[Alberta's Child]

Rating reliability based on something like "problems per 100 vehicles) may not be the best way to measure this. I would suspect that a more accurate indicator of a vehicle's reliability is its resale value at 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year intervals after purchase.

[Safetgiver]

I don't see resale value as worth anything unless the car sat on the showroom for it's entire life. My cars all have 200,000+ on them when I trade them in (between 2.5 years and 3 years)and I have to beg the dealer to take them because they go to the auction more than I can.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Market value is not related to reliability. Market value is determined by consumer preference.

I would look at the problems after 3 years of ownership. Much more accurate indicator of reliability, which is not the same thing as number of problems with the vehicle when it rolls off the assembly line.

My 2004 Hyundai Sonata has been extremely reliable for 26K miles. A few minor cosmetic things had to be fixed at the time of purchase. It is comfortable, reliable, cheap to operate. Resale value is lower than that of the Honda Accord, its equivalent. So what? It cost $7K less to purchase and needs no more repairs than the Accord. i.e. it is just as reliable as the Honda, just worth less on the resale market. My guess is that at 5 years the difference will be minimal.