Who to ask...

[leafspring]

About reliability?

No point in asking the dealer mechanics: they'll know all the problems and will recommend something else from another maker.

MOT mechanics: I'm willing to bet they mostly see failures due to owner neglect

Ask an owner: results in
A) it's great, faultless (they maintained it properly, liked spending money)
B) it's crap, totally unreliable (they didn't look after it properly (see MOT Mechanics)

Come to think of it no point asking mechanics as they will only ever see broken examples of any vehicle on a regular basis

So apart from Pistonheads... where do you find accurate information?

Whilst we're here:

What are the thoughts on this...
http://www.regencymotorco.co.uk/vehicle-details/?V...

[Horse Pop]

Hmmmm. The two questions wouldn't be related, would they?

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Haha! I see what you did there, However I can only see this going one way.
i.e Rx8's break down and are horrifically expensive to run etc..

[leafspring]

They are related, but not exclusive.
You see it with other makes aswell (RangeRover or TVR for example).
Especially on the less mainstream vehicles like rotary engined cars that need to be handled/driven differently and require more intensive care.

[Matt UK]

The internet is like being able to speak to every bloke in every pub! People will highlight every issue ever, others have run them their how lives and never missed a beat.

I just pick the car I want next, research some common issues I can look for when viewing and then just jump in feet first and take my chances.

Whenever I worry about reliability in an upcoming purchase I realise that the only safe bet is a Toyota Corolla

[swisstoni]

Find a website that talks about the vehicle you are interested in and read it. Not that difficult.

[Ozzie Osmond]

leafspring said:

So apart from Pistonheads... where do you find accurate information?

J D Power survey, on this link,

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/overall-results/12...

[leafspring]

[Rich_W]

All I know about them is they hate stop start driving and foul the plugs up something rotten.

[Crafty_]

I would ask mechanics, because they know all the incremental updates, so might advise too get a 2011 model, instead of a 2010 because a common fault was rectified or can advise to avoid a particular engine in the range for the same reasons.

[Fun Bus]

leafspring said:

B) it's crap, totally unreliable (they didn't look after it properly (see MOT Mechanics)

Don't agree with this. My 318Ci was maintained regardless of cost when I had it - it managed to be an unreliable piece of st all the time I had it. I got so sick of throwing money at it one day I traded it in the following weekend on a whim.

[Who me ?]

My 2p - settle on a make /model you fancy . Then find a forum that specialises in that make/model and ask . You might even find owners on PH on the specialist forums. Then if you find that make/model could be a problem one, start again .