Most reliable cars?

[Manta A]

998420 said:

At great risk of lowering the time somewhat, has it occurred to you to actually talk to a cab driver ?

Mines of useful information about all sorts, cars, running costs and reliability are always popular subjects, surprisingly the Prius is popular and the batteries are not turning them into white elephants. Skodas with the 105bhp TD engine also racking up hundreds of thousands of kilometres with no issues.

80 series Land Cruisers are utterly epic, really regret selling mine

Yes, I like to look at the taxi ranks for ideas on the next car. I have owned an 2003 Octavia SDI from new. It has 172k on clock and has had a front lower arm, hazzard warning switch, brake light switch, one or two anti-roll bar links and a couple of cambelts only. Still on original battery and exhaust. I think the 105 TDs might be better for more miles although the SDIs still seemed to be used by taxi companies. I mainly think that because I read the SDI, at least when it came out, had a weak gearbox (although mine has been OK). Conversely however, there is no turbo to worry about on the SDI. I'd imagine the other VAG diesels with the same engines were good also.

Interestingly (if you in bathroom maybe) the mk1s were still being bought new as taxis years after the mk2 came out. You could buy them in europe as the "tour" i think. I like spotting the late plate "tour" mk1 octavias (I don't do trains as well if wondering).

I have my eye on the Dacia Logon at the moment but have only spotted one or two cabs so far. They are relatively simple and good value it would seem but don't know enough to recommend one. The 1.5dci engine also goes into one or two mercs although that doesn't necessarily make it reliable. Skoda don't seem to do simple anymore although I do like the tsi engine (to drive).

Edited by Manta A on Thursday 24th March 22:23

Edited by Manta A on Thursday 24th March 22:26

[Jeremy-tdym0]

I drove my Volvo S60 D5 bought new in '03 to 340,000. 44 tyres, 2 air con condensers, 1 Bi-Xenon headlight unit, 4 sets of discs & not much else. Original clutch too. Can't get better than that. Alternatively a VW Golf. Trawl through YouTube and you'll find numerous stories of mega mileages, including several over 1,000,000!

[Mr Tidy]

It is usually any car I haven't had!

Then again, I did buy a pre-registered BMW 123d in January 2008 which I kept until July 2014. Despite the N47 engine issues (failure of the cam-chain which is at the back of the engine) mine did over 80,000 miles with only tyres (3 sets), a battery and a starter motor (probably due to the stop-start nonsense) and was still on it's original brake pads and wiper blades so pretty good in my experience!

But when I no longer needed a diesel (thankfully) I sold it and am now enjoying RWD N/A petrol straight 6 loveliness! Paying some bills, but no more depreciation and so much more fun!

[998420]

Manta A said:

Yes, I like to look at the taxi ranks for ideas on the next car. I have owned an 2003 Octavia SDI from new. It has 172k on clock and has had a front lower arm, hazzard warning switch, brake light switch, one or two anti-roll bar links and a couple of cambelts only. Still on original battery and exhaust. I think the 105 TDs might be better for more miles although the SDIs still seemed to be used by taxi companies. I mainly think that because I read the SDI, at least when it came out, had a weak gearbox (although mine has been OK). Conversely however, there is no turbo to worry about on the SDI. I'd imagine the other VAG diesels with the same engines were good also.

Interestingly (if you in bathroom maybe) the mk1s were still being bought new as taxis years after the mk2 came out. You could buy them in europe as the "tour" i think. I like spotting the late plate "tour" mk1 octavias (I don't do trains as well if wondering).

I have my eye on the Dacia Logon at the moment but have only spotted one or two cabs so far. They are relatively simple and good value it would seem but don't know enough to recommend one. The 1.5dci engine also goes into one or two mercs although that doesn't necessarily make it reliable. Skoda don't seem to do simple anymore although I do like the tsi engine (to drive).

Edited by Manta A on Thursday 24th March 22:23

Edited by Manta A on Thursday 24th March 22:26

Interesting, from what I remember from my chat with the Valencia Taxista he said that the 105 gave even less problems in long term heavy use, as opposed to a known gearbox issue. Both were very good, he was in a MY 2009 Skoda at a guess, it had 430k km on it and appeared to be in pretty good shape, like some Avensis taxis I saw in the UK with 480k miles

A lot of Taxis now seem to be bought on generous discount/finance deals from manufacturers desperate to shift stock, so IMO you now get different feedback, there is no obvious win model, but lots of feedback on many different makes

[Manta A]

998420 said:

Interesting, from what I remember from my chat with the Valencia Taxista he said that the 105 gave even less problems in long term heavy use, as opposed to a known gearbox issue. Both were very good, he was in a MY 2009 Skoda at a guess, it had 430k km on it and appeared to be in pretty good shape, like some Avensis taxis I saw in the UK with 480k miles

A lot of Taxis now seem to be bought on generous discount/finance deals from manufacturers desperate to shift stock, so IMO you now get different feedback, there is no obvious win model, but lots of feedback on many different makes

Thanks 99. I thought they might get deals with manufacturers also and I suppose it might be within their interest to get them seen on the ranks in some cases? Nice to see cars getting high mileages and see no need to swap mine until it dies, even though I am pressured and can afford to do so.

Came across this journalists review of a turbo Octavia with 500k miles on it a while back: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lbgTmJ-nDCg

The Doblo is another car I have been interested in also due to its practicality and taxi popularity.

[Daniel-ezc4y]

The golden rule is simply to avoid any modern German. They are dreadful. Audi in particular are the most unreliable car around, fact. If you want German, go older (pre 2000), otherwise japs are tops, Volvos are a safe bet, or a well serviced looked after Ford. Trust me, I'm a Audi mechanic!

[Jimmy Recard]

Daniel-ezc4y said:

Audi in particular are the most unreliable car around, fact.

I don't think Audi is anywhere near being the most reliable make of car, but I dispute this 'fact'

[k-ink]

My biggest disaster was a VAG so I wouldn't be suprised. It had more Bork than all my other cars put together.

[grumpy52]

Just look on the hard shoulder on the motorway next time your on a trip .
Apart from blown tyres most of the cars awaiting assistance will be late model Germany cars .

[Rammy76]

k-ink said:

My biggest disaster was a VAG so I wouldn't be suprised. It had more Bork than all my other cars put together.

Same here, my Passat was a dreadful car.

I got a Volvo and have never regretted it.

[Baddie]

Volvo XC90, family owned from nearly new, and the worst car I've had (aside from old BMW M5's). Electrical issues cost a fortune, the angle gear went, and it sprang a major oil leak at 75k miles before I got rid.

Currently have a Ford Mondeo mkIV 2.5t. Bought it for 7k, 46000 miles. I'm aware of cracking liners and potential electrical issues, but it's big, comfy, safe and absolutely beautiful to drive. Recently had a major service, MOT and replacement of broken spring (warranty) for £264. It will now cost me £13 per month to service for 3 years with Ford. It's an awful lot of car for the money, and for much less than the OP's budget he could swap a Mondy every 4 years or so if there were any problems.

[merckenzie]

Lots of people say Japanese, but mu vote goes with Volvo. If you want do do serious miles, you need a comfy seat. You don't get better than Volvo in that dept.
Value for Money, a late S60 (2006-2009)represents a good shout. All the bits (and you will need bits on ANY older car) are cheap and easily available. Diesels are good for 200k miles, petrols are good for more...but you pay for it in fuel consumption. Expect 45-50 from a manual S60 2.4 diesel (maybe more), expect 35 from a petrol if driven gently.
Why not a V70, essentially the same car? Estates tend to get more abuse...simple as that.
Whatever you buy, look after it and ENJOY it.

[cptsideways]

Later Volvo's have far too many French or Ford bits though.

[anonymous-user]

Zammy said:

CX53 said:

We've just bought a newer shape (02) Corolla for the Mrs to use, Hopefully it proves to be a reliable thing. If not then I'm sure one of the local takeaways would be interested in buying it!

Had one of these on an 02 plate for 5 years, most reliable car I have ever owned.

Me too, tough as anything and still felt pretty much like new when we sold it recently to swap to an auto. I would say its the most reliable car we've owned, but we've also had a breadvan Civic which was pretty much indestructible.

[Derek Chevalier]

Jimmy Recard said:

Daniel-ezc4y said:

Audi in particular are the most unreliable car around, fact.

I don't think Audi is anywhere near being the most reliable make of car, but I dispute this 'fact'

From 2009

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-16...

Least reliable new cars

1 Audi A5 (2007-present) - 75.8%

[Jimmy Recard]

Derek Chevalier said:

From 2009

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-16...

Least reliable new cars

1 Audi A5 (2007-present) - 75.8%

Hmm, sadly that's a little too long ago and only one model to change my thoughts.

I would love to think that Audi is the least reliable make of car but there are so many makes out there!

[irish boy]

cptsideways said:

Later Volvo's have far too many French or Ford bits though.

From our experience of a 2010 focus 1.6 petrol and 2008 Clio 197, Ford and Renault are pretty reliable where it matters!

[EazyDuz]

pdtrewern said:

Mazda 6 (petrol only).

I'm on 160k on an '07 with petrol 2.0

Its bullet proof, even done some track work.. (Its all I had to use at the time!)

Just regular oil and filter (I do around 8k, rec is 12.5k)

Slow and rusty arches, not great really

[DukeDickson]

Baddie said:

Volvo XC90, family owned from nearly new, and the worst car I've had (aside from old BMW M5's). Electrical issues cost a fortune, the angle gear went, and it sprang a major oil leak at 75k miles before I got rid.

Currently have a Ford Mondeo mkIV 2.5t. Bought it for 7k, 46000 miles. I'm aware of cracking liners and potential electrical issues, but it's big, comfy, safe and absolutely beautiful to drive. Recently had a major service, MOT and replacement of broken spring (warranty) for £264. It will now cost me £13 per month to service for 3 years with Ford. It's an awful lot of car for the money, and for much less than the OP's budget he could swap a Mondy every 4 years or so if there were any problems.

Which of course has a Volvo engine, albeit slightly sullied by some Ford cheapness .


Keep an eye out for the oil diaphragm, but generally speaking, is a tough old bit of iron. It isn't even the best example of the breed, but the 5 is definitely a stayer!

[kensilver]

We've owned our 2004 Lexus RX330 for the last 6-7 years, put 60k miles on it and it hasn't missed a beat. Add in some extraordinary ride comfort and a touch of luxury and that's the reason we still have it.