What's the most reliable vehicle you've owned?

[oworthsr]

My 1994 Mercedes Benz 420E. Bought it brand new and drove the snot out of it. Bulletproof. Low tech, spartan interior and vaultlike strength. Quiet as a mouse.

 

[Model19man]

Not the best picture but my 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 I bought new and then put 250,000 miles on with only tires bulbs and batteries.

 

[nll401]

My 1969 Chevy Nova. It's a proven fact that a feature your car doesn't have never fails.

 

[walkin' trails]

To date, it would have to be three Toyotas (2 Corollas and a 21 Tacoma). The Tacoma currently has 60k on the clock and still doesn't rattle. Had a 95 Crown Vic that was a pretty solid car but the brakes sucked. Had an 89 F150 and a 92 Mustang that were solid mechanically.

 

[K Frame Keith]

Toyota Tacoma. 2014 followed by a 2020. One dealer visit since 2014. 150k miles on the first, 86k so far on the second. And the resale is excellent.

 

[JP@AK]

Okay. Old guy here. The older car the better in my experience.

My first car was a 1951 Chevy two door sedan. I was fifteen when I got it. Sold it when I was 20. In those days, cars were still made of steel. Thick steel, not tin-thin. And no plastic. I drove the living daylights out of that vehicle. I truly wish I still had it.

When I got back from 'Nam, my brother had a 1965 Chevelle Malibu Super Sport waiting for me. That was one of the best cars I've ever owned. Another one I wish I still had. (See picture below.)

For longevity, the prize goes to one of the several Jeep Cherokee (XJ) units I've owned. This one is a 1999. I got it with 70,000 miles on it. I finally parked it at 280,000. The motor (4.0 six) still ran fine, but the front axle was making ugly noise. It is sitting in my back yard awaiting the time I can rebuild another front axle assembly that I picked up from a Cherokee that had been rear ended. I'll tear that axle assembly down, rebuild it and install it in the 1999. Then I'll probably just sell it because we own four other Jeeps.

 

[kennyb]

2002 Ford Excursion...7.2 diesel. I purchased new has well over 200K miles with only standard maintenance.

 

[barbarosa guns]

When fleeing from the San Antonio area to remote regions in the north I bought an at the time 21 year old Ford F250 Camper Special that the peculiar relocating Air Force officer had installed a JC Whitney "dually" kit. The guy had just dropped a factory crate 390 into the truck just a month or so before he was notified of his coming transfer. Behind that engine was a 4 speed stick, the older "granny gear" type and that truck had three gas tanks and with it getting 11mpg if one drove like a little old lady, it needed all three. Upon purchase the truck had 80K on its clock and I drove it until 2010 when the odometer then indicated it had amassed over 350K (ya had to keep track of every time it passed 100K as thats as high as the gauge read). It didnt use any oil when I sold it (for almost 10 times what I had paid for it) and ran like a gas guzzling champ. I used to believe it had some form of purge valve that, if one was getting more than 11 mpg that valve would start dumping fuel so as to maintain that 11mpg max efficiency. Weighing God knows how much the truck was no dragster and the Holly that was installed up top apparently didnt help there. Wasn't slow, but fast? Nope. Drove that truck all over the country and never had an issue. I replaced a solenoid and a fuel pump during my time with the truck and thats it. I found a "dash cap" that covered the starting to fall apart semi padded dash making it look new and I paid a pretty low amount getting the bench seat reupholstered by an Indian fellah on "the rez" in the Idaho panhandle trying to keep it looking as factory as possible, none of that "tuck and roll" crap using Ostrich skin....just rayon or whatever with vinyl piping (I think thats the word).
Awesome truck and it along with a 1965 Chevy "heavy half" were the only two vehicles I actually felt love for. The Chevy I bought beat up and rusty and it stayed in about the same condition until I totaled it by doing a head on with a tree after being run off the road by some idjit. That Chevy was nowhere near the truck the later Ford was, I just had it during a more carefree part of my llfe which helps to explain my love for it. That and the fact its 230ci six cylinder was so incredibly simple to work on.
Anyway, thats the longest lasting most mileage vehicle I ever had. I wonder if its still puttering about today keeping Exxon happy?

 

[silicosys4]

1987 Toyota tercel. I bought it at 150k for $300, put 30k on it without so much as an oil change, didnt care, might have checked it once or twice before driving out of town.
sold it 3 years later for $500.
I think I had to bang on the alternator once with a stick to get it charging again, but that's it.
I should have treated that car better.

 

[Doriangray6]

A 1962 Dodge Town Wagon with an inline slant 6 engine and 3 on the column manual shift.
Though it was two drive it had a posi-trac rear end and worked great in mud and snow.
Sold it when I moved to Europe and still miss it.

 

[LVSteve]

1987 Toyota tercel. I bought it at 150k for $300, put 30k on it without so much as an oil change, didnt care, might have checked it once or twice before driving out of town.
sold it 3 years later for $500.
I think I had to bang on the alternator once with a stick to get it charging again, but that's it.
I should have treated that car better.

Thank you for such a shining example of vehicle neglect. I haven't heard one so good since hearing how a car I used to own in the UK died in the hands of its abusive owner.

 

[silicosys4]

Thank you for such a shining example of vehicle neglect. I haven't heard one so good since hearing how a car I used to own in the UK died in the hands of its abusive owner

The technical term for that is a "beater", America isn't Cuba, and a 1987 tercel isn't a 1967 Camaro, lol

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I drove Ford Mustangs for a long time and still like them, but in my senior years i have had a Toyota Camry. I am very impressed with how reliable it is, I have nobody left to impress and just want to get around. The only bad feature was the original tires were of low quality.

 

[PittsburghJon67]

Nobody wants to know about a Prius but my 09 has 180,000 miles and the only things replaced were tires, windshield wipers and the 12 volt battery. I have 2 Ford trucks a F-350 and F-550 a motorcycle and another car so I'm not a wierd tree hugger but I have to drive photo equipment to NYC + Boston and many other locations in New England so getting 50 MPG while going 75 MPH is a big savings for the business. I like everything about it except the looks.

I'll put in photos of the trucks instead of the ugly car

Many years ago, my wife and I were Thanksgiving dinner guests of a very liberal family for whom I had done a personal service. After the meal they walked us out, subsequently showing us their new Prius, one of the first years' models. I asked them about mpg, and then how does it feel to drive; the wife said that it has been "VERY uncomfortable to drive any distance", but she then said "But we are making a statement and expect at some point we will get used to it." I got a twinge in my back just hearing her say that, so we made our goodbyes with thanks, and then headed home. The "making a statement" and the "we'll probably get used to it at some point" comments became one of our family jokes regarding many things. Still, so glad you got a good one, round gunner - can't argue with its utility and mpg, apparently. Our current wheels are a 2009 Chrysler Sebring with just over 30K original miles, no issues from new to now. Heated seats are the only statement we are making in Western PA winters, let me tell you. ---PGH Jon

 

[seattle fish guy]

We bought a 2013 Fusion hybrid for my wife to drive for work. The car 183,000 miles on the clock. I have only had oil changes for the gas engine and brake work. At 100,000 miles I replaced all the fluids as a preventive measure. I also had to replace the 12-volt battery. At first, I was a little hesitant about buying a hybrid, but the car has been great and we get 35-37mpg. I wish Ford still made the Fusion.

In 2016 I bought an Edge as "gun range" vehicle as we were shooting off road in the foot hills of Mt. Ranier. It has 102,000 miles on the clock much or which is highway trips to our Eastern WA property. Both vehicles, so far have been great.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Most reliable was probably my 2009 Honda Ridgeline. I put oil & tires in it.

My least reliable….2017 Ford F150. I put new repair parts in it every 3-6mo. Just spent $800 for a starter replacement. Dumb! That is what the dealer thought was fair. It left me stranded so I was stuck on that.

 

[Sebago Son]

Along with a Chevy Tahoe, I am currently on my 7th Crown Vic / Grand Marquis ... They are safe, look sharp, are roomy, reliable, inexpensive to repair, very conventional in their engineering. Gets 27 MPG on the highway, 18 around the village. Every one of them got me 225-250,000 miles. I was sad t see them leave the FOMOCO line up.

 

[Dano]

The most reliable vehicle I've ever owned was a 1970 Toyota Land Cruise FJ40.
Sold it in 91 with nearly 300,000. Only shop work ever was a bad master cylinder
that was replaced.
Dano

 

[ajgunner]

1985 Nissan King cab pickup. 368,000 miles and still on the road.
Oil changes at 5000 miles, 3rd clutch, 3rd muffler, washer squirter pump, alternator, tires, and a whole bunch of tanks full of cheap Acro gas.

 

[WRscott]

2001 Chevy Monte Carlo SS with 3.8 V6 165.000 miles

 

[AQBill]

Toyota products, in general, have always been very good to me and wonderfully reliable! My 1995 Toyota Avalon made it to over 320,000 miles before the Michigan winters, liberal use of salt and my grandson finally took their toll. My other favorite is a 2006 Lexus LS430 with "only" 132,000 miles on it and still running like a top. If you keep your foot light on the gas pedal it will regularly return 20 mpg in town and 28 to 30 mpg on the road. My next car will be a Camry Hybrid XLE or Honda Civic Hybrid Hatchback. Also have had good luck with my F150s which are both tough and reliable even if their efficiency is not very good.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My left and right leg...............

 

[roundgunner]

Many years ago, my wife and I were Thanksgiving dinner guests of a very liberal family for whom I had done a personal service. After the meal they walked us out, subsequently showing us their new Prius, one of the first years' models. I asked them about mpg, and then how does it feel to drive; the wife said that it has been "VERY uncomfortable to drive any distance", but she then said "But we are making a statement and expect at some point we will get used to it." I got a twinge in my back just hearing her say that, so we made our goodbyes with thanks, and then headed home. The "making a statement" and the "we'll probably get used to it at some point" comments became one of our family jokes regarding many things. Still, so glad you got a good one, round gunner - can't argue with its utility and mpg, apparently. Our current wheels are a 2009 Chrysler Sebring with just over 30K original miles, no issues from new to now. Heated seats are the only statement we are making in Western PA winters, let me tell you. ---PGH Jon

I have done a few 1000 mile days with it. No worse than my wife Camry. Once I went to Florida to trade generators with my dad after his got submerged in a hurricane. I had the generator in the back and still had room for a single air mattress to sleep on so I didn't have to get a room.
I've had 2 VW Golf diesels in the 80s that got 50 mpg but they were gutless, reliable + I liked them but so slow to get up to 65. The Prius accelerates as good or better than most small cars + the weight of the batteries make it feel much better than the super light things like Corola's. They feel like a cheap go- cart.
I would still rather take the bike if I can.

 

[50 target]

You know why the Brits drink warm beer? They have Lucas refrigerators!

There is an old saying that "Lucas invented darkness". My brother had a TR6 and it was problematic.

The other saying was that "The Brits would export TV's but they couldn't get them to leak oil". LOL

 

[LVSteve]

There is an old saying that "Lucas invented darkness". My brother had a TR6 and it was problematic.

AC Delco left me in the dark a couple of times in the UK.

When I came to the US in 1997 I discovered that the new Prince of Darkness worked at the USDoT and wrote the local rules on headlights. They were so inferior to European spec lights it explained why the US had such a thing for airbags.