Rev Up or Relax: Which is Better BORING or EXCITING Cars?
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- Опубліковано 22 січ 2024
- What type of car should you buy - 'Boring and Reliable' or 'Exciting and Stylish'? The CAR WIZARD shares the pros and cons to owning each type from a mechanic's point of view. ➡️ Don't forget to check out @MrsWizardsWays channel for great car related content.
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An LS400 is a classic. I would take that in a second.
And yet the Lexus RX300 is a total pace of crap that costs a fortune to service...
@@davidhollenshead4892 ive owned seven ls400’s. They are all extremely expensive to maintain. Cheap and reliable dont equal each other
Yeah, probably as a weekend toy not a daily driver. I only drive my high mileage 2015 Lexus GS 350 on the weekends. It has 187k miles. I bought it recently for $13k
@@davidhollenshead4892They RX 350 is better. But yeah, as a daily driver, it can get expensive. That's why my daily driver is a 2003 chevy trailblazer with 198k miles 👍
Facts!
$1,000 for a thermostat replacement is too much excitement for me.
Its $15 if you do it yourself
@@3n3ly7m9do you think most people can rip apart the entire front end of an Audi and tear apart the entire timing system to replace a $15 thermostat? Probably not.
@@Tempsho I did, when I hit a deer in my S4 I haven't touched an engine before. You make it sound liek the whole front end coming oof it hard, the headlights are held in with 2 bolts each, same for the bumper, 8 on the coresupport move it out with extended bolts, and done, do what you gotta do, damn you people make this sound like its a nightmare but it only takes 30 mins
@@Tempsho Also you don't have to touch the timing belt, you actually just stick a big wrench or crowbar so you can get to shimmy it off
@@Tempsho Its a B5 a car from 1994-02 its not a brand new Audi where you have to take the whole bumper and 30 bolts apart to just remove a headlight
Boring is fine because saving money on repairs is exciting.
Facts I learned the hard way with my old sports car
Depends on what your budget and preferences are. I'd rather spend $6k on a car that's nice and save an extra $6k for any emergency repairs than spend $30k on a brand new car that isn't all that nice.
no, saving money is not exciting, its a necessity. Being able to spend money on enjoying the limited time you have to live is whats exciting.
Nice
If you're using a mechanic you're never saving money.
"Alex, I will take Boring and Reliable for $500"
Hondas are notorious for rusting here at the 'rust belt'. I had a friend who had a really cool looking Prelude that was mechanically flawless but was held up with paint only. You literally could poke holes in it with your finger.
@@Munakas-wq3gpTrue that, same with a Thunderbird SC or two, one was so good we had to get a donor car and transfer all the goodies, it was worth it.
As the car last longer you will have more time on the road for the car to rust.@@Munakas-wq3gp
Facts I have a 2016 yaris and I hooked it up people laugh at me but I don't care it's a little hatchback put rims lowered tints exhaust intake and I troll with this thing I downgraded from a sports car but it's so comfy and I enjoy this thing everytime im.on.the road
Me too, even if I had won a lottery. I would get a Lexus or Acura, which are great looking and sporty, sharp looking vehicles
Still driving a 2003 Toyota Avalon; bought in 2002 by my uncle when I graduated high school, I drove him to pick it up. I inherited it several years later when he passed away. The most expensive thing is periodic timing belt and water pump service, then I guess maybe when I need to replace tires. It has never left me stranded. Boring is beautiful.
Has the transmission fluid been regularly changed?
darn right..
@@CockatooDude I don't do flushes, but I do a drain and fill every 4th oil change. I usually get somewhere between 4 and 5 quarts out of it.
@@jimsutter2748 Alright that's basically just as good. I was worried since the transmissions in Toyotas aren't indestructible, and will go out if the fluid isn't changed. Recently I went to look at an 04 Avalon and everything seemed fine until I went to drive it and quickly found out that one of the transmission bearings was on its way out. Shame too since the car only had 160k on it.
@@CockatooDude Every 5k for the oil and every 20k all of the other fluids get a drain and fill (or equivalent service, like bleeding the brakes) in the home garage. Overkill, probably, but cheaper than replacing it. I am happy to take it into a professional shop for timing belt/water pump service. My mechanic always asks if I want to sell it every time it comes in for inspection. The car is old enough to drink, but I don't even think it has reached its half life. My maintenance spreadsheet, that I started on it when new, shows that it has been
If you have ever looked at Japanese culture, one thing that is still persistent to this day is to master your profession. You get so good at whatever you dedicate your life to and perfect it. That is why Japanese Cars have the reputation they have today.
what about Japanese cars made in Mexico?
Only if they are made in Japan.
Here in rge UK we have or had several Japanese car makers with factories here.
And it was fairly easy to guess from the build quality where the car was made.
The UK cars were thrown togeather, only the Japanese workers take pride in their jobs.
I think they are better than say American company Mexican made cars because the Japanese do have a reputation on the line and will not accept anything less, but the individual quality isn’t as good because as mentioned the end person making the car doesn’t care. But it depends on if the parts are manufactured in Mexico or just shipped from Japan and assembled in Mexico too.
@Barbarapape my 03 corolla was made in Canada and it's been a solid ride.
I have no idea if the drive train is built in Japan then shipped to Canada for assembly.
Honda had 6,334,825 cars affected by recalls this year making them the #1 in 2023.
I have a accord 2006 with 226,000 miles on ... still going strong ... bought it with 14,000 miles back in the day .... I'll take boring 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Talk about getting your money's worth and hopefully it takes you many more miles
@@jacobeparsels9251 hope so too thank you so much 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I recently purchased a 2005 Toyota Corolla. I don't particularly care for it. It's as exciting as a staff meeting. But I have come to respect it, it does everything competently and well. It's easy to work on and parts are inexpensive. The savings alone on gas mileage is enough to pay half the monthly payment. It's possible it might be the last car I ever buy.😊
Paul that cars gonna go to 400 and counting like me lol.
i owned an 07 coupe with fog lights and a spoiler, had leather seats and a sunroof, was black on black and upgraded the suspension with coilovers, engine brace plus massive overkill swaybars, also got carbon ceramic brakes and michelin tires. Sold it to my friend it still runs with 220k miles.
If Wizard doesn't release a video tomorrow, we know Mrs. Wizard took that personally. 🤣
Hey now...👀
The two door honda coupe hatchback version with the V6 is pretty sporty.
Not sure why anyone would think a LS400 is boring - they are a modern classic at this point - sure not a sports car, not fast or flashy, but still interesting from an engineering perspective, nice to look at, and fantastic to cruise in.
I think it's cool to us nerds who know the real story, and who care for the fact that it aingle-handedly fucked up Mercedes for over a decade. It's a beautiful car, but incredibly understated in it's language. Wildly utilitarian and comfy.
Ignore a leaking power steering suction hose until it floods the alternator that they put under the power steering pump and then let me know how much you like it. LS 400s are pretty good until you treat them like your old Camry.
The newer ones are a bit boring
Because.. it's boring to drive. It's not that it's not flashy - it's that the driving dynamics and experience is boring.
@@AlvinBrinson I'd say "sedate" - not boring - sure if you try to take it at speed on a winding country road it's going to wallow and be generally unpleasant - but that's not what it is for. Otherwise by that standard, the Audi SUV he lists here as "not boring" is in fact also boring, because I've driven plenty of Audi SUV's and they wallow and understeer at least as much as the LS400 (actually you can oversteer the LS400 if you try hard enough), only they also lack the ride refinement and build quality. Not every car has to handle like a Lotus to be engaging.
Don't forget, it's not just about what you want to be seen in, many guys like the driving experience of a sporty car and don't care too much about who's looking at them. Looks are a bonus
100% agree. I bought my 2014 Dodge Challenger RT because I love the power and V8 rumble! The complements on it are a nice bonus. After 11 years of a 2003 Acura TL, I wanted something a little more fun. The Challenger fits the bill! When it inevitably wears out or if my life significantly changes, I'll go back to a boring but reliable Acura.
driving the absolute snot out of whatever slow vehicle you have is imo much more fun than driving a fast car slowly
@@arvilsstraume9304 Guess you have never driven an underpowered Nissan before...
@@arvilsstraume9304There's no fun in driving a 110hp CVT
Sort of offensive to suggest I bought my car for it's imagine and not the driving experience. If the badging was removed it wouldn't make 1 lick of difference because it's not why I bought it.
Hahahah that’s the position I’m in…
I’ve been driving a 2010 Honda Accord LX for the past 10 years.. paid off… maintenance kept up by yours truly… has 197000 miles… just replaced EVERY GASKET and SEAL at 160000…. I’ve been SO BORED driving around in it… buuuuut it’s also pretty cool not having a car payment 😂
I'm a Landcruiser guy. Out of curiosity I checked out a 2004 Lexus LS430. Twenty years old, over 250K miles and it was splendid. I fell in love, handed the guy the money and have been driving the hell out it for the last couple months. Is it "boring"? Well, it ain't sexy or flashy, but I hit 120 MPH on the freeway last week without breaking a sweat. No regrets. None.
Careful with the LS430, I recently got one as well and have spent the last month doing almost only maintenance to it. They are old cars now and need to be treated as such. Seals, wiring, gaskets, timing belts, struts, and bushings should all be checked. The door-lock motors are also known to fail eventually, as are the motors in the steering column. It's worth checking if the rear seats are more comfortable than the driver's seat, as the foam does collapse over time and the driver's seat is the one sat in the most. Additionally, the yaw sensor used for the stability control system is known to fail as well, which can be very expensive if you go OEM but there are Chinese sensors which are made to plug into that socket as well. The power mirrors can fail too, which costs $800 per side for the motor assemblies I think. Finally, it's worth checking the rear subwoofer surround since it does disintegrate due to age, if you have the Mark Levinson system a new sub is around $500. Still, could be worse, could be a Mercedes.
EDIT: I totally forgot to mention this. Just for safety's sake, change the PCV valve too! It will slowly ruin your engine if it has gone bad and cause a bunch of oil leaks from the valve cover gaskets. Speaking of which, those are known to go out eventually as well.
You can refoam the subwoofer for $20 lol
Yes it’s true these cars are getting old! I have an LX470 bought in 2017 that hit 292,000mi this month. Right off the bat the rear tailgate latch, spare tire hitch, front sway endlinks and brackets needed to be redone. Then that spring I DIY’d the brakes. Front hubs were a pain as they’re oldschool packable bearings and every 17mm rotor bolt fought me. Then during the pandemic the AHC finally went. I replaced it with an Old Man Emu kit. Lemme tell ya sawzall of the rear shocks off was a pain in my driveway during summer. Also the torsion bar bolts were super stiff! I undercoat with Surface Shield. It will slow down the rust but that will be the ultimate factor here in the salt belt. Also for almost 2 years I drove the thing with a timing belt 2 teeth off! Felt like it needed 50 more hp. Took another shop to discover the problem. Next up, maybe valve covers especially since every 10mm coilpack is crumbling. Unknown sparkplug history. Still runs whisper quiet. I do full fluid overhaul every other summer and 5,000mi engine oil changes. Enjoy it while ya can!
@@vqdriver Wouldn't you know it, I had the same issue with my timing belt when I went to go change it, it was lined up to the wrong mark (well really the screwhole instead of the mark) by whatever numbnuts did it before, also 2 teeth off. Car ran so much smoother once I corrected it.
@@travissheehan6082 You can, but it's difficult and doesn't always work and the rest of the woofer will still be worn from age.
98 LS is no way near boring looking, it’s elegant, gorgeous and luxurious looking.
its cheap and hideous like everything from the east
You're right, but that's the adult perspective. I think "boring" is used in the sense that, nobody had posters of the LS on their wall as kids lol.
@@BrucifyMe yeah that makes sense you’re right 😂
The "YOU MIGHT JUST GET SLAPPED" absolutely killed me 😂😂😂
I worked for a major car manufacturer for 40 years. I have owned many cars. Japanese, European, and of course domestic. I have owned two LS models, a 98 LS 400 and I currently own a 2003 Lexus LS430 Ultra with 54K original miles. I own several vehicles so it's not a daily driver. Regardless of price, in my opinion the LS 400 /LS430 are probably the best cars every made regardless of price. If you read the history of what Toyota went through to develop the LS you will understand. What makes a car worth the money is how it makes you feel. When I drive my LS 430 I do feel special. Why? I know the brilliant engineering that went into developing this car. To your subscribers, if you find a well looked after LS don't worry about the miles. Buy it! You won't regret it. One last thing. Even though the timing belt has been replaced in my LS430, no where in the owners manual does it mention the timing belt. In fact I have never heard of one breaking. Cheers!!!
100% thrue
The LS was on my list. But I couldnt stomach the interior or the rusting bodies. The Audi A8L offered more leg room, an aluminium body that never degrade, a better suspension and I was able to get the timing belt motor with no direct injection. 370 000 miles so far. Powertrain is still oem as it came out the factory minus the 3 timing belts services .
Once you have a A8 specialist, the cost to own and the repair are not a deal breaker. Upper control arms are weak, but the LS also has that issue with the lower arms so its a toss up
@@Veikra I've never seen a rusty LS and I lived in Canada. As for the A8, there amazing cars. I'm especially a fan of the first Gen.
I've heard the water pump or idler pulley will give out before the cambelt.
I have a UZS186 Toyota Crown Majesta with the 3UZ at 120k kms (74k miles) and it drives like a dream. It's good to know there's something so reliable under the hood.
I'm also very tempted by the LS 430 too. I very nearly went for one but I got a great deal on the Majesta at auction so went with that. I do find myself trying to justify adding an LS 430 to the fleet though haha
@@gsczr1if you ever want to upgrade the LS I have a 1997 Toyota Century for sale which is arguably the best car ever made in the world. Actually have 2 of them, 1 is for sale and 1 I have listed for rent on DriveShare and Turo here in Fort Collins CO if you're ever in the area and want to experience it. Working on starting up a car import business so more and more cars to come. Fun fact about the Century is to even be considered to work at the factory that builds them in Japan you have to work for 10 years at Toyota so you're getting the best of the best Toyota craftsman with these cars.
I might have to make a road trip to the Wizards shop sometime and show him the Century for a video I'm about 8 hours away so not too bad of a drive.
I'm jealous of everyone who lives near your garage. Your honesty shows the high character of everyone there.
I live about 1,500 miles from his shop, and I'm sorely tempted to go there for routine maintenance on my 2010 Furd Excursion. (had a coralla that got totalled, and during the carpocalypse a buddy offered me that as a replacement at a price I could afford, and it's served me well so far at 126,000 miles on the clock).
its not about being seen. its about driving satisfaction. driving fun.
Not if you are seen being standing at the side of the road waiting to be flat bed towed every week???
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq there are sports cars that don't need to be fixed all the time if you take extra good care of them. maintain them better than a daily driver, etc.
Agreed.
But you never see them on the side of the road....
@@victorravn3075
I daily a 2000 LS400 and love every minute of it. Don’t find the driving experience boring at all. I’d choose it every time over newer cars with tech I don’t want or need.
1UZ for life.☝🏼
Peace Wizard.
The LS400 is ahead of it’s time
If you want a boring but will outlast the apocalypse is the Made in Japan or the VIN starts with a “J”, a 2007-2012 Toyota Yaris or any Toyota Yaris that has the J VIN! My Grandmother passed away back in 2019 but she needed a car in 2012; I found her a 2007 Toyota Yaris Sedan. She loved that car so much that when she was unable to drive anymore, she demanded my Mother drive her around in her Yaris. To this day, we still have that Yaris!
I've seen plenty of Nummi or kentucky built Toyotas with 500,000 plus miles.
Circumstantial evidence
Keep the Yaris!
Cars , made in Japan are simply the best👍
I can hear a certain mechanic yelling far in the distance. Yelling about “endless money pits” and “buy a Toyota”.
Probably the type of guy that drives a 94 celica.
The preacher is a very smart man, I think the Honda is a beautiful car 🚗
Inline 4 is the best engine for regular people
that Lexus model in the thumbnail is legendary lol
I owned a 99 LS400 with 160k miles and even then, it was the smoothest, most quiet vehicle I've ever had - even compared to several brand new cars. I only have had Toyota and Lexus since.
I bought a 2012 Lexus ES 350 several years ago. It had 141,000 miles when I bought it and now has 198,000. Nothing has gone wrong. Great car.
It is possible to buy fun and reliable. I drive my 30 year old Miata still that I bought new in 1993.
Yes! I daily a 2004 Miata. It's the most fun car I have ever owned. Definitely not the fastest!! And it's very reliable.
I believe that all of my Mazdas are better in every way than ANY of my german, english or italian cars.
To bad you gotta to turn in your man card when you drive a Miata 😂
@@oldrrocrnothing exciting about a 4 banger lawnmower that’s barely pushing 90+ hp. Not a real sports car, grow up
@@lancairw867 Some of us don't require such validation of our manhood.
A boring car helps you get away with doing exciting things.
Another problem with old (20+ year old) vehicles: Finding repair parts, especially for "little things" like window switches. Major headache.
At least you can get it cheap from yard/eBay/parts car. For new car, you can’t find it in yard, and expect dealer charge $100 per window switch
A lot of people try to impress people they don't care about with a car they can't afford.
Buying things you don't need, with money you don't have, to impress people you don't like.
I had a grandpa car when my kids were toddlers. It was a 2002 Buick LeSabre, best car ever!! Sold it with 260K and 7 years of ownership.
I have had 2 Audi and 1 bmw and everything you said was correct.
Never again
I currently drive a 4Runner
Self flagellation can be fun....Audi and BMW style....
Smart man! 👍
For first owners, BMW/Audis/etc are truly amazing cars. But that's just the problem - they're only meant to last about as long as a first owner would keep them. It's when they're bought used at 70-100k+ miles that they become a nightmare.
My 08 Accord with 337K miles still runs like new.
When I was an enthusiastic young driver, I'm 52, what mattered to me was sensation and speed. The 2nd car I bought was a low mile '86 Honda Civic Si, and 2 years later, a Euro-grey-market 1982 Porsche 928s. What a sensational car that was. The Honda brought its own level of fun while being absolutely reliable, and the Porsche, well, not quite as reliable, but still rock solid.
By 2006, and many many cars later I'm married and all I want is a low profile, dead reliable car as my daily. A 2006 Honda Accord EX-L V6 sedan it was, I also bought a 2006 Pontiac GTO 6-speed (I still have it). I learned very quickly the virtues of reliability, durability, comfort, and value. To this day, if a person asks me what my opinion is concerning reliability, I will yell it from the balcony all day long, a 2006 or 2007 Honda Accord with either engine.
I currently have 2 dailys at my homes, a 2012 Honda Accord EX-L V6 coupe and a 2017 EX-L Navi V6 coupe. Unfortunately, the 12 and 17 aren't quite at the level of quality my '06 was, I still like them. 2023 Lexus ES350....now that's a reliable car with all the toys and comfort.
I had the same '06 Accord, V6. It was extremely reliable. The radio quit working after about 16 years. I babied the transmission, with a drain and fill with each oil change. I replaced things ahead of time like the radiator, thermostat, belts, etc. This car never broke down on me until one day, after owning it about 16 years, the harmonic balancer broke loose, destroying the timing belt. The engine was toast.
Thank you for being a reminder of how easily you can go off the rails into v6 accord life
@@dclaet1135I have the same car my harmonic balancer broke loose luckily Touchwood it did not cause any other damage. 250000 km still going strong but no air conditioning, needs a new air conditioning compressor. 900 dollars for a new compressor with only one year warranty or 18 to 1900 dollars with a 3-year warranty. I live in Melbourne Australia so it sucks during summer time
@@mickluke9228 Well, if you were here in California, I would give you my compressor before it's towed to the junk yard. You are so lucky that your engine survived. I thought that I had replaced all the things that could destroy an engine if they failed but I had never heard of a harmonic balancer. It sounds like a musical instrument to me. So, I replaced my 06 Accord V6 with an 06 Avalon Limited and I'm a happy camper. My best to you from California.
I'll take the silver lexus
If you are poor, you need a simple reliable car so that you have money for shelter and food, rather than spending money on car repairs.
If you are rich, a simple reliable car allows you to save money for other uses (vacations, kids, friends, charity, hobbies) that bring more happiness than a car.
Whether you are rich or poor, a simple reliable car usually saves time and avoids aggravation.
Think of a car as a tool rather than a toy.
That’s what people say who have given up on life 😂
That's the thing it's not just a tool, not to an enthusiast anyway. Most people see their cars like a refrigerator or oven, a big appliance, but to some people it's not just about its utility, it's about expression, community and fun. Every hobby looks like a waste of money from the outside and cars are no different. Saving money on basic transportation is fine but anyone that spends a large amount of time in their car would most certainly want a Mercedes over an Accord
@@lancairw867nah, once you have a career, family, mortgage other things take priority and you can't afford the time or money required for an unreliable car.
I drove a Lincoln MKZ hybrid until it had almost 370,000 miles on it. All of the regular maintenance was done at the appropriate times, front suspension, changed when needed, tires, and some miscellaneous buttons or handles in the car replaced when they broke. If you maintain your vehicle based on the manufacturers recommendations, even the most unreliable car can last a long time.
Most service manuals give up at 120,000 miles😂
Wizard, that's a disservice to the Accord. What you don't mention is that the Accord is actually fun to drive. Having 160HP, and 5 speeds auto that Honda manufacture themselves. It didn't make it V8 fast, but it made it faster than other econoboxes.
It still had Honda's double wishbone up front, that gave it a better grip than the standard struts. This also resulted with a very reaponsive steering.
These mid sized sedan are not small either. The trunk is large, and since you can fold the chairs, you can carry long items. I did carry 8 ft long 2 by 4 in it...
If you ask me the 7th gen accord is the best car ever made. It gives you more than the average mid-size sedan, with Toyota level reliability.
But remember that these things are around 20 years old, and the maintenance items will fail. And you cannot use aftermarket parts on many of those or the car starts to feel like something is wrong. These parts include struts, brakes, AC compressor, motor mounts, control arms etc. So parts are not Audi expensive but they are not GM cheap either.
I drive my old saab 9-5 from 2005.. its not new, not cool, but drives very good, takes me everywhere. I dont care if its dirty. But the car is fast, not ugly, its an ok car. Perfect car to use for everything.
Boring is great. I reserve my excitement for things that matter.
In the UK,we know the Jaguar S-Type for having Lincoln LS underpinnings but the truth is that they’re both Fords,the components having Ford parts numbers.I think there was also a Volvo on the same platform.
Lies, nonsense and propaganda. Read up on the development of the S-Type and Lincoln LS to see where you went wrong.
Love this selection of cars. Super cars, sports cars, and just ordinary daily drivers. IMO those Honda Accords are even better with the manual transmission. I was lucky enough to find a 2005 Honda CR-V with the 5 speed manual transmission this past summer and it is my current daily driver. I love it!
I own a 2007 Honda Accord, grey (looks similar to the one in the video) with 195k miles......its automatic, so I do YEARLY transmission fluid flushes that the manual trans is not so "delicate"....so yes, I agree.
@@MrNicks-gn8jc why do you change trans fluid every year? That seems like a waste.
Probably from overheating the fluid. I will never own another Honda or Toyota...@@cutliss
@@cutlisshe probably does a drain and fill. A flush every year is overkill. Those autos were known to have issues.
I thought an older Lexus would be good for my teens and was blown away that an acceptable LS400 now costs more than what I bought mine used for 20 years ago in mint condition.
Prelude is a much cooler looking 90s Honda, aged well imo
I just saw a mint Prelude 10 minutes ago. This is your sign lol
It’s crazy most used lexus like 2007-15 cost more now than they did 5 years ago. I remember seeing tons of nice used cars under 10k back then
My ‘04 Accord has 263k miles and is still going strong 😎!
I currently own and drive a beautiful 2017 Lexus ES350 with less than 60k miles .. purchased 2 years ago with only 25k miles. I work at a dealership and have a perfect opportunity to purchase a one owner, well kept Florida 😊2005 Mercedes S430 with only 91k miles for less than $3k dollars. I will certainly keep my Lexus just in case.
I have the a4 version of that b5 audi. Mine has the 1.8t engine which I’ve spent maybe $2500 in it and it makes 400 to all 4 wheels reliably. I love it so much
4 Cylinder honda Civic with 245k has served me well and is still serving me well .
If reliability and a long life are the most important factors then buying a car designed and made in Japan
is your best option.
Problem is that Japanese cars are now made in many parts of the world that lack the pride and dedication
that the people of Japan have in their work.
There are no such things as Monday or Friday car there, if only the rest of the workers in the world showed
the same attitude to their work.
The Japanese vehicle design philosophy is also to strive for a car that can be assembled using a low skilled workforce - i.e. the car is designed for ease of manufacture/assembly. This enables the car to assembled in countries, where low skilled labour is plentiful without affecting the quality of the finished product. An example includes Corollas made in South Africa - where the cars were deemed the equal of Corollas made in Japan.
Years ago many brands were assemnled in South Africa, Mazda's 323 was assembled there and rebadged
as a Sao Penza, the bulid quality was terrible and it was made with inferior muck metal parts the didn't last.
The Honda's built here in the UK were not as good as the ones from Japan with poor panel gaps, squeeks
and rattles, i only bought one and took it back.@@georgebettiol8338
@@georgebettiol8338Mexican Toyotas are known to be far inferior to Japanese Toyotas
I worked at a treatment center 43 miles from a burb i lived in, not often but sometimes our area would get snow and my AWD Impreza would show its quality. I would have to ferry myself and three coworkers on these days... literally passing hiway patrol at 50 mph on state roads haha. I had bought it used for 2200.🚙
Great video. One of my previous cars was a 2009 MB C300. On top of the more expensive maintenance cost, in the time I owned it required 2 thermostat replacements, auxiliary air pump, vacuum pump, leaky cam plug, one coil pack, and an airbag due to no horn function. A real money pit. I now drive boring, 2019 Silver Toyota Avalon. Looking forward for many trouble free years.
Ford owners think the same way, I'm always amazed at Ford truck owners because they will never admit that there truck is a giant money pit and then they upgrade to a bigger money pit. Would you want to own 1, one hundred thousand dollar truck or 100, one thousand dollar trucks?
Dont need exciting as boring is beautiful!!!
I have 2 71 Datsun 521 trucks owning one for 46 yrs while the other for 28yrs. They are extremely simple, reliable, easy to work on and highly modifiable. My total to cost for both is $2300. Im 65 and really done as far as interest with new cars. To ensure their preservation, I both bicycle commute and perform long distance using human power in all kinds of weather.
Scotty Kilmer loves his 1994 Celica 😅
Ah yes Scotty, the king of clickbait but, I still chuckle every time I watch him!
Many years ago my uncle gave me a tour of the car he was working on for a client, the preachers'
'59 Chrysler 300, black w/ red interior. That certainly wasn't boring,but did make a statement.
In the UK, Land Rover, or any of it's derivatives are vehicles to avoid, and customer satisfaction is pretty low.
When (and not if) they break down, spares are difficult to get hold of, and Insurance is high as so many are stolen.
Function not fashion , that’s my motto
I just bought another 2005 Lexus Gs430 after going a few years without one! I can 💯 vouch for the older lexus reliability. This is my 6th Lexus over the years. There is nothing like the reliability and comfort of a GS or LS !!
Love my 18 GS!
I have a 08 kia spectra. it has been a great car for me. In my opinion, this is my true first car as I have repaired it, everything I'm learning in college has lined up with it. I really miss my 89 Dodge Dynasty. It was such a wild experience driving it every day. it was slow, it was bad on snow and it was rusting apart. removing all of that and just driving it changed my world. i never remembered the drive, it was more like sit on the couch, listen to 80s music. standing up walking inside. it was the first car i learned the name of. 6 year old me called it a dodge dinosaur
LOL when the Wizard says @ 4:28 "its like driving a toaster oven"
Great video @car wizard, highlighting we all have different wants and needs in our motoring lives!
I love this channel. Good mechanic and a great person.
3rd brake light (cab) on my 2014 RAM 1500 went out....Dealer estimate was $69. Decided $6.29 for 2 bulbs and removing two Phillips head screws was easier...Total driveway time was about 2min 30 sec.
Thank you, Mr Wizard. Very good presentation and evaluation.
The UCF21 Lexus LS 400 is my favorite car ever
Yes , dream car
One note one the buick lesabre, the transmissions are mid. If you install a transmission cooler before it starts bucking and slipping it will last a bit longer. Ideal temp is about 170F. If you have the time and money install a reman/upgraded one from spprecision
Great video. It's the ultimate car guide and should be called ''' THE TRUTH ABOUT CARS''. Some of us have lived through this experience and learnt the hard way. I wish I was explained the ins and outs of owning different types of cars/brands at the start of my journey.
I’m only 25 and I drive a 2004 Honda Accord daily. My back up/project is a 1994 Honda accord. Best cars I’ve ever had. It always hits me when I realize they are both 20 and 30 years old.. I’m always tinkering in them and it never upsets me knowing I have the knowledge and skill to keep them running. I’m also too poor to afford nice mechanics like you guys haha
Great video Mr Wizard, thank you for your informative video again and be nice to Mrs Wizard
As a long time Toyota and Honda Technician. I will take the Lexus and I will happily enjoy it.
Exactly. That Lexus is brilliant. I wouldn't call it necessarily fun or sporty, but it's definitely not boring in any way. It's exciting to even look at.
I own 2 Lexus's and will never look back after driving GM all my life. Both have the NA V-6's and have Mobil-1 stacked to the ceiling in my basement and change 6 months or 5k miles. Big follower of The Car Care Nut.
We do both, my wife has a sensible, small, Japanese hatchback which sips fuel and is perfect for around town. I plumped for my second, German coupé, but new, with warranty and plenty of power 😊
1k for thermostat replacement? Bring me that toaster oven car !!!
Thanks car wizard for ur encite and recommendations on all cars u keep us from some of the worst of cars and lead us to some of the best cars, keeping us from nightmare experiences that we neither want or need if we just listen, ps,thanks for your knowledge!!!!
The 2000 to 2006 SS Monte Carlo was sporty looking and had the 3800 engine (RA and Supercharged) and cheap to fix. Decent compromise between reliability and sporty.
A Honda Civic Si or a Golf Gti are great choices for both reliability and fun
Civic Si, yes.
Golf GTI, nope. those 2.0T engines while feel amazing, don't last. Same goes for a lot of the general VW stuff around the engine.
Vw and reliable..... Rigggght 😂
I was going to get a 2024 Civic SI, until I test drove it. It felt underpowered and did not drive as nice as my 2010 manual GTI. I poured some money into my GTI to get the things fixed that are known to be problems (water pump, oil rake, timing chain, valve carbon removal) at its age and mileage instead. Hopefully I’m good for a few years.
VW absolutely suck for reliability.
I agree with the Civic SI not so much with a Golf GTI. The only way I would get a Golf is a TDI engine before 2005.
I'll take the boring car to and from work every day If that means that it's reliable, and I can use the small fortune I save for more important things like paying off my mortgage, saving and investing, taking a vacation here and there, and other important things. Do I like exciting cars and nice ones? Sure, but I have priorities. Thanks for the video as usual 👍
Amazing video with pragmatic and insightful automotive shopping 👍and the Accord and the LS400 are the ultimate examples of the type. 🖖🙏
Toyota cars may be slightly more reliable than Honda, but a Honda is usually slightly more fun.
guys...that chevy 4.3L V6, I have a 2005 Silverado with original trans and engine at 480,000 miles, got in 2008 with 26,000 on it, it's a work truck and has been abused. Still going, still used as a back up vehicle.
I have a 2010 S63 AMG, The rotors will last quite a while, to be fair - (unless one is doing something looney). Best bet - if you're shopping for a Benz with the 15" front brakes.... make sure they've been done when you buy it so you can budget for the inevitable replacement. One should buget about $3-4K/Yr for maintenance on the higher end Mercedes. That'll make the surprises hurt much less :D
If you were driving your two and a half ton V12 sedan down the Autobahn at 160+ mph you'd want to know you've got those enormous brakes at the ready.
Just got to love those older Lexus's. What an engine. Cheers from the UK.
OMG , YEEES
They go well in jetboats in New Zealand...especially a pair of them!
"Designed for speed, versatility comfort and safety, the Wairaurahiri Jet is a custom built Alloy jet boat with a twin Lexus V8s, 2 x 212 Hamilton Jet units.
Built by Mackraft
Engine: Twin Lexus V8 - 2 x 212 Hamilton Units
Our boat is the only boat operating on the Wairaurahiri River that has twin engines giving our boat a 200% safety and has been custom built to handle the rugged conditions of this remote adventure"
One thing not discussed is that you should factor in how many miles you drive in per year into what you purchase. I drive 7K miles a year and do my own wrenching; so I like old Subaru's with the EJ25 that are easy to pull out the engine, change the head gaskets and motor bearings and timing belt. If I drove 2 or 3 times what I drive mileage-wise I would definitely have gravitated towards a Lexus or Toyota.; especially if I couldn't turn my own wrench.
I drive a 1988 Subaru xt with a ea82, so fun to work on! i have to reseal it because my rtv skill are not the best 😮
The voice of reason. I really like this channel! I drive an 04 dodge ram 5.7 and it seems like you could build half the truck from an auto parts store and the other half from Amazon/ebay. I don’t have trouble finding much.
ive done that chassis. S4 4.2 V8. timing chains, valve adjusters. all kinds of work. done right and done the first time. Good stuff
I believe I have the same K24A4 engine in my 03' Element as that Accord. 215K miles and it still runs well. In my 30K miles 5 years of ownership I have never had the engine not start or break down. Most issue have had is an alternator fail. If the engine or the transmission fails I will be replacing them, as they are not particularly expensive. Awesome series of power trains.
With the Elements I've owned, the vehicle's suspension is what always seems to be wearing out prematurely. I've found that you can save a lot of money if you learn to do those things yourself: struts, ball joints, tie rods, control arms, etc. And yep, those K24 engines are awesome... just make sure you adjust those valves if you haven't already. It's not all that hard to do yourself. My first Element had about the same miles as yours and I got a "burnt valve" because they were never manually adjusted. The exhaust valves have a tendency to get tight, and if they get too tight you can burn up a valve.
@@anthonyrice8528 Yes, I have had the exact same findings with the suspension. Have had to replace multiple parts already. Not very expensive if done myself.
Thank you for this; you, sir, are a voice of truth and reason in a world that sometimes seems to have lost it's mind. I've recently thinned down my fleet for the exact reasons you mentioned. The 2006 F350 V10 6-speed is now living in Montana due to no longer serving my needs, and the 1998 Ford Explorer Sport with the transplanted 363 V-8 and 5-speed has also found a new home in rural Florida. Living in Atlanta traffic, I've realized that the sheer volume of incompetent drivers, increasing at an exponential rate, has resulted in an environment where the primary choice of vehicle has to be considered in how well it can idle in stop-and-go traffic and how well it dodges road debris and broken windshields. The roads of my youth are gone here. . .At 64 years old, my sole transportation is now a 2013 Honda Accord V6 with a new timing belt and 120K miles on the odometer. With a little luck, it will last me until I can hopefully emigrate to Japan and find a used cabover utility flatbed and a gray jumpsuit and hardhat (maybe a "Gaijin" can fit in over there)!
Don't even try, Gaijin cannot integrate over there. I mean you can if you don't mind constantly getting talked down to and made fun of when you're not looking.
@@CockatooDude Sounds pretty much like the entire state of Georgia now, so I should be used to it (minus the crime).
Excellent explanation and lessons in logic here about buying and living with cars. I think one is best having 2 cars - one modern for daily and old simple classic for the weekends.and investment.
enjoyed this one!
It's crazy that the customer didn't have the timing belt serviced w/ the thermostat! I've had several Audi's / VW's and whenever the front of the car has to come off for something like this, I always have them replace everything that may break in the future while it's apart. Even if it's not broken yet, I guarantee it will especially when moving around all the plastic bits that get brittle taking it apart...
That customer entrusted his car to the shop he initially chose...
thinking they would do everything that normally would be done "while they were in there".
It's not up to the customer to know about thermostat replacement....
That shop failed..it did not replace the thermostat.
That's why the car is in Wizard's shop..
Such a sweet S4 ...
Bought a 94 f150 last year, it truly has been constant tinkering and replacing worn out parts, but I do really enjoy driving it. I do the work myself. thankfully the engine (4.9), transmission, and other big cost items are in great shape. I actually purchased it because of the wizards wise words about the reliability of the inline 6 engine. And because it was really cheap for a working truck
Can't afford Honda & Toyota, nor can I afford sky-high repair bills ... I settled on a car with the Buick 3800 Series III V6. Exciting? No. But at 120k or so miles, with proper maintenance, it should be dead-reliable for years to come..
Currently in the process of nearly completely giving up using my car unless I really need to. Most of them are money pits no matter how well you take care of them. Taking the city bus in my city is way cheaper and less stressful, and doesn’t take much longer than using a car that loses value the instant you buy it.
Bussing is communism, be an American and drive yourself around. LIVE FREE
Here's how you workaround the 'boring' Accord. I have a '12 Accord Coupe, manual transmission. It looks great and I still get head-turns, as its 2-door and sleek and red in color and looks awasome. But then I also get the fun factor of a manual tranny. And it's got that legendary Honda reliability. win-win-win. Unfortunately, Honda doesn't make Accord coupes or Accords with manuals anymore, so that sucks...
My parents have a black 2 door 2012 Accord coupe. We just replaced the headlight assemblies and now it looks like a brand new car. I think that particular year was the best styling Honda ever came up with. They still get compliments on it all the time when they're out and about :)
@@anthonyrice8528 For sure, that 8th gen Accord Coupe looks incredible, I still get lots of looks. I need to replace the headlights too (they're yellowing), and then it'll look brand new again.
@@anthonyrice8528 fyi where did you get the headlights? OEM or China? And did you do the replacement yourself? Need to take the bumper out so I'm worried abou that
@@rebeltvr6046I got the headlight assemlies as a Christmas present, and we installed them ourselves. Bought 'em on Amazon, "JSBOYAT" aftermarkets for about $150 for both. Even though they aren't OEM they still look great. There are a couple good instructional videos on UA-cam... although it was still quite a job, a bigger one than I thought it would be. It really helps if you can have someone help you too.... All in all though, it was well worth it. If I were you I'd go for it! (And don't worry about tearing the bumper, it'll pop out of the brackets pretty easily once you get all the clips out, and the one bolt off under the wheel well.)
@@rebeltvr6046I bought aftermarket assemblies on Amazon as a Christmas present. They were about $150 for both sides. They look great, but I'd still go OEM if you have the money. It's a pretty big job- quite a bit more work than I thought it would be- so it really helps if you have someone else around to give you an extra hand. There are a couple good intstructional videos on UA-cam. And don't worry too much about getting that bumper off... once you get all the clips out and take out the little bolt under each side the wheel wells, it'll pop right out of the brackets. Best of luck to ya, good sir
Good comparison with cars is watches. You want the Honda Accord or Gshock? It’s gonna be reliable, simple and to the point and get the job done. You want an Audi S4 or Grand Seiko. It’s gonna be flash, have a lot of innovative tech, and have advanced complications. It will however be a more expensive point of entry and require servicing and upkeep.
Excellent explanation. I know both types of people. Some it's all about style and image projection regardless if it breaks down every month. Then on the other extreme, the people demand reliability of 200k miles with only Routine/Preventive maintenance. A wine for every taste.
I had an A4, and had exciting transmission faults, check engine lights, airbag lights, broken plastic hoses.
I drive a Toyota now.
Ex Audi bmw Merc owners are all current jap car owners 🤣
Alternate suggestion that works for me: Exciting boring cars. My 2007 S550 (W221) does all the things a Lexus LS does, and more, does them better, but is also a much more interesting driving and ownership experience, while being far less temperamental than an old Audi. 2+ years of ownership and no regrets at all.
Just you wait.....a little longer....
@@JohnSmith-yv6eq Well I had an 04 E55 that I loved but was totaled. Now I have a 2014 E63S which would be the "scariest" of them all. So far so good there, too. I am totally DIY which does keep any costs down significantly.
This is a great video! I have worked with cars (after sales) for many years and a lot of people don´t realise that cars are different. They expect a 10-15 year old luxury car to be as easy to fix as a simple low budget model. Then when they get the price estimate to fix the problems they get very upset at the shop but in reality it´s they who bought the wrong car for there needs...
I have a 2009 Toyota Camry that is my commuter, and a 2003 CLK 55 AMG Mercedes. The point is I know both cars, do my own work on them for the most part, and do preventative maintenance, etc. They both are running great.
I understand that if I could only have one, OF COURSE it would be the Toyota. I think people buy cars (like the Audi S4) and really don't realize how bad things can go. Even Grimes in the last video talked about the Mercedes M113 and how it could go 400k with light maintenance. Some people just judge a book by its cover.