Most reliable cars?
Discussion
Liquid Tuna said:
I was hoping to be able to report the same, but now I'm not so sure. Looking for a reliable and cheap car, I bought a 2004 Nissan Almera a few weeks ago - 87k miles and some service history. Looked ok. After a few weeks of ownership I've discovered a fuel leak when the tank's over half full, an oil leak from the front of the engine somewhere, water leaking into the boot when it rains and air-con unable to hold pressure.
Following the Japanese theme my Honda HR-V has a failed headgasket and problems with the gearbox.
Maybe I just bought a couple of duds?
The most reliable car I've had was a mk1 Mondeo 2.0 petrol. I did 250k miles and it NEVER missed a beat. Rust killed it in the end, but it never let me down once, not a stutter. The greatest car ever made!
We have an Almera in the family which is the same vintage and mileage, more or less. It's been left parked up for six months at a time then started and driven off with nothing more than a cursory check of the usual stuff. Nothing needed beyond consumables until it "needed" some new suspension bushes after the last MoT (i.e. it probably didn't, advisory only, but I felt sorry for the poor mechanics trying to make a bit of money ...)Following the Japanese theme my Honda HR-V has a failed headgasket and problems with the gearbox.
Maybe I just bought a couple of duds?
The most reliable car I've had was a mk1 Mondeo 2.0 petrol. I did 250k miles and it NEVER missed a beat. Rust killed it in the end, but it never let me down once, not a stutter. The greatest car ever made!
It is still on the original exhaust!
ericmcn said:
uk_vette said:
Generally,
1st = Toyota
2nd = Honda
Bad eggs and lemons excused.
Lexus are top dogs, (again).1st = Toyota
2nd = Honda
Bad eggs and lemons excused.
Doesn't seem like people in the UK have heard of Lexus.
After owning a Honda Accord and the IS250 I can pretty much say with certainty the Lexus is quite a big step up in terms of comfort and build, not to mention gadgets.
http://www.autonews.com/article/20160224/OEM/16022...
Brave Fart said:
Well you said a family car - my suggestion is a 2003-5 petrol RAV4 manual. Not the most exciting drive, but won't let you down. Ours is now 11 years old, nothing has ever gone wrong with it.
Regards, Mike.
and my land cruiser was sold with 275,000 on the clockRegards, Mike.
I recon I did 150,000, miles, and 40,000 of them was lugging a 26 foot 4 wheel caravan, around Scandinavia, and down to Gibraltar, and every where in between,
SEVERAL TIMES !
Flooble said:
Liquid Tuna said:
I was hoping to be able to report the same, but now I'm not so sure. Looking for a reliable and cheap car, I bought a 2004 Nissan Almera a few weeks ago - 87k miles and some service history. Looked ok. After a few weeks of ownership I've discovered a fuel leak when the tank's over half full, an oil leak from the front of the engine somewhere, water leaking into the boot when it rains and air-con unable to hold pressure.
Following the Japanese theme my Honda HR-V has a failed headgasket and problems with the gearbox.
Maybe I just bought a couple of duds?
The most reliable car I've had was a mk1 Mondeo 2.0 petrol. I did 250k miles and it NEVER missed a beat. Rust killed it in the end, but it never let me down once, not a stutter. The greatest car ever made!
We have an Almera in the family which is the same vintage and mileage, more or less. It's been left parked up for six months at a time then started and driven off with nothing more than a cursory check of the usual stuff. Nothing needed beyond consumables until it "needed" some new suspension bushes after the last MoT (i.e. it probably didn't, advisory only, but I felt sorry for the poor mechanics trying to make a bit of money ...)Following the Japanese theme my Honda HR-V has a failed headgasket and problems with the gearbox.
Maybe I just bought a couple of duds?
The most reliable car I've had was a mk1 Mondeo 2.0 petrol. I did 250k miles and it NEVER missed a beat. Rust killed it in the end, but it never let me down once, not a stutter. The greatest car ever made!
It is still on the original exhaust!
My next will be a Toyota Corolla, and if that turns out to be a lemon it'll be 3 in a row and the last Japanese car I buy.
Liquid Tuna said:
Your experience is exactly what I was hoping for when I bought mine. I suppose I've been unlucky and I've bought a lemon, but that's two in a row, both Japanese cars.
My next will be a Toyota Corolla, and if that turns out to be a lemon it'll be 3 in a row and the last Japanese car I buy.
I suspect that the resilience of the cars is such that they absorb abuse which scraps other vehicles, however, eventually they will still fail if not treated right. e.g. that "part" service history probably means it missed several services? Ours has always had a service, even when I had to do it myself. My next will be a Toyota Corolla, and if that turns out to be a lemon it'll be 3 in a row and the last Japanese car I buy.
Baddie said:
Yes, and it's the Volvo engine's cylinder liners that are the biggest fear...
I wasn't having a dig at Volvo, my dad had an 850 T5, which is one of the reasons I bought this Ford, but the XC90 has really put me off Volvo's based on the experience of a car I knew almost from new, and with only 75k miles on. The electrical issues, though £££ are part of modern cars. The mechanical ones are less forgivable, especially the oil leak. It was fairly major.
I don't know anyone who has owned an XC90 that hasn't kicked them in the bI wasn't having a dig at Volvo, my dad had an 850 T5, which is one of the reasons I bought this Ford, but the XC90 has really put me off Volvo's based on the experience of a car I knew almost from new, and with only 75k miles on. The electrical issues, though £££ are part of modern cars. The mechanical ones are less forgivable, especially the oil leak. It was fairly major.
ks with massive bills. My ex-FIL has one of the last facelifted models that he bought brand new in 2011 and just out of warranty it had some expensive failure with some part of the transmission or the other. This is his 3rd, but the last two were company cars that were handed back at 3 years old.On top of that all of the diesels are underpowered and thirsty, and the petrols are laughably thirsty. I think a massive heavy SUV was a stretch too far for the P2 platform.
There is a good ownership story in the Owners Cars section where a not particularly troublesome on cost 50p odd a mile to run, without depreciation.
Even the Ford era P3 V70/S80 are miles better than that.
Edited by dme123 on Tuesday 5th April 09:17
dme123 said:
I don't know anyone who has owned an XC90 that hasn't kicked them in the bks with massive bills. My ex-FIL has one of the last facelifted models that he bought brand new in 2014 and just out of warranty it had some expensive failure with some part of the transmission or the other. This is his 3rd, but the last two were company cars that were handed back at 3 years old.
On top of that all of the diesels are underpowered and thirsty, and the petrols are laughably thirsty. I think a massive heavy SUV was a stretch too far for the P2 platform.
There is a good ownership story in the Owners Cars section where a not particularly troublesome on cost 50p odd a mile to run, without depreciation.
Even the Ford era P3 V70/S80 are miles better than that.
What sort of crappy warranty do they give to be expired already?ks with massive bills. My ex-FIL has one of the last facelifted models that he bought brand new in 2014 and just out of warranty it had some expensive failure with some part of the transmission or the other. This is his 3rd, but the last two were company cars that were handed back at 3 years old.On top of that all of the diesels are underpowered and thirsty, and the petrols are laughably thirsty. I think a massive heavy SUV was a stretch too far for the P2 platform.
There is a good ownership story in the Owners Cars section where a not particularly troublesome on cost 50p odd a mile to run, without depreciation.
Even the Ford era P3 V70/S80 are miles better than that.
Most reliable:
- Toyota Celica x2 (although the last I only had 4/5 months). The first one led a hard life with me being a yoof and therefore hooning it everywhere and having no money for proper regular servicing but it would sail through MOT after MOT. Great car.
- Honda S2000
Least reliable:
- Ford Mondeo - not much didn't go wrong with it at some point.
- Ford Focus x2 - mechanically fine, but on both the keyless start system would randomly erm... not start.
- Honda Accord V6 coupe - one significant failure but not a big deal and it was old cheap and evidently not been taken care of in the past.
I try not assume every Ford is a potential lemon, but it's hard to not let experience colour one's judgement.
- Toyota Celica x2 (although the last I only had 4/5 months). The first one led a hard life with me being a yoof and therefore hooning it everywhere and having no money for proper regular servicing but it would sail through MOT after MOT. Great car.
- Honda S2000
Least reliable:
- Ford Mondeo - not much didn't go wrong with it at some point.
- Ford Focus x2 - mechanically fine, but on both the keyless start system would randomly erm... not start.
- Honda Accord V6 coupe - one significant failure but not a big deal and it was old cheap and evidently not been taken care of in the past.
I try not assume every Ford is a potential lemon, but it's hard to not let experience colour one's judgement.
Edited by forzaminardi on Monday 4th April 22:44
finlo said:
What sort of crappy warranty do they give to be expired already?
Apologies, put in the wrong year. He bought it when I had the dubious blessing of having twins, and they are 5 in June so the car was bought in 2011/12. It was literally months out of warranty it had failed and as he had taken it to a local independent for servicing he got a big "fk off" on the goodwill front.Another vote for N16 petrol Almera. A year's worth of interest from £13k will buy you one.
Only repair in a 90k miles was a new rear exhaust.
Having said that, the timing chains only last up until about 140-160k miles, depending on servicing. And, of course, rust does get to them eventually.
Family current cars record.
Triumph 1980 TR7; 14 years, 175,000, Restoration then servicing radiator fuel pump.
Mazda 2006 2; 6 years, 186,000 servicing only.
Mazda 2002 323; 4 years, 68,000 servicing only.
Ford 2010 Ranger; 6 years, 187,000 servicing flywheel.
Ford 2011 Fiesta; 5 years, 82,000, servicing 2 gear boxes.
Peugeot 2015 2006; 1 year, 16,000, servicing front struts.
Honda 2001 S2000; 5 years, 45,000, servicing.
I think the Japs have it.
Triumph 1980 TR7; 14 years, 175,000, Restoration then servicing radiator fuel pump.
Mazda 2006 2; 6 years, 186,000 servicing only.
Mazda 2002 323; 4 years, 68,000 servicing only.
Ford 2010 Ranger; 6 years, 187,000 servicing flywheel.
Ford 2011 Fiesta; 5 years, 82,000, servicing 2 gear boxes.
Peugeot 2015 2006; 1 year, 16,000, servicing front struts.
Honda 2001 S2000; 5 years, 45,000, servicing.
I think the Japs have it.
Daniel-ezc4y said:
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!
No offence but of your an Audi mechanic for going to be exposed to more of the Negative aspects of owning the brand you work on. Nobody brings perfect cars in except for servicing.Just saw this thread, and it's interesting because recently sold my old 745i and I was after something cheap to run and realiable whilst I save for a house deposit.
I ended up buying a 1.6 petrol 55 plate Toyota Corolla, 84k miles, last oil change was at 80k, but when I picked it up it had new spark plugs, gearbox oil, coolant, brake fluid and air filter....so I'll next get it serviced at 90k where I'll get other bits done that I can't see in the service history (clutch fluid, charcoal canister and cabin filter...though the air con still works very well).
I'm pleased to read this model seems to be mentioned quite a lot here!
So far I've done 1300 miles in it, and I've spent £13 on some Bosch wiper blades and £18 changing the auxillary belt, as it was cracked in places and didn't fancy waiting another 4000 miles (so probably the other side of winter) in case it snapped.
I'm hoping it proves to be a reliable and cheap to run car for me.
I ended up buying a 1.6 petrol 55 plate Toyota Corolla, 84k miles, last oil change was at 80k, but when I picked it up it had new spark plugs, gearbox oil, coolant, brake fluid and air filter....so I'll next get it serviced at 90k where I'll get other bits done that I can't see in the service history (clutch fluid, charcoal canister and cabin filter...though the air con still works very well).
I'm pleased to read this model seems to be mentioned quite a lot here!
So far I've done 1300 miles in it, and I've spent £13 on some Bosch wiper blades and £18 changing the auxillary belt, as it was cracked in places and didn't fancy waiting another 4000 miles (so probably the other side of winter) in case it snapped.
I'm hoping it proves to be a reliable and cheap to run car for me.
benjijames28 said:
No offence but of your an Audi mechanic for going to be exposed to more of the Negative aspects of owning the brand you work on. Nobody brings perfect cars in except for servicing.
Or perhaps he sees the results of poor design, e.g. electrics which are exposed to damp ingress. Or low quality control, e.g. trim which has not been properly glued down. Etc.Besides, what do you think an Audi main dealer would mostly have in their workshop? Cars in for service ...
A brand where the franchise dealer mechanics are not mostly doing routine servicing is not one to go for - cars new enough to be with the main dealer should not have any significant failures.
Truckosaurus said:
The Lexus IS250 is meant to be as reliable a modern car as there is. Makes sense, a fairly underpowered non-turbo petrol. But if you do big mileage you might spend more on fuel than you save on maintenance compared to a smaller diesel.
Another vote for the Lexus IS2502,5L V6, just purrs along.
Silky smooth
Toyota reliability
German comfort.
Surprisingly good economy from the direct injection fuel system, not the normal petrol injection systems that are found on inferior cars.
Flooble said:
Or perhaps he sees the results of poor design, e.g. electrics which are exposed to damp ingress. Or low quality control, e.g. trim which has not been properly glued down. Etc.
Besides, what do you think an Audi main dealer would mostly have in their workshop? Cars in for service ...
A brand where the franchise dealer mechanics are not mostly doing routine servicing is not one to go for - cars new enough to be with the main dealer should not have any significant failures.
My point is if he was a ford mechanic he would be exposed to all the negative aspects of fords and would probably be saying fords are sBesides, what do you think an Audi main dealer would mostly have in their workshop? Cars in for service ...
A brand where the franchise dealer mechanics are not mostly doing routine servicing is not one to go for - cars new enough to be with the main dealer should not have any significant failures.
t.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff