I am going to stick in my limited experiences with my vehicles.
1986 1/2 Nissan Hardbody pickup 2WD bare bones. It had 151K on it when traded off, one blown head gasket around 80K.
1991 GMC Sonoma 4X4 extended cab 4.3L: Transmission went out at 51K (just out of warranty) and valve stem issue caused a blue puff of exhaust when starting, rear main seal leaked causing 1/2 quart low at 3000 oil change.
1993 Ford Escort 4 door sedan: traded at 107K, only had a brake issue that was covered under warranty.
1991 Ford F150 2WD Extended cab: clutch around 85K, traded that off at 100K
1996 Pontiac Grand Am: Nice car, but around 70K-80K it started shutting off (like you turn off the key) while going down the highway/interstate. Sometimes it would start right back up, other times it would take up to 30 minutes before it would reset. My wife put up with that crap until it almost made her late for a delivery of a baby.
2000 Subaru Outback Wagon: 155K on it right now. Replaced one head gasket (paid for by my extended warranty purchased when I bought the car), replaced leaky seal around water pump (I think) which was also paid for by the extended warranty. Oh, and I just added freon to the a/c system.
Not the most comfortable car, but it gets me places I wouldn't go with a 2WD truck.
2001 Olds Aurora 3.5L: blower fan for the inside ventillation system went out the first week we had it. 105 without A/C, YUK! Back and forth to the dealer because they kept ripping the leather or chipping the wood on the center console, finally we gave up and lived with the chipped wood. Add Oil light came on while returning from a trip across country at 25000 miles. Check, no oil on the dipstick. Added 2 quarts, monitored oil consumption from then on, anywhere from 1/2 quart to 2 quarts per oil change since that point. GM says unless it is more than 2 quarts between 3000 miles, that is normal. WHATEVER! Both front wheel bearings went at about 80K. Head gasket went around 94K, miss-diagnosed at dealer, cost us $400, then another $1100 when they finally got it right (after car kept overheating), the car was in the shop for 5 weeks, because they overtorqued a head bolt and stripped out the socket in the block! We have 108K on it now and have to add 2 quarts before an oil change. But it is paid for...
3 GM vehicles, 3 problems. I wasn't going to buy one again, but then Ford decided to turn pro homosexual, so they are out. I am not much of a Dodge fan, but that is just personal preferance with no experience with them. What do you do???
Be ye kind one unto another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
