Most Reliable Cars

Most 2000s Reliable Cars

A 4 years old vehicle is likely to develop the highest rates of failure as most cars have had their warranty expired. Parts that are likely to suffer are those belonging to fuel and ignition system. Both are the hardest to detect to average motorist except some enthusiast who might have basic knowledge for routine maintenance according to its manufacturing recommendations.

Then parts of drive train which includes transmission, axle and perhaps suspension which have specific life time of services; noticeable early symptoms would be power losses due to worn out clutch, whining noise due to worn out rubber components and handling problems on damper failures.

Most UK motorist could in average pay the maintenance or repair bill at around £455, where as 6^th year old suffers steering problems (leaking steering box) then into its 8^th year old period would suffer; braking (hydraulic booster, disc brake etc.), transmission (auto and manual alike), cooling system and finally the engine itself. Certainly the brand or auto maker plays an important role here on reliability issues which generally consists of some Eastern and few European auto makers. We have heard so much of TLC maintenance on these reliable cars could extend up to 200,000 mileages or even more without any major overhaul works done.

An advanced technology oriented car could also spell for higher degree of vulnerability compare to a car which has simple engineering contents. Generally the smaller a car the more simple it is due to cost cutting measure, and vice versa on the more premium model. For example most BMW models are equipped with light yet exotic alloy suspension material from 2000s onward. It is indeed produces excellent handling while at the same time fulfilling less weight advantages, but improper use and maintenance could lead to a premature failure. And a very expensive failure one!

On the other hand most auto maker have suffers from manufacturing recall; meaning they have one way or another mass produced a defect OEM parts. That’s why the Benz and BMW cars of 2000s are worse off in terms of reliability compare to their pre Millennium models, even Toyota and recently Honda on the Accord’s transmission recall in 2000 which resulted in a class action in US.

Pre Millennium Reliable Cars

Every motorist alike would like to have her investment on the car worthwhile to be a reliable motoring 24/7 for the whole year in and out regardless. Any other feature inherent from the car itself would be regarded as bonus. Through out my motoring experiences out of the jungle of traffic headache from Jakarta metropolitan city to the far away down South Island of New Zealand amongst sheep’s style traffic jam I must admit that in general the Japanese brands outgunned any other with the exception of 1990s or 1980s Benz, BMW or Volvo.

Our e28 5 series has more performance than e36 3 series on both counts city as well country driving, this is 1989 vs 1992 production, later multivalve e36 has even more headache as the engine could develop cooling leakage into the combustion chamber resulting catastrophic failure. There was a similar class action against BMW in US.

Our 1992 Honda Civic Genio has had given us approximately 8 years of trouble free motoring until its plastic enclosing radiator gave in as well as its ignition’s failure, but its automatic lives on soldiering even without synthetic oil replacement. Our then 12 years old Volvo 740 manual also provides trouble free until it developed cooling leakage into the chamber; it was a serious work as the block itself needed replacement. But for this case it was my in laws daily drive, otherwise I would have known the problem earlier.

I could have more real story presented to you as to answer which era produces most reliable car; pre millennium or post millennium production? I believe you have the hints by now (open loop vs closed loop ECU unit). Choices of brands, models and lots of TLC maintenance should also follow accordingly!