what's been your most reliable car?

[Jeff7181]

My brother wishes his altima was like that, but his has been a pile of crap ever since he got it. Transmission was the most recent thing, it grenaded on him when he was pulling away from a stop light. Didn't even have 90k on it yet.

What year was it?

 

[Miramonti]

Daily driver 2k Honda accord coupe, even with it's heralded 'glass tranny.'

Knock on wood, the only thing to 'break down' has been the alternator a few years ago. Currently I'm replacing a worn window regulator, but these are literally the only issues I've had with it.

 

[amdhunter]

My 1996 Mitsubishi Galant was a rock. I did maybe 100-200 transmission drops from Neutral to Drive and, while the transmission gave out 3 times, the engine and rest of the car was solid as hell.

Had a retarded sound system in it too pushing the electrical system to its brink.

Man I miss that car.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

My used 2001 Prelude that I bought in 2003. Aside from a clutch change and changing wear and tear items its been very reliable. Never once had it left me stranded. I've changed the starter recently, going to change the alternator and thermostat soon too. I rather change when you know it's almost due than to wait for it to bring you to your knees, wasting extra time and money.

I don't feel very confident with Honda's automatic transmissions. Heard a lot of horror stories regarding the tranny and am reluctant to purchase my next Honda vehicle.

 

[zoiks]

+1

My 1990 KA24 is also bullet proof. I've starved the poor engine of oil so many times where it would start clanging. I would in the end add more oil into it and it would run like nothing happened.
Currently have 246k miles on it and still going.

 

[Arkaign]

Hmm, dad (later hand-me-down to my brother) had a very early 80s F250 that went well past 500k on the original motor/tranny with no rebuild.

Personally had a couple of late-80s Hondas that went way past 200k on original motor/tranny before being sold. One of which I know is well over 300k now, no idea where the other one was.

 

[Aikouka]

My Altima has been doing pretty well so far. I've only had it for about five years so far, but the VQ engines are pretty good overall. Not too sure about the CVT though :hmm:.

My 1996 Mitsubishi Galant was a rock. I did maybe 100-200 transmission drops from Neutral to Drive and, while the transmission gave out 3 times, the engine and rest of the car was solid as hell.

Mitsubishi's 4G series engines were pretty good. While most people seemed to dislike DSMs (I had one as well), I don't think I've heard a bad comment about the 4G63 engine! Just don't buy a 2G NA or you're stuck with the 420A, which is the same as the Dodge Avenger (if memory serves me correctly).

Although, as much as I talk about them being good, the previous owner of my old DSM literally blew a piston through the side the engine. I'm still not too sure how he managed that... especially considering that it blew out near the bottom (by the control rod).

 

[Arkaign]

^^ I think most of the DSM problems were with two things : turbo motors blowing heads/crankwalking, or the trannies grenading. Bonus points for any turbo AWD DSM, which is basically the worst combination imaginable for longevity.

NA i4 FWD Mitsubishi are fairly reliable, especially with a manual transmission and a non-ricer owner.

 

[Aikouka]

^^ I think most of the DSM problems were with two things : turbo motors blowing heads/crankwalking, or the trannies grenading.

Ah... the infamous crankwalk. One picture still stands out in my mind from those days: a guy with a leash connected to his crankshaft. :biggrin:

Bonus points for any turbo AWD DSM, which is basically the worst combination imaginable for longevity.

That's exactly what I had. What I believe happened was my clutch completely glazed over on me and I was only able to drive in 1st or reverse as I couldn't get enough power to the transmission to get any higher. I know that I pulled the transmission, but had a ton of fun trying to get it back on with the engine still in the car. Unfortunately, my dad was helping me with it all and he went up and died on me!

I actually tried to sell it since I spent so much on getting a replacement 4G63T engine, but my mom ended up selling it to a vehicle scrapyard for pennies on the dollar. That was a real bummer. Whoever found the engine in that car must have been really happy.

NA i4 FWD Mitsubishi are fairly reliable, especially with a manual transmission and a non-ricer owner.

Well, the difference is that the 1Gs had a 4G63 NA engine and the 2Gs had a 420A NA engine in them. If I remember correctly, the 420A was based off the Neon's short block with a new head.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Not mine but my dad's 1997 RAV4. Still kicking with over 300K on the ODO.

Aside from normal wear and tear components, I think he only had to replace the rear trans-axle around 275K.

 

[IronWing]

My company 2006 Silverado 2500HD work truck has had no problems of any kind at 73k. I've driven it on a mixture of highway, city, washboard, and 4WD trails, basically beating the hell out of it and it just keeps going. My best guess is that 7-10k miles were off pavement.

My 2007 FJ Cruiser had an A/C switch replaced at 30k, otherwise no problems at 53k.

My 2008 Fit Sport has had two recalls and two other problems repaired at 29k.

 

[vi edit]

Oddly enough, my 2000 Passat was the best car I ever owned. Not just reliably wise but for pure comfort and driving enjoyment. I loved that thing.

Only money in 100k miles I put into it was for timing belt, water pump and some tie rods at 90k miles. It did have one recall for vaccum hoses that gave me a couple issues before they were replaced. But outside of those it was one of the best cars I ever owned.

Don't get me started on the flaming piles of GM shit I've owned throughout my life. I think I've finally convinced myself I'll never own another again after getting burned so many times no matter what improvements they've made.

 

[waggy]

My ex wife has owned a ford Escort since 1996. it has 167k miles.

She has not had ot do anything other then scheduled maintenance. It still runs great and continues to get good gas mileage.

2nd most was a 1988 honda accord. when it finally died it had 240k miles. i loved that car!

 

[mc866]

'90 Toyota Camry 224K mi that I bought for $1300 in 2000 with 103K mi on it

oil, tires, a failed AC compressor which we bypassed with a smaller belt was about all that was needed to get roughly 120K miles out of it. It was the 4cyl so I got awesome gas mileage also.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I'll never own another again after getting burned so many times no matter what improvements they've made.

Statements like this regarding any brand of vehicle reeks with ignorance, IMO.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

All of my various Honda/Acura, Toyota and Nissan products have been highly reliable, including my then 14-year-old Accord with 206K miles. My BMWs . . . not so much. The longest I've owned a car was my 2001 Nissan Maxima, which I had for 7 1/2 years and about 75K miles. I replaced the battery once but other than that it was just gas and oil.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Statements like this regarding any brand of vehicle reeks with ignorance, IMO.

I totally disagree. Of course it makes sense to look at overall reliability figures through Consumer Reports, etc., but to me anecdotal experience is very important. If I had a ton of problems with cars by a particular manufacturer I doubt I'd keep buying their products (though I do drive BMWs despite their mediocre reliability).

 

[vi edit]

Statements like this regarding any brand of vehicle reeks with ignorance, IMO.

Sorry, I've given almost half a dozen GM vehicles (and even more if you include immediate family) a try and I'm just tired of their shit. After nearly 2 decades of dealing with their vehicles I'm done with it. I tried to be a cheerleader and good old American supporting the General, but I've had to put up with far too many stupid problems I never should have experienced in the vehicles of their age and condition.

If that's ignorant then so be it.

 

[Rifter]

1988 CRX, bought it for $2000 in 2004 and drove it for 130,000kms over 6 years and only put about $400 into it other than regular maintenance.

Replaced: 1 cv shaft($90), main relay($35), Ignition coil($50), thermostat/rad hoses($60), weatherstripping on all windows and sunroof($120)

The remainder of the $400 was spent on wire and terminals for replacing all the wires from the battery to the starter/alternator and fuse blocks and replacing the ground strap. Had a intermittent starting issue when i bought it that was due the the wiring to the battery being VERY corroded, i was surprised it started at all. Obviously i did all the work myself for the prices listed so cost of repairs would be higher paying a mechanic.

I also did alot of uneeded modifications to the suspension to tighten it up, i sold it to a guy who autocrosses it so at least it went to a good home.

I drive a chevy pickup now but its to new(to me, not new in age) to draw any conclusions on reliability. One thing i will say is parts are a hell of a lot cheaper than Honda parts.

 

[highland145]

Statements like this regarding any brand of vehicle reeks with ignorance, IMO.

lol

Sorry, I've given almost half a dozen GM vehicles (and even more if you include immediate family) a try and I'm just tired of their shit. After nearly 2 decades of dealing with their vehicles I'm done with it. I tried to be a cheerleader and good old American supporting the General, but I've had to put up with far too many stupid problems I never should have experienced in the vehicles of their age and condition.

If that's ignorant then so be it.

With VI on this one.

 

[Zap]

I haven't had any problem free car, but I consider my current car (Mazdaspeed 6) reliable in that I wouldn't have a problem leaving RIGHT NOW for a cross-country road trip. The problems (so far) have not been show stoppers. I couldn't say the same about my previous car, a Contour SVT.

My wife has had vehicles that were pretty much problem free. She had a 1993 Toyota pickup truck. It was a stripped down model, with crank windows, no A/C, 4-cylinder engine, etc. It only had normal wear-tear (tires, battery), accident (hit a deer), maintenance and theft (three meth addicts broke side window to steal stuff, were eventually caught and most of the stuff recovered) happen to it. Her more recent 2005 Mazda 3s was also problem free outside of routine maintenance and limited life stuff like tires and battery.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

my most reliable car is my current one: 2006 infiniti g35 coupe 6mt, purchased new. the world has beaten the crap out of it, but no problems from the factory. my previous car was a 95 acura integra hatchback, purchased 5 years old. it was great until the last year when everything went bad on it, plus a body seem in the trunk opened up giving me 20 gallons of water and extensive rust.

 

[DVad3r]

Dads 92 Camry wagon, I4 engine - current mileage 323,113 miles and still going...

Normal stuff changed like timing belt, water pump, struts/control arms in suspension, bushings.

My car as of 5 years, 2001 Lexus ES300, 108,739 miles and going strong...

 

[Eli]

The Insight is the car I've had the longest; 75,000 miles now.

I had to put a used transmission in it, which cost me $1400 as I didn't have time to do it myself because of being a courier driver at the time. The input shaft bearing went out, which is a common failure in Honda manual transmissions. I also didn't know at the time that it's a $20 part. That was a little unfortunate, but it only adds 2 cents per mile to my cost of driving. So currently around 8 cents a mile at a $3.60/gal average. About the equivalent of a 40-45MPG car, but cost per mile should continue to go down as I drive more miles since the major repair.

Also had to put an EGR valve in it($180). That's it other than routine maintenance.

 

[mizzou]

02' silverado (bought new)
1 wheel hub replacement
1 water pump
1 starter

all replaced in 2010