Most Reliable Cars

You'll be surprised who is on the list of the top 5 most reliable cars, according to the most recent J.D. Power & Associates Vehicle Dependability Study.

Top 5 most reliable cars
1. Buick
1. Lexus
3. Cadillac
4. Mercury
5. Honda

That study looked at the number of problems reported by 53,000 original owners of 2004-model-year cars to see how well they held up over time. Can you believe that 3 out of the 5 most reliable cars are American made? I thought Toyota built a decent car...where is it?

I have a buddy who always is negative towards American cars because of the reputation they've had in the past. He thinks that foreign cars run better and last longer than their American counterparts. To a certain extent, he's right, but as you can see from this study American cars are getting better and many surpass their foreign counterparts. Ever hear of Mercedes Benz? Seven Mercedes-Benz vehicles are among the least reliable vehicle according to the Consumer Reports reliability survey. So we should think about a few things when it comes to money:

1. Don't rely on reputation: Do your research and find the best built car for the best value. I've seen advertisements for Chrylers with lifetime powertrain warranties!

2. Keep reliability in mind when it comes to resale: If you're the type who gets bored of cars every few years, keep the reliability data in mind. Reliable cars obviously have a much better resale value and you won't lose much from depreciation.

3. Do your research: Although this particular survey showed that American cars are very reliable, it could be an anomaly. You'll need to look at several sources to determine the most reliable cars.