The Most Reliable Used Cars and Trucks
What Makes Cars and Trucks Reliable and Dependable?
Cars and trucks are not all built the same. Manufacturer’s can take shortcuts, have consistency issues with parts that they source, or build something cheap that consumers want. For example, in our Worst Cars from 2002 and Forward blog, we mention that the Chrysler PT Cruiser is one of the worst cars built in the new millennium. Despite this, Chrysler sold over 600,000 over its 11 year lifespan. So, what makes the most reliable used cars and trucks, well, so reliable?
Every once in awhile, the stars align and car manufacturer’s give each other a round of high-fives in the R&D room. They create a vehicle that is half car and…
Half zombie.
That’s right. These cars won’t die unless, you know, destroy their metaphorical “brains,” or set them on fire. But unlike zombies, their purpose is to get you from point A to point B, no matter what. The cars below are for, whatever reason, the living dead of the automotive world and we love them for that.
Saab 900: 1985 – 1993
Our first car on our list of reliable and dependable zombie cars is the Saab 900s made between 1985 and 1993. Many people that are not very familiar with the Saab brand have probably never even seen one. They may be asking themselves, “if I’ve never even seen one on the road, how are Saabs reliable?” Well, after doing a little browsing on the Saab Central forums, there are multiple accounts of Saab owners with vehicles over 200,000 miles, some over 300,000 miles! In fact, there’s a story over on Automobile Magazine’s website about Gary Small, the owner of a Saab 900 with almost 890,000 miles on it! His story alone proves testament to why taking care of your vehicle can make a huge difference in its lifespan.
Mercedes-Benz 240D: 1981 – 1985
This one is a weird one but it perfectly matches the zombie theme from earlier! The Mercedes-Benz 240D is an absolute beast! Autotrader chose the 240D as their pick for the Best Car in the Zombie Apocalypse. Why? For one, the 240D has a diesel engine. Diesel has a near indefinite shelf-life when compared to gasoline. In a pinch, it has been proven that you can run the 240D off fine-filtered used vegetable oil. Few things give you that post-apocalyptic feeling than running your Mercedes-Benz off of Crisco.
The most awesome feature of all is that the 240D is completely analog! That’s right, nothing in the car depends on electricity or electronics to run. This is hard to believe as we live in a world where cars are useless without the electronics they depend on. The Mercedes-Benz 240D is the zombie Rasputin of cars. A dependable luxury car that offers an experience that one may never get to have in the 21st century.
Geo Prizm/Toyota Corolla: 1993 – 1997
I know, I know, another obscure pick. After 1998, it was reintroduced as the Chevrolet Prizm, but that’s when things start becoming less dependable. Anyway, who wants a boring Chevy logo when you can have a sweet Geo logo? The Geo Prizm was a reworking of the Toyota Corolla by Chevrolet. In almost every way, the Geo Prizm is a Toyota Corolla. For that reason, we’re going to knock out two birds with one stone and use this entry for both the Prizm and the Corolla. If you look at reviews on RepairPal, almost every single owner who left a review talked about how theirs has well over 100,000 miles on it. Some claim they have 200,000 to 300,000 miles on theirs! This definitely proves Toyota’s reputation as one of the most reliable manufacturers of cars and trucks!
Honda Ridgeline: 2006 – 2014
We might get some backlash for this one but one of the most dependable pickup trucks has to be the first generation of Honda Ridgelines! Similar to Toyota, Honda also has a reputation for their dependable build quality. Despite this, many believe that the Ridgeline isn’t a “real” truck because of its looks and construction. It’s funny how it’s outlasting all of its American competition despite not being a “real truck.” According to iSeeCars.com, the Honda Ridgeline is the most likely truck to make it to over 200,000 miles! This feat may seem dwarfed by the two prior entries, but 200,000 miles is the benchmark for high mileage. Not to mention, trucks are for heavy usage which can cut down on their lifespan.
Toyota Tacoma: 1995 – 2004
Finally we have our last vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma! We mentioned before the reputation that Toyota has for making long-lasting, reliable and dependable trucks, cars, and SUVs. They also have such a variety of vehicles that there is a vehicle for any purpose! The Tacoma has been described as “bulletproof,” and “indestructible” you know, kind of like a zombie. According to some customer reviews on RepairPal, many owners have Tacoma’s with well over 200,000 miles on them. One owner said he has over 600,000 miles on his! These reviews, and the Tacoma itself, just stand as a testament to the quality of Toyota’s vehicles.
Do You Have One of The Most Reliable Used Cars or Trucks?
If you read this article and kept hoping that the further down you’d scroll, you’d eventually see your beloved vehicle but you didn’t; it’s time to try something new. Cars and trucks can be expensive, time-consuming, and extremely inconvenient at times. You depend on them to get from place-to-place, to be at work on time, and to actually run.
If you have a vehicle that is becoming a black-hole of expenses, sell it to cashforcars.com and get back some of the cash that you’ve put into it! Fill out our instant cash quote and see what you could get for your problem car or truck! Then take that cash and get a used car that’s worth the money like the zombie cars and trucks we mentioned above!
Want to Read More?
You can check out our previous article about Cashforcars.com expanding internationally here!
If you like blogs about cars and trucks, check out these blogs as well!
Best Cars from 2002 and Forward
Cheapest New Cars of 2020
Family Cars to Buy or Avoid in 2020
Worst Cars from 2002 and Forward
Do You Agree With Our List of the Most Reliable Cars and Trucks?
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Thank you for reading!
