I just bought a 2024 Mazda 3 Sport this summer. Toyota and Honda are overpriced and not nearly as nice to drive as the Mazdas we test drove. Don't buy one older than 2014 though as they still had Ford parts in them up until then.
You got that 100 percent... soon after they parted with Ford, everything changed. The are thoughtful and inventive... which isn't a surprise. Zoom zoom!
100% agree. Bought my wife a cx5, she drives the piss out of it and we've only done regular maintenance. I am only now, at over 125k miles doing o2 sensors. Valve cover gasket it just starting to show signs of leakage after minor seeping for 3 years
Excellent content! An interesting statistic would be highest average odometer reading on vehicles you're repairing/maintaining. This would give viewers information about longevity of ownership and approximate lifespan of the various manufacturers. Thanks for your work and RUclips channel.
When I started my career as a mechanic Nissan was Datsun and you were being nice when you said they were difficult to work on, I couldn’t agree more (they are actually a pain) I try not to even take one in for repair . I bought my wife a Mazda 3 in 2017 because I almost never did any repairs other than brakes.
Nissan VG-series V6 engines were very durable, but I hate working on them. Oil filter was difficult to reach, exhaust manifold studs tend to break and were hard to reach. GA16 & SR20 were pretty good to work on.
Have never had 1 problem with my 12' Altima now starting its 14th year on the road. I have always changed the CVT transmission fluid every 2 years and the transmission still bulletproof.
My wife has a 2015 Lexus GX460 with 225,000 miles on it. I absolutely hated the idea of buying this car, but it was her dream car at the time. I have to admit, I was dead wrong. The Lexus has been the most economical over the course of time. I've had Ford, Chevy and Dodges in the time she's had her Lexus and ha e spent way more keeping them going. None by the way reached the 200,000 mark before I parted ways with it. My next truck will be a Tundra for sure. Side note! I do have a 1996 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 that has 277,000 on it. And has been literally beat to crap and back! NEVER spent a time on engine or trans. It just goes.
I totally get your comfort issue with your wife's Mazda. I had the same experience with my wife's Acura RDX, and Ford pickups. Like 'em or not, they just don't fit my backside. Really a "my diamond shoes are too tight" kind of problem. Also figured Honda/Acura would get the same mention as Toyota/Lexus: people drive the crap out of them and they're more often worth repairing when they break. Once you get past 10 yrs/150k miles, things start breaking that don't usually break that often. My observation on lack of maintenance: tends to be a "poor guy" problem, usually on low price new cars, and off-lease luxury marques. They appeal to buyers that can barely afford the car note, leaving zero left to perform basic maintenance until they need to be towed in at much greater cost.
I would guess Mazda for number 2 and was thinking of Toyota as number 1. Great analysis! I was surprised Toyota wasn’t on top but it makes sense because you are working on cars with so many miles on them that need expensive maintenance items.
My 2017 Honda Fit is the easiest, least expensive vehicle I've ever worked on. It only has 40k miles, so it doesn't really get any points for nothing breaking so far, but the maintenance is so simple. If I have the tools ready, I can change the oil and oil filter, rotate the tires, change the air and cabin air filters, and still reinstall the plastic under tray un about an hour, probably less. Even the brake bleed bolts are positioned well.
@lewiscollins5078 My grandparents had a 2012 Santa Fe and it was completely faultlessly during their long ownership. Same with my 2008, 2009, and 2018 Mazda 3s. Today I'd suggest Mazda over Hyundai though, it seemed like maybe Hyundai in the early 2010s had something to prove, unlike today.
Not surprising at all! I had the rear brakes on my 2008 Camry Hybrid done at 150k miles. Other than that tires and oil. Best car I ever owned, sad it was lost in an accident.
here in New Englnad Subarus are everywhere. Head gaskets on the old EJ25 are a very common issue. Oil burning on the newer FB25s is a big issue and the CVT transmissions are rubbish. i used to recommend Subarus, but not long do unless it is an Impreza /Crosstrek with a manual trans and the 2.0 liter engine
My wife has a Mazda3 and they are very good cars. Very agile handling, but yes I agree the seats lack lower back support. The only thing that has gone wrong is something we are currently dealing with, a bad baffle in the gas tank if you can believe that. Yes, it was baffling.
I and all your viewers DO APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND EFFORTS FOR THESE VIDS. Problem is the data is all jumbled. Repaired vehicles without mileage or years, etc. Also, vehicles that needed an engine or tranny that went to the dealers, should be noted or taken out of the data so to clean it up. A person that used to working spread sheets could pull out the maintenance costs, tires, etc. and the inspect only vehicles and those went to dealers, put in the years and mileages and it would be meaningful. Thanks again.
Wow, that number 2 was a surprise. I was thinking number 2 would be Mazda. Kia/Hyundai definitely threw me off, so I am grateful for your explanation. I was thrilled to see that Mazda came in at number 1, since I have been thinking of replacing my 16-year-old Ford Focus with a Mazda 3.
My 98 GS400 was the lowest cost of ownership car I ever had. Bought it at 138k miles for $6900, drove 190k miles and it was deemed totaled by a semi backing into it at 328k (still driveable), and in that time I put approximately $2500-3000 into it over 10 years INCLUDING tires, brakes, bilsteins, oil changes and all repairs (very few) and maintenance. The 1UZ v8 is the best overall engine the world has ever seen. My current car is a 08 Lexus GS450h. It’s at 196k now. Planning on a LOT more miles! Love your matador red 4GS!
PatM, that’s good to know!! I have a 2012 Honda Accord with 135K miles…I pretty much just do hwy driving with it. Do my own maintenance on it. Now I’m gonna shoot for 500K miles!! 😃👍🏼
IMHO most decent quality cars have issues because of maintenance neglect. I have a 5 year old VW Arteon SEL Premium R-Line (purchased new) with 26K miles on the odometer. I just replaced the spark plugs, did a transmission fluid service, haldex fluid exchange service and brake fluid exchange service (both for the second time), coolant exchange service and oil & filter. Most of these services are on a routine schedule with the exception of the transmission and coolant services. Of all the cars I have owned over the past 40 years, I've over maintained each one and have never been left stranded from a break down. Average cost to maintain it over 5 years is $459/yr. Great video!
I have a mazda 6 2011. Bought it used at 11000 miles, now has 145,000. Never gave me a problem. Regular maintenance and replacing wear and tear i items.
Hyundai/Kia started having engine problems when going to direct injection. They have started putting dual direct plus port injection so their latest engines hopeful will have less issues. I have the 3.3L v6 Lamda engine with port injection just before the change to direct injection and it has been a great engine.
my was a 2.4L multi non GDI and i have no issues with it as well. 150k miles. a bit loud most likely due to lack of sound proofing but it is dependable.
I drive a 1991 Honda Accord SE and a 1984 Mazda B2000. Original engines, etc. 300k+ miles on each. The Honda runs like new. The Mazda runs at least, but they've both been great vehicles.
After watching the ‘most expensive’ version last week, and this video being teased, I was looking forward to seeing my Subaru on this list (#4)! Super reliable and easy to maintain. As was stated, clearance around the boxer makes working under the hood (namely spark plugs) a little tricky, but with the right tools and some patients, one can get the job done efficiently. CVT issues may arise around/after 100,000 miles if the fluid is not serviced. Subaru of America designates CVT fluid as a “lifetime” fluid, so basically the life of the warranty. For CVT I believe it’s a 10-year 100,000 mile warranty. Depending on the driver and environment, your milage mary vary on how long the CVT will last. Interestingly, Subaru of Japan recommends CVT fluid to be serviced every ~39,000 miles (around 40,000 IIRC), down to as low as 30,000 for “harsh conditions” which is namely hilly or mountainous terrain, prevalent where these vehicles are popular. A lot of people drive these poor things rough til they brick then use the warranty for a reman.’d CVT. If you know yourself (driving habits), and maintain your Subaru well, you should not find it difficult to make your vehicle last a quarter to a third of a million miles. Though they get a bad rep. for headgasket leaks, these were mainly earlier models in the EJ20-25 series (around year 2000). These issues have largely been eliminated in the newer model engines (FB series and onward). An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure, people! CVT fluid is a lot cheaper than a new transmission (about $120-150 for 6-8 quarts versus ~$7,500+ for the trans.) Take care of your lineartronic and it will take care of you! Alternatively, if you don’t take care of your CVT it will also take care of you… just not in the way you want! Take care all-
It’s super cool that you own a 4GS. I own the same car but in nebula grey pearl and she has 221k on the clock. Perfect cars in every aspect. Dope videos man.
I've spent about 3k dollars on my 06 Silverado, and do my own work. This number doesn't count normal maintenance. However it has 546k miles, and just returned from a 2400 mile round trip. Beats 80k for a new one.
Great video. You forgot to mention that a Lexus / Toyota even with 200 or 300k resale value is why it's worth the investment in fixing it unlike a KIA / hyunda. To note for you I was a big fan and owner of the Acura 90 Legend. Got a 2019 RDX A Spec and it was not equal in anyway to the quality of the 90's. Gas mileage piss poor in the city, that stupid blank display that was fixed twice on my car and other people are still having issues. I dumped it for a RX 350 and Love this car. Yes there are a few minor issues but nothing that is major. Just to let you know on a trip to GA the RDX got 30 Highway in real NYC traffic 9 to 12. The RX 350 gets 33 on the highway and 16 to 17 in real NYC traffic in ECO mode. There was no ECO mode on the Acura only snow or comfort all which produced the same results. Please note the RX 350 is bigger and heaver that the RDX was so go figure.
Opening this video I expected to see Mazda at number 2 or 3, but I can’t say I’m surprised it’s number 1. I’ve been sweating this up and down to people for the past 5 years, and everyone thinks I’m crazy. There were a couple of years where Toyota and Honda were getting crushed by Mazda in terms of warranty claims.
I appreciate this video. Of course its not the most scientific, and you made that very clear. But this video gave me information that is hard to get. This information is very useful to me. Thank you!
My most reliable car ever, Mazda. Current car Toyota, old and some niggles but overall excellent. Wife's car a Kia Sportage, bought new 6 years ago and fingers crossed , no problems so far. Good run with a Nissan but always nervous about the CVT and rust became a problem. My least reliable, though it's a long time ago, Ford. I love Jaguars but doubt I'd ever be brave enough to buy one.
Love this kind of content with its surprises. I have an idea for another way to break the data to appeal to both people who trade in every so many years and the people who keep vehicles for long periods of time: break your repair orders for most and least expensive into sub 150k mile cars and greater than 150k mile cars.
I guessed Hyundai for the 2nd, except for the engines... I have a 2009 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L with over 300,000 miles on it. I have used mantenace shops for all the maintenance up to a couple months ago. The 2009 has manifold fuel injection and is not turbocharged. The block and head can handle the pressure. Very cheap overall. I changed the suspension, and brake jobs. Very little else has ever been a problem.
Own a Subaru Impreza 2017 sport, great daily driver in South Florida. The only knock would be the lack of horsepower which is because AWD system is standard. I want a new Mazda 3, they look incredible.
I had to nod in agreement about the Mini Cooper. I have a 2003 R53 owned since new. If I were not a professional mechanic, I would have walked away from that car long ago. Mine has 176k miles on it and is dead reliable, a laughing riot to drive and does not blend in with all the modern, weird looking cars of today. I have spent more to keep running it then it's worth but less than a new car would cost me. If I had to pay someone to fix it though, I wouldn't be able to afford it.
Ive had rx7s forever. mazda engineering is top notch. Rotarys are for sports nuts only, but suspension, driveline dont cut corners. If they could build better than cheap nissan, they did. Rebuilt diffs on 80s rx7 and z32 300z and the extra steps mazda took in machining are very apparent. Maz engineers seem to take pride in their builds and to me it shows. Engineering over accounting.
It’s be interesting to breakdown the average milage of each manufacturer and see which vehicles cost more to own at each milage interval. Because yeah, toyotas are great (i own 2 of them) and they do need repairs after a while, and can be expensive but they’re north of 200k miles
I owned a 2006 Mazda 6. That car cost me many, many thousands. The computer kept frying at 3.6k a pop. Mazda wouldn't release the codes on it, so I kept having to take into the dealership for a new computer install. The car was low miles, not under warranty. After two computer installs in the span of two years, I traded it in. Never bought a Mazda again.
None compare with ninties Japanese vehicles. We have a 96 Honda that we have owned for the last twenty years, apart from pads, belts, the only thing it has ever needed was a radiator. Total yearly maintenance costs are about less than $40 per year. The good old days. Before some smartass mentions devaluation, only paid $4000 usd for it twenty years ago.
It would help to tell us years of cars... things can change from generation to generation... Our 2005 Hyundai Sonata has been great... but most people don't keep cars as long as we do. We keep things forever.
I think this is really interesting data, especially with your large sample sizes. However, I think the sample size could be an interesting data point on its own. the fact that you see fewer of a certain make could mean that it's actually less expensive to own, even if the average repair cost is higher. An average repair cost of $1500 is less expensive to own than an average cost of $800 if you only have to fix it half as often. It could also just mean that a certain make isn't popular in your area, hard to tell, I guess. Anyways, another great video!
I believe that you could create another video that discusses the average milage of the cars for these repair orders, and also the average mileage between repair orders other than oil/filter/wiper changes.
What might also be a cool list, what brands that you service has the highest mileage? I get the impression Lexus finished lower because most people don't bring in luxury brands to indy shops and stay at the dealership until they are like 10+ years old. Something like a Kia or Hyundai start being serviced at an indy the day they are outside the factory warranty.
I'd like to see what the average mileage is along with average repair cost on these lists. Would help to understand. If Lexus's all need transmissions at 300k then it would explain why the average cost is higher.
I dunno if this was mentioned but one thing to keep in mind is the total number of certain trucks on the road. If your area has 50% more F150s on the road compared silverados but you still seen 200 of both trucks in for repair in a 1 year period even if the F150 repair bill was 25% more the F150 is still cheaper to maintain as there was a much higher precentable of them that didn't need to be repaired at all. I realize this information would be impossible to compare without having data from other auto shops in the area and also the DMV data just worth nothing
I agree. I drive a Ram Limited pickup, and I think they have the most comfortable seats, of the 36 vehicles I've owned. Everything from Vegas, to ElDorados. I am a member of the 5thgen Ram forums, and a couple people say they are terrible. ( A Limited may have better seats than a lower model though).
If you read between the lines… Nissans are much cheaper to own and maintain than Toyota if and a big IF you religiously service the CVT every 10k miles and don’t accelerate hard. Nobody services these transmissions, not even dealerships and they constantly go bad. The design isn’t perfect and it burns up the fluid causing damage to the belts.
Just started my 14th year driving my 12' Altima car with the ORIGINAL CVT transmission. A lot of crap with all these transmissions being bad. If you change the CVT fluid like I have every 25,000 miles never a problem.
I'm curious about the wheel hub issues you've seen on Subarus. Do you think they're using lower-quality hubs than other manufacturers? Also, I agree with you about the problems with the early 2000s Honda engines. I had one with a cracked block that I got fixed just before the warranty expired. I was shocked when the tech showed me the crack. It was in the wall separating the two inner cylinders in an inline 4 configuration. That wall was at most 1/8-inch thick! No more Hondas for me...
ARO is a bad way to do this. As a shop who works on 60% Toyota / Lexus vehicles, People maintain them, and keep them forever which in turn drives up the ARO. Kia, MIni, Mazda, decline A lot of work which brings down the ARO.
Nice video to complement the "hi-prices" video. You almost answered it, but what was the mileage on those Hyundai/Kia cars and Minis with engine failures that were not worth fixing? I know folks who have Hyundais from about pre-2012 that have been bulletproof, pushing 200K miles, basic fuel-injection engines. Mazda would be interesting for some detail, too. Even though they split off from Ford a while back, they still used Ford transmissions in a lot of their vehicles until the early 2010's and that was the major issue. The newer transmissions are made in association with Toyota and work great. Toyotas - Mine is a 2006 Tacoma with 180K miles, still runs great, but I'm seriously looking at trading it in due to the other parts besides the drivetrain have just reached end-of-life, like lots of little electrical issues, suspension, etc. Great car, but it's time to say goodby to it (and oddly Mazda is my top choice for a replacement).
I wonder though if you were to take an exact number from each on the list and what the repair dollar average is. There are several ways to turn these results around. To suit the viewers preference.
An excellent video. May i suggest something ? If its ever possible, providing an estimated repair bills per 10,000km + estimate the value of the car when it's not worth to fix would be ideal. I know its too much to ask, keep up the good work. :)
Honda/Acura,Nissan/Infiniti, Toyota and Mazda are expensive to maintain due to price of parts twice the money. Kia/Hyundia, they will turn down the warranty on the engines if proof of oil changes are not shown. Tundras have transmission issues including rusty frames in the salt and winter states
Hi, are your average costs for regular mileage or time lapse maintenance and wear items such as brakes, or for repairs of things that have failed during 2 years? Thanks
My cheapest car has been a 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park wagon. I’ve had VWs, Rabbits, Passats and Audi, and they are horrible, heck my 195 Jag XJ12 was cheaper overall than any VW products.
It occurs to me that average repair order amount is only part of the picture. What do I care if the average repair order is $2000 if it almost never needs repairs. Conversely, $800 repair orders but 4 a year is not good.
A cool video would be have a price that you consider a “major repair” and average the price for those and also the average mileage on the vehicle brand when it had the service performed. So let’s just say anything over $1000. Like you mentioned with Toyota/Lexus. The price may be higher but the average mileage when the major repair may be at 225k miles when others may be at 125k…
There are many variables and maybe we will take the time to break it down further at some point. That will take hours so we will try to find the time to make it happen.
Had a friends kia with an engine seize after 2 years with it, it would be months without a car for the "free replacement" to be done Had the mother in laws hyundai that needed a recall for the ABS light and she called up the day before her appointment "yes we have the recall part in stock", takes time off work and 2 hr drive to the dealer "so we dont have the part for the recall.." I cant reccomend them, horrible service experiences with them
My 2011 kia soul has been a rock, minimal repair even though I treated it like shit, theres a 6year period on my carfax with no work at all. What this video tells me is i need to dump it at Carmax ASAP 😂
Mazda pcv valve is an expensive repair, wonder what Royalty charges for this ? Finally at the end I hear ' Bullet proof" Have a 2008 Tacoma 4X4, and it is BF !! Changed the brakes at 100K kilometers,, a 4X4 ! Have owned every make ( logging contractor ) and 4X4 Toyota is the least expensive to maintain, by far. Logging companies , construction and pipeline companies lease Fords , keep them 3 years and hand them back. Toyotas won't take the brutal pounding that these operations put on vehicles, and are more expensive up front. On Vancouver Island and throughout BC, Toyota cars run for many decades, bears out what Sherwood is saying. They will however, if treated well, go the mileage Sherwood talks about.
Here’s the top 5 most expensive:
ruclips.net/video/-l8LoMfLWMU/видео.html
I still say Mazda is the most underrated manufacturer out there.
I have never owned a Mazda but I have a very good opinion of them. Maybe someday I will buy one.
I just bought a 2024 Mazda 3 Sport this summer. Toyota and Honda are overpriced and not nearly as nice to drive as the Mazdas we test drove. Don't buy one older than 2014 though as they still had Ford parts in them up until then.
Agreed.
You got that 100 percent... soon after they parted with Ford, everything changed. The are thoughtful and inventive... which isn't a surprise. Zoom zoom!
100% agree. Bought my wife a cx5, she drives the piss out of it and we've only done regular maintenance. I am only now, at over 125k miles doing o2 sensors. Valve cover gasket it just starting to show signs of leakage after minor seeping for 3 years
I like how you presented the results in this with all the caveats that skew the numbers! It's so easy to just blindly trust the numbers. Great video!
Excellent content! An interesting statistic would be highest average odometer reading on vehicles you're repairing/maintaining. This would give viewers information about longevity of ownership and approximate lifespan of the various manufacturers. Thanks for your work and RUclips channel.
When I started my career as a mechanic Nissan was Datsun and you were being nice when you said they were difficult to work on, I couldn’t agree more (they are actually a pain) I try not to even take one in for repair . I bought my wife a Mazda 3 in 2017 because I almost never did any repairs other than brakes.
Nissan VG-series V6 engines were very durable, but I hate working on them. Oil filter was difficult to reach, exhaust manifold studs tend to break and were hard to reach. GA16 & SR20 were pretty good to work on.
Have never had 1 problem with my 12' Altima now starting its 14th year on the road. I have always changed the CVT transmission fluid every 2 years and the transmission still bulletproof.
My wife has a 2015 Lexus GX460 with 225,000 miles on it. I absolutely hated the idea of buying this car, but it was her dream car at the time. I have to admit, I was dead wrong. The Lexus has been the most economical over the course of time. I've had Ford, Chevy and Dodges in the time she's had her Lexus and ha e spent way more keeping them going. None by the way reached the 200,000 mark before I parted ways with it. My next truck will be a Tundra for sure. Side note! I do have a 1996 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0 that has 277,000 on it. And has been literally beat to crap and back! NEVER spent a time on engine or trans. It just goes.
just dont buy a modern tundra
My 2010 RAV4 has been bulletproof at 196k. It’s got the same V6 as the Camry and Lexus RX at the time.
Dont get a new tundra with the v6. Get the v8 tundra instead like a 2021 or older.
4.0 jeeps were very reliable, newer ones not so much. GX are absolute tanks
I think your jeep is a rare occurrence of a good made jeep lol
I totally get your comfort issue with your wife's Mazda. I had the same experience with my wife's Acura RDX, and Ford pickups. Like 'em or not, they just don't fit my backside. Really a "my diamond shoes are too tight" kind of problem. Also figured Honda/Acura would get the same mention as Toyota/Lexus: people drive the crap out of them and they're more often worth repairing when they break. Once you get past 10 yrs/150k miles, things start breaking that don't usually break that often. My observation on lack of maintenance: tends to be a "poor guy" problem, usually on low price new cars, and off-lease luxury marques. They appeal to buyers that can barely afford the car note, leaving zero left to perform basic maintenance until they need to be towed in at much greater cost.
Love my 2019 Tacoma. 114,000 miles. Zero issues. Just regular maintenance.
Been saying Mazda is the most reiable too. Simple Skyactiv engine thats been using for decades, 6 speed auto trans and built in Japan to this day.
I would guess Mazda for number 2 and was thinking of Toyota as number 1. Great analysis! I was surprised Toyota wasn’t on top but it makes sense because you are working on cars with so many miles on them that need expensive maintenance items.
My 2017 Honda Fit is the easiest, least expensive vehicle I've ever worked on. It only has 40k miles, so it doesn't really get any points for nothing breaking so far, but the maintenance is so simple. If I have the tools ready, I can change the oil and oil filter, rotate the tires, change the air and cabin air filters, and still reinstall the plastic under tray un about an hour, probably less. Even the brake bleed bolts are positioned well.
My 2012 Sonata and 2015 Mazda CX-5 have both been solid drivers.
@lewiscollins5078 My grandparents had a 2012 Santa Fe and it was completely faultlessly during their long ownership. Same with my 2008, 2009, and 2018 Mazda 3s. Today I'd suggest Mazda over Hyundai though, it seemed like maybe Hyundai in the early 2010s had something to prove, unlike today.
Toyota Prius 165k NEVER been to a shop except for tires, I do my own fluid changes. Still running like a champ
How often do you service the CVT//Transaxle?
Same here but I got 288k on mine. I've had it since 90k.
Not surprising at all! I had the rear brakes on my 2008 Camry Hybrid done at 150k miles. Other than that tires and oil. Best car I ever owned, sad it was lost in an accident.
@@mikejohnson9118 Should be every 6 years or 150k miles. If you are paranoid every 75k would work.
@@mikejohnson9118 I change the transaxle fluid and all coolant at around 150k and that's it
here in New Englnad Subarus are everywhere. Head gaskets on the old EJ25 are a very common issue. Oil burning on the newer FB25s is a big issue and the CVT transmissions are rubbish. i used to recommend Subarus, but not long do unless it is an Impreza /Crosstrek with a manual trans and the 2.0 liter engine
Subaru has a cult following in the snowy areas .
My wife has a Mazda3 and they are very good cars. Very agile handling, but yes I agree the seats lack lower back support. The only thing that has gone wrong is something we are currently dealing with, a bad baffle in the gas tank if you can believe that. Yes, it was baffling.
I and all your viewers DO APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND EFFORTS FOR THESE VIDS. Problem is the data is all jumbled. Repaired vehicles without mileage or years, etc. Also, vehicles that needed an engine or tranny that went to the dealers, should be noted or taken out of the data so to clean it up. A person that used to working spread sheets could pull out the maintenance costs, tires, etc. and the inspect only vehicles and those went to dealers, put in the years and mileages and it would be meaningful. Thanks again.
Wow, that number 2 was a surprise. I was thinking number 2 would be Mazda. Kia/Hyundai definitely threw me off, so I am grateful for your explanation. I was thrilled to see that Mazda came in at number 1, since I have been thinking of replacing my 16-year-old Ford Focus with a Mazda 3.
My 98 GS400 was the lowest cost of ownership car I ever had. Bought it at 138k miles for $6900, drove 190k miles and it was deemed totaled by a semi backing into it at 328k (still driveable), and in that time I put approximately $2500-3000 into it over 10 years INCLUDING tires, brakes, bilsteins, oil changes and all repairs (very few) and maintenance. The 1UZ v8 is the best overall engine the world has ever seen.
My current car is a 08 Lexus GS450h. It’s at 196k now. Planning on a LOT more miles! Love your matador red 4GS!
Love that 1UZ
Mazda surprised me. I have 2013 civic with 476k on it that’s been a great car for me.
PatM, that’s good to know!! I have a 2012 Honda Accord with 135K miles…I pretty much just do hwy driving with it. Do my own maintenance on it. Now I’m gonna shoot for 500K miles!! 😃👍🏼
@ you’ll get there! Just do all the recommended maintenance!
IMHO most decent quality cars have issues because of maintenance neglect. I have a 5 year old VW Arteon SEL Premium R-Line (purchased new) with 26K miles on the odometer. I just replaced the spark plugs, did a transmission fluid service, haldex fluid exchange service and brake fluid exchange service (both for the second time), coolant exchange service and oil & filter. Most of these services are on a routine schedule with the exception of the transmission and coolant services. Of all the cars I have owned over the past 40 years, I've over maintained each one and have never been left stranded from a break down. Average cost to maintain it over 5 years is $459/yr. Great video!
2.0 TSI start giving you headaches around 60K. Check your PCV, perform carbon clean up in the valves. Keep an eye on the timing chain too.
I have a mazda 6 2011. Bought it used at 11000 miles, now has 145,000. Never gave me a problem. Regular maintenance and replacing wear and tear i items.
Love these videos. Would like to see one on full size trucks.
Hyundai/Kia started having engine problems when going to direct injection. They have started putting dual direct plus port injection so their latest engines hopeful will have less issues. I have the 3.3L v6 Lamda engine with port injection just before the change to direct injection and it has been a great engine.
my was a 2.4L multi non GDI and i have no issues with it as well. 150k miles. a bit loud most likely due to lack of sound proofing but it is dependable.
I drive a 1991 Honda Accord SE and a 1984 Mazda B2000. Original engines, etc. 300k+ miles on each. The Honda runs like new. The Mazda runs at least, but they've both been great vehicles.
After watching the ‘most expensive’ version last week, and this video being teased, I was looking forward to seeing my Subaru on this list (#4)!
Super reliable and easy to maintain. As was stated, clearance around the boxer makes working under the hood (namely spark plugs) a little tricky, but with the right tools and some patients, one can get the job done efficiently.
CVT issues may arise around/after 100,000 miles if the fluid is not serviced. Subaru of America designates CVT fluid as a “lifetime” fluid, so basically the life of the warranty. For CVT I believe it’s a 10-year 100,000 mile warranty. Depending on the driver and environment, your milage mary vary on how long the CVT will last.
Interestingly, Subaru of Japan recommends CVT fluid to be serviced every ~39,000 miles (around 40,000 IIRC), down to as low as 30,000 for “harsh conditions” which is namely hilly or mountainous terrain, prevalent where these vehicles are popular. A lot of people drive these poor things rough til they brick then use the warranty for a reman.’d CVT.
If you know yourself (driving habits), and maintain your Subaru well, you should not find it difficult to make your vehicle last a quarter to a third of a million miles.
Though they get a bad rep. for headgasket leaks, these were mainly earlier models in the EJ20-25 series (around year 2000). These issues have largely been eliminated in the newer model engines (FB series and onward).
An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure, people! CVT fluid is a lot cheaper than a new transmission (about $120-150 for 6-8 quarts versus ~$7,500+ for the trans.) Take care of your lineartronic and it will take care of you! Alternatively, if you don’t take care of your CVT it will also take care of you… just not in the way you want!
Take care all-
Thank You… I was surprised about Number One…. Very good!
It’s super cool that you own a 4GS. I own the same car but in nebula grey pearl and she has 221k on the clock. Perfect cars in every aspect. Dope videos man.
Once again kudos on putting in the work for this video. Letting the facts speak for themselves.
Great, honest, well presented video. The caveats were great to know.
Excellent analysis on your data results.
Numbers can say anything if you don't back them up.
I've spent about 3k dollars on my 06 Silverado, and do my own work. This number doesn't count normal maintenance.
However it has 546k miles, and just returned from a 2400 mile round trip.
Beats 80k for a new one.
Great video. You forgot to mention that a Lexus / Toyota even with 200 or 300k resale value is why it's worth the investment in fixing it unlike a KIA / hyunda.
To note for you I was a big fan and owner of the Acura 90 Legend. Got a 2019 RDX A Spec and it was not equal in anyway to the quality of the 90's.
Gas mileage piss poor in the city, that stupid blank display that was fixed twice on my car and other people are still having issues. I dumped it for a RX 350 and Love this car. Yes there are a few minor issues but nothing that is major. Just to let you know on a trip to GA the RDX got 30 Highway in real NYC traffic 9 to 12. The RX 350 gets 33 on the highway and 16 to 17 in real NYC traffic in ECO mode. There was no ECO mode on the Acura only snow or comfort all which produced the same results.
Please note the RX 350 is bigger and heaver that the RDX was so go figure.
Opening this video I expected to see Mazda at number 2 or 3, but I can’t say I’m surprised it’s number 1.
I’ve been sweating this up and down to people for the past 5 years, and everyone thinks I’m crazy. There were a couple of years where Toyota and Honda were getting crushed by Mazda in terms of warranty claims.
I appreciate this video. Of course its not the most scientific, and you made that very clear. But this video gave me information that is hard to get. This information is very useful to me. Thank you!
My most reliable car ever, Mazda. Current car Toyota, old and some niggles but overall excellent. Wife's car a Kia Sportage, bought new 6 years ago and fingers crossed , no problems so far. Good run with a Nissan but always nervous about the CVT and rust became a problem. My least reliable, though it's a long time ago, Ford. I love Jaguars but doubt I'd ever be brave enough to buy one.
Love this kind of content with its surprises. I have an idea for another way to break the data to appeal to both people who trade in every so many years and the people who keep vehicles for long periods of time: break your repair orders for most and least expensive into sub 150k mile cars and greater than 150k mile cars.
I guessed Hyundai for the 2nd, except for the engines... I have a 2009 Hyundai Sonata 2.4L with over 300,000 miles on it. I have used mantenace shops for all the maintenance up to a couple months ago. The 2009 has manifold fuel injection and is not turbocharged. The block and head can handle the pressure. Very cheap overall. I changed the suspension, and brake jobs. Very little else has ever been a problem.
Own a Subaru Impreza 2017 sport, great daily driver in South Florida. The only knock would be the lack of horsepower which is because AWD system is standard. I want a new Mazda 3, they look incredible.
Royalty Auto Service is the Car Care Nut of the South. (Toyota-Lexus based)!
I had to nod in agreement about the Mini Cooper. I have a 2003 R53 owned since new. If I were not a professional mechanic, I would have walked away from that car long ago. Mine has 176k miles on it and is dead reliable, a laughing riot to drive and does not blend in with all the modern, weird looking cars of today. I have spent more to keep running it then it's worth but less than a new car would cost me. If I had to pay someone to fix it though, I wouldn't be able to afford it.
It's a shame they didn't build these to be reliable. They are a hoot to drive.
I really like the list bc I own a toyota corolla and was wondering about it so thank you sir.
This is a lesson in how to interpret numbers, should be shown in a beginner's class on statistics.
Ive had rx7s forever. mazda engineering is top notch. Rotarys are for sports nuts only, but suspension, driveline dont cut corners. If they could build better than cheap nissan, they did. Rebuilt diffs on 80s rx7 and z32 300z and the extra steps mazda took in machining are very apparent. Maz engineers seem to take pride in their builds and to me it shows. Engineering over accounting.
EXCELLENT ANALYSIS!
Nice job, I really agree with your analysis.
It’s be interesting to breakdown the average milage of each manufacturer and see which vehicles cost more to own at each milage interval. Because yeah, toyotas are great (i own 2 of them) and they do need repairs after a while, and can be expensive but they’re north of 200k miles
I owned a 2006 Mazda 6. That car cost me many, many thousands. The computer kept frying at 3.6k a pop. Mazda wouldn't release the codes on it, so I kept having to take into the dealership for a new computer install. The car was low miles, not under warranty. After two computer installs in the span of two years, I traded it in. Never bought a Mazda again.
If I remember right, 06 mazdas had ford drive trains in them.
None compare with ninties Japanese vehicles. We have a 96 Honda that we have owned for the last twenty years, apart from pads, belts, the only thing it has ever needed was a radiator.
Total yearly maintenance costs are about less than $40 per year. The good old days.
Before some smartass mentions devaluation, only paid $4000 usd for it twenty years ago.
Have a 95 Civic manual..
389k miles. Bought with 180k on it for 1900 dollars in about 2002.
Front axles and AC compressor.😅
Great information thanks for the perspective!
It would help to tell us years of cars... things can change from generation to generation... Our 2005 Hyundai Sonata has been great... but most people don't keep cars as long as we do. We keep things forever.
The anecdotal information is more important than the data given the way it was cut.
I think this is really interesting data, especially with your large sample sizes. However, I think the sample size could be an interesting data point on its own. the fact that you see fewer of a certain make could mean that it's actually less expensive to own, even if the average repair cost is higher. An average repair cost of $1500 is less expensive to own than an average cost of $800 if you only have to fix it half as often. It could also just mean that a certain make isn't popular in your area, hard to tell, I guess. Anyways, another great video!
I believe that you could create another video that discusses the average milage of the cars for these repair orders, and also the average mileage between repair orders other than oil/filter/wiper changes.
Great job!
What might also be a cool list, what brands that you service has the highest mileage? I get the impression Lexus finished lower because most people don't bring in luxury brands to indy shops and stay at the dealership until they are like 10+ years old. Something like a Kia or Hyundai start being serviced at an indy the day they are outside the factory warranty.
Would be nice to see the average age and mileage on the 1st to 7th place
I'd like to see what the average mileage is along with average repair cost on these lists. Would help to understand. If Lexus's all need transmissions at 300k then it would explain why the average cost is higher.
Great video. Thanks so much!!!
I dunno if this was mentioned but one thing to keep in mind is the total number of certain trucks on the road. If your area has 50% more F150s on the road compared silverados but you still seen 200 of both trucks in for repair in a 1 year period even if the F150 repair bill was 25% more the F150 is still cheaper to maintain as there was a much higher precentable of them that didn't need to be repaired at all. I realize this information would be impossible to compare without having data from other auto shops in the area and also the DMV data just worth nothing
Seat comfort is highly dependent on how our backs are built.
@danharold3087 You are correct about the seats. What's good for you may suck for me.
I agree. I drive a Ram Limited pickup, and I think they have the most comfortable seats, of the 36 vehicles I've owned. Everything from Vegas, to ElDorados. I am a member of the 5thgen Ram forums, and a couple people say they are terrible. ( A Limited may have better seats than a lower model though).
for mazda - pads/rotors, and sway bar links seem to need replacing more quickly than normal.
What year is your toyota Tundra? I have and 05 and absolutely love it
I have tundra for 16 years
I have had a 2011 G37x for the past couple of years and so far only oil changes and a exhaust Y pipe that rusted out due to midwest weather!
Would be nice if your database had Standard Deviation to get an idea of the "worst case and best case" repair costs.
To do the numbers to find out the cheapest car to run simply divide the mileage by the repair cost.
It'd be great if you could do ARO and average mileage.
Swap out the seats if the car is really good otherwise. Truly great cars are sort of a rare beast. Regardless, interesting video. 👍
I'd like to know which vehicles don't require visits to a repair shop.
If you have some extreme values, should you calculate the median, not the average?
Nissan with its Jatco transmissions??? That's enough to keep me from ever buying one. Very costly to replace.
If you read between the lines… Nissans are much cheaper to own and maintain than Toyota if and a big IF you religiously service the CVT every 10k miles and don’t accelerate hard. Nobody services these transmissions, not even dealerships and they constantly go bad. The design isn’t perfect and it burns up the fluid causing damage to the belts.
Just started my 14th year driving my 12' Altima car with the ORIGINAL CVT transmission. A lot of crap with all these transmissions being bad. If you change the CVT fluid like I have every 25,000 miles never a problem.
I'm curious about the wheel hub issues you've seen on Subarus. Do you think they're using lower-quality hubs than other manufacturers? Also, I agree with you about the problems with the early 2000s Honda engines. I had one with a cracked block that I got fixed just before the warranty expired. I was shocked when the tech showed me the crack. It was in the wall separating the two inner cylinders in an inline 4 configuration. That wall was at most 1/8-inch thick! No more Hondas for me...
ARO is a bad way to do this. As a shop who works on 60% Toyota / Lexus vehicles, People maintain them, and keep them forever which in turn drives up the ARO. Kia, MIni, Mazda, decline A lot of work which brings down the ARO.
Please post a link to the video where you do it the right way. Thanks.
Maybe take another look at the video. I believe your points are covered in two places in the video.
Nice video to complement the "hi-prices" video. You almost answered it, but what was the mileage on those Hyundai/Kia cars and Minis with engine failures that were not worth fixing? I know folks who have Hyundais from about pre-2012 that have been bulletproof, pushing 200K miles, basic fuel-injection engines. Mazda would be interesting for some detail, too. Even though they split off from Ford a while back, they still used Ford transmissions in a lot of their vehicles until the early 2010's and that was the major issue. The newer transmissions are made in association with Toyota and work great. Toyotas - Mine is a 2006 Tacoma with 180K miles, still runs great, but I'm seriously looking at trading it in due to the other parts besides the drivetrain have just reached end-of-life, like lots of little electrical issues, suspension, etc. Great car, but it's time to say goodby to it (and oddly Mazda is my top choice for a replacement).
It would be interesting to mention the average vehicle age also.
I wonder though if you were to take an exact number from each on the list and what the repair dollar average is. There are several ways to turn these results around. To suit the viewers preference.
An excellent video. May i suggest something ? If its ever possible, providing an estimated repair bills per 10,000km + estimate the value of the car when it's not worth to fix would be ideal. I know its too much to ask, keep up the good work. :)
Honda/Acura,Nissan/Infiniti, Toyota and Mazda are expensive to maintain due to price of parts twice the money. Kia/Hyundia, they will turn down the warranty on the engines if proof of oil changes are not shown. Tundras have transmission issues including rusty frames in the salt and winter states
Yea, repair cost says something, but how often do they come in?
Hi, are your average costs for regular mileage or time lapse maintenance and wear items such as brakes, or for repairs of things that have failed during 2 years? Thanks
How many of these cars made the list because of work NOT pursued? Example, Nissan customer choosing not to fix the transmissions, hence no bill.
lol…I love my GS, great pick.
What's the cost on Hyundai/Kia without the no repair cases?
Would be interesting to break it out by cost per fleet miles.
We really need to know the no diag number too.
Number 2 is lexas
My cheapest car has been a 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park wagon. I’ve had VWs, Rabbits, Passats and Audi, and they are horrible, heck my 195 Jag XJ12 was cheaper overall than any VW products.
It occurs to me that average repair order amount is only part of the picture. What do I care if the average repair order is $2000 if it almost never needs repairs. Conversely, $800 repair orders but 4 a year is not good.
A cool video would be have a price that you consider a “major repair” and average the price for those and also the average mileage on the vehicle brand when it had the service performed. So let’s just say anything over $1000. Like you mentioned with Toyota/Lexus. The price may be higher but the average mileage when the major repair may be at 225k miles when others may be at 125k…
I have a 2014 gs350 awd what brand drive axel do you recommend
Thoughts on the new Mazda CX-50 Hybrid with the RAV4 Powertrain!?
What about average time BEFORE car brand needs to come in for that average amount of work?
I'm really surprised at how high the ticket average is. Do you not do any regular maintenance or two wheel brake jobs?
Subaru: AC system sucks. To be fair, in the NE, salt and rust levels all vehicles.
Thank you! Would it make sense to give the average age of each group of vehicles?
There are many variables and maybe we will take the time to break it down further at some point. That will take hours so we will try to find the time to make it happen.
@@theroyaltyautoservicewell, anyways, thanks so much. Your presentation is excellent! From Tampa.
Had a friends kia with an engine seize after 2 years with it, it would be months without a car for the "free replacement" to be done
Had the mother in laws hyundai that needed a recall for the ABS light and she called up the day before her appointment "yes we have the recall part in stock", takes time off work and 2 hr drive to the dealer "so we dont have the part for the recall.."
I cant reccomend them, horrible service experiences with them
My 2011 kia soul has been a rock, minimal repair even though I treated it like shit, theres a 6year period on my carfax with no work at all. What this video tells me is i need to dump it at Carmax ASAP 😂
Now the most expensive would be nice
Dumbass, he says at the start he has a video covering that very topic. And even more dumbassery from you, it was 3 videos ago
On the last video you did and this one kind of gives away if they ring up the totals you're a million dollar a year business
Mazda pcv valve is an expensive repair, wonder what Royalty charges for this ?
Finally at the end I hear ' Bullet proof"
Have a 2008 Tacoma 4X4, and it is BF !!
Changed the brakes at 100K kilometers,, a 4X4 ! Have owned every make ( logging contractor ) and 4X4 Toyota is the least expensive to maintain, by far.
Logging companies , construction and pipeline companies lease Fords , keep them 3 years and hand them back.
Toyotas won't take the brutal pounding that these operations put on vehicles, and are more expensive up front.
On Vancouver Island and throughout BC, Toyota cars run for many decades, bears out what Sherwood is saying.
They will however, if treated well, go the mileage Sherwood talks about.