Aug05
News
The Reliability Survey 2011 uses a number of measures to determine how reliable a vehicle is both on the road and off. It’s not all about how many times a car is liable to break down – many other factors are taken into consideration. The survey, carried out by WhatCar, used Warranty Direct’s detailed claim data in order to assess what problems occur and which cars are most likely to break down, how long they will take to repair, and which parts are most likely to develop issues.
The survey doesn’t include every single make and model of car, but does assess a large chunk of the market – only the cars that Warranty Direct holds policies on are covered, but as you can imagine that equates to quite a few makes and models. Vehicles over eight years old are removed from the survey. This survey can really help consumers to choose their new car, especially when it comes to selecting from used cars showrooms and dealers. Used cars appearing high on the reliability index are usually a safe bet as long as they have been cared for well.
This year produced some interesting results. The top 3 cars were possibly cars you wouldn’t expect to be listed so highly.
1. Kia Picanto (‘04 – ‘11)
This great little car proves that reliable cars don’t need to command a high price tag. The humble little Kia Picanto has an exceptionally low failure rate and generates only very small repair bills. There are many Kia Picanto models available from used cars dealers so you should be able to pick up a great bargain if this little gem holds your interest.
2. Vauxhall Agila (’00 – ’08)
This smart supermini is one of the most dependable models in Vauxhall’s range, and even if something does go wrong, most repairs take less than an average of one hour to fix.
3. Honda HR-V (’98 – ’06)
The Honda has really good reliability form and this model was Honda’s best performing car this year and last. Of all Hondas sold, only 3% have required repairs.
So, there you have it, 3 really reliable and affordable cars. All are available from many used cars dealers and usually for a reasonable price. However here at Ron Skinner & Sons you’ll find our prices to be just that little bit better than the rest.
Right so what about the booby prizes? The prize for the most unreliable cars goes to... Landrover and Mercedes. It just goes to show that it doesn’t always pay to buy the most luxurious or expensive cars on the market.
If you’re looking for a wide variety of used cars at fantastic prices, take a trip to Ron Skinner & Sons or browse online at our superb range of vehicles.
