New Car

[Banquo's Ghost]

Well it is not as if Mercedes is the only car label with history. If reliability would be the only thing people look into on cars.We would all be driving toyotas, but do we?

Didn't Toyota just take an accelerated path to reliability problems? I think they're trying to put a brake on sales.

[A Nerd]

Well said!

[PanzerJaeger]

Whatever you end up getting, don't make it one of these.

Worst-Made Cars on the Road
by Hannah Elliott
Friday, April 9, 2010
provided by

If you want to drive something dependable and long-lasting, steer clear of these vehicles.

With a 22% improvement in sales last month, and despite the six-month, $4.3 billion loss it announced Wednesday, General Motors is likely to have its strongest spring and summer in years. Plus, the automaker had critically acclaimed new products at the recent New York Auto Show and the much-anticipated Chevrolet Volt is due out this fall.

Year-over-year sales of GM's Cadillac division alone are up almost 76%; sales in the Buick, Chevrolet and GMC divisions were each up more than 40% for March. The industry as a whole was up 24.3%.

Unfortunately just because GM's cars are selling well now doesn't mean they're the best bet for durability or value -- yet. It'll take awhile before GM's new direction shows up in tangible new products at the dealership.

Four of the seven vehicles on our list of the worst-made cars on the road come from GM brands. And all of the cars on the list -- including Chrysler's Dodge Nitro and Jeep Wrangler -- are made by Detroit's Big Three. Only one car on the list is made by Ford Motor (NYSE: F).

Cadillac Escalade
Segment: Luxury SUV
CR Predicted Reliability Score: Fair
CR Value Score: Rated among the worst in value
CR Safety Score: Rated among the worst in safety.
CR Overall Score: 61 out of 100
J.D. Power Dependability Score: 2 out of 5 Power Circles
MSRP: $62,495



Chevrolet Aveo
Segment: Compact Car
CR Predicted Reliability Score: Poor
CR Value Score: Not rated among the worst in overall value
CR Safety Score: Not rated among the worst in overall safety.
CR Overall Score: 36 out of 100
J.D. Power Dependability Score: 2 out of 5 Power Circles
MSRP: $11,965



Chevrolet Colorado
Segment: Pickup Truck
CR Predicted Reliability Score: Poor
CR Value Score: Not rated among the worst in value
CR Safety Score: Rated among the worst in overall safety.
CR Overall Score: 41 out of 100
J.D. Power Dependability Score: 2 out of 5 Power Circles
MSRP: $16,985



Dodge Nitro
Segment: SUV
CR Predicted Reliability Score: Poor
CR Value Score: Rated among the worst in overall value
CR Safety Score: Not rated among the worst in safety.
CR Overall Score: 33 out of 100
J.D. Power Dependability Score: 2 out of 5 Power Circles
MSRP: $22,335



Ford F-250
Segment: Pickup Truck
CR Predicted Reliability Score: Poor
CR Value Score: Rated among the worst in overall value
CR Safety Score: Rated among the worst in overall safety.
CR Overall Score: 37 out of 100
J.D. Power Dependability Score: 3 out of 5 Power Circles
MSRP: $28,020

[Strike For The South]

I have an F-150 4x4 and plan to keep it for a while, but one day when I have the shekels I'm going to splurge and get the best BMW money can buy

[Hosakawa Tito]

Toyota's unstoppable.

In my youth Chevrolet used to make quality vehicles, sadly that is no longer the case. And doesn't that just figure now that American's are shareholders in the company. We drive Chevys at work, vans & trucks. One in particular, a 2009 Chevy Silverado 4x4 pickup I use to check on outside work crews, seems to end up in the shop once a month. It's already had the transmission, gas tank & filler tube, computer and various sensors replaced. Some colleagues at work who personally own them have had similar troubles. We should have let them go bankrupt...

[drone]

In my youth Chevrolet used to make quality vehicles, sadly that is no longer the case. And doesn't that just figure now that American's are shareholders in the company. We drive Chevys at work, vans & trucks. One in particular, a 2009 Chevy Silverado 4x4 pickup I use to check on outside work crews, seems to end up in the shop once a month. It's already had the transmission, gas tank & filler tube, computer and various sensors replaced. Some colleagues at work who personally own them have had similar troubles. We should have let them go bankrupt...

I would avoid any GM product built 2007 and later. The 2007 strike, plus the rumors and uncertainty leading up to the 2009 bankruptcy could not have been good for the quality of the vehicles coming off the lines or the parts coming from suppliers. Not worth the risk.

[Vuk]

I would avoid any GM product built 2007 and later. The 2007 strike, plus the rumors and uncertainty leading up to the 2009 bankruptcy could not have been good for the quality of the vehicles coming off the lines or the parts coming from suppliers. Not worth the risk.

GM vehicles have always stunk (but especially 80s onward). Best American made cars are Ford and Pontiac, and best American made trucks are Ford and Dodge. I would avoid anything GM.

[Gregoshi]

I have an F-150 4x4...

So does my wife.

[drone]

GM vehicles have always stunk (but especially 80s onward). Best American made cars are Ford and Pontiac, and best American made trucks are Ford and Dodge. I would avoid anything GM.

Pontiac is(was) GM.

I would avoid Chrysler/Dodge as well, they went through the Daimler pillaging and bankruptcy in about the same time frame. Can't imagine the morale was very high on the lines.

[Vuk]

Pontiac is(was) GM.

I would avoid Chrysler/Dodge as well, they went through the Daimler pillaging and bankruptcy in about the same time frame. Can't imagine the morale was very high on the lines.

That is why I singled it out as the exception. And Pontiac has been shut down now, so as I said, avoid anything GM.
And Chrysler actually makes some really good vehicles. When Ford was having trouble I was thinking that if Ford ever went out, I would move my business to Dodge. They make a mean truck and a decent car. While they are not as good as Ford, they are miles ahead of GM.

[PanzerJaeger]

Yikes!

Stay away from Chrysler products for your own good!*



*Except maybe the Wrangler. It is so simple and based on such old technology, it is hard to mess up. I have heard build quality has gone down in recent years, though.

[Myrddraal]

There's some charm to the old mini that I can't quite put my finger on, and I can't quite see in the new mini. It's purely illogical I know, but I would love an old mini. Currently I drive an ancient VW polo, which, although it's not in the best condition ever, has needed minimal maintainance to keep it going over the years.

PS, you're looking great in that photo Lemur.