Toyota, Honda vehicles hold up well-- survey

New-car reliability is one thing, but how well will your car hold up three, five, even 10 years from now? On average, Toyota and Honda vehicles age best while those made by Volkswagen fare worst, according to new survey information from Consumer Reports. For the first time, Consumer Reports has reported on the reliability of vehicles built in the past 10 model years (19972006). In addition, Consumer Reports has also identified vehicles that are most prone to specific problems to give usedcar buyers more information than ever when making a purchase decision. Detailed Reliability ratings of 248 makes and models can be found in the April issue of Consumer Reports magazine, available March 6 wherever magazines are sold, or by logging in at http://www.consumerreports.org/. Among 10-year-old vehicles, owners of Japanese cars report the fewest problems overall. Toyota, Honda, and Subaru lead the way with an average of 65, 89, and 90 problems per 100 vehicles reported, respectively. The average of all 10-year-old vehicles is 132 problems per 100 vehicles. Of the domestic 10-year-old vehicles, those from Ford (including Lincoln and Mercury) remain most reliable, at about 120 problems per 100 vehicles. Ten-year-old vehicles from GM and Chrysler are nearly neck and neck with about 160 problems per 100 vehicles. Volkswagen (including Audi) owners reported about 175 problems per 100 vehicles, by far worse than any other brand. The oldest Korean vehicles (eight years old) from Hyundai (including Kia) that CR has sufficient reliability data for are problematic, faring worse than all domestics and half of some European brands. Newer models, however, show improvements. Of all six-year-old vehicles -the age at which most vehicles are resold, the 2001 Lexus GS300 was ranked least problematic, with just 25 problems per 100 vehicles. Worst overall was the 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio with 194 problems per 100 vehicles. Below is a breakdown of the best and worst sixyear-old models by the manufacturer's nationality.

Of all six-year-old vehicles -- the age at which most vehicles are resold-- Consumer Reports found the 2001 Lexus GS300 was ranked least problematic, with just 25 problems per 100 vehicles.