Rank the used car under $5000 in order of reliability?

[yomister]

-GM W-body car from 2001-2 (can someone advise me on whether or not some w-body cars from GM's sub-brands are more reliable then the rest?)
-Hyundai accent from 2003
-Ford Focus from 2003

If possible, please include a reason for your choices

[ES_Revenge]

I'd same GM, Ford, Hyundai.

These are pretty different cars. The Accent is an econobox sub-compact POS. The Focus an economy small car, and the W-body is a full-size, large car...

So strange group you have there anyway.

As for one W-Body being any better than the next, I doubt it. The Pontiac Grand Prix looks the best inside and out though, the rest are either boring (Regal, Century, Impala) or ugly (Monte Carlo) IMO. I'd stay away from the Century and the base versions of the GP, Impala, and Monte because they will use the 3100 or 3400 which is not enough power for these cars. Stick with the L36 or L67 3800 motors

[yomister]

Shoot... how to you change the title? I just noticed that it should be "reliability" instead of reliable

Well, the reason that list is a bit messed up is because i only looking for a basic A to B transport and the size of the car does not matter at all. All that concerns me is the level of maintenance that i would have to do on the car.

[onecoolloser]

How to change title: Edit -> Go Advanced -> Title: _______

[VivienM]

-GM W-body car from 2003 (can someone advise me on whether or not some w-body cars from GM's sub-brands are more reliable then the rest?)

Where are you finding 2003 GM W bodies for $5000?

[VivienM]

As for one W-Body being any better than the next, I doubt it. The Pontiac Grand Prix looks the best inside and out though, the rest are either boring (Regal, Century, Impala) or ugly (Monte Carlo) IMO. I'd stay away from the Century and the base versions of the GP, Impala, and Monte because they will use the 3100 or 3400 which is not enough power for these cars. Stick with the L36 or L67 3800 motors

IMO, the Grand Prix looks the worst on the inside... at least if we're talking the 97-03 model.

Intrigue is the nicest (styling/interior-wise), but that 3.5L Shortstar is a bit more of an unknown (and is likely to cost way more to maintain than the good ol' pushrods)...

3100/3400s have those pesky LIM gasket issues, too...

[yomister]

I didn't realize that they cost more than 5k. I edited the years, but i'm not really looking at specifically that date. The dates are there just for reference

[ES_Revenge]

IMO, the Grand Prix looks the worst on the inside... at least if we're talking the 97-03 model.

Wow crazytalk! :P LOL

Seriously the 97-03 interior is way better than the 04+ interior. Better materials, better looking, better all around. In fact I'd have to say of all the W-bodies since 97, the 97-03 GP interior is the best of them...

Intrigue is the nicest (styling/interior-wise), but that 3.5L Shortstar is a bit more of an unknown (and is likely to cost way more to maintain than the good ol' pushrods)...

Again, I have to disagree with the first part, but the LX5 was a good engine, they just didn't use it very long. I don't think there are any problem areas so it should be very reliable. Though I can see that parts for it, if ever needed, would probalby cost more given it's limited run production...

[VivienM]

Wow crazytalk! :P LOL

Seriously the 97-03 interior is way better than the 04+ interior. Better materials, better looking, better all around. In fact I'd have to say of all the W-bodies since 97, the 97-03 GP interior is the best of them...

The 97-03 also has the old-school-materials turning stalk (compare with the Regal, which got the "new" more-solid-seeming one), an ANALOG odometer, a hideous instrument cluster, the tacky tacky tacky Pontiac-style buttons from the late 90s (compare Grand Am vs Alero, same deal), etc.

The 04+ interior is ... not great, but a lot better.

Again, I have to disagree with the first part, but the LX5 was a good engine, they just didn't use it very long. I don't think there are any problem areas so it should be very reliable. Though I can see that parts for it, if ever needed, would probalby cost more given it's limited run production...

Parts would cost more... and so would labour. e.g. compare alternator replacement on the LX5 versus L36. I read some post somewhere once by somebody who paid $800 to get the alternator replaced... and when you look at the instructions in the service manual, the 4-5 hours of labour he was charged make perfect sense.

GM's OHC engines generally seem like servicing nightmares. The Lambdas are going to be even worse, I think....

[VivienM]

I didn't realize that they cost more than 5k. I edited the years, but i'm not really looking at specifically that date. The dates are there just for reference

For 5K, you're probably looking at about a 2000? Depends if you're looking at ex-fleet 3.4 Impalas or fully loaded Intrigue GLSses or Regals...

[onecoolloser]

Ex-Police Interceptor

[yomister]

So do you guys all say that the w-body is most reliable of the 3 even if its 2-3 yrs older than the rest?

[VivienM]

So do you guys all say that the w-body is most reliable of the 3 even if its 2-3 yrs older than the rest?

Well, there are a few reasons to favour the W body, reliability-wise:
a) it's a car that, when new, cost twice as much as the others
b) the W body powertrains, with the exception of the Intrigue Shortstar, have been around forever (L36 3800 Series II, 3400, 4T65-E, etc. are all well-known, well-established, and the couple issues they have are well-documented)
c) with the possible exception of the Grand Prix and fleet Impalas, W bodies are typically purchased by more mature, sedate, older people, so the cars are likely to have been much better maintained.

It's also worth noting that, in Ontario at least, the W bodies will be much cheaper to insure. If you're subject to the penis tax, then insurance cost is more important than just about anything else.

[kbjy11]

the intake manifold gasket on the GM 3.4L is a pain in the arse...

MIne went at around 80k, failed again at 200k.

Huge job to replace, about a $700-$1000 job depending where you go. Definitely ask the seller about this repair as it happens on all the 3.4L engine.

[NefCanuck]

Since no one mentioined the Focus, I figured that I would chime in here.

By 2003 most of the Focus major failings had been addressed either with redesigned parts or "goodwill" gestures by FoMoCo (ex: fuel pump and front springs covered by extended warranties)

If you're loking at a 2003, it may be close to the mileage by which they recommend replacing the timing belt (120,000km IIRC) so factor in a new one if it hasn't already been done (It's also recommended to replace the waterpump at that point when everything is apart already)

That's all I can really offer on the Focus ATM.

NefCanuck