The Japanese cars we would AVOID

[@zanelancaster2007]

Japanese cars to avoid: Enter Nissan

[@StephenDeTomasi]

Anything with a Nissan CVT basically

[@zanelancaster2007]

@@StephenDeTomasi Yeah

[@thombraam7845]

anything nissan with a renault engine..

[@user-vk4vd7vr5t]

@@thombraam7845what’s wrong with Renault engines? It’s the Nissan cvts you have to worry about

[@Joseph_yy]

A lot of folks are saying they’ve been improving their CVT for years and it’s actually good now, to that I’d say first of all I wouldn’t want to take the risk for almost zero reward, second of al if your transmission takes decades to get it right and in the mean time you have no problem putting them in your car to sell to people that don’t know about it, you’re a extremely dishonest company and who knows what other corner cutting you’re hiding

[@user-ei7zv8uu1y]

My list before watching the video: 1. Any Nissan CVT; 2. Highly modified/thrashed ricers; 3. Mazda RX8; 4. Mazda diesels (thx to this channel); 5. High mileage Camrys; 6. Overpriced Landcruisers et al. 7. Mazda MX-5. Good cars, but I can’t fit in one. 😂

[@gavinivers8941]

7; Try a NC Mazda Mx5, it's a bit bigger.

[@TheKnobCalledTone.]

I'd still rather have a 10 year old Mirage than a brand new MG3 💩

[@StephenDeTomasi]

The CVT probably isn't great. We have a manual 2014 mirage in the family and it's honestly not bad, yeah everything feels cheap but it has been very reliable and fuel economy is way better than my Yaris

[@spdaltid]

Is the MG3 Japanese?

[@mrgurulittle7000]

@@StephenDeTomasiMitsubishi CVT is very reliable. They have been perfecting them since the 90s; far before they merged with Jatco and Nissan. Even under Jatco, Mitsubishi’s CVTs are made using Mitsubishi’s own INVECS III technology. So it’s very reliable. I saw on the news a Mitsubishi Mirage CVt that lasted over 500k miles which broke the record as the longest lasting CVT mirage.

[@kabdu68]

@@StephenDeTomasiI just bought a mint, low km 2013 manual Mirage and I absolutely love it. I’ve owned 47 cars, including 3 1970’s Zs and an R33 Skyline. Yes, it’s basic, but you don’t pay much so I don’t mind.

[@StephenDeTomasi]

​@@kabdu68a small thing no one realises with these is these are a 3cyl engine so they save about $150 a year on rego. Really cheap to own

[@smallworld707]

If there's nothing mechanically wrong with a car, I don't see why we should avoid them. They may look unattractive, but not everyone in life is at a point where they can get an S class.

[@Bill-ki4zf]

Because you have to drive it every day!!!! Why buy something that is shit to drive just because it is reliable? Buy something else that's reliable that you can enjoy driving!!

[@boxoffisa]

It’s in the title. They wrote what “they” wouldn’t. Meaning they made their list. On recommended and another agree. It was funny in some parts when one just agree. 😊

[@boxoffisa]

@@Bill-ki4zf I have a powerful Land Cruiser prado engine in my van. I love driving it but I now want a car that can save me fuel. Some people just want a car that can get them from A to B and not fun. Just learn to understand and respect other people’s needs.

[@nikitakrotenko6027]

Because there always is competition, cars that aren't less reliable but offer more car for the money.

[@nathanma1482]

@@Bill-ki4zfbecause not everyone value driving experience. Fuel economy, ownership cost, resell value are way more important for many people

[@MrWilliam.Stewart]

Always a good day when these guys release a new video.

[@Pretzil43]

"This is not the worst car in the world, this is just a tribute"

[@mkvector9539]

V6 Tribute.

[@tlevans62]

When I lived in Dubai, wealthy Arabs who don't go off road, buy Range Rovers. Those that have money, but like trips to the desert, drive Land Cruisers, those that aren't as wealthy, buy Patrols. Ex pats (Aussies, Brits etc) with families, bought Pajeros. Ex pats that want to drive the dunes on weekends, buy two door short wheel base Pajeros. Most Land Cruisers driven in the desert for a a couple of years have clapped out engines due to dust and sand injection, so Arabs flip them after three years of ownership. The Range Rover dealer has a flat bed recovery vehicle that's seen everywhere with broken down Range Rovers Sports on the back, and yet they still buy them. Used Patrols are very cheap compared to Land Cruisers, but if you buy a three year old Land Cruiser, you'll be paying for an engine rebuild or replacement after a few months. The Patrols seem to be more reliable, but the suspensions need work after a few years.

[@PreeMoo]

Here’s a vote for the humble, ugly, Nissan Tiida. The police in South Africa used them extensively as support based vehicles about 15 years back. Every one of them, which were not totalled in accidents, reached over 300k kilometres, before being retired. Absolutely all were horribly abused and driven hard. We have one in our local fleet which is still on active service, because it’s maintenance budget has not yet been depleted. Built like a brick. I have no idea what subframe issues they are referring to.

[@tlevans62]

By the way, Honda City's are the weapon of choice for SE Asian housewives. Their husband's buy them for them because they're Hondas, and Hondas have the reputation of being high end sporty cars in Asia. So every time you see one, you basically know the demographic of the driver.

[@mrnicktoyou]

Asian housewife's drive white Audi or Mercedes SUVs.

[@MrWilliam.Stewart]

Why is the Yaris Cross? Because it's put on more weight than the old RAV4.

[@boxoffisa]

I love that car but it look bigger than it should be.

[@tlevans62]

Those Corolla's you mention are actually using a lot of Daihatsu parts, and a lot of "Toyotas" coming out of SE Asian factories are actually rebadged Daihatsu small cars. They are nowhere near as reliable as actual Toyotas built in Japan. People in SE Asia are proud to say they own a Toyota, unaware that it's not really a Toyota.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

But Daihatsu is 100% owned by Toyota so at the end of the day it’s also a Toyota. Daihatsu is just cheaper.

[@tlevans62]

Not really, Daihatsu has its own R&D, it's own BOD etc, Daihatsu has just recently been charged with fraud by the Japanese Gov't for falsifying thirty years of safety testing. Toyota has tried to distance itself from the brand. Toyota may well own it, like they own a substantial amount of Subaru, but Daihatsu develops its own cars. Toyota just likes putting their logo on some, so they can sell more in SE Asia, where people love Toyota. The Rush, Vios etc are all Daihatsu developed vehicles, assembled in Asian plants, but with Toyota badges since Daihatsu has no dealerships in most of SE Asia. They do share some parts, but the engines and transmissions, bearings etc are not the same in most cases.

[@rahar_peru]

well, my "horror story"... i have a 91' toyota corona, now with 1.3 million kms. On 2017, something happened while driving... related to, someone doing an oil change without telling me and using the wrong oil (4A-F engine)... it started rattling, then misfiring, then became a 3 cilinder.... then a 2 cilinder... It was a shitty day, i just wanted to get home so i did... drove about 100kms with the issue (of course not pushing the engine, trying to keep it under 3k rpms)... arrived home, turned it off and went to sleep, next morning i realized there was no oil... it became so thin that it just zipped through the carter plug... (not the best plug either but thats another story)... I filled it up with the correct oil to see if I could make it at least spin... tried once, nothing... tried again... nothing... on the third it not only spun, it turned on... couldnt hold revs, sometimes it shuted off... sometimes it went to 3k rpm out of nowhere... At least i still had 4 cilinders, i thought to myself. I drove it like 10kms to the shop i usually take my cars and when i arrived the car was absolutely perfect... a bit of a jump at minimum rpms, jumping from 750 to 1000 but nothing more. I explain what happen to the mechanic and he told me "well... gotta open it to see what really happened".... all sparkplugs were oiled up, gunked up, clearly ready to throw away... needed a cilinder head gasket change... the air filter was full of oil so it had to be replaced too... i spent $300... I thought it was a gonner but its now on 1.3million kms... 300k kms added with absolutely no issues since that day.

[@michaelhart5886]

Surely it's covered under warranty 😅

[@rahar_peru]

@@michaelhart5886 100%, a couple of japanese mechanics came at night while i was sleeping and fix everything i broke... their honor was not gonna be questioned haha

[@boxoffisa]

That’s wild. 😅. You abused that car but 4A and 3s were hardcore engines. Almost engines in that era were built different.

[@petercraig4648]

Best thing about the Tribute. Is the availability of a sticker to put above the name badge" This is not the greatest car in the world. It's just a"

[@alanthomson1227]

Jack Black is taking legal action .

[@iboswell]

Okay, we(I) own (by accident) bought a 2002 V6 Mazda Tribute at 190k 7 years ago and has now just hit 250K - Everything works as new. It was not a planned purchase but just happened as my Mom was planning to move to Aus... Never happened but here we are 7 years later. I had to replace the alternator a couple of years ago but it's not that hard - I'm 60 and did it in my drive in about 4 hrs. I'm the first to admit you need some decent tools. The largest issue is that you need some extensions and wobbly sockets to get to one of the alternator bolts - might also apply to the alternator mount. 6Hrs is BS. I must admit I did not expect the Tribute to work as well as it does but it just keeps on going and given we bought it for $1500 7 years ago with 190K so why not keep it. Yep fuel economy isn't great but it uses 91/e10 and is fine on longer runs. It's a big car, what do you expect? Plastics? I've owned this car for 7 years now, have replaced coil packs and the HP PAS hose so have taken the inlet manifold off a couple of times (an easy hour with a 8mm and 10mm sockets) and am really not seeing the issue you allude to. The only "plastic" issue was a small vacuum house which has split near connection - that was a rubber coupling. It came up with an ODBCII code which was pretty basic back then, e.g. vacuum leak. Fixed with some self amalgamating tape. You can be lucky or not, but often as not you create your own luck..

[@samloveelvis]

Putting Lexus SC430 on the list can't be right. It has a legendary engine and the model is THE only hardtop Lexus ever built. Recommend finding a good sample in NSW and do a review. The Car Care Nut thinks it is a hidden gem. I would agree with him as an owner of this beautiful machine.

[@mattdebyl8806]

The only folding hard top do you mean? The IS convertible is also a folding hard top FYI. I think the problem with these (and given the category it’s being discussed in) is it’s not a ‘performance’ car. They were designed as a luxury convertible. For that they do the job pretty well, but still underwhelming especially at their original price. Today they’re a bit of a bargain IMO. Probably due to their poor reputation.

[@davidperry3531]

Yes, but he is a Toyota/Lexus aficionado and although I enjoy his videos, they are very biased. Top Gear gave the SC430 the worst Car of the Year a few years ago.

[@jdmguy44]

@@davidperry3531 Taking anything TG says seriously is a mistake. It's an entertainment show more than anything. They talk a lot cr@p about many cars.

[@davidperry3531]

@@jdmguy44 I agree mostly - their views are mostly out of wack with many other commentators but hey, they are getting the controversial responses they want.

[@mattdebyl8806]

@@davidperry3531 well I guess it’s rubbish then? Clarkson doesn’t like 911s, so they’re crap too?

[@ubernoob103]

I’m gonna have to agree to disagree with the City. Totally unkillable, really quite safe for their size/age and not awful to drive. Admittedly I have a soft spot as I learned to drive in one. But they really arent awful. Plus the boot is effing huge.

[@idris1446]

Same but i buy used City automatic 5 speed very fuel efficient. The boot very large & maintenance affordable.

[@mattthambirajahpt286]

Yep. I was thinking the same. It's a reliable car. Not a good looking car but who cares.

[@eponymous7910]

Yeah but in a world where the Jazz exists it makes little sense

[@kornkernel2232]

Honda City is good, but then this point of video I guess are the Japanese cars that they least like, not all exactly because they are the worst. Whats interesting I find here compared to bad Euro cars is that the issues listed isn't all too serious if you keep the maintenance, there are just aesthetics and being just no character to drive. Except for Diesel Mazda and CVTs mostly on old Nissan, but other than that, theyre mostly okay and will likely just last. While bad Euro cars listed before are just listed so many issues with them to the point that you will question how come people still driving them, since many of those are apparently sounds like money pit. But yeah back to Honda City, I think that category of cars here just don't make too much sense for Australian market I guess. It's not as compact as Jazz but it's still smaller than regular Civic for not much benefit on our roads. On Southeast Asia, they serve so well because the price difference actually matters as regular Civic is too expensive but may not want as small as Jazz. So it's an odd middle ground. Tbh, at least that gen of Honda City shown doesn't all look too great to me either aesthetic wise . The proportion looks odd since its trying to be smaller Civic but ended up oddly shaped.

[@StephenDeTomasi]

If you can't find a cheap jazz then a cheap city is ok as long as you don't really need a hatch

[@zenastheracer]

I'll disagree heavily with the City, I've riden in the generation shown in this video and driven the two newer generations,all of them were good. The ones I've driven were more than fun enough thru twisties without going ludicrous speeda

[@lindamiskin4522]

So the title of this video should really be the “Japanese cars I would not buy because I think they look shit” - rather than what I was expecting “… because they fall apart before your eyes”

[@georgepappas4628]

I worked at a Honda dealership for 15 years, and 90% of people who bought a City were people of Indian descent. Sorry to say, but when they were traded in, they smelt like a papadam 😅

[@mrgarrison3516]

😂

[@jeffrollason1190]

Nissan Altima is a bloody safe car. We we stationary and rear ended by a car at 80km/h. The panel beater was amazed how the car survived and the insurance company had the car repaired. The seats were designed by NASA and are super comfortable. The CVT oil must be changed at 150,000 Km. It was rated as one of the top 10 safest cars in USA in 2014

[@danielversion1.035]

Those "zero gravity" seats... just *the best!* They're better than the seats in my Infiniti Q70... which I'm kind of salty about actually 🤣

[@fossilfueled27]

The Paseo is not a performance car. It's a Starlet that's less practical. But, it's actually a really good car. It rides brilliantly for what it is, it weighs 900kg so it actually feels a lot faster than it could, and it can get 50mpg, or 5.6l/100km. An old work friend of mine had one for years, we thought it was a joke. When he put it up for sale, I took it for a drive - I was converted, and bought it. Utterly love the thing. If you get a chance to drive one, I recommend it. To me it's a hidden gem.

[@ProductofNZ]

re: 3rd/4th gen CRV... I'm a car enthusiast but I gotta say, those CRVs are effortless drivers. Like super comfy, reliable, easy to drive and spacious. Objectively a good "Car" despite being boring to some.

[@Gary-o8v]

I'm watching from Europe and have never owned a CRV but I have to say that that choice also grated with me. You see loads of them on the road and I'm sure they give their owners zero problems. Give me "boring"any day.

[@jdmguy44]

I don't know why it's mentioned. Sure, it's not going to thrill you from behind the wheel. But tell me what rival SUV does? SUV's are not for fun. The CRV is a great car for what it is.

[@f2john]

For the person who doesn't give any damns about driving dynamics the CR-V is hard to beat. Great mileage, cheap to run and will be as reliable as the sun rising in the East every morning.

[@jamesc99863]

Review idea - 9th gen Civic. Severely underrated for sheer bang for buck, and as an owner of a 2014 example with 68,000kms they are just great

[@0212schadel]

Worth mentioning that CX-7 with 2.5 naturally aspirated IS RELIABLE.

[@damilolaakanni]

It's almost impossible to find one though.

[@dragonalfaata]

I'm still surprised to see cx-7 still roaming around where I live (europe) You either have the diesel engine (problems mentioned in the video, they are probably about the same whether it's skyactiv D or pre-skyactive era) or you have the 2.3 Turbo from Mazda MPS and chances are someone hasn't taken good care of them. I don't even know if we could ever buy a 2.5 here as the taxes would have been way too high for anyone to even think about buying it. When people buy engines over 2L here (that are non hybrid -> high tax) they're stuff like Bmw or something more premium. No one would bother to endure the taxes on a mazda (good thing their recent 2.5 is mild hybrid, which basically halves the taxes or even better) The taxes are also pretty fukin high on 2.2D and 2.3 turbo as well. I'm surprised there are people that bought them.

[@kevinW826]

Had one. A 2011 CX7 fwd 2.5. Base model and it had 120,000 kms when I bought it. It was a tank in winter and I was very comfortable in it. My wife hated it and I only got rid of it last year as I picked up a one owner 2016 cx5 with 120,000 kms on it. The cx5 currently sits at 150,000 kms. The cx7 was a little more comfortable and had a bit more leg room for me but the cx5 has more power and better gas mileage and has Bluetooth.

[@jdmguy44]

Sorry guys but I think you're clutching at straws here a bit on this video. Why is the CRV here?! Its a great car for what it is. One of the best in class. Fact is no-one buys an SUV for driving excitement/fun. There is not one SUV on the market that is fun to drive. Also who ever said the Paseo was a performance/sports car. It never was and was never marketed as such. It was sold as a compact good value economical attractive little coupe. They are Japanese built and superbly reliable. No reason to avoid one at all if you're after a good looking reliable little car that is a bit different. Its also notable that quite few of the cars on this list are actually great cars - just need to avoid a certain engine or transmission.

[@mattdebyl8806]

I call BS on not one SUV that is fun to drive. There are heaps of them.

[@mattdebyl8806]

Also the list isn’t ’here’s the most unreliable Japanese cars’.

[@mystikalecho]

I bought and sold many Honda CR-V 3 rd gens. Great car, manual 2.4L is fun enough to drive, and good handling. My cousin and I can also drive it very hard, pedal to the floor, up the hill. Was great fun. Likewise, I don’t know what these guys are on about

[@Bill-ki4zf]

SUVs aren't as good to drive as comparable sedans/hatches. But some SUVs are much better to drive than average. eg Mazda CX5.

[@boxoffisa]

Porsche cayenne and macan as well as their other VW products are actually fun. I agree they were making their list trashing some cars we find great. Some cars like CRV are made for other purposes than being a fun car. Though I get it’s their personal taste.

[@travismarshall1481]

YES! I've been watching you for over a year now from across the ditch in NZ. These alot of content like this in America, but not in anywhere else close to NZ. Its good to see somewhere close to NZ with these type of reviews that your channel provides. I'm enjoying the variety. Awesome work guys, even though you're bloody Aussie! Another thing. I'm really enjoying seeing more of Jim. Yes I enjoy watching Adam hop in back seats and boots of cars etc, but I believe Jim is more of a natural presenter. Jim has lacked confidence, but very noticeable now has come out of his shell alot. Jim has got such an awesome radio voice and I couldn't listen to him for him for hours! I've noticed cars in NZ are practically the same in Australia, but listening to you guys the demographics of the cars can vary I'm needing a small hatchback. Yes i care a little about image. I thinking a 1.5L would be more ideal size for performance and economy. I'm exactly 2 inches shorter, than known drummer and pretentious coffee drinker Adam. Two cars catch my eye are being good drivers cars. 1. The Honda Jazz which is mostly driven here buy elderly woman...yes even the RS sport model. 2. The Suzuki Swift that is mainly driven buy young mums and some elderly. As a wild card I think I may even consider a Toyota Aqua. I like the Aqua looks, great economy, performance isn't bad I heard. Can I have some assistance please on the best choice for me. I like cars, and I'm really clueless on which is the best car here 😅

[@Pretzil43]

Leave the B4 alone, have you even driven one? They are the weirdest, coolest thing around, the first turbo is great under 4k rpm and the big turbo is great over 5k We don't speak about the space in between...

[@NIPUNAPEIRISPR4NK]

I did a 2nd gear pull when I first drove a B4. I remember thinking, "Is that it?" at 3.5k rpm until about 4.5k rolled around, and the car just transformed. That was fun!

[@kevincarpenter561]

I have a 2002 GTB Wagon with the EJ208 twin turbo engine. If the car is dead below 4K your might have an issue. The first turbo starts to boost around 2K and the second one adds on around 4.5K. The redline is 7.5K so if you really want to, you can keep it above 5K to keep both turbos on the boil and avoid the cross over point (the valley of death) where the the transition happens (a turbo engine that likes to rev ;). The Supra, RX7 and the Porsche 959 had similar twin turbo systems, a throwback to an earlier era to try and avoid low RPM lag of a big single turbo. Newer turbo designs, direct injection and higher compression ratios have made these systems complexity moot. I would have purchased the next gen wagon with the single turbo if I could have imported it at the time, but they did not meet Canada's 15 year rule. Some people have converted twin turbos to single turbo to remove the complexity and open up tuning potential. So far no issues with the twin turbo setup and my car is OLD. I agree a EVO wagon would be super cool, they are much more expensive, smaller and more hard core as a daily. Still would like to try one.

[@delanhenry4457]

You are so right about the versa/Tiida. When I got it they had welded the bushing on the left side and not knowing what had happened i thought it was a bad lower arm on the right side since the right side was moving. The car would suddenly change direction. Had to purchase an entire subframe to replace it as the subframe bushing were not available

[@deshanmk6]

Give it 10 years, the NC1 NSX will be looked back on as a great car. People saw it as an overpriced car competing with huracans, R8's etc. But it was more 918 tech at a fraction of the cost.

[@travismarshall1481]

Loving your content guys. Been watching you for over a year now. There's no other content like this close to NZ. I'm really enjoying seeing more of Jim! Jim lacked confidence in the beginning but is a Top Guy now. Adam is obviously a great people person and has some good one-liners and would make a good sales person, BUT I could listen to Jim for hours.... Jim is Soo interesting full of knowledge. Jim is no bull shit guy. Jim is a realist. Even though Jim has a deeper Aussie accent compared to Adam, Jim has such a great radio voice. I could listen to Jim for hours and hours! You two are good duo! I like the little side stories Adam has too just to make things more interesting. I look forward to seeing more great content

[@ReDriven]

We'll definitely pass this on to him. Thanks so much mate!

[@tomkalleske3475]

I bought a brand new Subaru Outback diesel with the manual gearbox. Worst car ever, sold it a loss to get it out of my life. DPF functionality was downright dangerous as it would cut engine power when the DPF kicked in - I once lost traction on a wet corner in 5th gear under load. Subaru were useless to deal with, even when the engine had to be removed at 50,000km for leaks. Absolute shitbox.

[@baikal4784]

I had the same issues with my 2011 Forester. Got rid of the heap of junk with only 40k kms

[@trentkrikken9873]

Shit what year make was that car?

[@carsella11]

I recommended a Subaru 2.0D to my sister because of my previous good luck with Subarus. It died on the road due to dpf issues within 6 months and Subaru refused to come to the party. It cause great strain on my relationship with her. Thankfully I have good friends who are excellent lawyers and got her a full refund. Will never touch the brand again.

[@tomkalleske3475]

@@carsella11 oh man....sorry to hear!

[@tomkalleske3475]

@@trentkrikken9873 2015

[@mjcd1815]

In the performance car section you mentioned the BRZ/GT86 twins, I'm 90% sure that the sealant in the oil pickup issue/ bad sump design is only with the new 2022+ BRZ/GR86 not the first gen or the facelift.

[@coachjohn2190]

Yeah, I'm looking at a first gen 86 / BRZ, probably around a 2012-2015 model. I haven't heard of this issue before and also ReDriven didn't cover this in their review. Is this only in newer models and do you have any sources? Cheers mate 👍

[@coachjohn2190]

Actually given what they said, this issue would either be fixed, or if not fixed would cause engine failure in the long term. So buying a second hand car that has already been drive for a while, guessing this shouldn't be an issue for them. 🤔

[@eternalkingofwesteros]

It seems to only be an issue with the newer 2.4L models. The older 2.0L did have a couple recalls though so ensure they have been done.

[@coachjohn2190]

@@eternalkingofwesteros Okay that's good to hear, I do remember there were some recalls, so I'll make sure to double check that before purchasing, cheers mate 👍

[@mattdebyl8806]

@@coachjohn2190given how many of these I’ve seen with either a stuffed engine or had the engine replaced, I’d suggest there is definitely some oil starvation issues going on with them as well.

[@daviddenley3512]

Thanks for that lads, as is usually the case I love the banter you two have, sometimes cutting but always funny. Many thanks for the video.

[@ReDriven]

Thanks mate!

[@BionicRusty]

Absolutely love these videos. Guys, why not do a road trip in a cheap car. That’d be a great laugh. Big love from the UK 🇬🇧🫶

[@kylegriffiths5990]

PLEASE do a review on the SC430 👌

[@jl9745]

Very interested in seeing you guys review the new mazda inline 6 diesel. I keep hearing good things about it, but with their diesel track record, I wouldn't buy one unless ReDriven approves

[@MrWilliam.Stewart]

Adam, you mispronounced Continuously Vulnerable Transmission, but other than that wee oversight, brilliant video as always.

[@bloodyarch9765]

Love this channel. who doesn't love roasting cars!! haha

[@Vourn-75]

Appreciate this discussion, advice and facts. Australia are quite similar with Malaysia especially on the driving position, made and models so whatever being discussed here are 100% relevant.

[@scott.h]

Bit harsh on the Escape/Tribute. Mrs had a Tribute and I'm the 2nd owner of a a '01 V6 Escape with 290,000kms. Has a few creaks and rattles but great daily driver and I can load it up with a full PA system and guitar rig. They're not that hard to work on. Parts readily available and relatively cheap.

[@cthorno2991]

Agreed, I had one for eight years and went 200 thousand kms in it. It had a rear seal leak by the time I sold it but other than that it was solid.

[@creditelectric]

I have the FB20 engine in a basic 2014 manual Forester, I agree about the oil consumption, it was a surprise & look at the dipstick weekly, car is serviced at the correct time interval but am a fairly low mileage driver & it is used gently.Over the years & 180,000km, I've only topped it up twice & had one oil warning display, it took on a litre of oil to bring it back to normal.

[@DavidChilnicean]

lmao I own a Honda City. The boot is really deep, it’s cheap to maintain, and very fuel efficient. I also have very little interest in cars in general - so you hit that nail on the head.

[@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars]

But what are you doing here then?🙃😂

[@DavidChilnicean]

​@@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars I subscribed to this channel when I was looking for reviews of second-hand cars. They still put out really good content.

[@85priesty]

Working as a carsalesperon. A CX-7 went 47,000km from new... it went that long with not a single service.... not even the complimentary 1500km service. Then the engine blew up, it's a detuned version of engine that was in the Mazda 6 Turbo...the Tibeca was always horrendous hahaha

[@frankmoran167]

I have 2013 Mirage since new, manual, never an issue, easy to do the basics, same economy as a prius for 1/3 the price. Mechanic says its still like new. Great run around and easy to park, whats not to like! Happy for you guys to review if you like..

[@d0p3y86]

Those late model Mitsubishi Mirage cars are actually a South East Asian model and not even available in Japan. They’re manufactured in Philippines and Thailand only iirc.

[@StephenDeTomasi]

They're also not that bad if you get them in a manual variant. Excellent on fuel and very simple and reliable cars. They can be found used for $5k easily

[@bmmontei]

CHR from Toyota is a great car with successful sales. If it suits your space needs, buy it. I turned the video off when they mentioned CHR. If you tell people to avoid this then you have no idea what you are saying.

[@lindsaywebb1904]

They said it's a good car. Just underwhelming performance

[@bmmontei]

@@lindsaywebb1904 which is also false. It's a fast car (0-100 in 7,2s) for a family car and extremely economical. Featuring this car in a "the worst Japanese car" video is absolutely nonsense.

[@RaymondwLin]

I want a Lexus SC430 now if the biggest issues are the looks! Lol Since I thought it looks quite good from the rear 3/4…I can’t see it when i am driving so it won’t matter.

[@mattdebyl8806]

Yep, they’re actually great looking except that front. Not a sporty drive AT ALL (and was in the sports car category). They’re more like a luxury land yacht. Merc SL kind of competitor. They got a bad rep when they came out for being a) bloody expensive and b) not very exciting. But given how cheap they are and every one I’ve ever seen still looks pristine, they’re a bit of a bargain. Also no young clown has ever molested it for bonus points.

[@basedondennis]

@@mattdebyl8806current owner of a 2002 sc430 and ur definitely right about the front. the reason why its so ugly was because it didnt have a middle intake and the pre facelift headlights had these weird circles on them that were just fugly. i’m saving up for a bumper kit replacement that has intakes in the middle. and then my car will finally look like how it shouldve been from the factory

[@mattdebyl8806]

@@basedondennis yeah I think that would make a big difference, so long as it isn’t tacky. I think these look especially good in black, just my opinion. Would like one, but cannot tow a peanut.

[@datcarguysteve]

Always love your videos but you finally got personal with a car I own... Echo sedan yes is the ugly duckling of the lineup, however they all come with the 1.5 which is only reserved for the Sportivo variant in hatch form (which I also own) but sedan is actually lighter than the hatch. So essentially the sedan is a sleeper Sportivo with 4 doors. Totally agree with paint however haha!

[@MarkInKenya]

Hi from Kenya. We get most of these cars from JPN and, honestly, you're spot on! Especially the Atenza(s), Mazda 6 diesels.

[@cloudyrepublic]

What Paseos are really great for is being a donor car for a 5EFE swap into an EP91 Starlet. You can also pinch their seat bases for a cheap seat lowering mod, and their cluster for a tacho conversion.

[@TheTimerfication]

Hey guys love the content and love the cars to avoid/recommend series. Wanna pitch in about my 2015 X trail hybrid. Very decent car and reliable, no major mechanical issues so far. But one of my biggest gripes is the when accelerating from stationary, the transition from electric to petrol power is so janky that the car actually stalls and skips before carrying on! Kinda scary when you want to turn quickly into an intersection!

[@robertmcgifford9874]

The Toyota 2AZ engine, had a Camry with zero problems that has done well over 200,000kms. Had a Tarago with the same engine and it had catastrophic engine failure due to oil consumption before 130,000kms. Both serviced on time every time.

[@friznutzs]

Honda did fix the oil dilution issues with the 1.5L somewhere around 2020

[@1maico1]

Was the 2L T affected too? In the UK market there are only 2 engines available in the current Civic, the 2L non-turbo hybrid and the 2L turbo in the R model.

[@wayneog11]

I've got 1.5 turbo 2018. Had it for a year now, and I have it checked now and then for that reason. Touch wood, no issues at all.

[@OnCountryWithMick]

My wife owns the 2005 Ford ZB Escape, same as what you guys showed. It is the 4 Cyl version and we have had to change an alternator, power steering pressure pipe, engine mount and it leaks oil but it is a damn great car with 360,000km on it. It is really nice to drive, handles great and very comfortable, plus pretty good on fuel. I have heard a lot of bad about the V6 version. Love my Pajero, most under rated 4wd in my opinion. Mine is 22 years old with 315,000km and it is having issues from things wearing out but it is still a brilliant vehicle. I never want to own anything else.

[@csjrogerson2377]

They keep slagging off Mazda diesels. Had mine (Mazda 2) 8.5 yrs and it runs like a dream. Serviced every 6 months to the day. Replaced 2 batteries, one set of rear shock stops and 1 set of tyres. Averages 4.4li/100km and runs to the local pub & back (15km ea way) can be as low as 2.8li/100km (its twisty turny, narrow and very dark)

[@jdmguy44]

The Mazda diesel issues seem to always relate to the 2.2 as per the models mentioned here.

[@csjrogerson2377]

@@jdmguy44 True they did show the Mazda 3, but they said Mazda cant make diesels period and dont buy any at all. They didn't say the 2.2s are crap but the 1.5 is OK.

[@mattdebyl8806]

Is that definitely a Mazda diesel?

[@csjrogerson2377]

@@mattdebyl8806 What do you mean by that? What are you questioning?

[@jdmguy44]

@@csjrogerson2377 I've never personally heard of any issues with the 1.5 diesel fitted to the 2/CX3. They were sold here in the UK for a few years and withdrawn. I actually have a Mazda 2 (2018 model) with the Skyactiv 1.5 petrol. It's been great all round. Now used as a second car.

[@cthorno2991]

I'm not a Subaru fan but mechanics are talking up the labour on changing those belts. It's really not that hard. No engine out, just the radiator. I do agree their parts are way overpriced.

[@jimmyp1433]

Guy is massively anti-Subaru for whatever reason.. Not saying there aren't valid criticisms including parts $$ , and specific issues ( 2.5 HG' , oil leaks on high mileage cars) . but that segment was hyperbole. They're not hard to work on overall. Honing on on timing belt labour, but ignoring the fact Alternators, PS pumps, AC comp's , serpentine belts, are all 10 min job's to replace unlike so many other cars .

[@michaelhart5886]

As a mechanic I live doing sohc Subaru timing belts. Radiator out and you can knock them over in 2 hrs total. Love it

[@paulwang5213]

finally, a video that you actually recommend us to avoid! thank you!!

[@montyspearo]

My 2000 Mazda 626 wagon was super reliable, had for 15yrs from 80k-280k. One fuel pump, wiper motor and clutch master cylinder in last year, that was it for unexpected faults. Suspect it was still on original clutch as I never replaced it. In manual form power is OK for sensible passing on open road, 1.8 corolla is quicker but has smaller boot.

[@jamescresswell1532]

Hawkeye Impreza WRX owner here with the EJ25. No argument from me that it’s an ownership prospect to avoid. I love the looks, sounds and driving experience. I just wish I hadn’t been paying for it for the last year and a half 😅 In it’s defence, the first 2-3 years were pretty reasonable, cost wise, but now it’s up over 100,000 miles it seems like the entire car needs replacing…

[@thesolver1970]

the mirage is great for an old person living in an urban/city environment that needs a small, economical, easy to drive shopping trolley with a roof and a/c, does around 1000 ks per year and can take advantage of the 10 year warranty. Bought one for the mother in law for this purpose and she loves it. No issues with it yet. Other use cases, nope. Though I did drive one with around 40,000ks on the clock as a rental - which would have been abused, it was ok around the city.

[@johnnumbat9782]

Oh and here’s a challenge - why not do 4WD Ute buy or avoid episodes and see which one of you ends up with the horses head in your bed first - that segment is a dangerous space to play in 🐎🐎

[@robertgestier2013]

The later 2AR 2.5l engine in Camrys are just as 2AZ for oil burning, and they have the cold start rattle from the VVT gear.

[@eyes-higher4966]

I’ve seen a lot of comments disagreeing with cars they’ve chosen on this list based on looks, but I think that goes to show that that’s what they had to resort to because there aren’t a lot of unreliable ones

[@jakechappell9241]

The mirage was fit for purpose and well done to Mitsubishi for still offering something dirt cheap and reliable with a decent warranty for people who simply Need transport. Second hand the gap with other “better” cars has closed but the Yaris is probably double or triple the mileage and the Mazda 2 has less feature and probably been driven like a go kart.

[@Watcherw1]

Mirage is a solid car. Heard plenty of good about them even with the cvt

[@Asymmetry0]

*2008 to 2010 was the narrow body WRX. Really damaged the WRX nameplate. Wasnt a bad car but was a bad WRX. 1st gen Tribeca and 2006 impreza designer was an Ex Alfa Romeo. Hence the stupid grills and problems starting with Subaru. Stopped me upgrading my 2003 WRX for over a decade. Found performance Korean brands instead.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

Man that’s so sad. You dumped a legacy rally brand for some cheap Korean, stolen German technology cars.😔

[@Asymmetry0]

​@@mrgurulittle7000 Subaru stole Audi AWD and VW Porsche engine. They should of stole German designers like Hyundai/Kia did and would be more relevant today.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

⁠@@Asymmetry0Those are outright lies. Audi introduced the first AWD Audi in 1980 Quattro, meanwhile Subaru implemented AWD first in 1972 with the AWD Leone wagon. Subaru was known for AWD far before Audi even considered it. Also Subaru was first with the air cooled boxer engine which came out in 1966 in the Subaru 1000 sedan. Porsche finally cane out with the air cooled boxer engine in 1991 with the Porsche 992. So if we are speaking in terms of who copied who, clearly Subaru was copied by Audi and Porsche. Subaru was wise and they grew from within instead of grabbing the “best” talent from wherever. They don’t need to be a big corporation like Hyundai Kia because they are profitable enough and they have a solid reputation and niche. They also don’t have all the issues and safety scandals like Hyundai Kia do.

[@Asymmetry0]

​@@mrgurulittle7000 Boxer Engine VW, 1932 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_air-cooled_engine

[@mrgurulittle7000]

@@Asymmetry0Air cooled =/= Water cooled. Subaru water cooled boxer: 1966 Porsche water cooled boxer:1991 Subaru never made an air cooled boxer engine and the reason was because it was prone to overheating in warm weather. In fact, only VW and Porsche ever used the air cooled boxer engine design. So there’s no copying here.

[@d.mitchell8596]

Hi Gents! Been enjoying your channel for the past year, love the content and congratulations on its growth! I do, however, disagree about the Tiida...it's basic transportation yes, but TARDIS-like interior, and bullet proof drivetrain. Yes, I own one. Bought it to commute to work. Practical? Check. Comfy? Check. Low running Costs? Check, Check...you can pick one up for 5-6k, under 150000kms, all day long. I agree that its looks are meh, but if you have a need for a L/P plate car, or a daily runabout, better than Yaris/Corolla of same year. Think value for money, Baby!

[@TwistedDonners]

Only 1 car was a surprise on this list being the 200 series. The 1st gen X-Trail was a glaring omission from the list. Would be cool to see this done with American brands and non Japanese Asian brands. Good video as always guys and look forward to next week's videos as per usual 👍.

[@Filip333ify]

I actually do like the SC430 and new NSX.

[@mattdebyl8806]

SC430s are cool. Fugly from the front, but quite attractive everywhere else. Were very expensive new, but very very well made.

[@anthonynixon2816]

Owned a 2014 Nissan Qashqai for 2 years. Bought it second hand when it was 7 years old. Boot handle snapped off in the supermarket carpark, rear wheel hub failed at 85,000km, and pretty sure the cvt began to show early warning signs. Got rid of it and got a Toyota. I will never buy a Renaussan again.

[@grandiora]

You guys keep on referring to the Australian Dualis J10 as the Qashqai J11 and with the photos of both models mixed in. The J11 has a much more reliable CVT and much better interior material and design. Its also why its a best seller in its home country UK. I have one from 2016 and Nissan has some of the most reliable engines out there. Some probably wont like the drive as its not sporty but I really enjoy how smooth the drive is with the CVT and the steering is feather light.

[@stephanburgess654]

I don’t understand why the first car you list is the Mitsubishi Mirage. You never even aid what was wrong them other than it is a shocking car. Both ere in Australia and in American car reviewers knock this little beauty. It is hardto find owners who are unsatisfied with them. There are many out and about with well over 100,000 km on them and some in the US with200,000 miles. I’ve watch people in America on their 3rd or 4th model and or 2nd and 3rd cars in the driveway. Also as the sedan (G4 as it’s called) are only this year being discontinued in America this year along with the hatch. For economy and value you are just knock a great little car because you don’t like the fact it’s no speed demon.

[@Ozthai124]

I agree. I bought a used low kilometre 2013 manual as a daily commute for $6k. Sold it 2 years later for $8k including 3 Adelaide -Melbourne road trips. (My previous 11 year car ownership was a Ford G6Eturbo from new!) The manual was fun to drive and surprisingly torquey for a 1.2 3 cylinder. However my new partner has the 2012 CVT version which is terrible to drive, although it has been very reliable since new.

[@mrgurulittle7000]

Yeah Mirage is too hated. I personally love the car, but I don’t think reviewers understand its purpose.

[@geoffh784]

I bought a 2014 Mirage manual as a second car, gave me 5 years of cheap 100% reliable daily driving. The Yaris I replaced it with cost twice as much to buy, uses more fuel and it's 1.3 4 cylinder isn't any faster than the 1.2 3 cylinder. Don't get me wrong, the Yaris has been a perfectly reliable daily driver... but so was the Mirage and the Mirage TCO is less.

[@Bill-ki4zf]

Sorry. They are shit.

[@PKDionysus]

In South Africa, equivalent Y62 Patrols are more or less the same price, if not a little pricier. But there are a lot fewer available than the 200 Series, so rarity might be a factor as well.

[@iancampbell7171]

The early CX-9's had a 3.5.....then ~'09 upgraded to the 3.7. I have a late model run '14 Grand Touring, and I absolutely love it. The oly thing is, somewhere in the world , at the margin, is a refinery operating purely to keep me driving. Maybe in Texas.

[@ast5515]

I agree with the C-HR, but for different reasons. In Europe we have a 180hp 2.0 hybrid, which sounds perfect on paper. It has pretty good power, but holy shit it sounds terrible. It's loud even when cruising at city speeds, it vibrates a lot, it's just annoying (much more so than the painfully slow 1.8 hybrid). Drivetrain calibration is also horrible. You can't smoothly inch ahead for example when parking. It either stops, or gets going too quickly. People also like to mention how you can feel the transition between regenerative braking and friction braking. I've driven plenty of hybrids and electric cars and none of them are this bad. Toyota has been making hybrids for 20 years and yet the completely messed up the calibration on this. It's not blended at all. It's like I have x amount of braking at y pedal pressure, then I move on to 1.01 * y on the pedal pressure and I get 1.5x braking force. Then you go back to y pedal pressure and you lose half you braking power. You get into a yo-yo because you can't get it to behave properly. It's scary. Interior quality? What's that? Driver's door panel rattles since day 1. Dash rattles from month 1. Something INSIDE THE DASH behind the gauge cluster rattles from month 6. Dealers are useless at fixing any of this. Other issues? Yes. The rear brakes are dragging which sounds embarrassing when you are driving slowly. CV shafts click when you transition from braking to power. The car is ~15 months old with 30k km. It's falling apart. Again, dealers are useless when it comes to fixing any of it. Before anyone accuses me of expecting a Toyota to behave like a Rolls Royce, let me share some of the cars I've owned (or owned by family). MK1 Ford Focus, Ford C-Max, R53 Mini Cooper S (famous for rattles, but is way less annoying than the C-HR), Nissan Leaf (good comparison for braking and creeping in traffic), Renault Megane MK3. No Rolls Royce or Bentley here... The C-HR is hugely overrated and I don't understand why.

[@seanhutton7155]

my ej20 Subaru legacy has done 380,000kms with no oil or water leaks what so ever with proper servicing , definitely not as bad as every mechanic makes them out to be, easiest engine to do timing belt /alternator or starter motor replacement.Its no Toyota corolla but not that bad in my opinion

[@danmccarthy4700]

I live in Connecticut in the US. Altimas are EVERYWHERE here.... and they all have varying amounts of body damage. Altimas with severely damaged or missing bumpers, and completely crushed sides are not uncommon.

[@jeremih120]

From Brooklyn here, a lot of people buy altimas for the cost back in the day, now you see the same with Accords and Camrys or even the sonata

[@Greenious]

The “euro cars to avoid” video is 15 minutes shorter 😂

[@KnightIndustries572]

We have a 2010 Nissan Maxima 250 ST-L, changed the CVT oil at 60,000 kms (was told oil was very clean) We just hIt 112K kms, checked CVT oil, told it was still in very good shape, at 120,000 kms we will definately change the CVT oil. I also tell me wife, mechanical sympathy! wait till gear is engaged, then slowly take off (esp when reversing out the drive way, then going into drive) and also especially when it's cold. Don't floor it off at the lights. Touch wood it's been great and is actually supremely smooth to drive esp on a highway, I actually love driving it when I need to. We bought it 8 years ago with 35,000 km for just $15,000 ($14,990 drive-away to be precise) from a main Nissan dealer. At the time it was six year old, but shone like a new car. On the servicing, that famous Texan, Scotty Kilmer also mentions that the reasons that Nissan Altimas in the USA fail so much is becuase of chronic service NEGLECT. If the servicing was not so neglected they'd be much more reliable, but becuase of that situation, you just avoid.

[@Watcherw1]

The problem within the first 5 minutes is that the mentioned cars are actually reliable. Even on the internet plenty of people with the newer mirage speak highly of its reliability. Apart from that good vid as usual. I would put the mitsubishi outlander on the list. Also the newer nissan pulsars.

[@Landofsmiles999]

'Wuthering Heights' all time classic. The book is worth a read as well.

[@t_z1030]

I'm not American, but the reason I've heard for the Altima being as you describe there is that Nissan will offer finance to anything with a heartbeat regardless of what their credit score might be, and so they are really popular with people who make extremely bad financial decisions.

[@timingenkamp3973]

I bought a 2018 Mazda CX-5 GT (PETROL NOT DIESEL) based on the reviews on this channel. Thanks guys! I love my car.

[@aabhaspandit]

Please add chapters to the video. Thx

[@zeroyon4562]

Doesn’t the L15 turbo oil dilution problem only apply to vehicles in cold climates?

[@jaek_898]

Cold climates and short trips make the problem much worse for sure but I've heard of it happening in warm climates too. From what I understand as long as you let the engine fully heat up from time to time and you stay on top of your oil changes it isn't a problem. IIRC honda addressed the issue around model year 2018 but it's still something to look out for if you have a short commute and live somewhere with harsh winters.

[@eponymous7910]

Most d.i. engines suffer from a bit of oil dilution if they're constantly subjected to short trips. I assume a good spirited drive (when oil is up to temp) every so often gets the oil hot enough that the petrol + condensation evaporates?

[@zloklau]

that idea of your thoughts of what NSX should be OMFG I love it! If Honda did that way I would guess they will be big, long wait of order. This is a good list and chitchat cars should avoid!

[@Bobman84]

Any Mazda3/6/CX series always have transmission and gearbox issues. Then there's the constant timing chain problems with various engines in the aforementioned models.

[@kevinW826]

Yeah no. Where’s your proof? Had a mazda3, no mechanical issues ever, had a cx7, bought it used with no warranty, had 120,000 kms on it, was awesome and a tank in snow. Sold it off for a used CX5 again with no warranty, had 120,000 kms when I bought it last year, now has 150,000 kms and running like a dream.

[@Bobman84]

@@kevinW826 Plenty of proof on forums. The TCM in particular is a common fault. The timing chain in the 2.3 is a common fault. It's a well known issue in the industry. The diesel engine on the CX-5 in particular is junk, as backed by ReDriven's own video of the CX-5 model. 120,000 km? Cute, come back at 200,000+.

[@TheMrBrighty]

240ks on a lifted 4 cylinder escape…no issues since owning it from 60k. Has been to the vic high country and various other 4wd destinations…steep hills, sand, creek/river crossings…the whole lot!

[@jasonfields2793]

Ill have to agree with you on the 200 series its a very overated vehicle the 1vd has so many failures and at 30k a pop to replace it.

[@kadoublen1983]

will you guys do a video about import agents and/or dealers? there are so many of them, don't know which one is good which one is bad. the topic is kinda related to redriven. thanks

[@johnphaceas7434]

Phew we must have dodged a bullet - our first SUV was an '06 3.0LV6 Escape, bought when it was about 12 months old. The V6 went like a shower of shit, and we never had a single issue with it. But - we traded it in after about 4 years and 130,000km so no doubt the subsequent owners got all the fun... One really weird thing about it - it had a three speed column shift auto with pushbutton overdrive. Made it feel like it was straight from black and white TV ... clearly a nod to its US design origins.

[@yslee1401]

SC430 is the car in the opening scene of Terminator 3. The lady Terminator (a Norwegian model) was super gorgeous and definitely below 55 years of age

[@paulmcgregor6411]

I’m coming to the defence of the Mazda diesel engines. I’ve had 2, a GH 2012 Mazda 6 wagon and a 2023 CX-8. Many of the issues are down to how they are driven, if you’re doing short trips to the shops and school drop offs, you’re going to have problems due to the DPF not being able to do a burn and the engine being able to get hot enough. Regular long drives on the freeway and sticking to the service schedule (do not skip or stretch out) avoids many of the problems. I will admit the early sky active diesel engines are ones to avoid as there’s well known problems. Those after 2017 seem to be far more reliable. I’m surprised they didn’t mention the 2.5L turbo petrol engine, as that has major problems with blowing the head gasket in the CX-5, CX-9 and 6.

[@Themitch343]

TheStraightPipes uses ad spots such as “what is the continental recommended tyre etc.” Maybe you should try something similar with wiper blades. Just a thought but you do you.

[@F.S92]

Guys, you really need to put a timestamp each time you talk about the next car. Dont be like Angry Joe and have your community do it via comments.

[@charles6232]

Your comments on the C-HR, yeah, but you guys only drove a CVT equipped model. Go try a manual. You have a bit more gear control and therefore a bit more performance. Then you can switch it into “sport” mode and you will get a little more “go” again. No road burner for sure, but better compared to the CVT models.

[@snot2880]

Would love to see you guys do a video on the E90 gen 3 series.

[@cheekong08]

Don't buy a Suzuki Grand Vitara MY2010. It has a defective engine top block that cracks at 100,000 km. Once it cracks, engine oil will leak and mix with the coolant and turns into sludge causing the car to overheat. IMHO, it should have been a recall issue but Suzuki replaced it under warranty (labour + parts) if it cracks with 3 years and after that Suzuki will replace parts but not labour after warranty subject to their assessment. The car runs beautifully when everything is OK though.

[@niklasfrisell5714]

The c-hr with the 2.0 litre should be a better car than the 1.8?

[@reneeandmitchhardman6326]

We have a ‘23 Juke STL + and love it but I will admit that at times sitting in the back makes you feel abducted like Adam said about the CH-R; fairly zippy and honestly I prefer it on the daily commute to the ‘15 XV we also own.

[@bmmontei]

@@reneeandmitchhardman6326 I've been in the back of a chr and that is also not true. Very comfortable. Not comparable to a full size suv but still good.