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What do you tell people who ask for car recommendations?

phucheneh

phucheneh

Diamond Member
As in, those who aren't 'car people' but want some opinions on generic reliable transportation?

I get it a lot, and realized I must seem like a Toyota fanboy. 'Cause my recommendations usually go:

Toyota
Honda (avoid ~99-03 because of trans problems)
Nissan (avoid roughly the same years because of engine problems)

Nothing fancy. Corolla/Camry, Civic/Accord, Altima/Sentra.

I almost hesitate to include Nissan. The thought struck me that Mitsubishi, not to include DSM's, has probably had less problem vehicles...and they're probably gonna go out of business in this country. Doesn't seem fair when their cars are no more boring than Toyota's.

I further include most GM's as a 'it will break but I can totally fix that for cheap' alternative. Early Pontiac Vibes get the cheapo thumbs-up...all the lost residual value of a GM, all the reliability of a Toyota, with none of the early 2000's automotive dark ages that many manufacturers seemed to have (why is everything modern that I fix a ~2002?).

Anyhoo...just curious; anyone else find themselves parroting their own general opinions fairly frequently?
 
First ask them what they are looking at. Most are just looking for validation of what they are already set on.

Otherwise I generally recommend Honda, Subaru, Ford, or Toyota.
 
I ask the person:

1. is it a toy or a necessity?
2. preference of hatch, coupe, sedan?
3. manual or automatic?
4. intended use?

I then make a suggestion based on their answers. Toyota usually falls in there even though I'm not personally a fan, they have a good track record.
 
I'm a big fan of Ford lately, and of Hyundai, on the basis that both companies offer good value right now. For Japanese models I like Honda and Mazda. I'll point out that Toyotas are great appliances, but I tend not to recommend them on the basis that Hyundai offers appliances with similar reliability for less money and that Honda, Mazda, and Ford are sufficiently reliable but generally at least a tiny bit more engaging to drive.

I do tend to point out though that if all they want to do is go from point A to point B as efficiently as possible while still being able to have adults in the back seat occasionally the Toyota Prius may well be the best vehicle on the planet at the moment. Boring and ugly, yes, but lots of room and great mileage.

ZV
 
phucheneh said:
The thought struck me that Mitsubishi, not to include DSM's, has probably had less problem vehicles...and they're probably gonna go out of business in this country. Doesn't seem fair when their cars are no more boring than Toyota's.
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Actually own two late model Mitsus (2010 Lancer Sportback GTS - twins save for the color). My sister has borrowed one several times and she said if we ever get rid of one she wants first crack at buying it. She loves them. They've been completely reliable - nothing but oil changes in two years since buying new. Still, I don't recommend them to most people - the dealer network isn't very large. My nearest is 65 miles away - thankfully they are reliable so I've never had to make a trip there for service yet. I don't think their going to leave the US though - not as long as the plant in Illinois is making cars for export (Outlander and Outlander Sport).
 
People rarely ask. I've found that most people really know absolutely nothing about cars at all, fwiw. Maybe they should ask more.
Toyota Prius may well be the best vehicle on the planet at the moment.
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Hell yes. I got rid of mine quite recently to replace with a similar vehicle, but I agree. It is a well priced vehicle, stupidly kick-in-the-face reliable (wut?) and great MPG. It is pure appliance, but it delivers what it claims to in spades. This is likely the reason so many damn third gens are around. Toyota has knocked one out of the park. I would buy another. It's like going back to the days of $2/gas.
 
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For a new car not much to say but to test drive 'em...hard to go wrong buying new.

For used cars I recommend not getting a Honda/Mazda stick as they are generally bought for FUN by car ENTHUSIASTS who may abuse the gearbox/clutch....a Toyota stick on the other hand would likely be bought by a FRUGAL (cheap/careful) owner...

The only risk here though is that a "frugal" stick owner may be a lousy driver and might have burned the clutch...(my camry owner did and the indie mechanic's 2nd clutch install was a bust causing owner1 to trade it in and the dealer had to install a 3rd...so I got a 100k Camry with a new clutch...a good deal).

In the last century I used to buy used cars @ 50k miles (3-4 years old was the sweet spot), but the Camry is an 05 and @ 100k it's in better shape than any car I got @ 50k, so maybe 6-8 years and 90k may be the new sweet spot (cost/reliability balance).

Newer American cars I've ridden in these past few years seem very well built, but I still wonder if they would be as "tight" as my Camry @ 100k miles/8 years down the road....
 
kitatech said:
For a new car not much to say but to test drive 'em...hard to go wrong buying new.

For used cars I recommend not getting a Honda/Mazda stick as they are generally bought for FUN by car ENTHUSIASTS who may abuse the gearbox/clutch....a Toyota stick on the other hand would likely be bought by a FRUGAL (cheap/careful) owner...

The only risk here though is that a "frugal" stick owner may be a lousy driver and might have burned the clutch...(my camry owner did and the indie mechanic's 2nd clutch install was a bust causing owner1 to trade it in and the dealer had to install a 3rd...so I got a 100k Camry with a new clutch...a good deal).

In the last century I used to buy used cars @ 50k miles (3-4 years old was the sweet spot), but the Camry is an 05 and @ 100k it's in better shape than any car I got @ 50k, so maybe 6-8 years and 90k may be the new sweet spot (cost/reliability balance).

Newer American cars I've ridden in these past few years seem very well built, but I still wonder if they would be as "tight" as my Camry @ 100k miles/8 years down the road....
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Do you have any data at all to support this theory or is it purely speculation?
 
JCH13:

If you read threads here and on MT and virtually everywhere on the web, nearly EVERYone recommends Hondas and Mazdas as fun/performance vehicles, especially with manual trannies, and Toyotas as appliances...I've not read ANY posts that call the Camry sporty...not even me, who likes the 5-speed...so...

I think it's a fair calculus that such recommendations are based on experience rather speculation....and so it is my suggestion to consider that when buying a used car....again, I did say that such considerations are only that, as my own Camry suggests.
 
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kitatech said:
JCH13:

If you read threads here and on MT and virtually everywhere on the web, nearly EVERYone recommends Hondas and Mazdas as fun/performance vehicles, especially with manual trannies, and Toyotas as appliances...I've not read ANY posts that call the Camry sporty...not even me, who likes the 5-speed...so...

I think it's a fair calculus that such recommendations are based on experience rather speculation....and so it is my suggestion to consider that when buying a used car....again, I did say that such considerations are only that, as my own Camry suggests.
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Fair enough.

Though also consider that enthusiasts tend to take better care of their cars whereas the (ignorant) miser will stretch out maintenance and repair items as long as possible. This is also anecdotal information.

A Honda/Mazda might generall be driven harder, but if it's taken care of well is the hard driving as big of a concern?
 
Hondas are not enthusiast vehicles, you've gotta be kidding. And no one on here is going to claim that without being ripped for it.



They have made *maybe* three sporty cars in the last 10 years. The best "sports" car (and honestly I wouldn't even call it that) they currently make is a civic.. 200hp and 3000lb?


Mazda is a sportier company, sure, but even then..... You are really stretching here.


Most people who go around asking what type of car they should buy could not care less about driving dynamics, so Honda/Nissan/Toyo tend to make the most sense.
 
jch13:
A car driven hard, even if driven well, is still driven hard....

I did say that any car can be abused, whether a sporty/enthusiast runabout or an appliance driven from point A to point B by someone who rides a clutch, but the latter is still is a safer bet IF one is looking for a basic reliable used transport, rather than a sporty funmobile that an owner confuses with being a sportscar...that's all I was getting at in terms of my "recommendations" for buying used MTs.
 
And to answer the OP.... For a new car, Ford, unless there's some extraneous detail.

Japanese quality has gone WAY down in the last 10-15 years while Ford has gone WAY up.
 
SpatiallyAware said:
Hondas are not enthusiast vehicles, you've gotta be kidding. And no one on here is going to claim that without being ripped for it.
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While Honda does certainly lack a true "sports car" the fact of the matter is that, historically, Honda's cars have been more engaging than those from Toyota. That much really can't be disputed.

No-one who recommends a Honda as "more sporty than a Toyota" is making grand claims about an Accord being a sports-sedan. All they're saying is that the Accord is traditionally more engaging for drivers than the Camry. Such a statement is fundamentally accurate.

I think you're reading far more into the comments about Honda/Mazda being "more sporty" than is really there.

ZV
 
Can 'sportiness' be zero? If not, then Toyota gets a 2. Current gen Chevy Impala or similar (for cars) gets the bottom rung for me.

Toyotas, to me, generally feel predictable and 'connected.' Not at-all sporty, but not scarily vague devoid of feedback. I rag on those Impalas a lot, but I just haven't driven anything else I felt the same about. The Camry, in my book, is a far superior drive.

Remember that 'light' inputs like low steering or clutch pedal effort are not necessarily bad...you might prefer more resistance, but the important part is that you can feel what's going on with the car. Toyota strike an okay (not great) balance...the big difference to me, is that I feel like I can take a Toyota around a corner at the limits of traction and not wreck. Those limits won't be particularly high, but the car will go where I point it and I'll know when it wants to stop gripping the road. The Impala...I wouldn't even try. Same with the bigger Dodge cars (300c and its platform-mates) are the same. Crown Vics and associated cars are a Ford example (depending on the suspension. cop car is obviously a lot better than a town car with air suspension).
 
If it's a new car, I say anything - everyone's making good cars these days. Even my 2011 Kia has been awesome. If it's used, generally Honda since they seem to last forever, or lately Subaru AWD wagons (I'm in a snowy/hilly area).
 
SpatiallyAware said:
And to answer the OP.... For a new car, Ford, unless there's some extraneous detail.

Japanese quality has gone WAY down in the last 10-15 years while Ford has gone WAY up.
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Or possibly Ford has just caught up to them (and maybe surpassed them). Some cars are more reliable than others, but I don't think there are any really troublesome makes now. Basically, no need to automatically choose Toyota or Honda.
 
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Honda, Toyota, Subaru. Usually in that order. That's for people looking to buy new and a 'transportation' appliance. Used or special needs gets more complex (Used due to the inflated value honda and toyota tend to have)
 
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