10 Most Unreliable Cars of 2009

Unexpected repairs are a nightmare for any new car buyer. After investing thousands in a new vehicle the last thing you should be burdened with are repair bills. Fortunately we can tell you which cars to avoid. Consumer Reports recently released their 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey, using this and five-year repair-cost data Forbes.com has complied a list of the 10 most unreliable cars to buy.

1. Volkswagen Touareg
    Consumer Reports Rating: 66
    Five-year Cost of Repairs: $907
2. Mercedes-Benz GL450
    Consumer Reports Rating: 77
    Five-year Cost of Repairs: $1,509
3. Lincoln MKS
    Consumer Reports Rating: 73
    Five-Year Cost of Repairs: $869
4. Jaguar XF
    Consumer Reports Rating: 72
    Five-Year Cost of Repairs: $1,301
5. GMC Canyon
    Consumer Reports Rating: 41
    Five-Year Cost of Repairs: $718
6. Ford F-250
    Consumer Reports Rating: 37
    Five-year Cost of Repairs: $969
7. Dodge Caravan
    Consumer Reports Rating: 60
    Five-year Cost of Repairs: $807
8. Chrysler Town & Country
    Consumer Reports Rating: 64
    Five-year Cost of Repairs: $807
9. Chrysler Sebring Convertible
    Consumer Reports Rating: 45
    Five-year Cost of Repairs: $770
10. Chevrolet Colorado
    Consumer Reports Rating: 41
    Five-year Cost of Repairs: $798

The car with the best Consumer Reports reliability rating was the Honda Insight, followed by numerous Toyota, Honda, and Nissan models.

Companies Launch Car Incentives to Replace Leases

Several companies are launching financial car incentives to compensate the loss of leasing as a viable sales tool.

The moves come after all three Detroit auto makers changed their leasing programs in recent days. According to Bloomberg News Chrysler has stopped offering leases through its Chrysler Financial unit, while General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and BMW announced plans to tighten the availability of leasing.

According to the Saint Louis Post Dispatch Chrysler on Friday announced several finance deals "to make buying as affordable as renting," the automaker said in a statement. The deals include 72-month financing on a wider range of vehicles and $2,000 cash-back on certain purchases financed by Chrysler Financial.

And CNN reported that Chrysler not only has extended discounted six-year financing to more products, but is offering $750 to lease customers that can be used toward the purchase of a new vehicle. The company is also offering 40 percent off select Dodge Ram pickups as part of its August incentive program for dealers and BMW several weeks ago began offering buyers 0.9 percent loans of as long as five years Bloomberg News reported.

GM meanwhile is offering its customers $1,000 off various V-6-powered versions of the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and the Pontiac G8 sedan that hit showrooms this spring. According to Dow Jones Newswires the auto maker will continue to offer six years of free financing on its large SUVs and up to $8,000 off a GMC Envoy or Chevy Trailblazer.

Buyers also can get a deal on the Corvette sports car, up to 48 months free financing. Even though GM has offered zero-interest loans on the iconic Chevy before, the company’s never done it for such a long time.

So even though leasing is getting tighter or eliminated not everything is looking bleak for those looking to purchase a new car, just try to find the incentives that best adjust to your budget before heading to the dealership.

Strike or not, it's a good bet you won't be waiting long for your Malibu

Ok, show of hands now. How many out there really believe GM is in a big hurry to settle the strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Co.?

That's what I thought. Not many of you, huh?

With the strike at AA&M a month old, plant workers are still battling to keep management from taking away half their salaries. And while GM says it wants resolution, there just doesn't see to be much the automaker is offering except lip service.

Now, the strike is threatening to halt production of GM's hottest new car - the Chevrolet Malibu, 2008 Car of the Year, as noted in a recent story in the Chicago Tribune.

But how much do you want to bet that isn't going to happen? GM has already sold 27,000 Malibu's in the first quarter of this year, and over 30,000 of the gas conscious Pontiac G6 during the same time frame.

That seems like more than enough good news for GM to offset the closure of seven truck plants, a sedan operation and 22 parts facilities that remain idle because of the strike. You do the math.

Can we afford to keep on truckin' much longer?

Have the days of tooling around town in a 300 horsepower pickup just because you're a "truck guy or gal" gone bye-bye about as quickly as has $2 a gallon gasoline? You bet your hybrid-fuel vehicle they just about have.

With fuel prices approaching the $4 a gallon mark, and having even surpassed it in some Hawaiian and California cities, as recently noted in the Kansas City Star, are we watching the death of the burly behemoths as a primary vehicle unless it also doubles as your business truck?

With mounting pressure from housing, energy and food prices, predictions by sources like The Detroit News are that sales of large trucks like the Chevy Silverado will hit an all time low as 2008 progresses.

Without question, we are staring the changing trend of vehicle buying squarely in the face as hybrids and Green Diesel Technology are not only being mandated by government, but dictated by rising fuel costs, too.

But maybe, the biggest reason truck sales may never be what they once were is simply because consumer's habits are being forced to change. And that more than anything else is a sign of the times that can't be ignored.

The Time has Come to Upgrade The Uplander

Though only introduced three years ago, Chevrolet's "crossover sport van" feels like it is already longing for a design revamp, which is luckily scheduled for next year. Until that time, the Chevrolet Uplander is woefully disappointing on a number of fronts.

Whether it's the sub-par ride, handling, safety or reliability, the Uplander lags noticeably behind in each of those itemized areas. Power is sufficient, but lack of responsiveness and a noisy driving experience do not help a buyer overlook the laundry list of other weaknesses. The interior design isn't much comfort either as the look is hard and utilitarian. The only slight bright spot, which is also bittersweet, is that in the last year the Uplander has begun to emerge from the shadows of it low reliability rating.

Although the price of the Uplander is lower than the following competitors. The BuyingAdvice Team can't help but urge buyers to spend a thousand or four more, for one of these far better alternatives-the Chrysler Town and Country or the Honda Odyssey.

The Chevrolet Avalanche: A Different Kind of Convertible

For about six years now there has been a unique truck on the market that is a true blend of a large pickup truck and an SUV. Re-designed last year, the Chevrolet Avalanche has a stronghold on a niche buyer segment mainly due to its "Convert-a-Cab" feature, which allows owners to expand cargo capacity by folding the rear passenger seats down and adjusting a moveable mid-gate into various cargo-friendly configurations.

This is a truck for buyers with very specialized needs. But for those who want to be able to have SUV-like passenger comfort, and transport a lot in the truck bed, and then switch between those two functions easily-well quite simply there is nothing better suited than an Avalanche. Unfortunately, these unique capabilities are reflected in a higher price. But like a lot of GM's trucks last year, the re-design has really improved the interior design and quality. Accelerations is surprisingly quick, the ride is comfortable and power very capable. And although gas mileage is average for this large and thirsty segment, the 4WD model allows owners to use E85 Flex Fuel if they so desire.

There really isn't a lot out there that matches the Avalanche's versatility completely. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac XLT has a similar truck/ SUV crossover design and it costs about $8,000 less but it's smaller and has less power. If you feel like spending about $20,000 more, you can get a ton more luxury features and about 80 more horses by purchasing a Cadillac Escalade EXT.

The Chevrolet Suburban: Tow the Whole Family, Plus All Your Neighbors

Remember that family down the street who had enough siblings to make up their own basketball team? Well hopefully those lucky parents discovered the class-leading size of the Suburban to make their lives a touch easier. With roots all the way back to the '30s and a re-design last year, the Chevrolet Suburban has improved ride quality, interior design and safety features to suit those needing to tote a small army around town.

This is an SUV that cruises comfortably on the freeway with plenty of space for all, plus enough power for a boat hitched in back. With its most recent updates, the Suburban offers a quieter driving experience with better control, although the sheer weight and size preclude any sort of sporty feel. The Suburban earned perfect government safety scores and reliability has improved in the last couple of years. One big drawback is that the optional third row doesn't fold down and has to be removed with significant, manual muscle.

Obviously, if you don't need the humongous dimensions in the Suburban there are some better options out there. The Nissan Armada costs a few thousand less and can tow more. If grand size is a necessity, another option is the GMC Yukon XL.

The Chevrolet Tahoe - Full-sized Utility with a Dash of Luxury

While the Tahoe, which debuted in its latest iteration last year, may not win any best buy pricing competitions; it does have a much more upscale fit and finish than generations past. If you need the towing, room and utility that only a full-size SUV can provide, the newest Chevrolet Tahoe may suit your needs well.

Although Chevrolet was successful in redesigning the Tahoe to offer more power plus increase fuel efficiency, EPA estimates of 14/mpg city and 19 mpg on the highway are only admirable for this rather thirsty segment. But with its sleeker exterior, added safety features and ride comfort, there is much to admire and take buyers minds away from gasoline prices. A lot of attention was paid to reducing noise with special tires and seals to great success. One of the only remaining design flaws, is a third row that needs to be manually lifted and removed to make way for cargo. Also the Tahoe's reliability record has been below average.

In terms of sheer towing ability, the Tahoe is hard to beat. If you don't need to haul as much, the Ford Expedition and Dodge Durango are worthy alternatives to check out.

The Chevrolet Colorado: A Reasonable Light-duty Truck

The Colorado has been on the market for about 4 years after replacing the long-running S-10. If you are looking for a well-priced domestic truck, that has solid safety and reliability and can carry light loads simply from point A to B, the BuyingAdvice Team thinks you may want to look into the Chevrolet Colorado.

Quite frankly, this truck is probably not for you if you haul heavy cargo everyday and need a comfortable truck to tackle long, regular commutes. Eventually, the lack of power and interior finish will disappoint. Interior materials match the Colorado's budget price and hard plastics abound. The Colorado has four and five-cylinder engine options that produce enough power, but just can't compete with many rivals V6 and V8's in terms of performance refinement. On the bright side, the Colorado has 3 cab configurations, is available in 2 or 4-wheel drive, has good safety and dependability and has two suspension options to provide a well-handled ride.

Rivals around the same starting price range worth checking out are the Toyota Tacoma and the Ford Ranger, although both have a smaller power to weight ratio. If you can invest a couple thousand more dollars, the Dodge Dakota offers more room and power.

The Chevrolet HHR - Affordable '40s Inspired Style

One is hard pressed not to compare Chevrolet's newer retro-styled wagon with Chrysler's PT Cruiser. Designed by the same creator, the HHR evokes styling of the late 40's Suburban with its classic looks. Since its 2006 debut, the Chevrolet HHR small utility wagon has received some new features and updates that the BuyingAdvice Team thinks make this a nice-looking and spacious wagon to drive around.

With no recalls since its introduction, the HHR offers better than average reliability. The ride is comfortable and smooth, although handling around curves is not as exceptional as some of its other qualities. This wagon does boast a lot of room for both passengers and cargo. And despite lacking some standard safety features, like side airbags, the HHR earned perfect scores in government crash tests. Some of the interior materials are lower-grade than the overall quality, but visibility is very good.

For $1,000 less, a buyer can purchase the similar Chrysler PT Cruiser which comes with standard side airbags, but has optional AC. If you don't mind trading in some fuel economy and a few thousand more dollars, another wagon worth looking into is the Honda Element.