Looking For A Reliable Car? Three Things You Need To Watch For Before Buying

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 04/02/2025 at 07:48

Updated on 04/02/2025 at 07:49

Foto: AB

Be the first to react!

Before Buying a Vehicle, Pay Attention to These Three Essential Points to Ensure a Reliable Car and Avoid Headaches.

When you are buying a car, what is the most important thing you are looking for? A survey revealed that “reliability” is the number one factor for three-quarters of respondents, closely followed by “safety“. Do you want a reliable car? Here are some points to consider.

It is easy to understand why reliability scores so high: drivers want peace of mind knowing that the vehicle they have invested a considerable amount of money in can last for years and not leave them stranded on the road.

However, many buyers do not know exactly what makes a car reliable. At a basic level, it needs to have durable components and a history of good performance. With that, let’s address some essential aspects to consider when choosing your next car.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Engines: Timing Belt vs. Timing Chain

Every internal combustion engine has a timing system that ensures synchronization between pistons and valves. This system can use a timing belt or a timing chain, each with advantages and disadvantages.

Timing Belt: Made of steel-reinforced rubber, needs to be replaced between (60,000 to 100,000 miles). Replacement costs can exceed US$ 1,000 as it involves disassembling several engine parts.
Timing Chain: Made of metal, usually lasts the lifetime of the engine. While it is a bit noisier, manufacturers have managed to minimize this issue today. Choosing an engine with a chain can save thousands of dollars in maintenance in the long run.

Regardless of the type of timing, maintaining regular oil changes is essential to avoid premature wear and ensure the engine operates efficiently.

Transmissions: Manual, Automatic, or CVT

The transmission is one of the most complex mechanical components of a car. There are three main types:

Manual: An old and reliable technology. If well maintained, it can last the entire lifespan of the vehicle. The clutch will eventually need to be replaced, costing a few hundred dollars.
Automatic: Very durable, can last hundreds of thousands of kilometers, but is expensive to repair. A failure can result in repair costs of thousands of dollars.
CVT (continuously variable transmission): More efficient and cheaper to manufacture, but requires frequent maintenance. Although it is cheaper initially, a failure can result in high repair costs.

To ensure the longevity of the transmission, keep fluid changes up to date and avoid driving harshly.

Internal Combustion Cars vs. Electric Vehicles

Electric and hybrid vehicles are growing in popularity due to their efficiency and reliability. They have advantages such as:

Regenerative Braking: Reduces brake wear, extending their lifespan from 15,000 miles (24,140 km) to up to 45,000 miles (72,420 km), saving on maintenance.
Fewer Fluids to Change: Fully electric vehicles do not require engine oil or coolant, reducing maintenance costs.

However, internal combustion engines have the advantage of not relying on lithium-ion batteries, the replacement cost of which in Brazil can range from R$ 25,000 to R$ 50,000 after approximately 100,000 km.

When visiting a dealership or talking to a salesperson, ask questions about the car’s components.

Choosing a reliable car is an investment in peace of mind and long-term savings. Evaluate your options carefully and make an informed choice!

Looking For A Reliable Car? Three Things You Need To Watch For Before Buying

Before Buying a Vehicle, Pay Attention to These Three Essential Points to Ensure a Reliable Car and Avoid Headaches.

Engines: Timing Belt vs. Timing Chain

Transmissions: Manual, Automatic, or CVT

Internal Combustion Cars vs. Electric Vehicles

Gaddafi built the world’s largest artificial river under the Sahara — it’s 4,000 km of giant pipes that pump 40,000-year-old fossil water to entire cities in Libya.

Discovery in Africa scares even scientists: a study published on April 23 reveals that the crust in Turkana has become so thin that it could pave the way for the continent’s division and the emergence of an ocean in the future, in a gigantic geological transformation.

Japanese garbage collectors treat filthy trucks as if they were dealership cars, and the obsession with cleanliness is so absurd that they invented a washing machine that only exists for this type of vehicle.

A Brazilian rode a motorcycle up to 5,000 meters of altitude in Peru to find the exact place where the world’s largest river originates, and what he found up there surprised even himself.

An engine that consumes 40% less gasoline than the average new car already exists and runs on 100% renewable fuel that costs only 10 cents more per liter at Repsol stations.

In 1991, Brazil’s GDP was almost double India’s, and today it is little more than half: while India grew 6.5% per year and trained engineers, Brazil preferred to train lawyers, and now it is rushing to strengthen ties with the world’s fourth-largest economy.

South America’s most famous oasis has an emerald lagoon formed by underground waters in the Peruvian desert. It is located 300 km from Lima, is surrounded by giant dunes, and holds a mysterious mermaid legend.

A panel that transforms water and sunlight into green hydrogen without using electricity is drawing attention for eliminating electrolyzers, reducing costly steps, and paving the way for clean fuel produced on-site.

A country that could lose almost all its territory to the advance of the sea by 2100 has already started creating new land on the ocean in a survival project that tries to guarantee housing, infrastructure, and the very continuity of the nation.

Paleontologists find in Brazil a bizarre 275-million-year-old animal with a twisted jaw, teeth turned sideways, and a lineage so ancient that it already seemed like a living fossil in its own time.

A sacred tree near an Indian temple holds up a multi-million dollar project at an international airport, delaying the use of an already completed taxiway and forcing authorities to wait for the monsoons to carry out the transplant.

Tractors with artificial intelligence that speak and operate autonomously steal the show at Agrishow 2026 and promise to revolutionize productivity and reduce costs in the field.

Looking For A Reliable Car? Three Things You Need To Watch For Before Buying

Before Buying a Vehicle, Pay Attention to These Three Essential Points to Ensure a Reliable Car and Avoid Headaches.

Engines: Timing Belt vs. Timing Chain

Transmissions: Manual, Automatic, or CVT

Internal Combustion Cars vs. Electric Vehicles

Gaddafi built the world’s largest artificial river under the Sahara — it’s 4,000 km of giant pipes that pump 40,000-year-old fossil water to entire cities in Libya.

Discovery in Africa scares even scientists: a study published on April 23 reveals that the crust in Turkana has become so thin that it could pave the way for the continent’s division and the emergence of an ocean in the future, in a gigantic geological transformation.

Japanese garbage collectors treat filthy trucks as if they were dealership cars, and the obsession with cleanliness is so absurd that they invented a washing machine that only exists for this type of vehicle.

A Brazilian rode a motorcycle up to 5,000 meters of altitude in Peru to find the exact place where the world’s largest river originates, and what he found up there surprised even himself.

An engine that consumes 40% less gasoline than the average new car already exists and runs on 100% renewable fuel that costs only 10 cents more per liter at Repsol stations.

In 1991, Brazil’s GDP was almost double India’s, and today it is little more than half: while India grew 6.5% per year and trained engineers, Brazil preferred to train lawyers, and now it is rushing to strengthen ties with the world’s fourth-largest economy.

South America’s most famous oasis has an emerald lagoon formed by underground waters in the Peruvian desert. It is located 300 km from Lima, is surrounded by giant dunes, and holds a mysterious mermaid legend.

Toyota ends the Diesel era: new Hilux with up to 380 km of urban range brings 196 hp, 59.2 kWh battery, 4×4 traction and 715 kg of load capacity

Chinese company launches car with a rocket engine that accelerates quickly and goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 0.9 seconds; meet the Nebula Next 01 Jet Edition from Dreame Technology.

Fiat Strada dominates April with almost 13 thousand units registered and shows why a compact pickup continues beating hatches, SUVs, and electric vehicles in the Brazilian market.

Honda CG 160 dominates April with over 41 thousand units, gets up to 40 km/l, travels more than 500 km on a single tank, and costs starting from R$ 14 thousand, showing why a simple motorcycle continues to beat scooters, electric bikes, and more technological models in Brazil.

The electric classic fever resurrected Kombi, Fusca and other street icons, created a billion-dollar market of nostalgia on wheels, and angered collectors who see restomods as an assault against the soul of classics.

A panel that transforms water and sunlight into green hydrogen without using electricity is drawing attention for eliminating electrolyzers, reducing costly steps, and paving the way for clean fuel produced on-site.

A country that could lose almost all its territory to the advance of the sea by 2100 has already started creating new land on the ocean in a survival project that tries to guarantee housing, infrastructure, and the very continuity of the nation.

Paleontologists find in Brazil a bizarre 275-million-year-old animal with a twisted jaw, teeth turned sideways, and a lineage so ancient that it already seemed like a living fossil in its own time.

A sacred tree near an Indian temple holds up a multi-million dollar project at an international airport, delaying the use of an already completed taxiway and forcing authorities to wait for the monsoons to carry out the transplant.

Tractors with artificial intelligence that speak and operate autonomously steal the show at Agrishow 2026 and promise to revolutionize productivity and reduce costs in the field.