Models to Avoid
Once you have bought your perfect used car and the thrill of driving has worn off, about 30 days or so, the reliability of starting and running the car becomes far more important than the initial thrill of ownership. Most used cars are a living nightmare and the reason you need to spend time doing research to find a car that isn’t about to make ownership a disappointment.
Well, I’ve done a lot of research and come up with some “ballpark” recommendations – there are exceptions to each recommendation but I’ve left out about 70% of the used car market – let someone else buy those turkeys. Here is the list of turkeys to avoid.
Red Alert! These manufactures and models are to be avoided if you want to sleep at night.
Manufacturers:
Just in case I didn’t make it clear earlier, here are manufacturers/models to avoid – they are nothing but trouble:
Anything made in Detroit:
GM, Ford, and Chrysler – the end is near for them all. Their cars are always falling apart and bankruptcy will befall many/most of them. Don’t hitch your wagon to these turkeys. (They made the decision to be so bad, not me).
Don’t forget Saturn, Hummer , and GMC – if they are still around when you read this; avoid at all costs. (And the maintenance costs are high)
I really don’t enjoy telling folks to avoid “Made in USA” but I’m here to tell you what’s really going on. There are plenty of import manufactures that make just as poor a car/truck as Detroit – I’m not singling out just Detroit.
Land Rover:
A truly horrible car manufacture. These things are made of junk and you don’t want any part of them. Maybe these things do good on safari but in your garage they will just rot away.
If you buy a Land Rover, your first drive in it should be to the hardware store where you can buy a hammer and whack your head for doing something so stupid!
Audi:
Flashy looking cars that fall apart in your garage – pass these guys by; let that Transporter guy and James Bond drive them.
Volkswagen:
Their stupid car commercials are only surpassed by their stupid idea of reliability. They once may have been the “The peoples car” of the Germans, they should now be “someone else’s car”.
Anything made in Sweden:
Volvo, Saab and anything else made in Sweden have lots of problems in the long run. Socialism just doesn’t work in car manufacturing plants apparently; too many smoke breaks.
Suzuki:
Maybe they make great motorcycles but they stink at making cars.
Isuzu:
Avoid these guys – let someone else drive them.
Jaguar:
Slick looking and a car mechanic’s love – avoid buying these things.
Specific models within a great manufacturer:
Mazda model RX-8, this is a special case, Mazda is very good.
KIA Sedona, KIA’s are cheap to buy, be careful.
Conclusion:
Stick to the cars/trucks I’ve recommended and you will have a better chance at buying a trouble free used car. Buy one of the turkeys above and you will have tons of trouble. Don’t say no one ever warned you.
Hope I’ve not been too subtle in my disgust at some car manufacturers.
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