Auto Trends

The Consumer Reports National Research Center is quite good at crunching numbers and finding the bet bets for our dollars. A few months back they compiled a list of some of the most reliable used vehicles from the year 1998 on up.

These reports looked at each vehicle for its least amount of reported problems, fuel efficiency, reliability, safety, affordability, and the ability to hold their value. The list picked out several vehicles from each manufacturer that rated highest. We take this report a bit further and and highlight our favorite vehicle from each of the chosen top rated manufacturers.

Acura Integra-

Acura MDX-

Yes, the Acura MDX has rated quite high from most critics, both professional and the soccer kid mom variety. With prices ranging in the low $11,000’s to mid $30,000’s there is an MDX for just about anyones budget and taste.

Being the top echelon of the Honda front, the Acura MDX was actually built to rival the legendary Lexus RX300, which is another great SUV to choose from, although if you’re going used, the MDX is a little better value for your money to be quite honest.

MDX, stands for “Multi Dimensional Luxury” and it follows through with its promise with close to 9 inches more space lengthwise than the RX300, which offers a lot of room for its seven occupants. Mind you, this is the kind of room that involves standard leather heated seats, power sunroof, 17-inch alloys, as well as its souped up Odyssey 3.5 liter V-6, which in MDX format packs the punch of 240 horsepower with its five speed automatic transmission.

The MDX has enough torque to tow a 3,500 lb trailer or a 4,500 boat. It also was optioned with a navigation system, which is still a nice feature to find today in a brand new vehicle. All around the MDX offers a great value for the value conscious consumer, new or used.

Acura RL-

Acura RSX-

Acura TL-

Acura TSX-

BMW M3-

BMW didn’t have anything else on the list, but what they lack in quantity they makeup in quality. The M3 has pretty much been the standard benchmark for what a compact sports sedan should be. While the 1998 and up M3’s were not as radical of the first generation from 1988 to 1991, the second and third generation offer more horsepower and options, as well as some pretty great deals in the used market.

The second generation M3 which ranged anywhere from 1995 on up to 1999 had a smooth running 240-hp inline-6, that offered balanced performance for both the everyday user and the occasional sports enthusiast. The 1998 M3 is a great find for the BMW enthusiast on a budget, when you consider that $12,000 on up to $16,000 will earn you the right to be an owner of one of these elite machines.

The third-generation M3, from 2001 on up to 2006 are quite a bit more costly that the 1998, at $22,000 on up to the $40,000’s, but they offer more to go along with the added expense. The 3.2 liter six cylinder for these years punches out 333 horsepower as opposed to the 240, which you can definitely feel in the seat of your pants.

All the third generations have manual style paddle shifters for the formula race enthusiast, but if your really into performance, then the 2005 competition package will be a must with its sport tuned suspension, 19-inch forged wheels, quick steering ratio, upgraded brakes, and a computerized track mode for those weekend racers.

All this, and enough room to fit your standard sized family comfortably across a four state road trip. Not a bad choice for the used compact sports sedan market… even when compared with some of the newer models coming out for 2009.

Buick LaCrosse-