5 Tips To Help You Buy A Reliable Car

Car problems can drive the most calm and rational person to the brink of madness, not to mention bankruptcy. When it's 110 degrees outside and you're standing in a sweltering repair shop with your relatively new car on the flatbed of a tow-truck and your boss texting you demanding to know when you'll be back in the office, you will probably wish you had bought a more reliable vehicle. So the next time you go car shopping, try using the following guide to help you make the best possible choice:

1) Know the factors that influence reliability - Before buying your car, make sure you understand what influences reliability. What types of cars tend to be more reliable than others? What factors should you look for that are indicators of reliability. Basically, you want to understand what it is you're looking for; dependability, predicted reliability, common problems, etc. Here is an article with 4 reliability tips you get you started.

2) Check traditional reliability resources - Among the smartest car shoppers, there are some great resources frequently used to determine vehicle reliability. The most well-known is Consumer Reports magazine, which has an annual automotive issue. The magazine features reliability ratings based on thousands of customer experience reviews as well as their own vehicle testing facility. Their ratings indicate predicted reliability, as well as a comprehensive breakdown of each vehicle's strengths and weaknesses. Other resources exist, but be mindful that many may claim to be independent and neutral while accepting influential monetary rewards for handing out positive ratings. For this reason, Consumer Reports, which is a 100% independent organization funded by subscriber dollars, is considered the industry benchmark.

3) Do your own investigating - If you really want to check into a car's reliability, there's no better source than seeing exactly what customers are saying. Mechanic Advisor offers a tool to research vehicle specifications, recalls, and most importantly in this case, vehicle problems. Spend the time to see what problems are being reported with the vehicles and what the solutions are. It's also very smart to go to vehicle ownership forums and learn about the various vehicles through what actual owners have to say. Oftentimes, you will see patterns emerge as one owner lists a common complaint and others chime in to agree. Since there is rarely any censorship on these forums and they are generally anonymous, you will get people's most honest opinions.

4) Ask friends and family about their experiences - While anecdotal, real-life reliability stories can go a long way to giving you an idea of how a car is going to perform. Some of the most reliable vehicles I've ever bought have been on the advice of others who had great experiences with those particular cars and makes. Keep in mind that people have their own biases, and may exaggerate their experiences, so talk to someone who you know will give you an objective and well-intentioned opinion.

5) Focus on the right things - The hardest part of being objective and choosing a reliable vehicle when car shopping is the our tendency to focus on the cosmetic and superficial over the practical and dependable. This is why notoriously unreliable cars are oftentimes best-sellers despite the terrible ownership problems associated with them. People want the car that looks the best, or a brand that will impress others rather than a boring, reliable car that will keep them out of the repair shops. So when you've decided that you want a smart, reliable car that will have minimal problems, stick with your decision, and don't look for the flashiest, best looking car on the lot.

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