My car is falling apart. I need a car. However, I'm not sure what to
get. I'm told that the main trouble my car seems to have is that I
rarely drive it. I drive 5 miles every few days. Once every two weeks
or so, I drive 30 miles to a mall or restaurant. I don't need lots of
fancy gadgets. I don't tow or haul anything. I do need heat and AC.

What kinds of cars/vehicles will hold up best when not driven very often?

---

Clarification of Question by hammer-ga on 11 Jan 2006 06:00 PST

Also, I live in Cleveland, Ohio. Salt, rust, snow and ice are
definitely factors.  I want a vehicle that is safe in winter weather.

- Hammer

Any Toyota.

They are VERY reliable so much so that dealers moan about their low
maintenance requirements. I've had one for years and have mainly had
the usual probs like exhaust, tyres and batteries. Nothing serious and
it always starts whatever the weather. Oh yes, and I don't do big
mileages (just like you).

Ditto what Mikimoro said, but for Honda.

Your driving habits are very hard on engines. Change the oil every three months.

You may want to listen to Bill Cosby's "200 miles per hour" for a laugh.

Get A Volvo

They call them the time machines.  They will last for ever.  I worked
for a Volvo dealership years ago and owners told me all the time how
they last and how safe they are.

dude, if money is a factor, get yourself a hyundai accent. good in
snow, not many fancy gadgets, great for city use.
 
p.s.  who told you that rarely driving is a problem? let the car warm
up and way to go!

I've had three Volvos ('81 240 turbo and 2 identical '87 760 IC turbo)
and they required much more regular care and feeding than my Honda.
Parts are costly (alternator, $175; A/C compressor, $350; turbo, $500;
fuel pump, $350 to $475, depending on which one) and there are a few
quirks that only an experienced Volvo mechanic will be familiar with.
Not as bad as the MG, but close.

The most reliable cars I've ever had have been my 2 Darts, a '67 and
then a '66. Easy to tinker with, everything within reach, parts are a
dime a dozen, and built like modern SUV without that pesky rollover
thing. My '67 once rolled down a short hill and buried itself in two
nearly new parked cars, causing over $2000 in damage to EACH, in 1984
dollars. My Dart got some of the paint rubbed off the bumper (the
heathen I bought it from hand painted the whole thing flat black
including those big ol' chrome bumpers-- we figure he was smuggling
something). THAT WAS IT.

Of course, a Volvo is likely much more reliable nowadays.

Short-distance driving causes water and impurities to build up in the
oil and exhaust system. The car's drivetrain components fail to get to
full operating temperature and then are cooled off, causing
condensation. Much like people, cars benefit from a workout two or
three times per week. Do not, however, run the car around just to do
this-- that puts miles on the clock and devalues the thing!

Check Consumer Reports for reliable cars. The Toyota, Honda and recent
Saturns are very well rated. Buy one that's two or three years old and
you should be fine.

In recent years, I've owned an Audi, a Volvo, a Jaguar + a Honda, a
Nissan and now a Toyota, in that order.

I would never buy another Jaguar or a Nissan but all the others have
been very reliable.

Toyota comes top.