A co-worker is looking for a used car for her daughter.
I noted that some of the Toyota and Scion models she was looking at had serious potential oil consumption problems and that the Hondas could have their issues as well.
I suggested that she look at Ford Focus and Fusion models and she reacted with horror.
A Ford? Those aren't any good!
I told her that she was seriously misguided as to the excellence of late model used Toys and Hondas and that in my personal experience the Focus is a solid car and the Fusion also holds up very well from what I've read. I went on to tell her that the old Tauruses in our fleet at work have been great out to about 200K and that both the '97 Aerostar we bought new and the old E350 I paid $900.00 for were very solid vehicles.
People seemed to be stuck in the nineties when it comes to their opinions on what vehicles are good and reliable.
The evidence that later Hondas and Toyotas aren't all that is readily available as is the evidence that many more recent American nameplate vehicles are very good.
I also suggested that she consider late models Hyudai/Kia cars. They're dirt cheap used just as they were dirt cheap new. They typically also have a lot of toys for the buck and if they don't have the greatest driving dynamics that won't matter to any young lady.
These Korean makes seem to be pretty durable and reliable save for the occasional thrown rod in some recent engines, but most of those have had their engines junked and replaced under warranty by now.
I noted that some of the Toyota and Scion models she was looking at had serious potential oil consumption problems and that the Hondas could have their issues as well.
I suggested that she look at Ford Focus and Fusion models and she reacted with horror.
A Ford? Those aren't any good!
I told her that she was seriously misguided as to the excellence of late model used Toys and Hondas and that in my personal experience the Focus is a solid car and the Fusion also holds up very well from what I've read. I went on to tell her that the old Tauruses in our fleet at work have been great out to about 200K and that both the '97 Aerostar we bought new and the old E350 I paid $900.00 for were very solid vehicles.
People seemed to be stuck in the nineties when it comes to their opinions on what vehicles are good and reliable.
The evidence that later Hondas and Toyotas aren't all that is readily available as is the evidence that many more recent American nameplate vehicles are very good.
I also suggested that she consider late models Hyudai/Kia cars. They're dirt cheap used just as they were dirt cheap new. They typically also have a lot of toys for the buck and if they don't have the greatest driving dynamics that won't matter to any young lady.
These Korean makes seem to be pretty durable and reliable save for the occasional thrown rod in some recent engines, but most of those have had their engines junked and replaced under warranty by now.