February 27, 2008.

Has your car broken down and left you stranded at the road side? A shiny and smooth car in the showroom does not guarantee a safe and reliable car on the road. All cars in their first year of manufacture face hiccups. But these hiccups should become major causing you to rue the day when you set eyes on your car.

Reliability and safety

Your car can be safe but utterly unreliable. It can just stop functioning on the highway but you and your family can be safe any time in the car. Mercedes-Benz is a safe car with safety convenience features of electronic belts, gears and ventilators. Mercedes-Benz also looks good and sleek – it is the car you always wanted to own. But hold on a second – is this car reliable? The less impressive looking Buick is 100% reliable. It is better to get free auto loan quotes and approach banks for new or used car financing for purchasing reliable cars. Car loans are an ongoing loss when owning an unreliable car.

Reliable cars

The J.D. Power & Associates Vehicle Dependability Study lists the five most reliable cars of 2007. The study further says that buying these cars is a sound investment.

• Buick
• Lexus(tie)
• Cadillac
• Toyota
• Mercury

What makes these cars reliable?

Roadworthiness

A Toyota has a long period of functional duration. Reliable cars can run for more than 200,000 miles with no mileage and engine deterioration.

Speed and safety

Reliable cars have a supercharged engine. These cars are environmentally friendly. Modern technology imbibes the hybrid engine in these cars. They emit less exhaust using less fuel to function. Safety features of electronically charged gears, lights, belts and hand brake systems also contribute to car reliability.

Car loans

Reliability surveys suggest that it is easier to get car loans for reliable cars. If buying a Nissan, you are likely to encounter problems in your car loan application. But if you are buying a Buick or Mercury, car loan applications are less strenuous. You have more choice among different free auto loan quotes. It does not matter if the reliable car is a used one. Banks are more willing to discuss used car financing terms for reliable cars. You have a much better chance of getting a car loan approved for a Buick even if you have bad credit.

Car Price

You have to be careful when negotiating the car price. A dealer usually hikes up the price including the down payment and interest rates. It is generally assumed that reliable cars run on low maintenance in future. This means that buying the Buick works out to a double advantage. You may end up paying far less than expected. In such cases, the dealer falsifies APR information. The rates go up as the loan period advances.

A reliable car can weigh heavily on your wallet; but your safety, time and life are certainly worth it. So never buy anything that is not geared for reliability. It might just be the difference between life and death.