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

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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WFR
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
 
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.
 
Last edited:
2001 Chevy Monte Carlo SS with 3.8 V6 165.000 miles
 

Attachments

  • 27751645_2001933456796829_4776430696474895863_n.jpg
    27751645_2001933456796829_4776430696474895863_n.jpg
    46.3 KB · Views: 0
  • 27972491_2001933593463482_3957829823153199238_n.jpg
    27972491_2001933593463482_3957829823153199238_n.jpg
    44.3 KB · Views: 0
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.
 
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.
 

Attachments

  • 20230801_123700.jpg
    20230801_123700.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 0
  • FB_IMG_1563146351406.jpg
    FB_IMG_1563146351406.jpg
    148.7 KB · Views: 0
  • DSC_0169F.jpg
    DSC_0169F.jpg
    1.4 MB · Views: 0
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
 
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.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top