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I've asked many mechanics which cars are best for reliability and least expensive to maintain. Toyota and Lexus always pop up. I like Honda also...but 3rd on the list.

Since 2010 I have been an exclusive Mazda man. But only because they had performance, gas mileage, and price point, that made the most sense out of any car manufacturer. Most importantly they had reliability, in the 10 Mazda's I have owned since 2010. I have never had to take any of them the dealer for anything. Nada, zip, nothing!

Everyone I know with Chevy, Nissan, Kia, and Hamdani all at some point in their two to three year lease, have to take their car to the dealer to get repaired. Ranging from serious, to just minor stuff, but none the less, I have not had one experience.

The problem has been over the last 5 years they have been more aggressive at having a sticker far over the MSRP, while making you feel like it's a great deal, and hiding behind Mazda's immutable up front pricing. Then besides that adding to their yoy inflation, they call you in as early as possible. Tell you that you can get out of your car. But what they don't tell you until after you sit for 3 hours waiting for their finance man to put the deal together.(Intentional old dealer tactic to wear the customer down). When the paper work comes back you find out they added to outstanding payments on the other car, onto the overall price. By time the deal is signed you're paying over $389 for a Sports model missing all of the whooptie doos and accouchements.
When you don't expect to pay a penny over $199 for Sports Mazda. It's a lease, I have never seen how people pay as much for a lease as a car payment for ownership should be going for.

My Dealer really fucked up losing a Mazda family, and I imagine I'm not the only one.
They used to be a great company, I stuck with them, thinking it was just the time I caught them and no deals were being offered. But they are greedy bastards year around. All of their car models regardless of the package all had piss and vinegar and would scoot, when it needed too. The Sport 3 I'm in now, is a pig. Plus it has all of the stuff on the menu, but all of the cool shit is unavailable because I don't have the upgraded package. Which I know is just a software update and not because I have a different console. It's shit like that, that is also chicken shit I don't expect heads up display but the side sensors, mirror lane indicators, proximity unlocking and locking(yes the car has all of the sensors for it, it even has the sensor ellipse on the driver door handle), Navigation and stuff like that. Should come standard on all of the flagship models. The other models then pay more for Moon Roof, Stereo setup, upholstery, larger engine, and things that are NOT physically on the lower models.
I have been in their Mac Daddy or the next in line, the whole time I have been their loyal customer. For Andrew to call me while I was in a 2020 rare hatch back Mazda 3, with the grand touring package, it rode, drove, and looked like butter. For him to have me bring in that car knowing I still had a year payments on it. To then put me in a $289 shitty Sport Mazda 3, then put another $100 a month on top of that. It was a sour downgrade after the deal settled and I realized what was done.

I'm done with Mazda, they are not the company that they once were. When I do get back in the new car market, if ever again. I'll be looking at another brand. I'm brand loyal, until the brand jumps the shark, and they all always do.

My early experience with Mazda, when they told you they would eat the remaining lease payments, they meant it. They gave a $3000 loyal customer discount, that could be used in conjunction with any dealer incentives, then on top of that. The manage could approve any further haggling I may have done.

On top of that their lease prices were pretty fair to begin with.

I've owned numerous Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the past 35 years; currently a Lexus LS 460 and a new GX with the last of the V-8's. Both are bullet proof. My one rule is to only buy a Lexus built in a Japanese factory - they seem to make the best product

just_passing_through says

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Wolfman at WolfStreet website has been showing used car prices have steadily been decreasing over last 12 to 18 months.

That was true for a while but the past couple of months or so used car prices have been going back up again:

Confirmed!

They probably know what's coming down the pipeline

desertguy says

a new GX with the last of the V-8's

When did they build the last of the V-8's?

desertguy says

I've owned numerous Toyota and Lexus vehicles over the past 35 years; currently a Lexus LS 460 and a new GX with the last of the V-8's. Both are bullet proof. My one rule is to only buy a Lexus built in a Japanese factory - they seem to make the best product

I have to say Lexus LS 460 is a great car. I was going to either buy this car or the Tesla Model S. No regret buying the S though. Great choices there.

desertguy says

My one rule is to only buy a Lexus built in a Japanese factory - they seem to make the best product

How can you tell where it was built? I assume some website + VIN?

GNL says

desertguy says

My one rule is to only buy a Lexus built in a Japanese factory - they seem to make the best product

How can you tell where it was built? I assume some website + VIN?

Japan-built cars have VINs starting with J. US-built - 1.

RWSGFY says

GNL says

desertguy says

My one rule is to only buy a Lexus built in a Japanese factory - they seem to make the best product

How can you tell where it was built? I assume some website + VIN?

Japan-built cars have VINs starting with J. US-built - 1.

I had my US-assembled Camry for 18 years and about 170,000 miles. Only one single repair, radiator began leaking along a welded seam at about 120,000 miles. It was assembled in Indiana. I kind of regret selling it. I had inherited a (newer) POS BMW (Mini Cooper) from one of my kids and so had more cars than I wanted. (No, it was not "taking over the payments".) Had to rid of that one.

The other US-assembled Toyota I still have is a 2006 model Tacoma, assembled at the NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, that's now a Tesla factory. To date I have not had a single repair in 17 years and 97,000 miles. Just regular wear maintenance (brakes, etc).

My experiences with the US-built Toyotas suggest to me that the quality and reliability problems with US models is not due to the workers on the factory floors. It's the engineering, whose imperatives come from the management. Kind of like Boeing with its 737 MAX.

B.A.C.A.H. says

Japan-built cars have VINs starting with J. US-built - 1.

I got a 20 year old rusty but reliable Toyota Corolla with VIN starting with J. However, are Subarus, Mazdas made in Japan are not as reliable? Why?

Tenpoundbass says

Everyone I know with Chevy, Nissan, Kia, and Hamdani all at some point in their two to three year lease, have to take their car to the dealer to get repaired. Ranging from serious, to just minor stuff, but none the less, I have not had one experience.

If they are leasing new cars wouldn't the issues mentioned all be under warranty?

gabbar says

B.A.C.A.H. says

Japan-built cars have VINs starting with J. US-built - 1.

I got a 20 year old rusty but reliable Toyota Corolla with VIN starting with J. However, are Subarus, Mazdas made in Japan are not as reliable? Why?

Google “Toyota lean and six sigma” production systems

B.A.C.A.H. says

My experiences with the US-built Toyotas suggest to me that the quality and reliability problems with US models is not due to the workers on the factory floors. It's the engineering, whose imperatives come from the management. Kind of like Boeing with its 737 MAX.

This is probably true. The MAX was an absolute failure, BUT most of it was due to pilot error. Engineering wasn't great, but it was solvable with a good pilot. You can hand fly a plane and unfortunately some foreign pilots didn't know how to do that and override the MCAS system. The MAX was all over the US during that time and no accidents. It's probably racist to say that though. Know how to fly the damn plane without automated systems. They didn't. People died.

gabbar says

desertguy says

a new GX with the last of the V-8's

When did they build the last of the V-8's?

The LX has already transitioned to a twin turbo V6, same with the LS. For the GX, 2023 is last year of the production run with a V8, which started in 2009, which is one of the reasons the 2022 and 23 are so bullet proof. Next year complete redesign.

RWSGFY says

GNL says

desertguy says

My one rule is to only buy a Lexus built in a Japanese factory - they seem to make the best product

How can you tell where it was built? I assume some website + VIN?

Japan-built cars have VINs starting with J. US-built - 1.

Also, sticker on door jam (usually drivers door) will tell you country of origin and the actual factory where assembled.
..

zzyzzx says

If they are leasing new cars wouldn't the issues mentioned all be under warranty?

Of course, but I expect a new car to not have a single issue where a mechanic is involved, for at least 4 years.
Aside from maintenance, or damaged caused by an accident.

desertguy says

gabbar says

desertguy says

a new GX with the last of the V-8's

When did they build the last of the V-8's?

The LX has already transitioned to a twin turbo V6, same with the LS. For the GX, 2023 is last year of the production run with a V8, which started in 2009, which is one of the reasons the 2022 and 23 are so bullet proof. Next year complete redesign.

The GX had a V8 in the 03-09 model years too.

4.7L timing belt equipped V8

Tenpoundbass says

zzyzzx says

If they are leasing new cars wouldn't the issues mentioned all be under warranty?

Of course, but I expect a new car to not have a single issue where a mechanic is involved, for at least 4 years.
Aside from maintenance, or damaged caused by an accident.

4yrs only?

If I have a major repair before 100k miles, I consider it a failure. In fact, I usually don’t buy cars until they are mostly depreciated and above 100k miles.

BayArea says

desertguy says

gabbar says

desertguy says

a new GX with the last of the V-8's

When did they build the last of the V-8's?

The LX has already transitioned to a twin turbo V6, same with the LS. For the GX, 2023 is last year of the production run with a V8, which started in 2009, which is one of the reasons the 2022 and 23 are so bullet proof. Next year complete redesign.

The GX had a V8 in the 03-09 model years too.

4.7L timing belt equipped V8

These are good bargain because people tend to sell them cheap at 100-120K mark because that TB/WP job at a dealer is $$$. If you can turn a wrench, it's only ~$600 in geniune Toyota parts and 3-4 hours of work. Did it twice on my V8 'yota already.

I don’t replace timing belts (Toyota/Lexus recommends 90k mile intervals)

I understand the 4.0 V8 and 4.3 V8 and 4.7 V8 are interference engines and having the belt break would be a disaster (take out the engine). However, I’ve had too many 200k+ mile cars on original timing belts to consider paying $2k service for a $6-7k car. I’ll roll the dice while knowing the risk.

I’ve always wanted to say, “I broke the belt and Toyota is right to recommend the $2k TB service every 90k miles”. No matter how hard I’ve tried I’ve never been able to break one in my lifetime across many high mileage cars.

BayArea says

However, I’ve had too many 200k+ mile cars on original timing belts to consider paying $2k service for a $6-7k car.

Hmmm.... what about the water pump? I usually have them replace the pump while they have things open for the belt job. Remember Andy Grove...

Nope

I’ve had water pumps go after 50k on some cars and never go on others. When they go I replace them. Sure, it could happen at an inopportune time but again, I’ll take that risk.

My current Lexus is 22yrs old and has 166k miles on the original timing belt and water pump.

If you are replacing a timing belt, you’d be crazy not to do the water pump at the same time.

Also, I’ve seen 200k timing belts that appeared to have no visible wear that I could detect by eye.

More likely to have water pump fail before timing belt, but yes if one fails might as well get the other done at the same time.

BayArea says

Nope

I’ve had water pumps go after 50k on some cars and never go on others. When they go I replace them. Sure, it could happen at an inopportune time but again, I’ll take that risk.

My current Lexus is 22yrs old and has 166k miles on the original timing belt and water pump.

If you are replacing a timing belt, you’d be crazy not to do the water pump at the same time.

Also, I’ve seen 200k timing belts that appeared to have no visible wear that I could detect by eye.

Sometimes it's not the belt itself - it's a pulley or water pump which seizes and kills the belt (and the engine if it's interference design). But the recommended intervals ARE very conservative indeed: for example some cars have recommendation for TB change at 60K outside of CA and 105K miles in CA. Same fucking belt in the same fucking engine. With low-revving Toyota V8 I can see it going 2x the recommended distance no prob.

Another point is there is no recommended interval for WP change on chain-timed engines.

Yes, that is 100% right.

Timing belts have been known to snap due to seized water pumps.

Supposedly C8 Corvettes have dropped to MSRP as of this month

RedStar says

Supposedly C8 Corvettes have dropped to MSRP as of this month

Ford dropped the MSRP of F-150 Lightnings by $10k across all models.