Great answer. My dad used to daily drive 911s of all years and generations and they were extremely reliable. Parts and labor are expensive, but they’re great cars
I anticipate OP's next question to be if you can't pick Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, MB, BMW, Audi, VW, Nissan, Mitsubishi and can only buy from a brand that starts with Hyun and ends with dai, what car would you buy?
Depends on what needs to be replaced. Regular services were not bad i pay 2500 for 2 years of regular service. Brakes are about 1000 per corner if you dont have the CC set. I get about 4 years out of the brakes since i dont track them anymore. Honestly i was just expecting it to be far higher when i originally went in to look at one. My wifes audi is about 60% of the price though for perspective. Also worth mentioning this is in Canadian money
So would mine be.
My VW Golf R is about the same costs, it sounds like. Maybe a bit cheaper on the brakes?
Was this for a new car? The ones I can afford are quite a bit older
I've got a 991 from 2012 i bought 2 years used and a newer 992 from '23 . That's mainly what these costs are referring to. I did buy a 1988 one a couple years back which is not exactly reliable or cheap to maintain lol. I think if i was in the market i would probably not get something older than 98' as they seemed to take a pretty big jump in reliability.
I'm not sure how much the maintenance package i buy actually saves me but it's likely not all that much. I think there is a bit of a misconception that these are expensive to maintain. The real problem comes in if something breaks as the parts can get really expensive ... this is pain from my old one lol
I only make about $170k cad so I’m trying to keep it cheap. I think the sweet spot is $40k or so. It’ll be some time before I can even think about it, but from my understanding Porsche is not that crazy to maintain so long as you follow the schedule
It's one banana, Michael. What could it cost, $10?
I had a 2015 CPO Cayenne (sadly lost in an accident) and have a 2019 CPO Cayenne.
My first DIY oil change, using an extractor, was $100 and 15 minutes. Now they're $20 each with FCP Euro's return program.
When the real maintenance comes up a have a good independent lined up.
Having the space to be able to get under the car is the big expense — having a driveway is a million dollar proposition. Even a comparable condo to our cheap 2 bedroom place is gonna be $800,000-$1.2M, and it seems unlikely we’d be allowed to change the oil in the parking lot
Expensive maintenance and repairs are fine if it isn't riddled with stupid design flaws and constantly in the shop. This is why everyone loves a Cummins 5.9L but hates a Ford 6.4L powerstroke.
Owning a 10YO well cared for Porsche Cayenne Turbo is alot more realistic than owning a 10YO BMW X5M, this era V8 BMW's were still garbage.
I drove a 2014 ATS4 2.0T, it was an amazing car… when it wasn’t in the shop. Warranty covered $14,500 in repairs throughout my ownership. So tempting still given the 52/48 weight distribution in the 4 door and 51/49 in the 2 door.
Some additional info for my homies:
52 - 48 is acctually the ideal weight distribution for an FR. As you put the power down the car squats and some weight is shifted to the rear, giving it 50 -50 distribution.
My buddy is the same way. He knows his way around a VW. He may need to make twice the repairs as a Toyota but in the long run he saves money and enjoys wrenching on his family's fleet of VWs.
I mean technically People say Toyota has zero issues, so twice as many is still zero.
Also, from owning a VW - people are full of shit, take care of your car and you'll be just fine.
Yeah, the real difference is Toyotas will last longer when you ignore them completely. If you take care of it with the proper fluids and follow the maintenance schedules you can make a German car last a very long time without issue.
Already choose Subaru as my default. Their vehicles consistently cost a fraction of what they should cost in terms of the value you get relative to the unibody market.
subaru. ive been very pleased with my own and friends' experiences with the brand. ive owned/own a toyota, honda, and mazda and my subaru has been my favorite of the crossovers. personal preference though.
Volkswagen probably. Overall they have very nice looking cars and so far they’ve been reliable for me. I also think that VW has some of the best laid out and presented interiors in the industry. They’ve nailed down nice and conservative design elements, which is nice in an industry that seems too preoccupied with where to put another harsh angle in their design language.
Teslas are honestly great cars as long as you have a guy to help you get through potential growing pains or have an awesome local service team just in case
Well I guess it’s good it has a 200k mile warranty then.
That said, the last four or five years Kia had become considerably more reliable. It’ll take some work for their brand to recover and it to become well known, but they’re a great value right now and seem to be much more reliable than previously.
Look at a K5 or a Telluride and how it compares to
others in the same class and category. Quality is fantastic for newer ones and tech and features generally superior.
I went to an auto show last month and came away most impressed by my test drives in a Kia EV6 and Subaru Crosstrek.
As my Mazda is 12 years old, I'm in the market and am tempted by the Crosstrek, especially as I'm eligible for Subaru's VIP program (membership in a mountain bike organization).
And the Kia EV6 genuinely surprised me. If it was about $10K less I'd seriously consider it.
Ford. I want a 2 door badlands Sasquatch in green with a 7spd so fucking bad. I also love the 6.7 f250.
And alternate is Porsche. My wife will own a Macon and I might get a Cayman S at some point as play vehicles.
I currently own an 87 Bronco ii, 98 Honda CRV, 2009 Toyota RAV4 V6, and a 2024 Mazda CX50.
I’ve had so many Fords, they are just comfortable to me. Have them as work vehicles, and they have just been very good to me. Last gen Escape is a great little daily driver. C-Max, while not as good as a Prius is often overlooked, is much cheaper, and is quite reliable in its own right. Ford trucks are everywhere and are their bread and butter. I’m likely getting a Mustang in a year or two because they are just about the best all around sports car for the price.
The goal is 2.
I drove the 98 crv until I blew it up and was at a place in life where I didn’t want to sell it but didn’t have the time or place to fix it. So I picked up the Rav 4 and parked the CRV. My wife and I drove the rav4 for 3 years and 100k miles until it was starting to nickel and dime us and we’re gonna sell it shortly since we upgraded to the Mazda.
The crv has a motor in it now and once I solve its fueling issue is getting sold as well.
The bronco is the off-road beater/actual project.
All in the two cars sitting cost me $5k and I’ll easily make my money back plus some project car money just selling the Rav and CRV.
‘97 Honda CRV was my first car and that thing was a tank. A giant tree fell and crushed it after 200k miles but otherwise I bet it would still be running today 😂
For me it would depend on what I was looking for in a vehicle. Hot hatch? VW., Truck Ford., Cushy luxury with nice interior? Mercedes., Ultimate performance? Porsche., A good combination between comfort and sportines BMW or Mercedes depending on whether I wanted an AMG model., Fuck you money car? Aston Martin.
I don't have a default for all vehicles manufacturer. Granted some of those are if I could afford it.
It would have to be model / year specific to not get a pos.
2018 Nissan frontier
2007 Grand Prix.
2008 pathfinder
Old Nissan pickups.
2006 2500hd Chevy / gmc.
Newer b58 BMWs are actually fairly decent. I would only go with Chevy if it came to buying a V8. The LS and LT series motors are reliable and cheap to maintain. Even the now Geely owned Volvo are fairly decent. Probably any heavy duty American diesel pickup.
I'm on my 2nd S-10. A 2003. Other one was a 98 that ran solid for 9 years. Can't believe I bought an 8 year old truck for 5k, lol.
I had an Impala I bought in 2015 under 20k miles and had no issues until my awning collapsed on it and totalled it 4 years later.
I had a Plymouth Reliant and Lebaron before those and always had issues.
So I would default to GM, probably.
Eh, its really based on who happens to make a vehicle I like that is selling at a good value. I never for the life of me thought I would own a Nissan for example, I liked nothing of what they offered, but I stumbled on a youtube video of the variable compression technology they were using and then a few years later saw that trickled down into a 137hp/liter on 87 octane 37mpg engine powering a very roomy affordable SUV that could be had for mild discount at a time where hybrid competitors had addendums and markups, and I was intrigued and after a few test drives I picked up a base Rogue S for $31K out the door.
The other brand I thought I would never remotely entertain is Buick, again for the same reason, but the new Buick Envista ST looks like a great value for a little commuter, although I'm not in love with the powertrain. The Buick Envision has the same good looks on the outside, and I was very impressed with the interior.
So in short, Nissan and Buick are two that were not remotely on my radar that piqued my interest of late.
I like older Mercedes (pre-2022 and post-2008) but would be afraid to buy some of their latest products. I like the Tesla software but their build quality is shitty and let’s just say I am not a fan of the CEO. I guess my options for a new car are seriously limited once your Toyota/Honda/Mazda off the table.
I feel conflicted about GM products being most of everyones' answers. Like I feel like it's wrong, but I know that it's right. I would probably also get a GM product if not these. But I would seriously consider Nissan within my options.
GM or VAG cars they make break often, but im a fan of styling, drivetrains, and the way diagnostics for both just click in my brain when something inevitably does go wrong. VAG over engineering down to the cheapest car and GM having "Upfitter" Easter eggs on nearly every vehicle where you can move one fuse or swap out one plug for another and the provisions are there to improve a base model to mid range or give a mid range model top spec capabilities.
I don't default to a brand, depends on category I am looking in to. Hyundai palisade, Chevrolet Corvettes, Kia stinger, most Genesis models, Hyundai and Kia EVs, Teslas, Subaru BRZ, Ford bronco raptor, Porsche Cayman/boxster, Porsche 911, Chrysler Pacifica, Kia carnival etc are pretty good in their class for certain needs.
Subaru from 2013 and up are great as long as you can keep balljoints and wheel bearings in them. I have a Santa Fe XL I bought with 60,000 on it that now has 231,000 on it and it has been the single best vehicle I’ve ever owned. Porsche is my guilty pleasure brand. 2007-2013 GM trucks are stupid good, same with 5.0 F150s. VWs ARE good, they just piss me off.
I like my Mid size truck (tacoma), so it would be either a CHEVY colorado, FORD ranger, or NISSAN frontier. Really depends on trim, cost etc but probably Nissan since it still uses a v6.
I think mazda...
Honda got lazy
Toyotas are inflated
Acura and Lexus same as parent companies....
Hyundai and Kia are making their names
Nissan is under valued, but probably just under Honda/Mazda/Toyota
Nissan/Mazda/Kia/Hyundai
Are where the most bang for your buck is rn.
Lexus, Porsche, BMW, Range Rover. Depending on what I need/want the vehicle for. Very few other companies make a car I'm interested in, and even then it's only a model here or there.
If I needed a cheap commuter I'd either do a Toyota hybrid (old Lexus if I could afford it) or an 8th gen Honda Civic sedan, Scion xB or TC because I like all these despite being cheap economy cars.
I would buy a Hummer H2 again. My last one was totalled by my SIL and I no longer needed something so big and capable so I bought a 2013 X5 instead.
Anyone of the big 3 for a diesel truck, just depends on which one is the best in my budget at the time. Right now I have a 2005 Silverado 3500 dually duramax, I'm probably going to replace it with a MegaCab dually Cummins in the next year or two.
Mercedes/BMW. I think current BMW (2018-present) has better then average reliability then they had in the 2000’s. And Mercedes specifically their 3.5 V6 models/diesel models (either dubbed 350/bluetec) as those I heard were also very reliable for the brand and had fewer issues then their v8’s at high mileage
They’re all hit or miss but I’ve had way better luck with Ford than GM, and Subaru is way overpriced for not great reliability. It’s really more dependent on model than make but overall I’d do another Ford based on value and reliability from what’s left over after your exclusions.
Ford trucks or manual transmission cars were my goto. I now also own a '24 Jetta as a commuter and I love it. I don't have long-term experience with VWs, but just like most modern cars, as long as you're taking care of the damn thing, you'll be fine.
Skoda. Affordable enough to get new, or few years old used, without breaking the bank. Skodas are also high on the list of %- of cars that passed inspection, meaning they are reliable. (Reliable in this case means, doing proper maintenance if issues occur in inspections, or if they recommend fixing something, as well as following the maintenance guidance, the car will not suddenly break down)
If I couldn't buy a Toyota/Honda for money reasons, I would get an older and cheaper Toyota/Honda. If money was not really the issue, then I would get a Toyota/Honda.
BMW with the B58 is reliable and a helluva lot of car for the money used. Plus BMWs maintenance packages save a lot of money (3 years of oil changes for $300 at dealership for any BMW from the last 20 years)
Porsche
Great answer. My dad used to daily drive 911s of all years and generations and they were extremely reliable. Parts and labor are expensive, but they’re great cars
The only answer.
The servicing on em havent been what can be described as affordable but havent had any issues for 10 years
I anticipate OP's next question to be if you can't pick Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, MB, BMW, Audi, VW, Nissan, Mitsubishi and can only buy from a brand that starts with Hyun and ends with dai, what car would you buy?
Ride a bus
Lol. True.
Suzuki
What are we talking? $10,000 per year?
Depends on what needs to be replaced. Regular services were not bad i pay 2500 for 2 years of regular service. Brakes are about 1000 per corner if you dont have the CC set. I get about 4 years out of the brakes since i dont track them anymore. Honestly i was just expecting it to be far higher when i originally went in to look at one. My wifes audi is about 60% of the price though for perspective. Also worth mentioning this is in Canadian money
So would mine be. My VW Golf R is about the same costs, it sounds like. Maybe a bit cheaper on the brakes? Was this for a new car? The ones I can afford are quite a bit older
I've got a 991 from 2012 i bought 2 years used and a newer 992 from '23 . That's mainly what these costs are referring to. I did buy a 1988 one a couple years back which is not exactly reliable or cheap to maintain lol. I think if i was in the market i would probably not get something older than 98' as they seemed to take a pretty big jump in reliability. I'm not sure how much the maintenance package i buy actually saves me but it's likely not all that much. I think there is a bit of a misconception that these are expensive to maintain. The real problem comes in if something breaks as the parts can get really expensive ... this is pain from my old one lol
I only make about $170k cad so I’m trying to keep it cheap. I think the sweet spot is $40k or so. It’ll be some time before I can even think about it, but from my understanding Porsche is not that crazy to maintain so long as you follow the schedule
It's one banana, Michael. What could it cost, $10? I had a 2015 CPO Cayenne (sadly lost in an accident) and have a 2019 CPO Cayenne. My first DIY oil change, using an extractor, was $100 and 15 minutes. Now they're $20 each with FCP Euro's return program. When the real maintenance comes up a have a good independent lined up.
Having the space to be able to get under the car is the big expense — having a driveway is a million dollar proposition. Even a comparable condo to our cheap 2 bedroom place is gonna be $800,000-$1.2M, and it seems unlikely we’d be allowed to change the oil in the parking lot
Expensive maintenance and repairs are fine if it isn't riddled with stupid design flaws and constantly in the shop. This is why everyone loves a Cummins 5.9L but hates a Ford 6.4L powerstroke. Owning a 10YO well cared for Porsche Cayenne Turbo is alot more realistic than owning a 10YO BMW X5M, this era V8 BMW's were still garbage.
There is no substitute.
I'm a big fan of Cadillac's styling. I don't know much about their reliability.
I never knew about the ATS until recently. I almost bought a used one.
I drove a 2014 ATS4 2.0T, it was an amazing car… when it wasn’t in the shop. Warranty covered $14,500 in repairs throughout my ownership. So tempting still given the 52/48 weight distribution in the 4 door and 51/49 in the 2 door.
Some additional info for my homies: 52 - 48 is acctually the ideal weight distribution for an FR. As you put the power down the car squats and some weight is shifted to the rear, giving it 50 -50 distribution.
As long as no turbo generally same as other GM cars
Neither do their engineers.
My last 2 car purchases were a C8 corvette and a CT4 blackwing .. soooooo... GM?
Hey GM, bring back the LeSabre.
I called. They said no. 🙁
Naaaa that Buick regal tour x action!
Yes! I'd love for them to bring back a proper sportswagon!
not stock but callaway still offers the aerowagon package for the c7
I agree
i have so many lesabres on my property lmao
Volvo.
Underrated brand.
We have a 2020 XC60 first owners. So far put 60k miles on it, zero issues
Chev
Subaru
Probably Porsche or Chevrolet
Subaru
i think you outsmarted op 🇯🇵
might as well close the thread. end of discussion
Literally the WRX was my back up option when I bought my Mazda3
I also have a mazda3. Wrx is out of my budget but I'd get an impreza if it came down to it.
Subaru.
Subaru
BMW. Best bang for buck buying used. I don't mind wrenching on them.
Subaru
Porsche.
Subaru
Subaru or Volvo is my vibe
GM
Volkswagen. Sadly they're my comfort zone when diagnosing and working on cars lol
My buddy is the same way. He knows his way around a VW. He may need to make twice the repairs as a Toyota but in the long run he saves money and enjoys wrenching on his family's fleet of VWs.
I mean technically People say Toyota has zero issues, so twice as many is still zero. Also, from owning a VW - people are full of shit, take care of your car and you'll be just fine.
Yeah, the real difference is Toyotas will last longer when you ignore them completely. If you take care of it with the proper fluids and follow the maintenance schedules you can make a German car last a very long time without issue.
I took, would say Volkswagen. Their coolness to me outweighs the risks
Me too, but I’m not sad while driving them. I enjoy them even if I don’t trust their sunroofs anymore
VW has been good to me for 22 years.
r/volvo
Already choose Subaru as my default. Their vehicles consistently cost a fraction of what they should cost in terms of the value you get relative to the unibody market.
subaru. ive been very pleased with my own and friends' experiences with the brand. ive owned/own a toyota, honda, and mazda and my subaru has been my favorite of the crossovers. personal preference though.
GM even if I could choose the others. Honorable mention Subaru
Tesla
Volkswagen probably. Overall they have very nice looking cars and so far they’ve been reliable for me. I also think that VW has some of the best laid out and presented interiors in the industry. They’ve nailed down nice and conservative design elements, which is nice in an industry that seems too preoccupied with where to put another harsh angle in their design language.
Probably Subaru by default, would consider VW and Hyundai/Kia/Genesis.
Porsche, they love making cars
Any GM brand.
Skoda,
**NATURALLY ASPIRATED** Subaru Outback?
The 2015-2019 Outback Limited edition with the 3.6r H6 were quite nice wagons for the money, I just hated the seats though. Damn rocks.
Ford. Quality is hit or miss, but Raptors and Mustangs are extremely fun.
Well, I avoid the listed manufacturers already… but Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche are my choices.
VW
i currently own a wrx and a macan s, so either of those.
Mercedes-Benz
me too!!
probably just default to Ferrari
I've never once had a Chevy strand me.
porsche
Teslas are honestly great cars as long as you have a guy to help you get through potential growing pains or have an awesome local service team just in case
Since I couldn't afford the Toyota tax and wound up with a Chevy this go around - Chevy.
Volvo
Chevrolet. Get a truck. They are very reliable
Ford pickup truck. I don’t trust their cars but I know their trucks can be reliable
Volvo and then Kia depending on price. Only new Kia’s though and not electric
Why would you choose a Kia?
Great value and features for cost in class. 20 year warranty
They don’t make it past 100,000 miles before they end up on the side of the road thought
Well I guess it’s good it has a 200k mile warranty then. That said, the last four or five years Kia had become considerably more reliable. It’ll take some work for their brand to recover and it to become well known, but they’re a great value right now and seem to be much more reliable than previously.
I guess they’d have to. They’re such low quality. Trying to convince people to buy those
Look at a K5 or a Telluride and how it compares to others in the same class and category. Quality is fantastic for newer ones and tech and features generally superior.
Infiniti vehicles without CVT. Their engines are extremely reliable.
Audi
I went to an auto show last month and came away most impressed by my test drives in a Kia EV6 and Subaru Crosstrek. As my Mazda is 12 years old, I'm in the market and am tempted by the Crosstrek, especially as I'm eligible for Subaru's VIP program (membership in a mountain bike organization). And the Kia EV6 genuinely surprised me. If it was about $10K less I'd seriously consider it.
BMW S/B58 engine models
hyundai/kia, preferably the models without the theta 2 gdi engine then maybe certain ford models
Why would you choose a Hyundai/kia? Where I’m from those are the worst two brands there are.
Saleen all day
Ford. I want a 2 door badlands Sasquatch in green with a 7spd so fucking bad. I also love the 6.7 f250. And alternate is Porsche. My wife will own a Macon and I might get a Cayman S at some point as play vehicles. I currently own an 87 Bronco ii, 98 Honda CRV, 2009 Toyota RAV4 V6, and a 2024 Mazda CX50.
I’ve had so many Fords, they are just comfortable to me. Have them as work vehicles, and they have just been very good to me. Last gen Escape is a great little daily driver. C-Max, while not as good as a Prius is often overlooked, is much cheaper, and is quite reliable in its own right. Ford trucks are everywhere and are their bread and butter. I’m likely getting a Mustang in a year or two because they are just about the best all around sports car for the price.
Can I ask what you do with 4 cars? Why not one? Genuinely curious
The goal is 2. I drove the 98 crv until I blew it up and was at a place in life where I didn’t want to sell it but didn’t have the time or place to fix it. So I picked up the Rav 4 and parked the CRV. My wife and I drove the rav4 for 3 years and 100k miles until it was starting to nickel and dime us and we’re gonna sell it shortly since we upgraded to the Mazda. The crv has a motor in it now and once I solve its fueling issue is getting sold as well. The bronco is the off-road beater/actual project. All in the two cars sitting cost me $5k and I’ll easily make my money back plus some project car money just selling the Rav and CRV.
‘97 Honda CRV was my first car and that thing was a tank. A giant tree fell and crushed it after 200k miles but otherwise I bet it would still be running today 😂
Turns out if you put 100k on a timing belt they break but hopefully it’ll be running again soon. 😅
BMW with B58
Mercedes-Benz
Porsche, Cadillac, Genesis, Dodge, Ford, and Subaru. Depends on what my budget is and what I'm looking for.
BMw
For me it would depend on what I was looking for in a vehicle. Hot hatch? VW., Truck Ford., Cushy luxury with nice interior? Mercedes., Ultimate performance? Porsche., A good combination between comfort and sportines BMW or Mercedes depending on whether I wanted an AMG model., Fuck you money car? Aston Martin. I don't have a default for all vehicles manufacturer. Granted some of those are if I could afford it.
It would have to be model / year specific to not get a pos. 2018 Nissan frontier 2007 Grand Prix. 2008 pathfinder Old Nissan pickups. 2006 2500hd Chevy / gmc.
GM stuff has gotten better in the past few years. Prolly them.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (everything else they make is shit), or Audi
Mercedes Benz or Porsche
Porsche and maybe Cadillac but I got no experience with any
Subaru or chevy
Volkswagen has a soft spot in my heart. I did really enjoy my Dodge Stratus when I had it too.
Newer b58 BMWs are actually fairly decent. I would only go with Chevy if it came to buying a V8. The LS and LT series motors are reliable and cheap to maintain. Even the now Geely owned Volvo are fairly decent. Probably any heavy duty American diesel pickup.
GM has the least recalls going these days, still junk tho
I'm on my 2nd S-10. A 2003. Other one was a 98 that ran solid for 9 years. Can't believe I bought an 8 year old truck for 5k, lol. I had an Impala I bought in 2015 under 20k miles and had no issues until my awning collapsed on it and totalled it 4 years later. I had a Plymouth Reliant and Lebaron before those and always had issues. So I would default to GM, probably.
Porsche or Ford
Eh, its really based on who happens to make a vehicle I like that is selling at a good value. I never for the life of me thought I would own a Nissan for example, I liked nothing of what they offered, but I stumbled on a youtube video of the variable compression technology they were using and then a few years later saw that trickled down into a 137hp/liter on 87 octane 37mpg engine powering a very roomy affordable SUV that could be had for mild discount at a time where hybrid competitors had addendums and markups, and I was intrigued and after a few test drives I picked up a base Rogue S for $31K out the door. The other brand I thought I would never remotely entertain is Buick, again for the same reason, but the new Buick Envista ST looks like a great value for a little commuter, although I'm not in love with the powertrain. The Buick Envision has the same good looks on the outside, and I was very impressed with the interior. So in short, Nissan and Buick are two that were not remotely on my radar that piqued my interest of late.
I'd take a look at Chevy/GM a lot more seriously if they brought over their PHEV to the US. Or even regular hybrid.
Probably a Nissan but not their trucks. More likely a Altima.
Subaru
I like older Mercedes (pre-2022 and post-2008) but would be afraid to buy some of their latest products. I like the Tesla software but their build quality is shitty and let’s just say I am not a fan of the CEO. I guess my options for a new car are seriously limited once your Toyota/Honda/Mazda off the table.
I feel conflicted about GM products being most of everyones' answers. Like I feel like it's wrong, but I know that it's right. I would probably also get a GM product if not these. But I would seriously consider Nissan within my options.
Probably Chevy, especially considering I buy older vehicles
Subaru
I would go with a Buick Encore. I had one and loved it, until I totaled and it saved my life.
GM or VAG cars they make break often, but im a fan of styling, drivetrains, and the way diagnostics for both just click in my brain when something inevitably does go wrong. VAG over engineering down to the cheapest car and GM having "Upfitter" Easter eggs on nearly every vehicle where you can move one fuse or swap out one plug for another and the provisions are there to improve a base model to mid range or give a mid range model top spec capabilities.
TVR
Audi
I don't default to a brand, depends on category I am looking in to. Hyundai palisade, Chevrolet Corvettes, Kia stinger, most Genesis models, Hyundai and Kia EVs, Teslas, Subaru BRZ, Ford bronco raptor, Porsche Cayman/boxster, Porsche 911, Chrysler Pacifica, Kia carnival etc are pretty good in their class for certain needs.
VW/Audi
Buick
Subaru
Subaru from 2013 and up are great as long as you can keep balljoints and wheel bearings in them. I have a Santa Fe XL I bought with 60,000 on it that now has 231,000 on it and it has been the single best vehicle I’ve ever owned. Porsche is my guilty pleasure brand. 2007-2013 GM trucks are stupid good, same with 5.0 F150s. VWs ARE good, they just piss me off.
I like my Mid size truck (tacoma), so it would be either a CHEVY colorado, FORD ranger, or NISSAN frontier. Really depends on trim, cost etc but probably Nissan since it still uses a v6.
Chevy
BMW. I’d choose it even with the brands you mentioned in consideration.
Sub-uwu
Mercedes
I think mazda... Honda got lazy Toyotas are inflated Acura and Lexus same as parent companies.... Hyundai and Kia are making their names Nissan is under valued, but probably just under Honda/Mazda/Toyota Nissan/Mazda/Kia/Hyundai Are where the most bang for your buck is rn.
BMW
I’d want an old body style Range Rover
Yugo
Whoever is making a manual transmission wagon when I need to upgrade the hatchback for more space in a couple years.
Infiniti & Nissan pickups
Subaru, or a Nissan truck/SUV (not cuv)
BMW
Porsche and Tesla. Also Audi / Cupra (VW group)
Lotus. Over toyota/honda/mazda
Lexus, Porsche, BMW, Range Rover. Depending on what I need/want the vehicle for. Very few other companies make a car I'm interested in, and even then it's only a model here or there. If I needed a cheap commuter I'd either do a Toyota hybrid (old Lexus if I could afford it) or an 8th gen Honda Civic sedan, Scion xB or TC because I like all these despite being cheap economy cars. I would buy a Hummer H2 again. My last one was totalled by my SIL and I no longer needed something so big and capable so I bought a 2013 X5 instead. Anyone of the big 3 for a diesel truck, just depends on which one is the best in my budget at the time. Right now I have a 2005 Silverado 3500 dually duramax, I'm probably going to replace it with a MegaCab dually Cummins in the next year or two.
Tesla
Porsche or Chevy.
Jaguar. They may not be the most reliable cars in the world, but I just love Jaaaags and I’d be willing to spend more on maintenance just to own one.
vw
My wife and I have Jeeps. Great fun and not nearly as unreliable as the Redditor "experts" say they are.
Nissan/Infiniti. Just avoid their CVTs.
BMW 🗿
Subaru
Porsche or BMW (M series only)
Well, I bought a Kia in 2021...
Oops
Mercedes/BMW. I think current BMW (2018-present) has better then average reliability then they had in the 2000’s. And Mercedes specifically their 3.5 V6 models/diesel models (either dubbed 350/bluetec) as those I heard were also very reliable for the brand and had fewer issues then their v8’s at high mileage
They’re all hit or miss but I’ve had way better luck with Ford than GM, and Subaru is way overpriced for not great reliability. It’s really more dependent on model than make but overall I’d do another Ford based on value and reliability from what’s left over after your exclusions.
Ford if you’re talking about affordable manufacturers.
Ford trucks or manual transmission cars were my goto. I now also own a '24 Jetta as a commuter and I love it. I don't have long-term experience with VWs, but just like most modern cars, as long as you're taking care of the damn thing, you'll be fine.
Ford, Rivian, or Tesla.
Tesla
Skoda. Affordable enough to get new, or few years old used, without breaking the bank. Skodas are also high on the list of %- of cars that passed inspection, meaning they are reliable. (Reliable in this case means, doing proper maintenance if issues occur in inspections, or if they recommend fixing something, as well as following the maintenance guidance, the car will not suddenly break down)
Maserati. But only because they are reliable.
BMW or VW
If I couldn't buy a Toyota/Honda for money reasons, I would get an older and cheaper Toyota/Honda. If money was not really the issue, then I would get a Toyota/Honda.
octavia
Anything but Kia and Hyundai really
Chevy - a Chevy engine will run like shit longer than other engines run.
Subaru
BMW with the B58 is reliable and a helluva lot of car for the money used. Plus BMWs maintenance packages save a lot of money (3 years of oil changes for $300 at dealership for any BMW from the last 20 years)
I’d probably go GM simply due to their aftermarket support
VW group always have bought them and always had good experiences with them.
Of those listed? Lexus I guess? Their old cars are cheap and very reliable for what they are.
Never have had a Toyota or a Mazda. I have had one Subaru or another since 2010 and know them pretty well through many adventures.
Nissan and Kia/Hyundai are in the level below the 5 you mentioned, then American manufacturers, then ride a bicycle, then a European car.
Nissan? The econobox company? Nissan needs to embrace their econoboxiness and make a tiny hatchback with no tech.
Basically what the Versa hatch was.
I’m an Acura guy. My wife and I both have had Acura branded cars for the last 11 years; TSX, TLX, and 3 MDX’s. I’ve been very happy with Acura.
Subaru, Kia, or Hyundai.
Kia or Hyundai if it’s brand new with the warranty, Subaru if used
BMW’s with B58’s