A bit off topic

Hey Tom,

Good to see you and your wife yesterday at the gathering in Lincoln. I wish we got their earlier to say more than just "hi".

awesome 328 btw.

I would say go Honda. great reliability and generally good cars. my 94 accord has 195k on it and still drives like new.

 

I'm a big fan of Consumer Reports, since they actually collect empirical data on reliability and such.

Here is their lists:

Repeat offenders

Be especially careful when considering these models. They have shown several years of much-worse-than-average overall reliability. They are listed alphabetically.

Audi A6
BMW 7 Series
Cadillac Seville
Chevrolet Astro
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet S-10 (4WD)
Chrysler Town & Country (AWD)
Dodge Grand Caravan (AWD)
Dodge Neon
GMC Jimmy
GMC Safari
GMC Sonoma (4WD)
Jaguar S-Type
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Oldsmobile Bravada
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Plymouth Neon
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen New Beetle

Reliable used cars

These models showed better-than-average reliability in our latest survey; they are listed alphabetically by price range and model year. All prices are rounded to the nearest $1,000. The price ranges are what you'd pay for a typically equipped vehicle with average mileage.


Less than $6,000
Buick Century ’97-98
Chevrolet Prizm ’98-00
Ford Escort ’97-01, F-150 (2WD) ’96,
Ranger (2WD) ’96-97
Geo Prizm ’96-97, Tracker ’96-97
Honda Civic ’96
Mazda 626 ’98, B-Series (2WD) ’96-98,
Protegé ’96-99
Mercury Tracer ’97-99
Nissan Altima ’96-97, Pickup ’96-97,
Sentra ’96-99
Saturn S-Series ’96, ‘98-99
Subaru Impreza ’96-97
Suzuki Sidekick ’96-97
Toyota Corolla ’96-98, Tercel ’96-97

$6,000-$8,000
Acura Integra ’96
Chevrolet Prizm ’01
Ford Crown Victoria ’97-98,
Escort ’02, F-150 (2WD) ’97,
Mustang ’98, Ranger (2WD) ’98-99
Honda Accord ’96-97, Civic ’97-99
Infiniti G20 ’96
Mazda 626 ’99, B-Series (2WD) ’99,
Millenia ’96, MX-5 Miata ’96-97,
Protegé ’00
Mercury Grand Marquis ’97-98
Nissan Altima ’98-99, Frontier ’98,
Maxima ’96, Sentra ’00
Saturn S-Series ’01
Subaru Impreza ’98, Legacy/Outback ’96-98
Toyota Camry ’96-97, Corolla ’99-00,
Echo ’00-01, RAV4 ’96-97, Tacoma ’96-97

$8,000-$10,000
Acura CL ’97-98, Integra ’97-98, TL ’96
Buick Century ’00-01, Regal ’99
Chevrolet Prizm ’02
Ford Crown Victoria ’99-00, F-150 (2WD) ’98-99, F-150 (4WD) ’97, Mustang ’99,
Ranger (2WD) ’00
Honda Accord ’98, Civic ’00, CR-V ’97-98,
Odyssey ’96, Prelude ’96
Hyundai Elantra ’02
Infiniti I30 ’96-98
Isuzu Oasis ’96-98
Lincoln Continental ’98, Town Car ’96-97
Mazda 626 ’00, B-Series (2WD) ’00,
Millenia ’97-98, Protegé ’01
Mercury Grand Marquis ’99
Mitsubishi Eclipse ’00
Nissan Altima ’00, Frontier ’99,
Maxima ’97-98, Pathfinder ’96-97, Sentra ’01
Saturn S-Series ’02
Subaru Forester ’98, Impreza ’99
Toyota Avalon ’96-98, Camry ’98,
Celica ’96-98, Corolla ’01-02, Echo ’02,
Previa ’96, RAV4 ’98-99, T100 ’96-97,
Tacoma ’98

$10,000-$12,000
Acura Integra ’99, TL ’97-98
Buick Regal ’00
Chrysler PT Cruiser ’01
Ford F-150 (2WD) ’00, F-150 (4WD) ’98,
Mustang ’00
Honda Accord ’99, Civic ’01, CR-V ’99,
Odyssey ’97-98, Prelude ’97-98
Infiniti G20 ’99, Q45 ’96, QX4 ’97-98
Lexus ES300 ’96
Lincoln Continental ’99, Town Car ’98
Mazda 626 ’01-02, Millenia ’99, MPV ’00,
MX-5 Miata ’99, Protegé ’02
Mercedes-Benz C-Class ’96-97
Mercury Grand Marquis ’00
Nissan Altima ’01, Frontier ’00,
Maxima ’99, Pathfinder ’98
Subaru Impreza ’00, Legacy/Outback ’99
Toyota 4Runner ’96-97, Camry ’99-00,
Camry Solara ’99, RAV4 ’00,
Sienna ’98, T100 ’98, Tacoma ’99

$12,000-$14,000
Acura CL ’99, Integra ’00, RL ’96-97
BMW 3 Series ’97, Z3 ’97
Buick Century ’02-03, Regal ’01-02
Chevrolet Impala ’02, Silverado 1500
(2WD) ’00
Chrysler PT Cruiser ’02
GMC Sierra 1500 (2WD) ’00
Honda Accord ’00, Civic ’02, CR-V ’00,
Prelude ’99
Hyundai Elantra ’03
Infiniti G20 ’00, I30 ’99, Q45 ’97
Lexus ES300 ’97-98
Lincoln Continental ’00, Town Car ’99
Mazda Millenia ’00, MPV ’01, MX-5
Miata ’00, Protegé ’03
Mitsubishi Eclipse ’01
Nissan Maxima ’00, Pathfinder ’99, Xterra ’00
Subaru Forester ’00, Impreza ’01,
Legacy/Outback ’00
Toyota 4Runner ’98, Avalon ’99,
Camry ’01, Celica ’99-00,
Corolla ’03, Sienna ’99, Tacoma ’00
$14,000-$16,000
Acura Integra ’01, RL ’98, TL ’99
BMW Z3 ’98
Buick LeSabre ’02
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2WD) ’01
Ford F-150 (2WD) ’01, F-150 (4WD) ’00
GMC Sierra 1500 (2WD) ’01
Honda Accord ’01, Civic ’03, CR-V ’01,
Prelude ’00
Infiniti G20 ’01, Q45 ’98, QX4 ’99
Lexus ES300 ’99, GS300/GS400 ’96,
LS400 ’96, SC400 ’96
Mazda Millenia ’01, MX-5 Miata ’01-02
Nissan Maxima ’01, Pathfinder ’00, Xterra ’01
Subaru Forester ’01, Impreza ’02, Legacy ’01,
Outback ’01
Toyota 4Runner ’99, Camry Solara ’00,
Celica ’01, Land Cruiser ’96, Prius ’01,
RAV4 ’01, Sienna ’00, Tacoma ’01, Tundra ’00

$16,000-$18,000
Acura RL ’99, TL ’00
BMW Z3 ’99
Buick Regal ’03
Chevrolet Impala ’03
Ford F-150 (2WD) ’02
Honda Accord ’02, Prelude ’01
Hyundai Santa Fe ’02
Infiniti G20 ’02, I30 ’00
Lexus SC400 ’97
Lincoln Town Car ’00
Mazda Millenia ’02, MPV ’02, MX-5 Miata ’03
Pontiac Vibe ’03
Toyota 4Runner ’00, Avalon ’00, Camry ’02,
Camry Solara ’01, Celica ’02,
Land Cruiser ’97, Prius ’02, RAV4 ’02,
Sienna ’01, Tacoma ’02, Tundra ’01

$18,000-$20,000
Acura CL ’01, RSX ’02-03, TL ’01
BMW 3 Series ’99
Buick LeSabre ’03
Ford F-150 (2WD) ’03
Honda CR-V ’02, Element ’03, Odyssey ’00
Infiniti I30 ’01, Q45 ’99, QX4 ’00
Lexus ES300 ’00, GS300/GS400 ’98,
LS400 ’97-98, RX300 ’99
Lincoln Town Car ’01
Mazda6 ’03
Nissan Altima ’03, Frontier ’03, Maxima ’02,
Pathfinder ’01
Toyota Avalon ’01, Camry Solara ’02, Prius ’03,
Sienna ’02

$20,000-$22,000
Acura CL ’02, RL ’00
BMW Z3 ’00
Honda Accord ’03, Odyssey ’01, S2000 ’00
Hyundai Santa Fe ’03
Lexus GS300/GS400 ’99
Nissan Maxima ’03, Pathfinder ’02, Xterra ’03
Subaru Forester ’03
Toyota Camry ’03, Camry Solara ’03, Celica ’03, Highlander ’01, Land Cruiser ’98, RAV4 ’03,
Tacoma ’03, Tundra ’02

$22,000-$26,000
Acura RL ’01
BMW 5 Series ’99, Z3 ’01
Ford F-150 (4WD) ’03
Honda CR-V ’03, Odyssey ’02, S2000 ’02
Infiniti I35 ’02, QX4 ’01-02
Lexus ES300 ’01, GS300/GS400 ’00,
IS300 ’01-02, LS400 ’99, RX300 ’00
Lincoln Town Car ’02
Nissan Pathfinder ’03
Toyota 4Runner ’01-02, Avalon ’02,
Highlander ’02, Land Cruiser ’99, Sienna ’03,
Tundra ’03

$26,000-$30,000
Acura RL ’02
BMW 3 Series ’02, 5 Series ’00
Honda Odyssey ’03, Pilot ’03, S2000 ’03
Infiniti G35 ’03, I35 ’03, Q45 ’01
Lexus ES300 ’02, IS300 ’03, LS400 ’00,
LX470 ’99, RX300 ’01
Nissan 350Z ’03, Murano ’03
Porsche Boxster ’00
Saab 9-5 ’03
Toyota Avalon ’03, Highlander ’03,
Land Cruiser ’00

$30,000 and up
Acura MDX ’01-03
BMW 5 Series ’01-03
Infiniti FX ’03, Q45 ’02
Lexus ES300 ’03, GS300/GS400 ’01,
GS300/GS430 ‘02-03, LS400 ’01,
LS430 ’02-03, LX470 ’00-03, RX300 ’02-03,
SC430 ’02
Toyota Land Cruiser ’01-02, Sequoia ’01-02

 

Tom,
Not sure how much your sister-in-law is willing to stray above the $7K limit, but a friend of mine recently picked up a leftover 2003 Ford Focus for a under $10K. It was a 5-speed three door with no ammenities. The question is, is it worth $3K for the new car warranty (or to have to drive a Focus)? Something to consider anyway.

TWS

 

Consumer Reports put out a used car guide a while back and I bought it because I was looking for a car. They consistently find that Honda, Acura, Toyota and Lexus are the top 4 most reliable cars. WHich is to say that Honda and Toyota are the most reliable manufacturers.

I say buy her a nice 308. Might as well go around in style.

Birdman

 

To add to the pile of anecdotal evidence, we have had great luck with Hondas and Toyotas over the years. My parents have had 2 Toyotas that they ended up donating to charity with 190k or so miles on them- in both cases the tow truck guy just started up the cars and drove them away.

When our daughter showed up, we reluctantly sold my wife's 95 Civic DX (2 doors, tough for car seats) with 133k miles on the clock for $3300. Had an airbag and ABS and ran like a champ. Cheap to fix, too.

Ironically, we replaced it with an 02 Camry with which we've had a surprising number of maintainence issues.

-Gio P