When it comes to keeping track of a model's reliability record over the years, few orgranizations offer better percentage information than Consumer Reports (CR) magazine.
CR's information may not guarantee that a particular unit of a brand may be as good or bad as the other units wearing the same badge, but it will give you a reliable trend rating on most models.
It will tell you, for example, that you shouldn't buy used versions of such popular models as the New Beetle or the Mercedes-Benz M-class, but suggests that used versions of such unsung cars as the Ford Escort and the Nissan Sentra are good bets.
CR gets its information on all those vehicles by listening to people who own them, so this annual is sort of the ultimate word of mouth guide. And all of those mouths have definitive opinions about a lot of vehicles.
So the smart consumer watches to see whether CR turns thumbs up or down on a specific model, which is exactly what the magazine does every fall with its used car report. It's available now on most large magazine racks and will be until November, or you can log on to CR's website at www.ConsumerReports.org.
CR recommends brands in general terms, but it also supplies more specific information on model years and sometimes engine or driveline choices. So, it's worth looking to see if a brand that might be a Good Bet or a Reliability Risk in general might have a specific model that is more trouble or is an even better bet.