The Reliable Car Thread
Discussion
2001 mk5 Fiesta 1.3
Had since 2011, never missed a beat. Only ever needed consumables like, battery, tyres, brake hoses, discs/pads and arb bushes.
Mechanically spot on, even if I haven't exactly been generous with servicing!
Nothing beats when I hear about friends financed cars going wrong and then asking for lifts in my 16 year old fiesta... the same car they slag off for being an old banger.
Also had a mk1 clio 1.4...
17 years old when I had it, lived the few years before I had it as a boy racer thrash about.
Electric windows, remote central locking, sunroof etc.. ALL WORKED... who said French cars had terrible electrics? Mechanically fine too, for the duration I had it. Pleasant car to own.
Had since 2011, never missed a beat. Only ever needed consumables like, battery, tyres, brake hoses, discs/pads and arb bushes.
Mechanically spot on, even if I haven't exactly been generous with servicing!
Nothing beats when I hear about friends financed cars going wrong and then asking for lifts in my 16 year old fiesta... the same car they slag off for being an old banger.
Also had a mk1 clio 1.4...
17 years old when I had it, lived the few years before I had it as a boy racer thrash about.
Electric windows, remote central locking, sunroof etc.. ALL WORKED... who said French cars had terrible electrics? Mechanically fine too, for the duration I had it. Pleasant car to own.
Agent XXX said:
oh god, cue another list of "I've got a BMW E/F/Z whatever"
Haha. I still have my e36 bought at 6 months old in 1998.
In 20 years of ownership it's been used, abused and bumped but it's still with me.
Can't bare to ever let it go and would seem it could go another 20 years but that basted Khan will want me to scrap it in 2021 for another one of his pointless tirades against the motorist.
like shooting fish in barrel is my answer but:
nissan leaf. try and find a person who has problems with one.
they're still a bit new, but taxi firms have taken them to 170K miles replacing just tyres and wiper blades and I think one ball joint in that period. No normal ICE car achieves this.
don't forget there basically is nothing to service, so yearly running costs are small and of course the claimed (but not true) equivalent of 340 mpg helps somewhat
regen braking also means no one is changing brake components either.
nissan leaf. try and find a person who has problems with one.
they're still a bit new, but taxi firms have taken them to 170K miles replacing just tyres and wiper blades and I think one ball joint in that period. No normal ICE car achieves this.
don't forget there basically is nothing to service, so yearly running costs are small and of course the claimed (but not true) equivalent of 340 mpg helps somewhat
regen braking also means no one is changing brake components either.
austinsmirk said:
like shooting fish in barrel is my answer but:
nissan leaf. try and find a person who has problems with one.
they're still a bit new, but taxi firms have taken them to 170K miles replacing just tyres and wiper blades and I think one ball joint in that period. No normal ICE car achieves this.
don't forget there basically is nothing to service, so yearly running costs are small and of course the claimed (but not true) equivalent of 340 mpg helps somewhat
regen braking also means no one is changing brake components either.
Interesting the electric car front, and how they wear their miles. nissan leaf. try and find a person who has problems with one.
they're still a bit new, but taxi firms have taken them to 170K miles replacing just tyres and wiper blades and I think one ball joint in that period. No normal ICE car achieves this.
don't forget there basically is nothing to service, so yearly running costs are small and of course the claimed (but not true) equivalent of 340 mpg helps somewhat
regen braking also means no one is changing brake components either.
Being a BMW man - I have done over 300k (spread across) on a couple of N47 engined diesel BMWs (the infamous chain snapper) no issues at all, other than normal consumables and servicing.
Brave Fart said:
2004 Toyota RAV4 owned since new and nothing has ever gone wrong, I mean literally not even a brake light bulb. The headlamps have yellowed a touch, and the driver's side sun visor is loose...........that's it. We will probably keep it forever.
That's quite impressive!Dad had 2 Nissan Primeras. A 1.8 petrol P11 and P12. Did from around 50k miles to 180 on first and 26k to 205k on the P12. The only thing, other than brakes and tyres, that ever went between the two of them in this entire time was 1 ignition coil (got 2nd hand for £50.)
Oh and an exhaust near the end on the P12.
Don't make them like that now and probably never will!
My first ever girlfriend bought a 1999 Micra (mk2?), and the last I heard, which admittedly was a few years ago, it was still running without any issues. Like most cars, I think a rubber hose or two perished, but that's about it. Stinking mpg, dirt cheap tyres, and reasonably good to drive too.
RobM77 said:
My first ever girlfriend bought a 1999 Micra (mk2?), and the last I heard, which admittedly was a few years ago, it was still running without any issues. Like most cars, I think a rubber hose or two perished, but that's about it. Stinking mpg, dirt cheap tyres, and reasonably good to drive too.
What's her car like these days though?Willy Nilly said:
Slow said:
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.
I think I've been lucky with my cars, that's the only time one has ever failed to start for me.
Mk3 Clio 1.2: I had it for close to 4 years, 25k miles put on by me, sold at 65k. The solenoid that locks the fuel filler cap stopped working. That's it. Not a single other issue, just routine maintenance and fuel in the tank.
Citroen ZX with the immortal XU 1.8 engine. This car just refused to die. Not a single failure in 8 years and over 100k miles of usage, apart from the switch for the hazards falling off. The car rattled and felt like it will fall apart at any moment, but it just didn't. Sold at 150k miles for a grand and it still lives on, 2 years later and now 24 years of age.
Who says French cars are unreliable?
Citroen ZX with the immortal XU 1.8 engine. This car just refused to die. Not a single failure in 8 years and over 100k miles of usage, apart from the switch for the hazards falling off. The car rattled and felt like it will fall apart at any moment, but it just didn't. Sold at 150k miles for a grand and it still lives on, 2 years later and now 24 years of age.
Who says French cars are unreliable?
DRCAGE said:
I don't think I have ever had an unreliable car, never had any major part failures, only been left on the side of the road once.
I just do basic maintenance and servicing myself, honestly can't think of ever having a major problem with any of them.
ETA: this isn't to say I haven't spent/wasted A LOT of money on cars over the years!!
This is like my history and long may it continue for both of us! Saying this lot's of old cars/bangernomics early on and so a few scrapped, but none before I'd got my moneys worth out of them.I just do basic maintenance and servicing myself, honestly can't think of ever having a major problem with any of them.
ETA: this isn't to say I haven't spent/wasted A LOT of money on cars over the years!!
Standouts in my history for reliability
Pug 205/405 diesels
V70 2.5D Phase 2
Supra Mkiv
I'm far more nervous of my current XC60 diesel than these old cars but so far so good with that too.
No clutches ever, one head gasket on a Mk1 Polo (diy'ed), no water pumps (replaced yes but only ever routine/servicing none went as such) couple of engine mounts, no major engine/gearbox issues, AA called twice, once I left the lights on a 205 all day! and the V70 had a CEM issue that was intermittent so I called them but then it came back to life to get me home! £140 ish fix from a one man band ecu CEM repairer in London.
Genuinely never had a real 'lemon' (tempting fate I know!) although buying cars you like and trying your best to get any repairs necessary at the lowest price can make a mini lemon a bearable experience.
motorhole said:
Expect to see a few VAG PDs in this list
My PD130 Golf was mechanically very reliable. Got it at 80k, sold it at 150k.Worn clutch and DMF (originals) replaced at 120k
Dipstick tube went brittle and snapped off (common fault) at 145k
It was serviced once a year, and just driven.
There were only three other issues with the car in that time, none were expensive to fix, but two involved rainwater ingress into the cabin (typical VAG issue), and were a complete and utter pain in the backside to deal with.
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