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.
Depending 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.
Not to mention that a replacement doesn’t need to be a car. An e-bike or a motorcycle might cover needs. Also as to once a year needs, if you go with a cheaper option, you can always rent a car or moving van if you want to.
Fucking BMW, fucking Audi, turn on your blinkers when turning!
My Toyota ran for 25 years until it got hit N run by a Jeep
Honda and Toyota sedans are extremely well known for their longevity. Double check their SUVs or minivans if you want that, some were misses. If the model has a CVT (continuously variable transmission) look into the reliability of it.
I’ve had 2 Chevys 1 Ford & 2 Hondas. I had multiple breakdowns and expensive mechanical issues with Chevy & Ford.
The only thing I ever paid to repair on either Honda was a windshield because a rock hit it.
Toyota/Lexus or Honda.
Acura too.
I wouldn’t know as I think it’s a US only brand.
It’s Honda’s Lexus
I get shitbox Toyotas for under a couple grand and run them into the ground. Whatever maintenance I can afford.
I don’t trust cars nor roads nor drivers
What is your budget?
Don’t get a jeep! Ours developed a heart defect 2 weeks before we paid it off. Turns out, it’s a known issue that Jeep just doesn’t care about addressing because “loyal” owners will just replace it (meaning the whole engine), and often do.
It’s not just Jeep, it’s any FCA/Stellantis vehicle with the 3.6L Pentastar engine. If you know it’ll develop a head gasket leak after 100K and replace it ($5K) before it does, you won’t have another problem with it. If you don’t, it’ll total the engine ($15K). Happened to me. I hope there’s a class action law suit honestly.
You can always swap the engine with a honda vtec engine, but in doing so you’ll trigger the ire of other jeep owners who’ll complain about the lack of torque at low rpm on honda engines.
Echoing this. Stay away from Jeeps
A civic. They just don’t break.
Check to see if there’s a recall repair.
Recall repairs go beyond the warranty.
Flawed 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.
Some are definitely more good or bad in general than others.
Obviously, yet my point remains.
Toyota and Honda have the reputation for being the most reliable. I would add Subaru to the list as well out of my personal experience.
Although, I think the best investment a car owner can make is a basic set of tools and the time to learn to do repairs/maintenance yourself. I started by doing my own oil changes and, at first, it wasn’t cheaper at all with needing to buy the tools, but in the years since I think I’ve become quite a handy mechanic and have saved tens of thousands by doing everything myself. There are repair videos online for virtually everything so it’s pretty easy to get started with basic stuff and work your way up from there as needed for your car.
