At the start of each new model year each fall, Consumer Reports, a trusted source for all things consumer, releases its Car Reliability Survey. Not all car owners stash away the survey because most owners have no idea when they might be selling a used car.

But its results can be telltale whether your used car sale will go smoothly, or if you’re in for a prolonged effort.

Used car buyers want a vehicle that is dependable enough to get them to work, school and play, consistently.

The Consumer Reports survey looks at new models, but with information gathered during the spring of the previous model year. The survey this year considered responses from Consumer Reports readers for more than 1.4 million vehicles.

That’s an enormous amount of vehicles and indicates the survey results are trustworthy, particularly if you’re in the mode to sell a used car.

Most Reliable Cars and Selling a Used Car

The magazine’s top picks in each segment is interesting to look at:

• Small Car: Scion xD
• Family Car: Toyota Prius
• Sporty Car, Coupes & Convertibles: Lexus SC
• Upscale/Luxury Car: Infiniti M35 (rear wheel drive)
• Wagons & Minivan: Toyota Matrix
• Small SUV: Honda Element
• Midsized SUV: Honda Pilot
• Large SUV: Toyota Sequoia
• Pickup Truck: Toyota Tundra (V6)

Think about how many of the most reliable vehicles are Toyota’s: four from its parent brand, plus Lexus is the Japanese automaker’s luxury wing, and Scion is its small car maker. Additionally, every single top pick is an import.

While not in the top picks list, Ford proved to be the most reliable American brand, Consumer Reports reported.

When you start the process to sell a used car, understand its pros and cons. If a notable source such as Consumer Reports notes that it’s reliable, or very fuel-efficient, or just plan cool, show it off to potential buyers. After all, you want the most cash for a used car as possible, right?

For example, the current Consumer Reports survey also ranked automakers as a whole. The list this year was topped by Scion, followed in order by Acura, Honda, Toyota and Lexus.

 Applying Reliability Reports toward Selling a Used Car Wisely

It’s clear that if you have a Toyota or any of the company’s spinoffs, the reputation is built strongly to use reliability as a key selling point. In selling a used car, you are marketing its strengths and must rely on them to get top dollar.

Something new in the Consumer Reports survey is a first look at hybrid vehicles. So many people bought them last year, and so many are brand new models, that few reports are out there yet.

Consumer Reports had sufficient information about nine hybrid models, and they all rated above average in predicted reliability. For the American cars, Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid small sport utility vehicles rated above average in predicted reliability.

Being fair to the Americans, some Japanese models were singled out in the survey. For example, three Toyota models fell to below average – the Camry V6, Tundra V8 four-wheel drive, and the Lexus GS all-wheel drive.

For Chevrolet, the redesigned Malibu fared well. Elsewhere in General Motors, the Buick Lucerne V8 and Pontiac C6 were rated above average for reliability.

Used cars and reliability walk hand in hand when you’re trying to sell a used car. Not everyone does the research before buying a used car, so it is up to you to inform them. Learn about how your used car stacks up, and let it be known.

The post Selling a Used Car Based on Reliability appeared first on Cash for Cars Selling Tips.

We’ve even done it with our reliable used-car sales overview.

Reliability is a huge factor in the mind of any potential car buyer. It’s that peace-of-mind on Highway 395 through Bishop. Or for that matter, while rolling through Bakersfield, Baldwin Park, Brea or Barstow in California’s summer heat.

The D Word

The ability of a car to always start, and run, where and when needed.

Many don’t care what a vehicle looks like, or how it feels inside. The No. 1 question: will it start, and get me where I need to go?

Soccer moms demand it. Without it, commuters will move on to another vehicle.

J.D. Power and Associates recently released its newest ranking of luxury vehicles based on dependability. Lexus took the title, with Buick dropping from the top spot it held last year.

This marks 14 years in a row that Lexus – Toyota’s high-end brand – held top rankings in the study.

The study measures problems experienced by original owners of vehicles after three years.

Lexus had 120 problems per 100 vehicles, down from 145 the previous year.

You May be Surprised at The Results

Some rankings, such as that of Buick, are rather surprising.

Not because Buick makes bad cars, but because dependability seems to be an asset that the company markets to sell its models.

Another interesting high-ranked luxury car was Ford’s Mercury, which placed second in the J.D. Power list.

It was followed Cadillac for General Motors, Toyota, and Honda’s Acura luxury brand.

Land Rover was the worst, with 344 problems per 100 vehicles.

Overall, the average improved to 206 problems per 100 vehicles, down by 10 from the previous year.

Most improved was GM’s Saab brand, to 254 problems, down from 319.

That was in the luxury class alone. In the compact car segment, the Toyota Prius hybrid was top-ranked. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was the top among the midsize sporty cars.

Ford models topped three categories: the Crown Victoria as the best large car, the Ford Ranger as a midsize pickup, and the Mercury Monterey as the most dependable minivan.

Chrysler was the only Detroit automaker with no brands besting the industry average.

So, What Are the Biggest Problems?

The biggest problem cited in the study was wind noise – peculiar considering the study was about dependability.

If a car’s ability to run smoothly is the most important aspect for an auto owner, who cares about wind noise?

That was followed by noisy brakes, pulling left or right, dashboard problems, and window fogging.

It’s Not All About J.D. Powers

There are, of course, other ratings for car dependability. MSN Autos offers its own Car Reliability Ratings, where you can simply type in the year, make and model of an auto to learn more.

On the site, of interest is a note that a major reason people resist buying used cars, according to J.D. Power research among focus groups, is buyers don’t want to inherit “someone else’s problems.”

The search mechanism is fun to play with. For example, typing in a 2000 Toyota Tacoma reveals that users give the vehicle an 8.7 rating, while MSN Autos gives it a 7.5.

Users and MSN Autos also post their own reviews.

“Best vehicle I ever owned,” reported one owner in an Overall assessment. “I do wish the new Tacoma’s were smaller, but if gas hits $5, maybe they’ll get small again.”

Of course some user reviews should be viewed with a grain of salt, because a writer may have sour grapes over his or her purchase that influences a negative review – which then remains on the site for all to see.

On the other side, who knows if glowing reports are coming from a dealership, or the actual automaker. Some companies have been known to have professional bloggers infiltrate review sites with positive reports – and the automotive industry is not alone in this facet.

Being smart and doing research that utilizes several different sources of information should help reduce the influence of opinions and provide solid factual evidence.

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