-- Posted by FTF at 7:48 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Who builds the most reliable cars? What do you base your views on? Finally, how reliable have the cars you or your family have owned been? List make, model, and the problems (if any). For me, I think America (Ford and GM specifically) build the most reliable cars. Based on experience with them through friends, family, and ownership in addition to casual observation of the auto industry and world (see below). My family has 4 American vehicles at the moment. 1989 Ford Tempo, 83,000 miles and no major (engine, transmission, etc.) problems to speak of. Has incurred no costs outside of maintenance and user-caused problems. 1999 Ford F-150, 289,000 miles: No engine or transmission problems whatsoever. Has gone through 1 clutch (207k). 1994 Chevy 2500, 102,000 miles: No engine or transmission problems to speak of, has gone through two clutches, and on an off roading venture the front axle was broken. I think this can be excused on the basis it was up until 101k/1yr. ago, a fishing truck. 2001 Chevy 1500, 81,000 miles: Thus far no problems outside of a few typical 2000's GM build quality quirks. Engine is mint. Transmission has just recently started showing wear. One thing I've noticed and no Chevy/Dodge or import fan boy has ever really given me a real good answer on is, why do the majority of police forces, taxi companies, and hospitols used Ford Motor Company products as opposed to, say, the cheaper Chevy's and Dodge's? Which are technically superior products from power, to fuel efficiency, to price? I can only find the reason being they are very, very reliable and durable cars and trucks. -- Posted by ss454 at 7:58 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 If you ask me, any make can last just as long as the other with the proper care.  Most people on this forum have no idea what they're talking about and listen to bull shit mommy and daddy spew out. -- Posted by emo sux69 at 7:59 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Ford most likely give the government cheap fleet rebates on there crown vics and such. those 3 pruduce by far the best quality vehicles in the world though compared to korea or w/e and can produce reliable vehicles but all 3 can produce shit, in my opinion there all equal. -- Posted by ss454 at 8:02 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from Punkrocker 1992 at 10:48 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 One thing I've noticed and no Chevy/Dodge or import fan boy has ever really given me a real good answer on is, why do the majority of police forces, taxi companies, and hospitols used Ford Motor Company products as opposed to, say, the cheaper Chevy's and Dodge's? Tis a good point.  Sure some police forces and taxi services use Caprice's, but the majority of them are in fact Crown Vic's. -- Posted by FTF at 8:57 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from ss454 at 8:02 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from Punkrocker 1992 at 10:48 pm on Oct. 5, 2008  One thing I've noticed and no Chevy/Dodge or import fan boy has ever really given me a real good answer on is, why do the majority of police forces, taxi companies, and hospitols used Ford Motor Company products as opposed to, say, the cheaper Chevy's and Dodge's? Tis a good point. Sure some police forces and taxi services use Caprice's, but the majority of them are in fact Crown Vic's. And I never quite got it because the Charger and Impala are cheaper, faster, and more fuel efficient. Probably handle better as well, and the Lord knows front drive > rear drive in less-then-perfect road conditions. Yet, at the same time, police and cab fleets are almost always filled with them. -- Posted by mcodeath at 10:39 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from ss454 at 10:02 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from Punkrocker 1992 at 10:48 pm on Oct. 5, 2008  One thing I've noticed and no Chevy/Dodge or import fan boy has ever really given me a real good answer on is, why do the majority of police forces, taxi companies, and hospitols used Ford Motor Company products as opposed to, say, the cheaper Chevy's and Dodge's? Tis a good point. Sure some police forces and taxi services use Caprice's, but the majority of them are in fact Crown Vic's. Ford has had a near-monopoly on the market for police cruisers because of a preference for its conventional rear-wheel drive, V8 power, and body-on-frame construction, all suitable for police driving techniques. -To quote Wiki, it explains it pretty well why the cars are still to date being used despite the cheaper/better alternatives out there currently. However I do believe that the Chargers are starting to take their hold on the market since they came back with the RWD and V8 Optional. As for reliability, I think its %90 driver maintenance that determines the cars lifetime, with the %10 being more due to manufacturer problems. There will always be a bad model of even the most 'reliable' cars out there. -- Posted by espresso8097 at 11:08 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from mcodeath at 12:39 am on Oct. 6, 2008 Quote: from ss454 at 10:02 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from Punkrocker 1992 at 10:48 pm on Oct. 5, 2008     One thing I've noticed and no Chevy/Dodge or import fan boy has ever really given me a real good answer on is, why do the majority of police forces, taxi companies, and hospitols used Ford Motor Company products as opposed to, say, the cheaper Chevy's and Dodge's?    Tis a good point.  Sure some police forces and taxi services use Caprice's, but the majority of them are in fact Crown Vic's. Ford has had a near-monopoly on the market for police cruisers because of a preference for its conventional rear-wheel drive, V8 power, and body-on-frame construction, all suitable for police driving techniques. -To quote Wiki, it explains it pretty well why the cars are still to date being used despite the cheaper/better alternatives out there currently. However I do believe that the Chargers are starting to take their hold on the market since they came back with the RWD and V8 Optional. As for reliability, I think its %90 driver maintenance that determines the cars lifetime, with the %10 being more due to manufacturer problems. There will always be a bad model of even the most 'reliable' cars out there. Some of the reliability does come down to brand.  I almost want a Yugo just to find out how bad it was. -- Posted by Gonzalo at 6:05 pm on Oct. 6, 2008 In my experiencence: European cars last the longest, but Japanese cars are the more reliable. -- Posted by drifting at 6:45 pm on Oct. 6, 2008 We had a Toyota Corolla ('87 I believe) that my dad drove till it literally began to fall apart. Just over 300,000 miles on it. I would say it lasted a good, long time. As for the cars we have had recently: 1985 Ford Crown Vic Wagon (100k miles) - Really reliable, we have never had any major problems 1986 Toyota Celica GTS (133k miles) - Its running good, but we just got it. The only work its ever had done on it (before we bought it) was a new clutch, and a partial rebuild on the transmission 1994 Ford Taurus (not sure about miles) - We had to replace the radiator on it. My brother totaled it about two weeks later by having two accidents involving deer. 1996 Ford Contour (154k miles when I sold it) - Completely shitty. Radiator was leaking, transmission was dying, burnt oil like none other. 1997 Mercury Cougar (218k miles) - New trans, burns oil, driver side window and interior door handle dont work We also had a Chevy Wagon, but I can not remember the millage or year of that. It was not a good car. We had the trans replaced on it, it was having problems with the water pump, something was wrong with the brake line. We scrapped it. -- Posted by ss454 at 11:56 am on Oct. 7, 2008 Quote: from drifting at 9:45 pm on Oct. 6, 2008 1996 Ford Contour (154k miles when I sold it) - Completely shitty. Radiator was leaking, transmission was dying, burnt oil like none other.   1997 Mercury Cougar (218k miles) - New trans, burns oil, driver side window and interior door handle dont work Sounds like you blew the head gaskets....and the window and interior door handle hardly have anything to do with reliability. -- Posted by drifting at 12:09 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 Quote: from ss454 at 2:56 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 Quote: from drifting at 9:45 pm on Oct. 6, 2008 1996 Ford Contour (154k miles when I sold it) - Completely shitty. Radiator was leaking, transmission was dying, burnt oil like none other.    1997 Mercury Cougar (218k miles) - New trans, burns oil, driver side window and interior door handle dont work   Sounds like you blew the head gaskets....and the window and interior door handle hardly have anything to do with reliability. I know the handle and window have nothing to do with reliability, but it also has to say SOMETHING about craftsmanship when you cant get out of the car short of climbing over the center console, and using the passenger side door. -- Posted by ss454 at 12:14 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 That really wouldn't have been that hard to fix.  Have you been raping the handles by using them like a gorilla? -- Posted by FTF at 12:14 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 Quote: from drifting at 12:09 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 Quote: from ss454 at 2:56 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 Quote: from drifting at 9:45 pm on Oct. 6, 2008 1996 Ford Contour (154k miles when I sold it) - Completely shitty. Radiator was leaking, transmission was dying, burnt oil like none other.     1997 Mercury Cougar (218k miles) - New trans, burns oil, driver side window and interior door handle dont work      Sounds like you blew the head gaskets....and the window and interior door handle hardly have anything to do with reliability. I know the handle and window have nothing to do with reliability, but it also has to say SOMETHING about craftsmanship when you cant get out of the car short of climbing over the center console, and using the passenger side door. Another point is the Contour is European. -- Posted by ss454 at 12:16 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 Quote: from mcodeath at 1:39 am on Oct. 6, 2008 Quote: from ss454 at 10:02 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from Punkrocker 1992 at 10:48 pm on Oct. 5, 2008     One thing I've noticed and no Chevy/Dodge or import fan boy has ever really given me a real good answer on is, why do the majority of police forces, taxi companies, and hospitols used Ford Motor Company products as opposed to, say, the cheaper Chevy's and Dodge's?    Tis a good point.  Sure some police forces and taxi services use Caprice's, but the majority of them are in fact Crown Vic's. Ford has had a near-monopoly on the market for police cruisers because of a preference for its conventional rear-wheel drive, V8 power, and body-on-frame construction, all suitable for police driving techniques. -To quote Wiki, it explains it pretty well why the cars are still to date being used despite the cheaper/better alternatives out there currently. However I do believe that the Chargers are starting to take their hold on the market since they came back with the RWD and V8 Optional. As for reliability, I think its %90 driver maintenance that determines the cars lifetime, with the %10 being more due to manufacturer problems. There will always be a bad model of even the most 'reliable' cars out there. How could I forget about body-on-frame.  So much easier to fix after an accident.  I can see uni-body cars being destroyed alot in the police field. -- Posted by whrocky5092 at 12:21 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 America my ass its all about the germans -- Posted by KRNsoccerplayer24 at 8:43 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 Quote: from Punkrocker 1992 at 8:57 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from ss454 at 8:02 pm on Oct. 5, 2008 Quote: from Punkrocker 1992 at 10:48 pm on Oct. 5, 2008     One thing I've noticed and no Chevy/Dodge or import fan boy has ever really given me a real good answer on is, why do the majority of police forces, taxi companies, and hospitols used Ford Motor Company products as opposed to, say, the cheaper Chevy's and Dodge's?    Tis a good point.  Sure some police forces and taxi services use Caprice's, but the majority of them are in fact Crown Vic's. And I never quite got it because the Charger and Impala are cheaper, faster, and more fuel efficient. Probably handle better as well, and the Lord knows front drive > rear drive in less-then-perfect road conditions. Yet, at the same time, police and cab fleets are almost always filled with them. Don't the police and stuff use like old fords? Like late 90's early 2000's and the Chevy's and Dodge's are the new ones right like the Charger and stuff? So wouldn't it be cheaper to get the Fords? -- Posted by FTF at 10:16 pm on Oct. 7, 2008 Ford has dominated the squad car industry since the late 1970's with the discontinuation of the Dodge Monaco and the introduction of the "Panther Platform" Ford LTD. Its common to see 90's or older Ford's, but I'd say the majority are 2001 to present models.