@MTLian How about a Civic Si?

@bargainguy Buick? They're big in China. I still think you should get an American car . . . like a Honda.

 

MC, I had an HR-V loaner when my fuel injectors were replaced, and I wasn't impressed.

Ride was fine, but the engine seemed wheezy and underpowered. My GK5 was a rocket compared to the HR-V, probably because of a better power/weight ratio. I want to say back then, it was GK5 at 130bhp and the HR-V at 138bhp but something like 500 extra pounds.

I don't think I want to go as big as a CR-V. The Buick seemed a better size for what I need.

 

Maybe they've improved over the last decade or two, but most domestics used to be hitting mid-life by 60k. They're still running, but convenience features are acting weird, text rubbed off the controls - just generally worn. All products are engineered with a certain service life in mind - for American brands, that seems to be 50-60k. Toyotas and Hondas have the opposite reputation - that's why they "hold their value" better than other brands.

That situation is fine for some people. They have a newness fetish and make enough money to feed it a car every 5 years. I see it as a money bleed, which is why I look for products that last.

 

According to Motor Trend 2025, the most reliable brands are:

1. Lexus
2. Buick
3. Mazda
4. Toyota
5. Cadillac
6. Chevy
7. GMC
8. Porsche
9. BMW
10.Mini
11.Kia
12.Honda

If these metrics are correct, then Buick is way ahead of Honda and slightly ahead of Toyota.

Draw your own conclusions.

 

motor trend is saying you have to “look at the data” from JD Powers, who quite readily admit their scores aren’t based on “statistical significance”. So my conclusion is that this list is about as accurate as cousin Ned’s explanation that the earth is flat based on the “data” he got from his research from a YouTube video with 200 views.

Yes, JD Powers ranked the truck that has the engine was subject to GMs infamous “use 0W40” early crankshaft failure recall as “America’s most reliable pickup”.

this “data” is based on consumer surveys after 3 years of ownership. That’s the only way BMW could ever appear above Honda in this list. I mean, Chevy the 7th most reliable brand?

The Buick LeSabre was basically a tank and used to be very easy to maintain but given its vintage, it is now harder to find parts. A manufacturer that can build such a reliable car can probably do it again so Buick may be a good choice if reliability is a concern.

Honda engines are very reliable and I personally have had very few problems with my Hondas. High quality aftermarket parts are plentiful and Honda cars are usually quite easy to maintain. If you don’t do your own maintenance, this may not be a plus for you. It also really depends on how long you plan to keep your car. Hondas stay “worth fixing” for many years but if you only ever keep a car for 3-5 years, other brands may offer more if long term reliability isn’t a concern.

best of luck on your quest to find a car you are happy with

 

Nice catch.
Also, Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet are all General Motors (GMC) sub-brands, just like Lexus is Toyota's luxury brand.

 

Wife had a similar accident when a kid rear ended her. Was able to repair it but the rear fixed axle cradle needed to be completely replaced. Insurance tried to write off by installing a used unit, but it was also out of alignment. Total repair bill at the time was $7000 paid by my insurance because the kid lapsed on his insurance payment

 

Not getting the Encore.

This morning, got a call from the salesperson: "The alignment issue has been fixed! When would you like to come in?

"What exactly was wrong with it?"

"I don't know!"

So not exactly going the extra mile to allay any customer concerns. Very quick to say c'mon in, but apparently without doing the appropriate leg work first.

I thanked them for their time, declined the appt, told them I felt they didn't do their best with regards to transparency, that the salesperson seemed much more interested in new car sales than used, and wished them good luck.

The search continues.

 

Translation: It's now magically fixed!

 

That's exactly what we said to each other! They waved their magic wand, and poof! Done!

 

What about the CRV?

 

LMAO!!!!!

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Honda and Lexus should switch rankings on that list.

 

CR-V and RAV4 are too big for what I want. Nothing wrong with them, just not what I'm looking for.

 

So today, I visit an independent dealer to test drive a 2024 Buick Encore GX with 33K miles.

Wouldn't you know it, this car pulls to the left as well. What's going on? Alternative universe where no wheels are properly aligned?

To the independent's credit, they fixed the problem same day. When I took the second test drive, all hunky-dory.

Kind of an odd thing - the car had been sitting on their lot since last June. Asked about this. Said the finance manager was using it as her personal car.

Ooookay, apparently they're not in a hurry to sell. When I showed them a nearby comp of the exact same vehicle - trim line and everything - but with 50K miles instead of 33K and listed at $19.5K instead of their asking price of $22.85K - you could tell that the wind had been taken out of their sails.

They weren't interested in negotiating much at all, playing all hardball tactics - 1. Gotta speak to my finance manager (well, of course, it's her personal car); 2. Gotta speak to the owner. of the dealership, all to try and delay us into paying their price, which was $21.5 rock bottom.

The missus said, "You wanna walk?" and that's exactly what we did.

The search continues.

 

Well, it gets weirder.

Owner of the above company leaves me a voice mail. Said he was on his way back from ABQ and that he told staff to take the $21K offer, but we had already left.

Baloney. Salesperson said he talked to the finance manager and owner and both said no. Hard to spin that one.

Also said we didn't realize it was being used a personal car and that actual mileage was over 34K instead of 32959 as on their website. Maybe they thought we wouldn't notice. Warranty expires at 36K.

So I told the owner - not what we heard, you were stuck at $21.5K. Also we were distressed at the personal car usage and being closer to warranty expiration than advertised, and that $21K was much less attractive as a result.

Told him I didn't think we could come to terms. This is what happens when dealers try to obfuscate.

I have less and less patience for this sort of thing, but I understand how it works. Gotta point out the obvious errors (mileage), car's been sitting on the lot for 8 mo. (not good), being used as a personal car (questionable tactic if they want to sell it) and that they played hardball pricing even with all that.

Their initial offer to me on a car listed at $22,850 was $22,500. $350 off - that's what, 2%? Well, don't hurt yourself with that one.

 

Mind games are highly profitable for dealers. When they think they have you over a barrel, there's no way you're going to get a deal. You always have the option to walk away, which is all you can do in those situations.

 

Just get a Honda.

Forget that Buick Encore junk.

Why are the Buick guys contacting you after you walked out on them?

 

I don’t bother with dealers. In my neck of the woods, they sell cars for about 50-100% above their value on the used market. I check in the classifieds and get a full pre purchase inspection from a dealer. I don’t go for cars that are poorly maintained tho unless they are dirt cheap.

 

Sounds nice, but where we live, few options unless we want to travel long distances or at least to another state.

Why did they contact me after we walked? Because they screwed up. Told us they ran our offer to both the finance manager and the owner, when in reality, the owner had never responded to the price until well after we left, then the owner realized they should have taken the offer tout-suite.

We left when the finance manager, who was eavesdropping on our conversation with the salesperson and not introduced to us, yelled at us from another room "Twenty-one five!" in a not nice way when I asked the salesperson, OK, what did you buy the car for?

That was enough. Total unprofessionalism. Looks like the finance manager was too personally involved in the car as a daily driver to want to give it up. Yelling at customers is never a good look.

 

Tell the Buick guys to lose your phone number.

There's no fixing their lousy customer service.