[peterbotond]

i had a ford focus 2002, ran to 150,000 miles and it got totaled. The only things were replaced: timing belt, tires, brakes, fuel filter, plugs, O2 sensor, alternator, one of the solenoid (maybe 3rd or 4th gear). Besides the solenoid and the alternator all items are maintenance.

Does this count as good reliability?

[sokoloff]

At 100K miles, there's a pretty good argument that the alternator is maintenance as well. (If it died very early, maybe not, but it's a rotating part with brushes; it's eventually going to need maintenance on any car.)

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Absolutely agree. In addition to that we should include things like: radiator, radiator and heater hoses, air conditioning compressor, timing belt, break rotors (disks) and, automatic transmission, suspension bushes and shock absorbers, wheel bearings, exhaust pipes, mufflers, catalytic converters.

I only buy secondhand cars, and these are all things I've replaced, either myself or by mechanics. All these things will eventually wear out on a car, but replacing most of these parts is relatively straight forward, and I believe in expensive in comparison to the huge financial outlay require to purchase a new vehicle - in which we ought to include the depreciation as well as the running costs and maintenance.

[ams6110]

Maintenance items do not (or should not IMO) count as reliability items since they are similar expected expenses on all cars. Timing belt would be the only one I would look at because there can be significant differences in the mileage intervals. VW famously has (or had) a fairly short interval, like 30K miles, and very low tolerance for going over that. Other vehicles can go 100K miles before any engine maintenance beyond fluid changes.

[outworlder]

I hope they are no longer using timing belts. We should expect at least chains. Last longer and tend to warn you before they break.