It can be next to impossible to know if the used car you’re about to purchase will turn out to be a clunker. Thankfully, there’s some extra due diligence you can do to make sure you’re making the most informed purchase possible.
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Chris Pyle, an auto expert with JustAnswer, spends his days diagnosing problems and helping car owners navigate repairs. After years of working on vehicles that turned out to be, well, not great buys, Pyle has developed strong opinions about what used cars to avoid.
“When buying a used car, it may be a good one on paper, but the prior owner could have abused and ruined it,” Pyle said. “Even the best cars, if abused, can fail catastrophically before even reaching 30,000 miles.”
Here are the three categories of used cars Pyle tells people to steer clear of, and what he recommends instead.
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Sports Cars: Built for Performance, Driven Beyond Limits
Pyle’s first piece of advice might disappoint driving enthusiasts: Stay away from sports cars. It’s not because they’re poorly built. Spoiler alert: It’s the opposite.
“Sports cars, well, you know the prior owner likely drove it like they stole it at some point,” Pyle said. “That accelerates wear. Although the car is designed for it, that does not mean it is designed to drive fast and make tight turns on some of the roads we drive on or in the driving scenarios we have to endure.”
The problem, according to Pyle, is a driving style he calls “racing between red lights” — accelerating hard from stops, speeding through traffic then braking hard for the next light. “The first to leave the line, the fastest in the middle, and the first to brake hard for the next light. That style of driving wears out car parts.”
Even though sports cars are engineered to handle performance driving, they’re not designed for the constant abuse many owners subject them to on public roads. The result is premature wear on everything from clutches to suspension components.
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Foreign Cars: Great Until You Need Parts
Pyle’s second recommendation might surprise people who’ve heard about the reliability of certain foreign brands. His concern isn’t with the engineering — it’s with ownership costs after the warranty expires.
“Parts are going to start failing,” Pyle explained. “Sourcing those parts often is expensive, and finding a shop to actually work on them is somewhat difficult. Plus, regular maintenance is not cheap either.”
The mechanic also warned about a growing problem that affects both foreign and domestic vehicles: parts availability. “American cars are being built with so much sophisticated stuff that no one is making aftermarket,” he shared. And manufacturers are not making replacement parts after 10 years.”
This creates a ticking clock for car owners. “There will come a time in the near future when a perfect-looking car is dead in the water because the parts to repair it are not available. Cars designed outside of the United States are going to suffer more in this aspect.”
Trucks: Workhorses That Get Worked Too Hard
Pyle’s third category might be the most controversial: trucks. Despite their reputation for durability, he sees too many that have been destroyed by improper use.
“Trucks have been used for its purpose,” Pyle said. “So many people have no clue what they are doing when using 4×4, hauling and towing. The truck has likely been abused from improper use by the driver.”
The result is premature wear on critical components. “The engine, transmission and drive line will have wear. I see too many truck failures that were caused by the right foot of the driver,” he explained. “Owners expect too much from them, and they alter the suspension and engine performance all too often. These upgrades accelerate the parts’ failing prematurely.”
What Pyle Recommends Instead: The Boring Champions
Instead of flashy sports cars, exotic imports or heavy-duty trucks, Pyle suggested something much more mundane: “I would stick with plain jane 4-door sedans, SUVs and minivans.”
His reasoning is based on owner behavior rather than engineering. “Most likely, they have not been driven fast or hard, and they have had all the services needed,” he said.
He also shared that many of these practical vehicles are used for business purposes, where maintenance is taken seriously. “These cars are often business cars, where all repairs and maintenance are done right on the dot when required.”
The Rental Car Dilemma
When asked about former rental cars, Pyle has mixed feelings. “I am not really a fan of buying rentals because I know how I drive them,” he said.
The cars face challenges from inexperienced drivers learning the controls in real time. “Each owner has to go through a learning curve. So curbs get hit, bumpers get scratched and paint is often scratched from luggage going in and out.”
However, there’s an upside. “The good news, though. They are maintained exceptionally well and cleaned very often. The inside of a rental car is normally the cleanest used car you will find.”
What You Really Need To Understand About Buying Used
Pyle’s advice boils down to understanding that buying a used car means buying someone else’s decisions. “There are so many cars made, it would be hard to list them all that have problems because there are just too many,” he said.
Rather than focusing on specific makes and models, buyers should think about what type of owner previously had the vehicle. Sports cars attract aggressive drivers, foreign cars can become expensive to maintain and trucks often get pushed beyond their limits.
The safest bets? The boring family vehicles that practical owners maintain religiously because they can’t afford to be stranded. They might not turn heads, but according to Pyle, they’re far more likely to provide reliable, affordable transportation — which is what most used car buyers really need.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Mechanic: 3 Types of Used Cars I Wouldn’t Buy — and What I’d Choose Instead
