The 2008 Beetle is button-cute, yes, but expensive electronic problems could be in an owner's future. Below: we rank the five used cars you should avoid (alongside better choices from the same category).
Even though auto manufacturers have greatly boosted quality and reliability, buying a used car can still be a process fraught with anxiety. In addition to worrying about the honesty of the seller, you also want to be sure to avoid vehicles with poor reliability records.To help with that, MoneyWatch looked at owner surveys to see which cars look like trouble, focusing on five separate categories. The focus was on 2008 models - the year ranked in the latest dependability study from J.D. Power and Associates. Buying a 3-year-old used car also lets you shop after the biggest new-car depreciation already has taken place: Because used car prices have risen so sharply this year, 1- and 2-year-old used models can make worse financial sense than buying new.
5 Used Cars to Avoid (plus Alternatives)
