Crown Victoria or a Camry/Accord/Fusion?

[Kroze]

Maybe in the 80s and early 90s, certainly not per any data I've seen in the last decade.

Again, paying 48% of msrp for a car 10 year old 100K mile is just idiotic. I suspect that whole segment is bidded up by low income south asians that for whatever ethnic/cultural reason are convinced civics and camrys are made out unicorn farts that make them magically go to 200K miles with zero maintenance.

My 2005 Accord V6 Hybrid have 160k miles on it and it's running like a brand new car. The engine is butter smooth and the transmission is shifting magnificently. Guess what's been done to it as far as maintenance? Regular 6-7k oil changes.

The last major maintenance was done @ 120k miles, they replaced the timing belt/waterpump/spark plugs.

Everything else on the car is original (other than brakes & tires duh).
I have absolutely no reservation as to why this car would have any problem getting to or surpassing 200k miles without anything issue.

Well...i don't know how long a hybrid battery will last but it shouldn't affect what we're talking about here.

 

[tortillasoup]

--There will be no hybrids in my driveway. I want fewer systems, not more.

--Halik touches on a point. Used prices seem very high. Not so terrible for 1-3 year old cars, but the older stuff is just crazy. It's pushing me towards new or CPO.

Transmissions in the Toyota Hybrids are suppose to be more reliable than anything on the market aside from the single speed reduction gear in electric vehicles. Also we don't know how long you're going to keep this vehicle so the point about reliability is kinda irrelevant. Just think of it this way, the Hybrid system helps ensure the vehicle runs clean and for a car to run clean, it has to run well.

If the hybrid system was really as complicated as you think it is, there wouldn't be such a small premium for it as there currently is. Most of the cost is in the battery and electric motors. Batteries are warrantied for 10yrs 150k miles in quite a few states. I can't recommend hybrids from other makes however as I don't know how they'll fare. Quality of engineering and build materials is far more important than just flat out simplicity. If simplicity was the key to having a reliable vehicle, then something like a 70s VW beetle with a carburetor or a Yugo would be far more reliable than something the likes of a Prius.

 

[lakedude]

Maybe in the 80s and early 90s, certainly not per any data I've seen in the last decade.

Again, paying 48% of msrp for a car 10 year old 100K mile is just idiotic. I suspect that whole segment is bidded up by low income south asians that for whatever ethnic/cultural reason are convinced civics and camrys are made out unicorn farts that make them magically go to 200K miles with zero maintenance.

My fascination for Japanese vehicles started in the late 80's early 90's when my father got his first Mazda. Our domestic vehicles hadn't been that bad but the Mazda was just totally reliable and ended the need for purchasing any other vehicle because it just ran and ran. The car out lived my father. I remember him having shouting matches in the Ford and Chevy showrooms over maintenance issues. After he bought the Mazda there was no more shouting...

I bought a Chevy in 2000 and it was not reliable.

Mom's VW Rabbit made in Germany, reliable.
Mom's similar VW Rabbit truck made in the US, garbage (one of the worst, just fell apart).

Mom's current Mazda, reliable.

Dad's Volvo Diesel, not reliable, head bolt issues.

My 2005 Honda has been 100% reliable (if you consider an O2 sensor a wear item). I just change oil every 10,000 miles and keep driving.

It seems to me like we keep hearing this same story from the domestic makers like they have their act together but it is going to take more than a few good years to reverse popular opinion after years of putting out junk.

To the OP, I work with a guy who previously worked at Ford and he claims that the Fusion is an excellent vehicle. He had access to all kinds of warranty data and I trust his opinion. He is not a Ford fanboy, in fact he is not entirely happy with Ford and he has plenty bad to say about some models but he likes the Fusion.

I've had decent luck with Ford. My '92 was junk but the '98 was much improved (after Ford joined up with Mazda).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9815860/German-cars-lose-out-in-reliability-survey.html

 

[halik]

My 2005 Accord V6 Hybrid have 160k miles on it and it's running like a brand new car. The engine is butter smooth and the transmission is shifting magnificently. Guess what's been done to it as far as maintenance? Regular 6-7k oil changes.

The last major maintenance was done @ 120k miles, they replaced the timing belt/waterpump/spark plugs.

Everything else on the car is original (other than brakes & tires duh).
I have absolutely no reservation as to why this car would have any problem getting to or surpassing 200k miles without anything issue.

Well...i don't know how long a hybrid battery will last but it shouldn't affect what we're talking about here.

I sold my Audi A6 2.7T with 150K, no issues. Same thing for my mom's benz and that car literally had zero interior rattles at that milage. Both of those cars were purchased used with a huge discount to the msrp.

My point isn't that hondas/civics don't last, the point is that for the same amunt of money you can get a lot more car and it will last as long. I am willing to bet that for a given amount, you can get a crown vic with half the milage compared to a same year civic.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I don't know by what metric you measure the value of the crown Vic compared to others but by purely an economic standpoint, crown Vic loses. .

By the pound. The crush values are great. :biggrin:

 

[7window]

The new corollas now is as big and roomy as the camry. Car has no problem too. I am a car guy at one time but got tired of dealing with mechanics and car issues. So I just bought a car that is bullet proof from mechanics.

 

[WilliamM2]

The new corollas now is as big and roomy as the camry.

Where did you get that idea? My sister just bought a '14 Corolla, it has no where near the leg and headroom of my Camry. It's a nice car, but it has over 20% less passenger area.

We won't even talk about the difference in ride quality and road noise.

 

[CraigRT]

For 2011 I would not vote Accord, but for 2013 and up I would.

I test drove a 2013 base model with 6 speed, I loved it.. Awesome car, and it looks amazing too (sedan)

The Camry I would never touch personally, and I have no idea where you would find a CV, but they are very reliable cars. Nothing like a 2013 Accord that's for sure.