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.

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.