Easterns Blog

Mechanics are often opinionated about vehicle quality. They work on a lot of vehicles and know which of their regular clients have the most problems, and which rarely – if ever – require significant repairs. Although they’re not car salesmen, they generally have a lot of relevant frontline experience when it comes to vehicle quality and reliability.

Car, Truck & SUV Recommendations

You’ll frequently see mechanics speak highly of Toyota and Honda brands, including Lexus and Acura (their respective luxury offerings). If you ask mechanics their opinions about vehicles, they frequently focus on miles, longevity and major repair needs. They usually have positive opinions of vehicles that can reliably go more than 200,000 miles when they’re properly maintained.

Some standouts include the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. Neither are necessarily considered the flashiest vehicles ever designed. That doesn’t mean either model is lacking in modern comforts or features. Both are available in a variety of trims with varying levels of features and add-ons. Regardless of their trim, they generally offer hundreds of thousands of miles of reliable performance without catastrophic breakdowns.

When it comes to SUV and crossover recommendations, you’ll frequently see names like the affordable Subaru Forester, Nissans, Toyota Highlander and the Kia Sorento. The 2022 Consumer Reports Auto Reliability ranking just listed Lexus as number one thanks to its GX SUV. The versatile Mazda CX-9 also made their top 10 list in terms of reliability for 2022 models.

A lot of mechanics still rave about Ford and Chevy trucks for their durability, especially in rough working conditions. If a work truck doesn’t require frequent repairs and maintenance, even though it’s constantly being stressed, that’s probably a good sign. They also frequently approve of Japanese-built trucks like Toyotas and Nissans.

The Tradeoff Between Reputation, Reliability and Value

Many mechanics are also pragmatists, and they often adopt a nuanced view of vehicle recommendations. For example, they might recommend a Buick to some shoppers instead of a Toyota or Honda. The high demand for Japanese-built vehicles is well earned, but it also means they might in some cases be pricier than the less-renowned domestic vehicles. As a result, you can sometimes get a comparable vehicle for less if you’re willing to buy an alternative that might be slightly less reliable.

Cars With Resale Value

Reliability is important for car ownership, but it can also pay dividends if you’re not planning on holding onto your vehicle for the long term. Vehicles that are popular and reliable frequently depreciate at a slower rate than vehicles with bad reputations. You’ll have an easier time selling your vehicle quickly or getting a good deal on a trade-in if your vehicle is renowned for its dependability, even after hundreds of thousands of miles.

New Isn’t Always Better

New vehicles have a lot of quality of life and safety improvements that make driving more enjoyable and less dangerous. Those are great features, until they breakdown. You might notice some mechanics recommend older vehicles with fewer bells and whistles because they do tend to be cheaper and easier to maintain.

You may not want to be forced to take your vehicle to the manufacturer’s service center for every repair. You might also find it frustrating that special parts always need to be ordered to get your fancy HUD or digital dashboard working again.

There are also still some car owners who are dedicated DIYers and like mechanical things they know how to repair. The more advanced vehicles get, the harder it generally becomes for do-it-yourselfers to continue doing things themselves.

Reliability Ratings

It’s worth listening to mechanics, but keep in mind they aren’t necessarily the fount of all wisdom. You should also do your own research and look up metrics, like a vehicle’s reliability rating. Reliability rating is the measure of a vehicle’s chance for needing repairs and ultimately the cost of owning a vehicle in terms of maintenance and breakdowns. It’s likely that the advice of your mechanic and a vehicle reliability rating will coincide, but it’s still worth checking.

Get a Great Pre-Owned Vehicle in Virginia or Maryland

Easterns Automotive’s service experts thoroughly inspect each vehicle we acquire to ensure it will be a reliable new car, truck or SUV for one of our customers. In addition to getting car buyers great deals and flexible financing, we also want to make sure they never get a lemon.

If you’re in the market for a car with another hundred thousand (or more) miles left, don’t hesitate to browse our inventory or call us at 877-867-0641. You’re sure to find a fantastic vehicle that will meet your needs.