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Just found out that my current car will die any day now due to a known defect. It's out of warranty and I have no money to replace it right now.

I've been cursed with car problems my whole life, no matter how well I take care of them, I keep getting screwed.

All of the cars have been Fords because I always heard they were generally dependable and cheap to repair/upkeep, but so far they have all failed me.

What cars do y'all recommend? What cars do you have that just won't give up the ghost no matter how old/beat up they get? If your life depended on your car lasting as long as possible, what car would you drive?

I want whatever car I get next to last me 10-20 years. I want to be that person posting a picture of the odometer hitting 300k miles. I also don't care much about features, reliability is key.

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[-] Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you can afford one, get a Subaru. They have a well-deserved reputation as being one of the longest lasting brands. In addition they are great driving cars, particularly under bad conditions. Finally, they have an amazing safety record.

That last item is not a casual one for me. I was T-Boned in the center of my front passenger door by a car going over 50 mph. My Outback rolled twice and only stopped because the roof hit the side of a van. I can remember my head bouncing off the curtain airbag as the pavement went rolling by. The car was thoroughly destroyed, except for the passenger compartment, which was intact (even the door that took the hit). My passenger and I were both unhurt.

The paramedics who examined us were more than a little surprised. They said they were expecting at least head and neck injuries. Instead, I had a minor bruise on the outside of one knee. That was it. We didn't even have headaches.

I replaced my totaled Outback with a newer one. My friend bought one too, the following year. I expect to drive Subarus for the rest of my life.

[-] ZapBeebz_@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Seconding Subarus, especially on safety. My brother was driving an outback, and had an elk jump into the road at him, at night, while he was doing 60, and he was completely fine. Windshield wasn't even cracked. Phenomenally well built, safe cars.

[-] Chozo@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago

I had a Ford Taurus that I swore by for several years.

Well, swore at, mostly.

[-] wopazoo@hexbear.net 5 points 1 year ago

I've never been failed by a Toyota Corolla

[-] JokeDeity@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

America doesn't make reliable and dependable. 3 Chevys have taught me that. Go with something from Toyota, Subaru, Honda or Nissan and you will be so glad you did. I'm never buying American again if I can avoid it.

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[-] soviettaters@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

Honda Accord. I'm currently driving a 98 with 240,000 and looking to hopefully get 300,000.

[-] owatnext@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I would recommend pretty much any Japanese vehicle. Look closely at Honda or Toyota. I have had good experiences with Hondas, personally.

I want to be that person posting a picture of the odometer hitting 300k miles.

I am at ~280k in my Honda Insight, my dad is ~320k in his Accord, and my mom is at ~400k in her Odyssey. My husband is at ~186k in his Civic, but he doesn't drive much.

[-] mayonaise_met@feddit.nl 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Where I live (we don't get most US models) Ford isn't really considered super dependable. Not the worst, but certainly not comparable to Toyota, Honda, Mazda.

[-] Num10ck@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

if you're looking for reliability and repairability and depreciation you simply can't beat the car that keeps going up in value: the Honda Element

[-] ShadowCatEXE@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

German cars. Not because they're great, but because I swear whilst being in the same physical location as them. I've owned a handful of VWs/Audis and they are rather annoying vehicles to work on. Though half of them I've owned lacked any major issues. Just expensive... Fairly expensive.

Joking aside, Toyota is always a safe bet for reliability.

[-] ji88aja88a@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I know I'll get shit..I bought a 2004 Subaru Impreza new..and ran it for 15 I years..it never missed a beat. I put 110 thousand kilometres on it in that time. I loved driving it every time. Had it serviced when it needed. I sold it because I pivoted around a cement pole in a parking lot. Bit of damage to a door. Moved onto a WRX after that.. again, it has never missed a beat. No issues whatsoever.

[-] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

That's quite low milage yes? I put about 50k kms on my Nissan every year. I think the average in Australia is something like 40k km a year.

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[-] existenzmaximum@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago

Miata is always the answer.

[-] WontonSoup@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I’ve owned 3 Subarus over the last 15 years. Drove the first two for years with 0 issues. 75k+ on both. First was a lease then buy out and was offered a great deal on the second to trade in. Only got rid of the second due to a change is need for a personal car. When I had a need again I got a third which I’m only at about 60k on but plan to drive this one as long as it’ll go. Only thing I’ve done so far outside oil changes and other routine stuff was brakes. Which I consider routine.

Another reason is swear by them is AWD in a very snowy climate without SUV gas mileage.

[-] ElRenosaurusReg@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago

Suckless philosophy. The less computerization the better. I wanna be able to fix the whole thing with a 10mm, a jack, and an adjustable spanner.

Currently I have a 92 Corolla, it has too many computerized parts and I'm planning to replace the engine with a carbureted 3 rotor and a manual transmission. Ideally, I'd also like to implement Koenigsegg freevalve as well.

If all goes to plan, it could handle an EMP and keep running, though I'm not a prepper or anything, i just want a fully mechanical vehicle because I understand mechanics, but adding computers into the mix muddies the water.

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[-] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

So far I've owned a Ford, Chevy, and Hyundai. Ford and Chevy were nothing but trouble; had the Hyundai for about 4 years now and not a single issue, so it's got my vote.

[-] theodewere@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

i've driven a couple of Fords recently that were very good quality.. Ford seems to be doing things right, but check forums and stuff about specific models.. but i'd also probably bet money on almost any Honda Accord easily reaching 250-300k miles with good care..

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[-] empireOfLove@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year ago

Honda Fucking Accord

[-] keeb420@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

mid 90s to mid 00s corollas i know they are different gens there but any from that era are great for reliability.

[-] PseudoSpock@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 year ago

American brands of vehicles. I swear by them and at them. They suck.

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this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
79 points (83.2% liked)

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