The Reliable Car Thread
Discussion
Not been on here long, but constantly reading stories about people's cars having a major problem costing £xxxxx to fix, or the engine blowing up because... This thread is for cars that you've had for years with very few issues.
For example.
Ran a 2000 1.8 tddi focus for 18 months and 20k miles. Apart from 1 oil and filter service literally nothing went wrong with it. Sold on 125k
Still have a 2003 Rover 75 (cdt) on 140k. Owned for 3 year and 30K in that time apart from 2 snapped springs, and 2 new shocks it's been perfect. Serviced when needed an totally reliable.
My parents are currently running a 2005 Audi A6 (2.0tdi) bought at 60k, now on 212k. Serviced when needed, but still on original gearbox, clutch, exhaust! It's not just sat on the motorway either.
Must be plenty of stories out there.
For example.
Ran a 2000 1.8 tddi focus for 18 months and 20k miles. Apart from 1 oil and filter service literally nothing went wrong with it. Sold on 125k
Still have a 2003 Rover 75 (cdt) on 140k. Owned for 3 year and 30K in that time apart from 2 snapped springs, and 2 new shocks it's been perfect. Serviced when needed an totally reliable.
My parents are currently running a 2005 Audi A6 (2.0tdi) bought at 60k, now on 212k. Serviced when needed, but still on original gearbox, clutch, exhaust! It's not just sat on the motorway either.
Must be plenty of stories out there.
2008 1.9 diesel VW Touran SE.
Bought at 1yo with 14k miles.
Still own it today and it now has 135k.
Apart from regular servicing, 2 scheduled cambelt changes and brakes/tyres, it has needed:
a new battery
a new suspension bush
a new window regulator
a new fan resistor
Not bad for 9 years and 121k miles.
Bought at 1yo with 14k miles.
Still own it today and it now has 135k.
Apart from regular servicing, 2 scheduled cambelt changes and brakes/tyres, it has needed:
a new battery
a new suspension bush
a new window regulator
a new fan resistor
Not bad for 9 years and 121k miles.
Agent XXX said:
oh god, cue another list of "I've got a BMW E/F/Z whatever"
Maybe because they are pretty reliable.Bmw e46, £300 330i touring, 1 year no real issues - now at 177k miles.
Range Rover l322 bought at 148k (bought needing gearbox) but is now on 180k miles without serious issues costing over £100 each.
Honda Civic 1.6i VTEC Sort (2005 model year).
Bought in 2013 as my first car; I copied my brother as he had one and it looked simple enough for me to work on in my driveway. Covered 20,000 miles in the first year; currently sitting on about 100,000 miles (bought with 45,000 on it). Regularly serviced (oil changes every 6000-8000 miles, a cam belt - water pump was ok - gearbox oil change, couple of spark plug changes and air and cabin filter changes) the only thing that has actually caused need for fixing was cleaning the throttle body when the idle control valve got sticky. It's not perfect, but it is living up to the Honda stereotype.
Bought in 2013 as my first car; I copied my brother as he had one and it looked simple enough for me to work on in my driveway. Covered 20,000 miles in the first year; currently sitting on about 100,000 miles (bought with 45,000 on it). Regularly serviced (oil changes every 6000-8000 miles, a cam belt - water pump was ok - gearbox oil change, couple of spark plug changes and air and cabin filter changes) the only thing that has actually caused need for fixing was cleaning the throttle body when the idle control valve got sticky. It's not perfect, but it is living up to the Honda stereotype.
Suzuki Jimny softtop - bought when 8 years old. Soft top was in poor nick and was too stiff with age to undo. Passed its MOT every year for the next 3 years with no work needed. Never let us down. Sad to let it go. Would buy a hardtop next time.
Fiat Panda - 10 years old - bought at 5 years old. Never broken down. needed bits and bobs for MOTs.
Fiat Panda - 10 years old - bought at 5 years old. Never broken down. needed bits and bobs for MOTs.
Goodun's
Alpina D3Bi - 50K miles no issues
4 BMW's - 250K miles no probs
Many Ford Focus's. 100K mile between them no problems
VW Touareg - 4 years 40K miles no problems
TVR - 1 battery
One Saab which was fantastic
VAG TDI's - 200K miles no issues
OK'ers
Audi A6 3.0 90K miles 1 new clutch
Some Renaults - meh
BMW 4 Series Coupe - Constant electrical gremlins. warranty but hassle
Landrovers
Bad Bad Bad
Porsches - Total Engine failures
300ZX - TBH was a Dog at birth just constant niggles
My Peugeots = Money pit
Every Vauxhall I have had fails before 70K
Alpina D3Bi - 50K miles no issues
4 BMW's - 250K miles no probs
Many Ford Focus's. 100K mile between them no problems
VW Touareg - 4 years 40K miles no problems
TVR - 1 battery
One Saab which was fantastic
VAG TDI's - 200K miles no issues
OK'ers
Audi A6 3.0 90K miles 1 new clutch
Some Renaults - meh
BMW 4 Series Coupe - Constant electrical gremlins. warranty but hassle
Landrovers
Bad Bad Bad
Porsches - Total Engine failures
300ZX - TBH was a Dog at birth just constant niggles
My Peugeots = Money pit
Every Vauxhall I have had fails before 70K
my 16-reg citroen c1 probably is still too new to make more definitive judgement (though no problems under 2 years and over 50k miles so far)
my husband's 1998 starlet sr, owned as his first car since he passed his test in august 2006 had been mechanically unbeatable, maybe until a couple of months back, engine starting to cut out occasionally..... :s
has needed some major rust repairs to pass past 2 mot's, and the exterior is very shabby looking! though nothing that is offputting from the idea of another toyota being the eventual replacement. 380k miles total, of which 290k done in the 11.5 year ownership period, so only look at it in a good light. though i tend not to miss any of my own former cars, i will miss the starlet,it was in our wedding photos! will be sure to nick the speedline rims before scrapping it.....
my husband's 1998 starlet sr, owned as his first car since he passed his test in august 2006 had been mechanically unbeatable, maybe until a couple of months back, engine starting to cut out occasionally..... :s
has needed some major rust repairs to pass past 2 mot's, and the exterior is very shabby looking! though nothing that is offputting from the idea of another toyota being the eventual replacement. 380k miles total, of which 290k done in the 11.5 year ownership period, so only look at it in a good light. though i tend not to miss any of my own former cars, i will miss the starlet,it was in our wedding photos! will be sure to nick the speedline rims before scrapping it.....
2007 Mazda CX-7 petrol. Bought new and still in the family.
It needed a new Turbo after a few months which was done under warranty.
For the last decade it has been fine with the only replacements being consumables and a couple of worn suspension bits.
Its still serviced by the supplying dealer.
Theres no point in replacing it until something big fails. Even then...
£23,000 well spent.
It needed a new Turbo after a few months which was done under warranty.
For the last decade it has been fine with the only replacements being consumables and a couple of worn suspension bits.
Its still serviced by the supplying dealer.
Theres no point in replacing it until something big fails. Even then...
£23,000 well spent.
I've owned three old Nissan Micras. One for 3 years during University, bought for £1300 from holiday job pay at 90k miles, the second as a learner car for my wife because she wanted something tiny. The third was because a car accident left said wife with nothing to take her to work and I needed anything with 4 wheels as long as I could pick it up the next day, so I bought the first serviceable Micra I came across for about £900 planning to upgrade it as soon as I had time to shop around for something "proper"; we ended up keeping it as a second car for 2 years because it was faultless (and also because she couldn't care less what she drives as long as it works).
All were between 10 and 14 years old, all with 90k to 120k on the clock, all bought for well under £2000, and all never missed a beat. They were owned for a collective total of 6 years, covering around 40k miles, and in all that time the only unplanned expense was an airflow sensor I fitted myself. Not once did any of them fail to start, fail an MOT, have any electrical gremlins, break down or give any other kind of trouble.
If I suddenly found myself in need of a dependable set of wheels for a bargain price my only question is which Nissan Micra would I buy.
All were between 10 and 14 years old, all with 90k to 120k on the clock, all bought for well under £2000, and all never missed a beat. They were owned for a collective total of 6 years, covering around 40k miles, and in all that time the only unplanned expense was an airflow sensor I fitted myself. Not once did any of them fail to start, fail an MOT, have any electrical gremlins, break down or give any other kind of trouble.
If I suddenly found myself in need of a dependable set of wheels for a bargain price my only question is which Nissan Micra would I buy.
My old Integra DC2. Owned for 6 years and took it from 12K to 60K. Only failure, interior light bulb. That car soaked up all sorts of abuse, always serviced on time etc but even so, never put a foot wrong. Other notable car was the S60 D5. From 120K to 230K and was utterly dependable. It's only vice was suspension drop links.
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