Buying a New Car? (Page 2): You have my sympathy.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

jerryc41 wrote:

Here are reliability ratings based on owner reports to Consumer Reports. I just signed up for their online subscription, and I get several newsletters.

You have my sympathy.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

You never know when you're going to get a bad apple. At the prices of new cars today, I'd suggest leasing. If you get a reliable car and like it you can always buy it at the end of the lease. If it's a clunker you're not stuck with it. It you've bought it, you've invested too much.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Here is the link to the CR page.
I have been a Toyota guy for over 40 years. I have owned many cars from numerous countries.
If you want a highly reliable vehicle that retains its value, buy one.
We in the industry refer to Lexus as a 'Toyota with lock washers'.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar wrote:

The thought scares me. I do kind of need a new car but the thought scares me and I don't really want to think about it.

My 2011 Hyundai Sonata is still going strong (but I didn't say that!).

ackvil Loc: Delray Beach, FL

I was quizzed by Consumer Reports on the last three cars I have owned. They ask many questions and ask for the cost of repairs and maintenance. They also followed up to see if I still owned certain cars and whether the problems I reported were rectified.

GEngel-usmc Loc: Spencerport NY - I miss Lakeland, FL

Would not buy an American made car today. Sold my Toyota Corolla 12-½ yrs ago and bought a new-then 2011 Camry. Just turned over 51,000 miles and never saw a mechanic or Dealership other than yearly visit for all fluids. Once for Costco tires all around. Sweet car, still looks like new, no rust at all!

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

ken_stern wrote:

...About 6months after I purchased it the Weber Ca... (show quote)

I would say there are serious issues with the production of a car that needs the user to tighten certain bolts regularly.

ecblackiii Loc: Maryland

GEngel-usmc wrote:

Would not buy an American made car today. Sold my Toyota Corolla 12-½ yrs ago and bought a new-then 2011 Camry. Just turned over 51,000 miles and never saw a mechanic or Dealership other than yearly visit for all fluids. Once for Costco tires all around. Sweet car, still looks like new, no rust at all!

At only 4,000 miles per year, it's no wonder you have had no problems. I've owned six foreign cars. They were OK, but I now only buy American-made cars. With one exception, they have all been trouble free. I prefer the luxurious interiors, comfortable ride and high technology of American designed and made automobiles. But, when buying a car, choosing a good-looking, low-milage, used car is the best value.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

ecblackiii wrote:

At only 4,000 miles per year, it's no wonder you have had no problems. I've owned six foreign cars. They were OK, but I now only buy American-made cars. With one exception, they have all been trouble free. I prefer the luxurious interiors, comfortable ride and high technology of American designed and made automobiles. But, when buying a car, choosing a good-looking, low-milage, used car is the best value.

I had American-made cars and trucks for probably 50 years until I got a Prius. The American-made cars were reasonably reliable but the Prius beat them all. Basically the only things that have worn out on the Prius was the 12v battery and the battery in the key, both of which are user-replaceable. Aside from wear, nothing has failed.

I find the Prius comfortable (except that as a sedan my developing arthritis makes it difficult to get in or out, but that would be the same for any make car). It is roomy. It gets good mileage.

I suspect my next car will come from the used market, although that market has been priced up significantly in the past couple years.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

ken_stern wrote:

One thing to be cautious about with listings like ... (show quote)

That's true. Many of the failures involve electronics. Still, some brands have a lot of failures, and others have few. If my radio, external cameras, and tire pressure warnings stopped working, I'd want them to be repaired, and that would involve wasted time at the dealer.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

DirtFarmer wrote:

I had American-made cars and trucks for probably 5... (show quote)

I had two Honda Civics for seventeen years each. Now, my son and I have Honda Fits - totally reliable at 84k and 71k miles.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I had a Dakota light pickup. At 150K miles it became a farm truck*. At 200K it became a field truck (no public road usage). At 250K I retired and left it to the next generation.

* A farm truck is a truck with a farm plate. It is basically limited to the state issuing the plate, although there are probably exceptions. One advantage of a farm plate is that you can transfer it between several vehicles. When you get a plate (which requires you to prove that you are an agricultural business) you have to provide a list of the vehicles it will be used on, but then you don't have to tell anyone when you move the plate. You just do it. So the plate can go on a truck, a trailer, a tractor, anything you want to put on local roads. In MA, a farm vehicle without a plate can be used on public roads for a distance of 10 miles as long as it is being used for an agricultural purpose and traveling between fields controlled by the farmer. Local roads only, no limited access highways.

BebuLamar

ecblackiii wrote:

At only 4,000 miles per year, it's no wonder you have had no problems. I've owned six foreign cars. They were OK, but I now only buy American-made cars. With one exception, they have all been trouble free. I prefer the luxurious interiors, comfortable ride and high technology of American designed and made automobiles. But, when buying a car, choosing a good-looking, low-milage, used car is the best value.

The car was warranted for 36,000 miles so unlikely he would need any non scheduled service during that time and 51,000 is considered new. I b

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Over the last 15 years, I've purchased and driven two 'clean one-owner' Lexus LS4xx series automobiles--first an LS430, and currently an LS460. They have simply been marvelous. I've bought both when they were just a few years old and they have both looked like and felt like new. Over that same period, I've purchased two e series Mercedes Benz cars for my wife. She loves them as I love mine. She does grant, however, that mine are much more comfortable on long trips. By buying all of the foregoing a couple of years after new, we've typically paid only about half of the new car sticker price. BTW, I'm now searching for a new-to-me Lexus LS500--perhaps two or three years old. Because I'm looking for one that is dark blue with parchment interior, the search may take awhile. I check eBay motors every few days. If anyone has a line on one, let me know. I'll be glad to work out a finder's fee if we are successful.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

No surprise to me that the report lists Lexus at the top and Toyota just behind it. As Road and Track stated a dozen years ago “Toyota is building the best cars in the world”. My wife is on her 3rd Lexus, and this one is now 16 years old and looks and drives like new. During those 16 years, NOTHING has failed. I’ve changed fluids, tires, brake pads and batteries, nothing else. When I take it to the dealer for regular service, there is always a new Lexus loaner waiting, even for oil changes, and when the car is returned, it’s always washed and believe it or not, the bill is always LESS than I would expect. If I decide to wait on it, there are a choice of lounges or business suites with phone and Internet and a choice of breakfast foods or snacks and drinks/coffee.in short, the entire ownership experience is what you always wanted from a car and a dealership. If this one EVER need replacing, you can bet ny next/last car will be another Lexus.