Most reliable used simple/basic vehicle

[trd1zz]

So, since I am in CO, I had:
2010 VW CC (traded in with 127k, bought with 24k. Had to trade in bcs. first child. Not a single issue. Even water pump was original).
2011 Tiguan (still has).
2013 BMW X5 35d (bought thinking it will be sufficient for family needs. Second child prove me wrong. Still cannot get over the fact that I got rid of that car).
2015 Sequoia (second child).
2021 Atlas (that one had windshield issue. Got rid of it bcs. of that)
2011 BMW 328 xDdive. My primary DD and track vehicle. Has 156k. Since I got it with 84k had TPMS module failure.
2018 Sequoia (replaced Atlas).
2009 Pilot (still had it, drive maybe 1000mls a year as it is probably the most uncomfortable vehicle I ever drove. My in-laws drive when visit).

Guess which one was by far the most expensive to maintain?
Sienna. And all European carsI had combined were not that expensive.

Sheesh you've gone through a lot of cars in the last 10-15 years. As a long term Toyota/Lexus owner I can't really relate to this lifestyle.
I've never sold any of my Toyota/Lexus vehicles. I currently own 3. I only replace them when they get totaled... RIP V6 AWD Rav4

 

[edyvw]

Sheesh you've gone through a lot of cars in the last 10-15 years. As a long term Toyota/Lexus owner I can't really relate to this lifestyle.
I've never sold any of my Toyota/Lexus vehicles. I currently own 3. I only replace them when they get totaled... RIP V6 AWD Rav4

I rack up a lot if miles. I sold BMW with 350k.

 

[edyvw]

If I remember correctly the Sienna was a clear case of user error. Complete such error on an X5, or Atlas, or Sequoia, or Pilot, and the repair bill will be same or more. Aside from that user error that broke your automatic hatch mechanism - what else on it was an expensive nightmare to service or repair? How many times did it leave you stranded? How many unexpected repairs did it have?

We truly appreciate your testimonials, but seems like most (not all, but most) of the people on this forum had a negative and often expensive negative experience with Euro cars.

So, that is not user error.
That happens on all vehicles. It happened on BMW, it happened on Atlas.
It is designe issue. Hinges are half the size of ones on Tiguan, and Tiguan does not have push button closing and some 30sq ft of trunk.
Suspension needed complete overhaul at 80k.
Brakes twice, until I dumped Toyota junk for aftermarket (Euro, of course ).
As for leaving on the road, in the last 25 years only three cars did not want to start out of blue: Mazda Millenia, Sienna and Sequoia.

 

[IndyIan]

I think the most reliable VW that I have talked to the owner personally is my buddies late 2000's TDI, and it runs very well, except its cam is grinding itself flat.... Anyone else seems to have had Christmas tree dash and other random sensor and start problems, or is topping up coolant and oil on a 10 year old car.
I'm sure all VW's aren't like that, but just for simple transportation, they don't seem to beat a KISS Civic/Corolla/Matrix, on average for reliability. With cheap older cars, good previous maintenance is a big factor, and avoiding ones with an expensive common problem.

My Focus isn't trouble free, but the drive system seems to need nothing but the regular maintenance items. I don't recommend the 2000-07's for people who can't do a bit of their own work though, as a few items have broken, and it's not the easiest engine bay to work in.
Most cities have a VW/euro specialist which says something about the complexity of the brand in general, but the 2.slow and 2.5 and manual transmissions for a Jetta are dirt cheap at the wreckers, so those don't break very often at least. The automatics do seem break more often and are triple the price of a manual.

 

[John105]

Why not buy a nice bicycle and ride to work?

Was thinking the same thing, 2 miles. Unless it’s too hot outside and one needs a shower upon arrival.

 

[Fair enough]

I haven’t read all the latest repies, but Chevy Bolt would be a good choice. There are used ones with new GM batteries in them. Depending on all the city, county, state, and federal rebates you qualify for, it could bring the cost down. Say the Bolt is 12000, don’t need to get the newest and lowest mileage one, and the rebates are 8000, then you have a nice little fast hatchback. No warm up or damage done on the 2 mile back and forths even in winter. Turn the heat on go back inside and come out to a warm car with no engine running. For that use it would be great.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Find a Yugo from a little old lady from Pasadena

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

2 miles. You can drive a car with a blown head gasket and slipping transmission and still get there, and do it for 10 years.

I had an old Econoline van like that. Once the engine started to go, it was relegated to hauling trash and building supplies. Occasionally used as a sort of mobile storage locker.

 

[JimPghPA]

Yeah I'd say really any Honda/Acura with the K24 would be a good bet.

The older small Hondas have the smaller 4 cylinder engines of 1.6 L and up. All Honda 4 cylinder engines are remarkable if given proper oil changes, and ( valve adjustments and new sparkplugs every 100 K miles ).

Honda had a few years of bad transmissions. I think that was mostly their larger vehicles like the Odyssey that basicly are kid haulers that families with kids never change the trany fluid on.

Watch the yt video " The CAR WIZZARD, shares the top Honda's." Also, watch some of his other videos about bad and good used vehivles.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

" I think you're turnin Japanese, turnin Japanese, I really think so....da da da Da da " LOL

 

[supton]

Most cities have a VW/euro specialist which says something about the complexity of the brand in general, but the 2.slow and 2.5 and manual transmissions for a Jetta are dirt cheap at the wreckers, so those don't break very often at least. The automatics do seem break more often and are triple the price of a manual.

Back when I had my TDI I would drive out of state to a TDI guru. Then I got one closer to home, only 45 minutes away. When he closed up shop, I was past 300k and I decided I was done (plus rust, twisted twist beam, and aforementioned heater core worries). Plus I was starting to worry about if I broke down hours from home, how long would it take to repair.

A gasser probably has less concerns, especially if it's NA I bet.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Find a cheap Fiat " Fix it again Tony !!! "

 

[IveBeenRued]

Here you go OP. It’s a $4500, 2013 Ford C-Max Energi with 108K miles and is about 100 miles away from you. You can probably bargain down on it. It’s a plug in hybrid that will give you about 13-20 miles of electric range and then it kicks over to gasoline.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...1315&zip=29605#listing=420151277/NONE/DEFAULT

 

[PontiacHO]

Mid-2000s Chevy Impala

 

[GR_CoB]

Here you go OP. It’s a $4500, 2013 Ford C-Max Energi with 108K miles and is about 100 miles away from you. You can probably bargain down on it. It’s a plug in hybrid that will give you about 13-20 miles of electric range and then it kicks over to gasoline.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...1315&zip=29605#listing=420151277/NONE/DEFAULT

Didn't these (and Hybrid Fusion Energi of this era) have the transfer shaft assembly bearing failure? I believe it got fixed around 2015, but a 2013 could still be affected. Pricey repair, and common failure.

 

[IndyIan]

Here you go OP. It’s a $4500, 2013 Ford C-Max Energi with 108K miles and is about 100 miles away from you. You can probably bargain down on it. It’s a plug in hybrid that will give you about 13-20 miles of electric range and then it kicks over to gasoline.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...1315&zip=29605#listing=420151277/NONE/DEFAULT

The early ones had fairly common major transmission problems, and the Energi version had a few more problems as well. I was hopeful it was a just a Ford Prius(ford licenced the CVT from toyota), but my research showed that Ford's drivetrain engineers managed to screw up one of the simplest and reliable transmissions ever made... For a few years, until they just spec'd some half decent parts like toyota did?

I would just get a KISS common 4 banger fwd (mtx preferred for me), that doesn't have expensive/complicated common problems, from a 1st owner with some maintenance records, parked in front of a decently maintained house, in a neighborhood where you can carry $5k in cash without a worry.

 

[JimPghPA]

Mid-2000s Chevy Impala

Our 2001 Impala turned into a giant money pit in 2018 and I had maintained it very well regarding all fluids.

Every month or 2 it was sink another 400 to 700 or even a thousand into it. Pittsburgh winter salt did not help in its longevity.

Maybe some place that vehicles don't rust MAY have them last longer, but I would steal clear of any 16 yo GM.

 

[Kurtatron]

My 2005 Focus has been mostly trouble free at $1800. Never had transmission fluid changed either.

 

[Starving Electrician]

Boy, you are on a roll! I know edyvw asked you how many VW's you've owned, how many FCA/Stellantis products have you owned? I better go have a stern word with my SRT, because apparently it needs to become a pile of crap instead of a pile of fun!

Never owned a Chrysler and never will I managed to be just smart enough to avoid that headache. Which in fairness doesn't take that much brains when you consistently see Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler in the least reliable vehicle lists on every major publication. As a note VW frequents the same lists with the same regularity.

Look I get it. People like working on cars i do too. I like to modify and build cars some like to fix broken trash. I am not hating. I actually tell people that want to get into working on cars to buy a Jeep or VW because you will get good at working on cars for how much time you spend fixing them. It's like buying a Harley Davidson its not just a mode of transportation but a hobby. As you will spend just about one weekend a month working on them hahahaha.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

So true about the road salt. I " inherited" a family beater, but it was free. 03' Toyota Solara SE Coupe. 2AZ-FE 4 banger with auto trans. 124k on the ODO. Needed some work, nothing major. Found French written all over the owners manual. Hmmmmm. Looked at the door jamb. Made in Canada. Light bulb went off. Not a spot of rust on this thing, and it was never garaged. Jacked it up. The undercoating was INSANE !!!!! Not a spot of metal was not covered. This was factory undercoat, not that cheap drive thru junk. Put the Kentucky manufactured cars to shame !!!!! Somehow it ended up being sold as new in NY in 2003 at a dealership in The Bronx. Canadians don't play around with their undercoating. They get some wicked winters up there.