What imports should I consider when selecting a used vehicle?

Question

I've heard that imports are generally better to buy than American cars if you are considering buying a used car. What imports are generally among the best? What is the maximum mileage I should consider when checking out these used import cars?

Answer 1

Sorry for all you American car fanatics but all my 30 + years Japan has produced the better cars.

Iam not saying all American cars are bad and they are getting better with help from Japanese electronics.

But I have had American cars and they have been great cars but with my budget i could only afford high mileage ones and this is where they fail.They start to go wrong fast with engines failing and rattles al over the cars.Iam not saying all American cars but the hand full i have had have all been like this.

So i went Japanese as even with the high mileage the engines are like new if looked after.parts are dearer but go wrong less and with the net there easy to find.

So say what the fanatics will say but you all know like it or not its true.

Mileage wise on an import if the engine has been looked after then higher miles are not a problem i have had a few that have been in really high miles.

Which ones iam not sure which ones you are able to get but Nissan toyota mitsubishi honda mazda are all great brands and its really prsonal choice from there which suits your needs may it be room for kids or speed.

and to the 50.000 miles on a Japanese engine above would be fine engine still being running in at that.i have had imports running like new at 200.000.

Answer 2

I would say go with the import they seem to last longer without giving you as much problems as the American cars do usually gm cars will give you electrical problems once they are getting up there in miles and fords tend to give some sort of transmission problem.I have had both of these kinda of cars.I now only buy imports mostly Nissan's I have a 92 240sx, Nissan maxima,Nissan titan and a infinity g35.The first two cars are my daily driver's during the week the 240 has 215,000 miles and the maxima has 138,000 and I have had no major issues with them at all.If Nissan's are your taste check out Toyota they aren't bad either just be careful on certain Camry models especially there 4cyl ones I known alot of people who had them and gave alot of problems too.Well hope this helps

Answer 3

I've always read that Toyota corolla is an excellent car as far as reliability, and resale value go. If you can, do as I have done, find car magazine, and consumer reports magazine articles on used cars.
As far as mileage, I would try to get a car with no more than 50,000 miles on it, but depending on your situation, that's not always possible.
For a variety of view points on used cars, go to the top of the yahoo/answers page, in the search box type, used cars, and click search.
I hope that helps, good luck.

Answer 4

Define "import". The following vehicles are all made in the US:

Toyota Camry
Hyundai Sonata
Mercedes ML-Class
Mazda 6
Honda Accord (most)

The following vehicles are NOT made in the US:

Ford Fusion
Mercury Milan
Ford Crown Vic
Mercury Grand Marquis
Many GM trucks

If you want to compare reliability stats, go to the Consumer Report website at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm

Many American branded vehicles (such as Ford's Fusion) are extremely reliable. Many import branded vehicles (many Mazdas and Nissans, for example) are less reliable than similar class US badged vehicles.

Don't base your decision on presumed quality of import brands over US brands. Compare the individual models that you are interested in and choose the most desirable based upon careful research, not generalized assumptions.

Answer 5

you heard wrong. buy American.