The Cars and Trucks People Never Regret Buying
Car buyer’s remorse is painful to experience. Just when you’re about to settle into your new ride, you notice a buzzing sound in the back seat. Or maybe there’s a lot of noise in the cabin the first time you cross a bridge. These little things start to grate on people’s nerves — sometimes more than a car’s dull styling or high gas consumption.
Given these problems, it’s no surprise how people try to ditch certain cars before even a year passes. Yet there are plenty of models that have the opposite effect on consumers. No matter what happens, people end up holding onto these vehicles for 10 years or more.
Finding these models is actually easier than most people think. First, you can check on which cars rate highest for owner satisfaction. In Consumer Reports surveys, some models had over 90% of owners saying they’d buy the car again. Otherwise, you can check used vehicle stats to see how long the original owners kept them. We did these things and more to come up with a list of much-loved vehicles. Here are 10 cars and trucks people never regret buying.
10. Ford Expedition

We can see several reasons why people never get rid of a Ford Expedition. For starters, this SUV ranked first among the longest-lasting cars on the road for 2017. When a vehicle shows true durability, owners have little reason to get rid of them. However, Ford also made sure to constantly improve Expedition, leading up to the excellent redesign for 2018. The new model may inspire even more loyalty in buyers.
9. Chevrolet Corvette

Who would possibly regret buying a Corvette? It looks gorgeous, drives like a European supercar, and comes relatively cheap (all things considered). When Corvette owners went to sell their cars between 2013 and 2017, the average model had spent 8.8 years in its owner’s care, a study by iSeeCars.com found. That’s staying power. Meanwhile, in a Consumer Reports survey from 2016, 91% of Corvette owners said they would buy one again. Case closed.
8. Honda Ridgeline

For a truck, Honda Ridgeline scores an awful lot of points for comfort and handling. Owners surveyed by Consumer Reports raved about its versatility, roominess, and overall pleasure of the driving experience. Altogether, it scored at the top of its class in owner satisfaction. The redesigned model starts under $30,000 and gets 20 mpg combined.
7. Chrysler Pacifica

Though it hasn’t been around long, Chrysler Pacifica became a hit with buyers almost immediately. Owners gave it the top satisfaction ratings in a late 2016 survey, with 87% saying they’d buy one again. That puts it light years above the competition, including the outgoing Chrysler Town & Country. When you need a minivan and have a winner like Pacifica, you buy one and never look back.
6. Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda Miata continues to be a crowd-pleaser after nearly 30 years on the road in America. You simply can’t get a two-seater this fun to drive at prices near $25,000 on the new market. Once you start taking a Miata for Sunday drives, it becomes an addiction. Some 89% of owners said they would buy another one, and we’ve never talked to anyone who said they belong to the other 11%.
5. Chevrolet Volt

Most of the stumbling blocks for plug-in vehicles comes down to information and cost. Models like Chevrolet Volt start over $30,000 before incentives and still baffle the uninitiated. However, owners know exactly what they do — starting with 53 miles of electric range — and love it. This feeling comes over many people who start driving electric every day. In Volt’s case, it’s incredibly practical with the gas engine eliminating range anxiety.
4. Porsche 911

Will Porsche 911 disappear before it goes autonomous? Our money says it will. However, we’re pretty sure 911 will last forever. This sports car defines performance for one of the industry’s most iconic brands. Meanwhile, buyers can’t get enough of 911. In Consumer Reports surveys, 88% of owners said they would go back to the dealership and get another.
3. Tesla Model S

If you know electric cars, you’ll probably put Tesla Model S at the top of the class after your first drive. No model can claim its electric range, acceleration, or raw power. However, Model S only begins charming drivers there. Its handling, style, and superior tech make it a keeper for anyone who gets in the driver’s seat on a regular basis. In Consumer Reports surveys, no vehicle could top this Tesla’s 94% customer satisfaction rate.
2. Toyota Prius

It may not be sexy, but Toyota Prius is a legend for its practicality. Buyers have been getting extraordinary gas mileage in the famous hybrid for well over a decade. On top of the efficiency, Prius always ranks among the top vehicles for reliability and ability to reach high-mileage goals. (Many have topped 500,000 miles). If you’re talking about value, few cars can top it, which is why 89% say they’d buy one again.
1. Ford F-150

It may not have the top rating when it comes to repeat buyers, but the overall satisfaction is sky-high for the Ford F-150. When you consider how many millions of these trucks are on the road after all these years, that reputation speaks for itself. Of course, blowing out the competition every year for America’s best-selling vehicle answers the remaining questions. Owners love the power and handling, plus the fact new models have comfortable interiors, too.