Best Make for a Used Car?

[T'Baio]

What would you say is the best make of vehicle to buy for a reliable used car, that is quality and won't be too expensive in the maintenance or eventual minor repair categories?

Also, what are your credentials for your opinion? Educated, as in mechanic? Experience? Both?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Holdfast]

Something Japanese.

My credentials? I post on the fucking internet. That makes me an expert on EVERYTHING.

 

[nevermore]

Purely anecdotal, but my 1995 Mazda Protege, which I bought used in 1999 with ~80,000 miles, is still running, and I have put less than $1000 into it in that time (it's at about 130,000 miles now, so I clearly don't drive much). It's fixing to die now, but I got my $3500 out of it, no question.

 

[Emher]

Well we bought the car I use now, a '99 Saab 9-5 used. It's now gone about 160K miles and have held up damned well. only changed the fuel pump once and now there's something odd with the A/C computer and it won't always start. Otherwise nothing to complain about except the usual ear and tear on the suspension and such. The gearbox is still great if a bit worn in the clutch.

Then again they are pretty solid cars to start with, I've actually already have a buyer for it in about a years time or so. A friend on my brother wants to buy it together with his dad since his dad is a mechanic, knows a lot about Saabs, and because it's one of the last years before everything started getting run by computers.

If you lived here in Sweden I'd definetly say get a used Saab, but as you live in the US I'd say it's bit uncertain you'd be able to get one cheaply nor get cheap parts when they break. So I'd say try and find a used Saturn Aura, they're siblings to the Saab 9-3.



And note that this is entirerly on experience on the user end, none on the mechanic end. However for comparison: Volvo's are supposed to be of very high quality, sturdy and the like. My dad owned four Volvos over a period of ten years. He always had problems with them after a year or so. One of them he brough into the shop four times for the same thing before finally giving up on it and buying the Saab. And as said, waaay less issues, and we've had it since 2002 now.

 

[T'Baio]

You see tons of Volkswagens on the road, but through research I've been reading anecdotal reports that they're actually not that reliable.

Anyone have any input on that?

 

[Emher]

Lots of people who drive Volkswagens are pretty proud of that fact and tend to want to keep them running, no matter the cost (not kidding, a friend of my cousins have had his Gold in the shop seven times in the past few years, and yet he refuses to sell it and something else). And yes there have been several studies showing that they aren't very reliable and do have to be repaired quite often.

 

[JonathonWally]

What would you say is the best make of vehicle to buy for a reliable used car, that is quality and won't be too expensive in the maintenance or eventual minor repair categories?

Also, what are your credentials for your opinion? Educated, as in mechanic? Experience? Both?

Thanks for your help!

Best bet? Probably a Toyota Camry. Honda Accords are up there too, but I think Camry's are the better bet.


Stay away from VWs

 

[nevermore]

You see tons of Volkswagens on the road, but through research I've been reading anecdotal reports that they're actually not that reliable.

Anyone have any input on that?

Depends on the year. The old diesels can go forever. That said, I had a 1985 Rabbit from about 1992-1997 and it did have to be repaired fairly often, though the cost of those repairs was generally low becasue lots of used parts are available. It was not well cared for by the previous owner, so YMMV.

 

[Canadave]

Hondas and Toyotas are probably your best bets, as I understand it. I'm not a mechanic or anything, but as far as I've heard they're two of the best brands for long-term reliability.

 

[HighteeHeller]

I will second Hondas and Toyotas. My ex-fil who has been in the car business forever would tell you the same. He would also tell you not to buy a VW.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

corsa

 

[Finn]

Don't dismiss recent Hyundai models. My Elantra is 2 years old and runs great.

 

[JonathonWally]

Don't dismiss recent Hyundai models. My Elantra is 2 years old and runs great.

Running good after only 2 years isn't really an accurate gauge of longevity and reliability. I'm sure it is a great car, but no where near old enough to give a good read.

 

[Luke Warmwater]

It's between Honda and Toyota. I take it that you're Canadian (as am I), so I'd actually go after a Honda. A pre-2001 (1996-2000) MY Honda Civic is pretty good, only because the 2001-2005 MY Civic is pretty rubbish in terms of build quality and ride. For Toyotas, they tend to start having electrical issues, especially with lighting, sooner than any Honda I've owned, and I've owned a lot.

I currently own a Suzuki, and from what I've seen, the best all around vehicle you could get is a Suzuki Aerio. I've found the engines to be just as robust as the Hondas and Toyotas. The Aerio is a bit more quirky, but in the end it's up to you.

As for my credentials, I'm just a gearhead who has a big interest in cars. I'm not a mechanic, but I've read up enough about cars and car design to know one part of the engine from another.

 

[Finn]

^I know. I was going off reviews and ratings and word of the ear when I was car shopping about how Hyundai has been doing better and catching up with Honda and Toyota in the past several years. I was just saying my car is two years old as in it is a recent model. I actually had it for only nine months.

 

[JonathonWally]

It's between Honda and Toyota. I take it that you're Canadian (as am I), so I'd actually go after a Honda. A pre-2001 (1996-2000) MY Honda Civic is pretty good, only because the 2001-2005 MY Civic is pretty rubbish in terms of build quality and ride. For Toyotas, they tend to start having electrical issues, especially with lighting, sooner than any Honda I've owned, and I've owned a lot.

I currently own a Suzuki, and from what I've seen, the best all around vehicle you could get is a Suzuki Aerio. I've found the engines to be just as robust as the Hondas and Toyotas. The Aerio is a bit more quirky, but in the end it's up to you.

As for my credentials, I'm just a gearhead who has a big interest in cars. I'm not a mechanic, but I've read up enough about cars and car design to know one part of the engine from another.

Well, Suzuki does build some engines and parts for Toyota. Like the 1.8 liter.

 

[Brolan]

Get a copy of the Consumer Reports annual car issue from your library and check out the models you are interested in.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Purely anecdotal, but my 1995 Mazda Protege, which I bought used in 1999 with ~80,000 miles, is still running, and I have put less than $1000 into it in that time (it's at about 130,000 miles now, so I clearly don't drive much). It's fixing to die now, but I got my $3500 out of it, no question.

I hope your Protege doesn't do what mine used to: take upwards of an hour to start in any temperature below about 20 degrees...I was never so happy to get rid of a car than that one. Didn't even care that I had to sell it back to the dealer for basically scrap.

 

[T'Baio]

What does anyone think of a Subaru Outback?

 

[apostle83]

You see tons of Volkswagens on the road, but through research I've been reading anecdotal reports that they're actually not that reliable.

Anyone have any input on that?

I own a company that sells automotive engines internationally. Them's my credentials.

Lowest maintenance due to price of parts and reliability is going to be the Ford Crown Victoria platform. There are tons of them out there, you can get new and used parts cheap, they are super reliable - taxis, cop cars, etc. Super safe too.

Downside is they have a 4.6L engine so for a car they don't get good gas mileage.

I love Toyota for their quality, but I'm actually thinking right now a Ford Taurus is the best value used. They're reliable (as long as you go with a Dual Overhead Cam engine, not the overhead valve engine) and they have the same advantage of their big brother - cheap parts, new and used. Toyota is GREAT, but parts for them are just more expensive than Ford.

Now, I drive an Audi. I love it. But it's very maintenance intensive.

I put my GF in a Toyota Camry. If I had to do it over today, it would be a tough choice between a used Camry and a used Taurus... for me, it would hands down be a used Taurus. My opinion might change in six months, but a Taurus will always be a good value imo, used - their value drops like a rock compared to Toyota's, so you can get a lot of car for your money.

BTW, now is a sucky time to buy a used car.