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Forum nameThe Pits v3.1
Topic subjectWhat is the most reliable car you've owned?
Topic URLhttps://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=i60&topic_id=39586
39586, What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by Fallen4ng31, Apr-13-09 02:53 PM
Include a list of all previous vehicles owned.

Most reliable? 1994 Buick Regal Custom

1991 Chevrolet Lumina Z34 - Crap, broke everyday.
1996 Mitsubishi 3000GT (Base) - Crap, broke every other day.
1994 Buick Regal Custom - Rock solid, comfortable, couldn't kill it; Gave it to a friend that needed a car, currently has 380k on the clock and still runs like a champ.
1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS - Current DD, Killed it with boost, once.
1993 Eagle Talon TSi - Only had it for a few months (Bargaining chip)
1995 Eagle Talon ESi - Current Project.
39587, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by Uberingram, Apr-13-09 02:56 PM
Originally posted by Fallen4ng31
Include a list of all previous vehicles owned.


Heh.

Most reliable vehicles owned:

(Tie for me)
88 Isuzu 4x4 P'up
03 Dodge SRT-4

Vehicles I've owned:

88 Isuzu 4x4 P'up (sold with over 300k on the ticker 7 years ago. I still see it driving around.)
03 Dodge SRT-4 (I beat the snot out of this car and it's NEVER given me grief.)
71 Super Beetle (that thing never ran right)
46/47 CJ2A (It's a project, it's supposed to not work 90% of the time )
96 Integra (holy Christ bad memories. Aren't Honda's supposed to be reliable?)
99 2GNT (fairly reliable minus the electrical fire)
86 Subaru GL-10 Turbo. (This car was a rolling mistake. Fun though.)
91 TSi AWD. (Driggs once said that DSM's are the sum of their owners. It's obvious this car's previous owners couldn't add.)
39588, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by teklein, Apr-13-09 03:00 PM
Most reliable: 1996 Ford Ranger

Owned:

1986 Olds Cutlass Calais - was free, died six months later.
1993 Eclipse - Eh.
1995 Neon - This one had issues, wrecked it.
1995 Neon Sedan - Reliable, sold when I didnt drive it anymore.
1996 Neon ACR - Reason other car was sold. I sold this in a weak moment.
2004 Beetle - Srs girlfriend of three years liked it, I bought it.
1998 Eclipse RS - Awesome car, selling due to a number of things.
2001 Neon ACR - 48k, awesome car. 1 of 123.
39589, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by J, Apr-13-09 03:44 PM
I know this may sound like an oxymoron, but it isn't...

The most reliable car I've owned: 97 Mitsu Eclipsi
The most UNreliable car I've owned: 99 Mitsu Eclipse

...they are different cars of course.

My first Eclipse was perfect for 140k miles of its life, only timing belt, spark plugs, and oil changes. My next (the 99) was a nightmare w/ multiple clutches, a tranny, and more (no fun)... although it does represent a good bit of my education. My third eclipse (also a '97) has been perfect w/ the exception of a remote start while in gear (my fault) and is my 'higher learning' with turbo/etc.

Updated:
I don't share the sentiment that Eclipse is an unreliable car, I think it is very much a reliable car... but that's not to say a few lemons were produced.

39595, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by RoninEclipse2G, Apr-13-09 05:40 PM
most reliable?

04 Subaru WRX.
I've done regular maintenance and changed the timing belt. had the AC tensioner pulley bearings go bad at 120k. car currently has 140k

next closest is actually my 95 eclipse. it finally wore the rings to the point that it had zilch for compression after I had beat the crap out of it for over 100k miles of heavy abuse. any issues other than paint are all user error.

the others
03 toyota Echo:
haven't had it long enough to make a judgement
96 explorer:
stereo repeatedly broke, ate spark plugs and wires for breakfast, liked to have thermostats stick open in freezing weather.
84 Toyota Corolla AE86:
have only gotten to drive it ~1000 miles. bought with broken timing belt, fixed. headgasket blew 150 miles after that, fixed. hunted vacuum leaks and loose throttle cables for 800 miles, fixed. Oil pump gave out after another 50 miles, engine being replaced. what do you expect for a 25 year old car with 250k on the clock.
98 Jeep Cherokee:
TPS sensor died and took the transmission with it.
96 Acura Integra:
massive neglect by the previous owner, eventually replaced entire ignition system. Cat failed. sold it to kid that has blown the engine 3 times now.
87 Jeep cherokee:
rusted floors, cracked manifolds, wouldn't start when cold, Ebrake didn't work, heater was about as effective as an athsmatic blowing through a straw.
80 Jaguar XJ6:
had to replace the thermostat and part of the oil pump. prone to overheating in extremely hot weather if you didn't run the heater full blast
94 Acura Integra:
Didn't get to keep it long enough to find out if it was good or not. totalled by soccer mom on cell phone in suburban illegally crossing traffic.
87 Mitsu Montero:
shift forks wore out at 100k and wouldn't stay in gear. replaced transmission, multiple clutches. liked to seize up the #2 spark plug. mostly indestructable otherwise.
39597, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by VX100, Apr-13-09 05:48 PM
Actually, my Eclipse. But it doesn't get used much and has about 70k miles for a 10 year old car.

This is the stuff that went wrong with the Eclipse which wasn't my doing:

Sun shade material falling off, twice. The first time when I bought and picked up the car (the front shade), covered under warranty of course, and the second time the material was falling off the back shade, this happened about two months ago. I fixed it with no problem, rather easy to do.

Blown out speaker, covered under warranty.

Leaking axle shaft seals, covered under warranty (never had a problem again with them) by the time this happened I could have easily done the work myself, but the car was still under warranty (4 1/2 years into a 5 yr warranty) and I was feeling lazy so I had the dealership do it

The oil drain plug gave up on me this winter and started leaking so that needed replacing.

I had an O2 sensor quit on me, but that could have been due to age just as much as modding the car, right?

Now for what I caused, which in my opinon doesn't count:

3 bent valves, had something to do with putting in new cams and not getting the torque right on the cam bolt. Naturally I got that fixed and was a perfect excuse for some more mods.

blown out coil pack, this was due to me making a wiring oops (don't ask), but I fixed the wiring and the new coil pack works perfectly

and an "almost" problem: I almost had a problem with the cam shaft bearing caps, almost all of the intake cam bearing cap bolts were loose as I didn't torque them completely for the last step for the last time I put cams in the car (I go in three steps, increasing the setting on the torque wrench). One cap had bolts so loose they wiggled but the cap was in place and had not moved. I checked all the caps and cams, no damage. I retorqued all the bolts, and it never gave me a problem and hasn't since. I think I had run the car for at least a year like this if not more and was VERY lucky nothing happened.


My current daily driver, a Mazda protege, comes in second, but I've had more problems with it than my Eclipse: bad headlight relay (currently in need of a fix so I can't drive at night as I only have high beams, no it's not the fuse), headlight socket contacts corroded and increased the resistance in the socket causing it to heat up and the plastic to melt so it needed to be replaced, siezed alternator, cat converters (both) stop working (at 213k miles, what do you expect?), huge cracks formed in the intake tube and since it has a mass airflow sensor the car ran like crap until I found the source of the intake leak (very hard to do as the crack was on the bottom of the tube), and I don't know what is the problem with proteges (my wife's has the same problem) but I can't get the sway bar links on this car to last more than 18 months before breaking! Probably other stuff I can't remember.

The Saturn I used to have was a complete disaster in terms of needing repairs, except for the engine, that ran great, everything else failed on that car. That did not make me want to go out and buy a GM again.
39602, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by Guinness97, Apr-13-09 07:58 PM
Most reliable: 93 Mitsubishi Eclipse Base Model 1.8L

List is oldest to newest:
93 Eclipse Base: Replaced the head gasket and that was it. Previous owner took very good care of it and I drove it for two years.

95 Eagle Talon Esi: Drove for one day and got T-boned. Never worked on it.

97 Eagle Talon Esi: Normal DSM reliability. Timing Belt, Head Gasket, water pump, ect.

96 Ford Ranger 4 cyl: Beat the shit out of it and never had anything
major happen to it. Second behind the 93 Eclipse.

00 Pontiac Grand Am V6: POS that is always having shit break down on it. Power windows, coolant leaks, waterpump bad, on and on. I'm selling it now to get rid of the moneypit. Most unreliable I have owned and my current ride.
39614, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by burntheblobs, Apr-13-09 11:26 PM
1991 Honda Civic. Bought it with 70k miles, have 104k on it now. Nothing has "broken" yet. Just preventative maintenance. (Fingers crossed)
39619, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by cs82685, Apr-14-09 05:43 AM
I guess I would have to say the evo, but being I've only owned the evo and my eclipse and the evo was brand new vs. a car bought with 70K miles, it's hard to compare.

Eclipse has had:
-sunroof motor replaced under warranty (within 30 days of purchase)
-needed new battery shortly after purchase (it died on my brother in a toll booth, furthest to the left to top it off)
-new O2 sensors (I think the front has been replaced at least twice)
-broken ball joint while driving (fixed under warranty)
-head gasket changed 3 months after I bought the car
-sunroof now leaks
-driver door makes a popping sound
-rear bushings are shot so I get a nice clunk when hitting bumps
That's all that wasn't broken because of someone's fault


Evo:
-cracked spark plug cover replaced under warranty
-has a lovely whine which isn't your normal transfer case whine, dealer says the TC looks fine and they're not replacing, topped off the TC fluid it goes away for a short while. Now approaching time for a TC fluid change the whine is in all its glory, time to make them look at it again
-reverse idler gear replaced (a TSB, gives a nice rattling at idle when the AC is on) That noise is starting to come back too.

39620, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by eclipse982nrRST, Apr-14-09 08:32 AM
Most reliable: 03 Chevy Trailblazer

Passed:

2000 Ford Focus - still have, runs good, no problems except for broken front and rear springs.

2000 Chevy S10 Blazer - it was okay besides putting ball joints on it almost every winter and the lower intake was leaking before I traded it in for the TrailBlazer.

1998 Eclipse RS - never has been reliable, mainly due to the heavy modifications.

1990 Buick Century aka the beast - beat the holy shit out of this car, it lasted 3 months before both head gaskets blew, drove it anyway and the motor locked up :)
39633, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by ez, Apr-14-09 10:01 PM
Most reliable? See sig - 99RS

Least reliable? Another 2g I bought from a local. I had to fix EVERYTHING on that car
39636, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by 2GNT_95eclipse, Apr-15-09 09:07 AM
Originally posted by ez
Least reliable? Another 2g I bought from a local. I had to fix EVERYTHING on that car.
Did that happen to be a certain car I know of?
39640, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by DR1665, Apr-15-09 10:03 PM
Most reliable: 97 Eagle Talon "Daisy"

Runners Up:
- 99 Isuzu Amigo 3.2L 4X4
- 92 Galant VR4
- 86 Volvo 245GL (deathproof)

Honorable Mention:
- 91 Galant VR4 (did as well as it could with a 200k used engine that had been on fire)


Not Even Close:
- 88 Pontiac Grand Prix
- 80 Audi 80 (GDM)
39643, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by ez, Apr-15-09 11:36 PM
Originally posted by 2GNT_95eclipse
Originally posted by ez Least reliable? Another 2g I bought from a local. I had to fix EVERYTHING on that car.
Did that happen to be a certain car I know of?


Ever since the day we pulled off the timing belt cover and a bunch of ball bearings rolled out, I'm convinced she's cursed. The ghost of NER lives on in that car :dark
39651, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by 2GNT_95eclipse, Apr-16-09 06:36 PM
Originally posted by ez
Originally posted by 2GNT_95eclipse
Originally posted by ez Least reliable? Another 2g I bought from a local. I had to fix EVERYTHING on that car.
Did that happen to be a certain car I know of?
Ever since the day we pulled off the timing belt cover and a bunch of ball bearings rolled out, I'm convinced she's cursed. The ghost of NER lives on in that car :dark


39655, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by ez, Apr-16-09 09:38 PM
Originally posted by 2GNT_95eclipse
Originally posted by ez
Originally posted by 2GNT_95eclipse
Originally posted by ez Least reliable? Another 2g I bought from a local. I had to fix EVERYTHING on that car.
Did that happen to be a certain car I know of?
Ever since the day we pulled off the timing belt cover and a bunch of ball bearings rolled out, I'm convinced she's cursed. The ghost of NER lives on in that car :dark



LOL! Figures the sticker won't even stick.

39658, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by Fallen4ng31, Apr-17-09 08:52 AM
39659, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by 2GNT_95eclipse, Apr-17-09 12:21 PM
Originally posted by Fallen4ng31



I LOL'ed at that soo hard.
39666, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by dalesmitsu, Apr-17-09 07:41 PM
Originally posted by ez
Originally posted by 2GNT_95eclipse
Originally posted by ez Least reliable? Another 2g I bought from a local. I had to fix EVERYTHING on that car.
Did that happen to be a certain car I know of?
Ever since the day we pulled off the timing belt cover and a bunch of ball bearings rolled out, I'm convinced she's cursed. The ghost of NER lives on in that car :dark


Do you have a picture of this EZ.

Post it up if you have I like would to see it.
39682, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by boostdtalon, Apr-18-09 12:58 PM
most reliable car:

My Evo(it's not heavily modded, just a few bolt ons)

Least reliable:


92' Eagle Talon TSI (i still miss that car)
timing belt twice within two weeks
ecu fried
turbo seized
broken E brake cable
mystery fender dent, fender shifted somehow and dented in when i opened the door.

05' Evo MR
95' Eclipse GS
92' Talon TSI
88' Bronco II
92' Toyota Pick up
83' S-10


39688, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by 2GNT_95eclipse, Apr-18-09 06:19 PM
Originally posted by dalesmitsu
Originally posted by ez
Originally posted by 2GNT_95eclipse
Originally posted by ez Least reliable? Another 2g I bought from a local. I had to fix EVERYTHING on that car.
Did that happen to be a certain car I know of?
Ever since the day we pulled off the timing belt cover and a bunch of ball bearings rolled out, I'm convinced she's cursed. The ghost of NER lives on in that car :dark
Do you have a picture of this EZ. Post it up if you have I like would to see it.


Lol, I still have the parts as a reminder.











....Yea.... It did not sound too good either when it happened.
39689, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by RoninEclipse2G, Apr-18-09 08:25 PM
I've had that happen. it's usually the result of changing the belt without changing the pulleys as well.
39711, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by dalesmitsu, Apr-19-09 06:21 PM
Originally posted by 2GNT_95eclipse
Originally posted by dalesmitsu
Originally posted by ez
Originally posted by 2GNT_95eclipse
Originally posted by ez Least reliable? Another 2g I bought from a local. I had to fix EVERYTHING on that car.
Did that happen to be a certain car I know of?
Ever since the day we pulled off the timing belt cover and a bunch of ball bearings rolled out, I'm convinced she's cursed. The ghost of NER lives on in that car :dark
Do you have a picture of this EZ. Post it up if you have I like would to see it.
Lol, I still have the parts as a reminder. ....Yea.... It did not sound too good either when it happened.


damn,

My reliable rides

Current 97 GS
before my 2g, 1989 Cutlass Ciera w/z24 motor swap, 2.8 the 3.0 are shitty just my opinion. When I bought my 2g was gonna keep it as back up but sold it for 200 bucks.. Damn, thing is still running strong I beat a Honda with it.

My Least reliable car
1983 aries station wagon blew the motor due my ex. wife father cracked back of the valvecover.

1984 Nissan Stanza/Sentra was a fast little car, it holded up good until the transmission, price for a replacement 1200 which is what I paid for the car.

1993 Cavalier RS paid 4000 for it and replaced the head gasket four times and the block went poof while driving home from work. This was my ex wifes car, she never kept on the maintence.

1982 chevy nova 4speed paid way too much 700, for quick little rust bucket, you could actually do the flintstone thing hole in the floors, carpet hide this major flaw. Yet again this my ex. wife wanted the car.

1993 Tauraus GL/sho
shitty car, my ex. never kept up the reg. maintence car went to shit.

Thing that pissed me off when I married she came into my work, and forced me to sign on a co sign lease for this car, without discussing about it.

If your ladies ever come to your with papers in hand, stand your ground don't be PW
39764, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by turbo8u, Apr-23-09 08:25 PM
my 2gnt after all the initial drama. she's been starting and driving hard for years untouched. goes through a little earl but that's it. at first I thought the car was terribly reliable but over time she's made up for that.
39780, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by Nemo, Apr-24-09 09:24 PM
98 Jeep Cherokee Laredo-240,000 on only brakes, tires and oil changes.
One battery and one alternator. A few hoses and coolant changes. Never stranded, never towed.
39782, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by Dualgen2, Apr-25-09 06:38 AM
my 2gnt - great and never had issues until I turbo'ed it
95 VR4 - transmission went the weekend I owned it and it always seemed to have issues
07 Legacy GT - great car I bought new so no complaints
09 Corolla S - same thing, bought new, 10k miles on it now and a great DD
92 VR4 - owned about 10 miles and already being reminded what it is like to have an older car again.
39792, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by Hedge, Apr-25-09 02:13 PM
my 98 neon i guess, didnt put as meny km on it as the talon though. it sat for 4 months before i sold it for like 600$ and the tranny went while the guy was bringing it for a safety, so i guess i lucked out.
39838, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by VX100, Apr-28-09 09:55 PM
Actually, I guess I'll have to say my newest most reliable car is the one I just bought last week.

The 2000 protege is being given up for one of these:



Ok, that's not exactly what it looks like, but I just got a 2009 Ford Fusion. Nice daily driver, comfy quiet ride (I'll have to get used to that) but also with very good handling. I know, I've only driven it for a week, but it's been a reliable week :)
39846, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by RoninEclipse2G, Apr-29-09 03:46 PM
^^^ It's a ford, that'll change.
39907, RE: What is the most reliable car you've owned?
Posted by hookduphatch, May-05-09 08:35 AM
List of Vehicles I've owned:

-1992 Honda Civic SI (SOLD)
-1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS (SOLD)
-1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (CURRENTLY FINISHING PAROUT)
-1998 Dodge Durango (DAILY DRIVER)
-1989 Nissan 300ZX (Garage Kept Beauty)

The most reliable of all of these cars was the Honda Civic. At 315000 miles, I put a 55 shot on it (halfway expected to blow the motor the first time I hit it), and the motor grinned and took it like a champ. Had all of the normal bolt ons. It was also probably the most fun car I've owned. Even with such a little amount of power it was an absolute blast to drive.

The Eclipse RS was a learning experience. I figured out with this one that it's best to just buy a turbo car if you want a turbo car. Leave N/A cars N/A. Cost me in the neighborhood of $8000 for that learning experience.

The GSX was a project car for the longest. Great car. I unfortunately found myself the victim of crankwalk with the stock 7 bolt. I can't call it a reliable car, as I never really daily drove it after the crankwalk.

The Durango is a beast, and definitely the most comfortable vehicle I've owned (6'1" and 240 lbs it's nice to have a big vehicle). I can't by any means call it reliable, as in the time I've owned it the AC has gone, the transmission seals had to be replaced, there's a weird clicking from the rear end when starting, and both the front hubs and upper ball joints currently need to be replaced.

Last but not least, the 300ZX is a car that was passed down to me from my father, the first and only owner. It's as reliable as they come, but is always kept in the garage under a car cover except for those awesome days when you just want to cruise.