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If somebody who isn't mechanically inclined wants reliability and longevity... Toyota and Honda are the obvious answers. And variations of that question are most of what gets asked around here.
Now if somebody who is mechanically inclined wants to know what's the best bang for the buck... my answer is likely to be a GM or a Ford depending on what sort of vehicle we're talking about. They both make some great vehicles if you're willing to do some occasional repairs.
But most people just want to turn the key and go, even if it costs more. That's a Honda or a Yota.
I've had Nissan Maxima's, Altimas, Corrolas, Nissan trucks, Now I've got a Tausrus SHO and a 2016 Ford Truck, and I have had to do consistently more work on the Japanese cars than on my nicer American vehicles. I think that the common knowledge of CD is not really correct. America makes some really nice and reliable vehicles.
Japan and the US both make good quality cars. Just buy whatever you like.
That's why I tell people to buy this car using this criteria if possible:
1. Low miles.
2. Well kept.
3. Well heeled owner.
4. Older owner.
Never failed to get a good used car using these criteria.
And none of them were Toyotas or Hondas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ddm2k
Given the latter two, I believe it is implied that you'd advocate buying from a private party? These details in particular tend to be fabricated by dealers.
Of course, you never know 100% of the story, and plenty of well-heeled, older owners skimp or skip maintenance. I've surely seen it. Being too cheap or short sighted in one aspect of life isn't confined to any one generation nor is it new.
But, yeah, a car that is lower miles, buying private party, you can generally tell if its been well kept. That's not hard to verify with your own eyes.
This debate will never end until people start correctly using the word reliable. Even the worst car I ever had (86 Escort) was generally reliable. 999 times out of a 1000 it would start right up and get me where I needed to go.
This debate will never end until people start correctly using the word reliable. Even the worst car I ever had (86 Escort) was generally reliable. 999 times out of a 1000 it would start right up and get me where I needed to go.
The overall public statistics about repair, longevity etc. pretty well support the consensus that Toyota and Honda, as makers, produce vehicles with reasonable maintenance and great longevity. Every other maker has a model or two - often confined to a year or two - that has great numbers, but when it comes down to making sure you buy a 2008-9 with a particular engine and not any other year or build, it doesn't mean, say, Ford or Escorts are in that high-reliability class.
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