Certified mechanic shares five reliable vehicles that should be on your used car buying shortlist
Shopping for that perfect used vehicle can be tricky. Car buyers have the task of picking the vehicle that satisfies all of their criteria without breaking the bank. That’s why this Georgia mechanic shared his picks for reliable used vehicles across segments and automakers.
From large trucks to midsize sedans and all-around favorites, this mechanic shares his picks for reliable used vehicles
“I’m gonna get a little bit of hate,” the Georgia mechanic prefaced when his companion asked him for his reliable used car picks. “But from a professional standpoint, if we’re talking about pickup trucks, I don’t think you can go wrong with an F-150.” But he inserts an important caveat. “With the 5.0L. We don’t see much outside of water pump issues with those” he asserts. “I’m not a big fan of the EcoBoost.”
As for small trucks, he agrees with the rabid fans of the Toyota Tacoma. Again, however, he had a follow-up point. “The manual with the four-cylinder. Those trucks are indestructible.” He points out that there’s a reason why little Toyota trucks saw extensive service in combat zones across the planet. Having seen Hilux trucks take spectacular punishment overseas, I couldn’t agree more.
For the car shoppers looking at dependable sedans, he recommends the Honda Civic and Accord. “I don’t think you can find a better, more reliable car.” The mechanic cites some air conditioning system issues in some newer models, but not much else.
However, he does take the time to give a second thought to the Accord’s closest rival. “Toyota Camry, you cannot beat [the] Toyota Camry. We just had one in today that has 250,000 miles on it and the car drives better than anything else we had in the shop today.”
Finally, his companion asks for one last recommendation. The mechanic replies that he recommends “the Harley-Davidson of the automotive world.” Again he adds, “I’m gonna catch some hate.” After the lengthy buildup, the mechanic recommends Subarus based on their capabilities. “It’s a go-anywhere vehicle. They do have some issues, don’t get me wrong. But they’re dependable.”
Before you lose it and send the mechanic your strongly-worded thoughts, he chose to add a personal disclaimer. “I’m kind of biased here. We’re living in the Southeast. So we’re not dealing with rust like the Midwest.”
