Just found out that my current car will die any day now due to a known defect. It’s out of warranty and I have no money to replace it right now.
I’ve been cursed with car problems my whole life, no matter how well I take care of them, I keep getting screwed.
All of the cars have been Fords because I always heard they were generally dependable and cheap to repair/upkeep, but so far they have all failed me.
What cars do y’all recommend? What cars do you have that just won’t give up the ghost no matter how old/beat up they get? If your life depended on your car lasting as long as possible, what car would you drive?
I want whatever car I get next to last me 10-20 years. I want to be that person posting a picture of the odometer hitting 300k miles. I also don’t care much about features, reliability is key.
MxM111 ( @MxM111@kbin.social ) 57•10 months agoDon’t trust what people say from their individual stories. You need statistics of hundreds of cars, not single anecdotes. There must be sites that evaluate cars reliability, average spending on repairs and so on, model by model. Find those.
LanternEverywhere ( @LanternEverywhere@kbin.social ) 13•10 months agohttps://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ is exactly that!
rhythmisaprancer ( @rhythmisaprancer@kbin.social ) 9•10 months agoIf you really want a long lasting machine, listen to this person. So much nose in this thread. For example: Subarus, in fact, do not have reputation for being long lasting without major repairs. Most people do not keep a vehicle for 10+ years nor for 300k miles. I have a vehicle that is older than that with 30% more miles. As said above, an anecdote.
Somebody keeps track of the cost of ownership over time. Perhaps a company, maybe a government agency.
Good luck!
sndrtj ( @sndrtj@feddit.nl ) 10•10 months agoThe average car age in the EU is 12 years old. Even in richer member states the average is often over 10 years (germany: 10.1, Netherlands: 11.4)
So at least in that part of the world, most people absolutely do keep a vehicle for 10+ years.
Source: https://www.acea.auto/figure/average-age-of-eu-vehicle-fleet-by-country/
rhythmisaprancer ( @rhythmisaprancer@kbin.social ) 1•10 months agoI agree entirely with what you are saying, but that doesn’t change what I said about how long people keep the same car. I suspect we are in the midst of the length of ownership increasing, but not to 10-20 years on average.
Ecology8622 ( @Ecology8622@lemmy.ml ) English2•10 months agoSpent 10k on a 2014 Subaru Outback with 120k miles, headgasket leak. First and only owner. Whats even worse is brake error light after spending that much. Carmaxed that junk. I will never ever buy a Subaru. Replaced it with a Honda.
Jay ( @Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca ) English2•10 months agohttps://www.carcomplaints.com/
Take any site with a grain of salt, but I find they’re usually not too bad for a general idea of what you may be in for.
redcalcium ( @redcalcium@lemmy.institute ) 36•10 months agoCan’t go wrong with Honda and Toyota. They are basically tanks that keep running even when you abuse them.
Jay ( @Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca ) English6•10 months agoPretty much the only thing that will stop them is rust. They’ll disintegrate long before the motors give up if taken care of properly.
PerogiBoi ( @PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca ) 4•10 months agoFully agree with Toyota and Honda with the exception of the 2019 and other same gen versions of the Honda Civic. There is a known defect with the air conditioning system that causes leaks even after repairs and results in a failed AC system. My brother has been plagued with this issue and unofficially Honda acknowledges it but will fight like hell to pretend it doesn’t exist.
redcalcium ( @redcalcium@lemmy.institute ) 2•10 months agoNo AC, but it still runs, right? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
PerogiBoi ( @PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca ) 1•10 months agoYa that’s the only issue he’s had but in 40+ degrees it’s rather unbearable and pretty bad considering the issue arose within the first year of ownership and regular use.
PlexSheep ( @PlexSheep@feddit.de ) 13•10 months agoDepending on where you live, you might be able to consider not getting a replacement. Public transportation and cycling is vastly superior if the infrastructure is available. Costs less, keeps you healthier, better for the environment, less noisy cities, more flexible, etc etc.
tryptaminev 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 ( @tryptaminev@feddit.de ) 13•10 months agoToyota Prius. I’ve seen people in central Asia rock mud and dirt trails with it, that most Westerners wouldn’t dare to go on with their SUVs
Semi-Hemi-Demigod ( @Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social ) 3•10 months ago2WD cars can do some amazing stuff, especially because the Prius is heavy because of the batteries and has more traction as a result
mjsaber ( @mjsaber@lemmy.blahaj.zone ) 2•10 months agoI agree completely. I have a 2009 that I got second hand, just passed 7 years and I’ve only had minor repairs in addition to regular maintenance.
One caveat - if you have to park on the street, invest in a cage for your catalytic converter. Mine and literally everyone else I know who has a Prius had theirs stolen. That’s the biggest expense I’ve had with mine.
Pantherina ( @Pantherina@feddit.de ) 13•10 months agoI am not native and wanted to say I always swear on SUVs, Pickups and unnecessarily loud or stupid cars.
Dont get one of those, please.
Tolookah ( @Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de ) 6•10 months agoI swear near BMWs, some day they will ship with a turn signal included.
Pantherina ( @Pantherina@feddit.de ) 3•10 months agoSo funny, I think BMW people are pricks everywhere. Fucking Nazi company, but VW, Audi and Porsche are as bad I guess
Semi-Hemi-Demigod ( @Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social ) 2•10 months agoThe folks you really need to watch out for drive Altimas
Pantherina ( @Pantherina@feddit.de ) 1•10 months agoNever heard of, have to check
Azal ( @Azal@pawb.social ) 12•10 months agoMy mechanic buddies all swear by Toyota, the Prius is rated the kind of car least likely to seen in a shop and pretty much any other Toyota is bullet proof.
Flipside, I will never own a Nissan. Worked at an auto auction for 6 months as an inspector. One thing that was hammered on us is check engine oil even before it went to the auctions mechanic for sludge. The reason it was hammered so hard is because it was a problem. Only with Nissans. In 6 months, hundreds of cars a day, Nissans were the only ones with the engine sludge issue.
Ilovethebomb ( @Ilovethebomb@lemmy.ml ) 12•10 months agoI’m currently driving a company owned Toyota corolla Fielder, with a cool quarter million KMs on the clock, 260-something thousand to be exact.
Toyota have a legendary reputation for reliability, for good reason.
braiseit420 ( @braiseit420@lemmy.ca ) English11•10 months agoYou know what “Ford” stands for, eh?
Fix It Again, Tony.
But to add something to the conversation, my vote goes to Toyota and Honda.
Anecdotally: Had a 1999 Corolla that I drove into the ground, ignored oil changes, was a stupid teen, and it ran fine until I wanted automatic windows. Currently riding in a Nissan Altima, which seems to be pretty great (as long as the transmission doesn’t fail, which they can do sometimes).
Parents had a Ford Eacort that was a lemon, and a Ford Escape that was a money-pit.
BarqsHasBite ( @someguy3@lemmy.ca ) English1•10 months agoFIAT is “fix it again Tony”.
DogMuffins ( @DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de ) English11•10 months agoFlawed premise.
You don’t care about brands generally, you only care about the car you buy specifically.
Every brand / model has good and bad cars. If you’re unlucky enough to get a shit one, it doesn’t really help you if people swear by that brand.
Just figure out the format (SUV, hatch, etc), then your budget, then buy the lowest kms you can.
lightnsfw ( @lightnsfw@reddthat.com ) 3•10 months agoSome are definitely more good or bad in general than others.
DogMuffins ( @DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de ) English1•10 months agoObviously, yet my point remains.
Pons_Aelius ( @Pons_Aelius@kbin.social ) 10•10 months agoI have had mazadas and toyotas run for decades with zero problems but they are also decades old and may not be reflective of the current quality of the cars. See: BMW and Mercedes. they used to be quality in the 20th century, now they are a bit shit.
mackwinston ( @mackwinston@feddit.uk ) 10•10 months agoHonda. The answer is Honda.
InternetUser2012 ( @InternetUser2012@midwest.social ) 5•10 months agoAs long as you don’t take your a/c into the equation, or have one of the 3.5s that have ring problems.
SkepticElliptic ( @SkepticElliptic@beehaw.org ) 2•10 months agoFriend had an insight with oil consumption issues, so not those either.
InternetUser2012 ( @InternetUser2012@midwest.social ) 1•10 months agoMost of the newer stuff with miles on it uses a bunch of oil, it’s crazy.
djmarcone ( @djmarcone@lemm.ee ) 10•10 months agoToyota or lexus are most reliable, Honda (Acura) is a close 2nd. After that it isn’t even close.
Yes ford’s aren’t all bad, especially their international designs are not bad.
After Toyota and Honda the reliable cars to buy are going to be specific models and specific years, you’re going to have to find the many youtube mechanic commentary videos “buy this not that” and do your research.
It may be that rather than buying the most reliable vehicle you avoid buying one of the known worst vehicles. I’ve been there and now I own 2 Toyotas and a Honda.
And it goes without saying, before you buy anything have it inspected by an impartial mechanic you trust.
You will see that Toyotas cost a lot more than other cars. It’s because the cheaper cars end up costing thousands more in the long run because of the many repairs you’re going to have to do. Pay now or pay later.
haych ( @haych@lemmy.one ) English8•10 months agoHonda and Toyota last forever. Incredibly reliable cars.
ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠 ( @Nemo@midwest.social ) 7•10 months agoI swear by any car. That is to say, I swear near any car. Get out of my lane! Three feet of space to pass at a minimum!
abc ( @aio2@beehaw.org ) 2•10 months agoThis is the way to go
Blue and Orange ( @DeathWearsANecktie@lemm.ee ) 7•10 months agoToyota Yaris, most reliable car ever in my eyes