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What Used Cars Have the Least Problems?

used cars with the least problems to buy in Indianapolis

Used Cars with the Least Problems to Buy in Indianapolis

Any customer in Indiana’s used car market is searching for a vehicle with the least problems to drive safely from one scheduled maintenance to another. And Indy Auto Man car lot is the right place to find such a reliable vehicle. Browse the used cars available for sale in Indianapolis right now!

To facilitate your choice, we offer you our list of used cars that, according to the Indianapolis owners and the Indy Auto Man mechanics, are highly reliable and can serve you well for the years to come.


Indianapolis Mechanics Recommend: Top 10 Most Reliable Used Cars to Buy Right Now

top 10 most reliable cars to buy in Indianapolis

Car reliability depends on several indicators: the level of safety it provides to all road users, the absence of frequent breakdowns due to the build quality, and the design features. Here is the list of the most reliable models in demand in Indianapolis:

  1. Honda Civic
  2. Toyota Corolla
  3. Volkswagen Touareg
  4. Toyota Hilux
  5. Toyota RAV4
  6. Lexus RX
  7. Infinity Q70
  8. Dodge Challenger
  9. Ford F150
  10. Chevy Silverado 1500

Read also our reliability ratings for different car classes:

Cars with No Engine Problems

used cars with no engine problems

Sometimes automakers get very high-resource motors. All of them, as a rule, have common technical solutions. Here are some used cars, which reliability were checked by the time, and you can still buy them today on the secondary market in Indianapolis. Below are the vehicles  with long-lasting powertrains.

  • 2016-2018 Toyota Tacoma
  • 2014-2015 Honda CR-V
  • 2017 Ford Explorer
  • 2018 Toyota Camry
  • 2017 Honda Accord
  • 2018 Nissan Rogue
  • 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

Modern motors in terms of their resource, unfortunately, are far from the former millionaires. Now 200,000–250,000 miles run is already a great success. The most simple engines often turn out most reliable. They are medium in displacement, in most cases devoid of turbocharging and direct fuel injection. Such motors can be considered obsolete but have a relatively large resource, and when you buy a used car, the chances are high to get one of these reliability leaders.

Toyota 2AR-EE

Of course, the times of Toyota engines with a resource of 500,000 miles have irretrievably sunk into oblivion. But you can still find durable 2AR-EE motors on the RAV4 and Camry models, as well as on the Alphard minivan. In different versions, the power of this engine with a working volume of 2.5 liters is 165–180 hp. It requires regular maintenance with an oil change, like any Toyota unit – once every 6,000 miles, especially if you drive in constant traffic jams of Indianapolis. The engine resource exceeds 200,000 miles. The timing chain will have to be updated at 90,000 miles.

Some problems with this motor are still encountered but quite rarely. Sometimes there is increased noise on the cold couplings of the variable valve timing system. But when warmed up, all sounds disappear. Only the coolant pump requires special attention due to the frequent leak occurrence.

Toyota 1VD-FTV

The second durable engine from the same manufacturer is a 1VD-FTV 8-cylinder 4.5-liter diesel unit. It is installed on large SUVs like the Lexus LX450d and the Toyota Land Cruiser 200. The Land Cruiser 70 received a simplified, derated version with one turbocharger. The engine power can be from 202 to 286 hp, depending on the model.

The cylinder block is cast iron. A timing drive scheme is applied with an almost eternal chain and four valves per cylinder work with hydraulic lifters. Of course, the Common Rail power system is used and determines the high requirements for the quality of diesel fuel. Motors of early releases were distinguished by increased oil consumption due to the unsuccessful design of the vacuum pump, which received modifications later.

If you do not save on high-quality oil and good fuel, then the resource of such a motor can exceed 250,000 miles.

Honda R20A

In the Japanese auto industry, Honda stands apart. Starting the production of cars, already having a lot of motorcycle experience, engineers often used non-standard solutions. For example, the engines of the nineties, with a working volume of 1.6 liters, developed 160 hp or more. Such forcing was achieved due to very high revolutions – more than 7000.

Let’s take a closer look at the much more down-to-earth R20A 2-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine. It has been manufactured by a Japanese concern since 2006 and is installed on Civic, Accord, and CR-V models. Even though the engine is aluminum and has high power (up to 155 hp), its resource often exceeds 120,000 miles. This is an engine with a single camshaft that drives the chain. The i-VTEC system is responsible for adjusting the phases. Such a system at the right time connects the camshaft cams with different profiles. This ensures optimum filling of the cylinders over a wide range of speeds and loads. True, the system does not contain hydraulic lifters: you have to adjust the valve clearances at least once every 60,000 miles.

Toyota and Lexus – Car Brands with the Least Amount of Problems

car brands with the least amount of problems

Toyota is a world-class Japanese concern notable for its success in the production of the reliable cars for middle and high-income customers. While most of the world’s automakers focus on the one-price-line promotion, whether luxurious models or budget cars, Toyota has succeeded in both directions.

According to a recent study by Consumer Reports, Toyota and Lexus were the most reliable vehicles in 2022. After Japanese cars, BMW was ranked third, while Mercedes’ reliability was rated the lowest.

Why Reliable Car Models Turn Out Unreliable

Everyone understands that a considerable age of a used car does not automatically mean that it is fundamentally worse in terms of reliability than the same new model. But many factors may correct the image of even the most reliable auto brands.

  • High mileage. Even a beautiful-looking three-year-old car can have several hundred miles on the odometer (or in the bowels of its electronic memory). Accordingly, when all the most important systems have worked out their resources in the car, it will upset the driver with minor and major breakdowns.
  • Random service. Some vehicles receive good care only during the warranty period. And after that, since it is no longer new, the owners change their attitude and begin to save on oil and other materials, skip maintenance, etc.
  • Failed configuration. Unsuccessful versions happen in the range of trims of worthy models. It can be, for example, a high-tech engine sensitive to fuel quality, a motor with short-lived components, or a weak gearbox. The brand may not produce this version for other markets, and the model is considered flawless.

Do not despair if you can’t find your best option among the generally recognized examples of reliability. Come to Indy Auto Man, IN, and we will help you choose a used car with the least problems to buy in Indianapolis. It will perfectly meet your criteria, will not disappoint in quality, and will serve faithfully for many years.