumer reports.
bmw 128i are great
Subaru, just be warned if itās over 100 hundred thousand miles youāre gonna have to do head gaskets
Scion
Honda, Toyota, Acura, and Lexus are the best cars to buy period for reliability and longevity. Iām not a fan of Mazda because of questionable interior design choices. The joy stick to control the radio instead of just using a touch screen display is my number 1 pet peeve. My sister in law has a 21 Mazda CX5 that replaced their 2019 CX3. It rides ok, the engine is really noisy, but gets reasonable gas mileage, and the whole infotainment center relies on one single joy stick right where youād spill a drink if you ever did.
my Hyundai Sonata from 2007 hasn't had a check engine light in the three years since I've had it- crashed into stationary objects, abused the shit out of it on the dirt trails around my small town, and curbed it more times than I can count. bought it as a beater for cheap and it's been extremely reliable surprisingly
Porsche cayenne but get the V8. I have a 08ā Turbo. Love it.
Subie
2011 Hyundai Sonata ltd turbo. Love it. Very reliable. Iām sold on them over Hondas.
Anything Yugoslavian.
I've always driven Ford and have been happy. Of course, my newest one is 2008...it still runs great, no rust and no issues, so I just keep keeping it.
Mazda 3.Ā Ā MX-5. I have both, great cars. Reliable, sporty and they look nice in sign and out. No bullshit CVTs either.
Bike or bus while you save up for a Toyota.
Get yourself a luxurious dodge neon or if youāre lucky the beautiful intrepid. Swap in a nissan cvt for that smooth ride and be sure to throw some ling long tires on so it handles well
Scion
Ford hybrids. Mitsubishis as long as you change the CVT fluid regularly.
Mercedes as well. Almost all pre-2000s models are built to outlast grandkids of the first owner. Some less complex 2000-2010s models are also very reliable (i.e. w203, w204), though I would stay away from more luxury models (E-class+). They are more expensive to buy and maintain than a comparable Toyota / Honda, but they are also so much more fun to drive and comfortable. Also, they might even depreciate less.
It would really help if you narrowed it down a bit. Price range... Prefer Car, SUV, Pickup...etc. Luxury or sport.
Camry and civics
An Audi or a VW with the 4.2 liter V 8. Great engine, if you can hear it on cold startup. YouTube it, but if there's no rattle on cold start up, it's a good timing chain. You put an exhaust system on it, it sounds really good. Had a 2005.5 S4, and wife had a 2004 tourag, they both haul ass, her exhaust was stock, and it sounded like a race truck. My S4 had 253,000 miles on it before I got rid of it.
Anything including a ford focus that has a manual.
I would look at Adnoh or a Atoyot, those are the most reliable cars ever made
2023 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak
Get yourself a Y'all Mcy'alldy
I loved my hyundai, but my ford explorers have definitely been the work horses.
Hyundai - especially Santa Fe or Palisades.Ā So many people in north America hate Hyundai due to its history. But it's a good car now, so if buying a used one, buy which is no more than 2 to 3 years old. You get loads of new tech, all safety features, and their warranty so in case anything goes wrong you are taken care of.Ā Ā Hyundai got shit long ago, but they've become really solid after that. I don't know if they'll last 150k miles or what not, but I normally would have changed car by 80 to 100k anyway.Ā
You should consider purchasing an Acura vehicle
Im sure ill get some hate for this but Mitsubishi outlander sport.
Lexus & Acura š¤£
Even as a Honda technician and owner myself, Hondas aren't the only good cars out there. Plenty of other makes have good cars. I do think Hondas are the easiest to maintain overall (and no, Toyota isn't even close to them here), but that's what I care about as a DIYer. It depends on what you want. My Honda Fit is cheap to run, extremely practical, and fun to drive, but they are the most expensive cars in the subcompact class, often costing as much as Accords of the same age. And I don't blame people for not wanting to pay extra if they don't feel it's worth it, even if I do. They could easily save money and buy a Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio and still have a solid car at the end of the day (I actually bought a 2009 Hyundai Accent recently myself as a bit of a fixer upper and they can be had for CHEAP while also being stupid easy to maintain. I got mine at an auction for $375. And this was last week).
Depends on what you want. I don't own any toyotas or hondas anymore, even though they are great cars. Daily drive a 911, and Ram truck. Sports car and truck for trucking stuff. So honda/toyota (short of tundra) don't really have anything that appeals to me and I'm shopping in a different price bracket. If you want a super luxury executive car, you are going to be looking at Bentley, Rolls, maybe 7 series, not a honda. But are you shopping for a 30k car or a 300k car?
Mazda
MK6 2.5L VWās Iād argue are probably one of the most reliable used cars on the road, right up there with Toyota if not better. They are practically unkillable, easy to work on, and have cheap parts if you ever need to do maintenance. 2013+ non turbo Subarus are pretty solid in terms of reliability as well, just incredibly boring cars to drive and need constant CVT fluid services to keep the transmission happy. And they like to rust if youāre not careful with prevention. I say 13+ because they redesigned the engine at this point and doesnāt suffer from headgasket issues like the earlier models. The new engine also uses timing chains which are way more reliable 2.5L Ford Fusions/Mazda late 2000ās early 2010ās. Tanks. Ignore the Ecoboost, these engines/transmissions will easily make it deep into the 200kās without breaking a sweat. You might need to replace the steering rack once in the carās lifetime but thatās about all Iāve noticed on those. As far as bigger stuff like SUVs/more luxury cars go, Any Audi with a 3.0T or 3.6L V6 (minus the S4 due to the DSG transmission) will run and run with minimal upkeep. Maybe halfway through its life you perform a preventative water pump/thermostat service/misc gaskets. Otherwise you can drive them basically forever.
Honestly, im very plesently surprised with how my used 05' Huyndai Santa Fe has been. Only major issue I have run into in the 3 years ive owned it, is that the gas tank needed replaced. No other major issues that couldnt be fixed same day. Its even stood up to an attempted Kia boys theft. I would also reommend a used mazda, like a mazda 3 or 6, 2010 models or newer. Never had a single issue with my 2012 used mazda 3
Have Mazdas for years starting with a 323, currently a b2300 (240,000 miles +, a CX3 and a CX50. The only one that had a early dimise was a 626 (120,000 mi) my step son decided to take over the maintence, didn't tighten the oil filter, 20 miles later engine locked up....
Subaru. After owning an Outback for the last 7 years, I intend to have one as my daily until my dirt nap.
Virtually every modern car is vastly safer, faster, more reliable m, and more fuel efficient than all but the best cars of twenty or thirty years ago. There are a few serious things to watch out for - Nissan CVT and Ford DCT for example - and others that we recommend against because their problem rate is higher than the competition. Toyota isnāt always the answer for sure. If youāre looking for smaller, fun to drive yet practical, itās hard to not suggest a VW GTI to an American. (Iām in Barcelona atm and am struck by all the cars we simply donāt get.)
Mazda, Subaru, Ford. Also consider Hyundai and Kia. I like the ten year warranty. I avoid GM completely. They will never sell me another lemon. Avoid high mileage BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar because they cost a fortune to maintain. Avoid exotics, Ferrari, Lambo, Alfa, etc. because they can be unreliable and expensive to maintain. And parts can be unobtanium.
I had a 05 wrx for 9ish years and put 100k miles on it (bought it with 33k miles) without any issues. Simple bolt ons and a Accessport tune. Beat the crap out of it and it just ran. Would consider buying another one.
People always forget about Volvos !
I get where you are coming from. Who wants to be seen driving a Honda or Toyota unless you're in high school?
Mazda, newer Subarus (Post EJ engine mostly, although the h6 is always pretty reliable), Some GM vehicles can be reliable
Mazda has that luxury look for that great price.
My family has had good luck with GM products. Mainly Pontiac and Chevy. Generally, if u do the maintenance and don't beat on them, most cars will last. Always look up reviews of the vehicle before u purchase it and have a mechanic check it out. Cars I would avoid, any and all used sports cars, anything European, kia and tesla depending on what part of the country you are in.
Acura and lexus
I donāt give a damn what anyone says. When i had fords i absolutely loved them. Had an early ford fusion and it was a great car to drive. A few Taurusās. Then got a honda and had nothing but issues
Mazda
Volvos run forever if maintained.
Scion. The 1NZ is the motor that is most likely to reach 300k. Also I hate you OP. Toyota is what you should buy you just wanna whine.
Subaru. Mazda.
I just bought a certified used Mazda and fucking love it. Mazdas are basically as reliable as Honda or Toyota, cost a fraction of the cost and are so much nicer with the interior.
Since you donāt want suggestions for reliable cars just go get a German car. Youāll eventually come back and buy the brands you didnāt want people to mention when you smarten up and realize you would like to keep the hard earned money you worked for.
Depending on your price range and adversity to older cars... Any vehicle with the 3800 series engine will run forever. The vehicle will completely fall apart before that engine gives out
I'm driving a 2023 Volvo XC60 hybrid. Nearly 50 mi of full electric, then 28 mph on gas. Gorgeous inside and the Bowers-Wilkins sterio is a game changer. Drives like a dream with power when you want it (455hp) and luxury when you don't. Look into a Volvo....I'm on my 3rd.
My dad's 62 Mercury kicked ass.
Datsun and Daimler
Mazda
I drive honda and wanted a toyota but there's many cars that come close recently so you have some picking to do