Used cars: the best and worst available.(Autos)(Buyers guide)

These lists guide you to the most reliable vehicles for 10 model years, 1997 through 2006, and alert you to those that have been problematic. Reliable vehicles and Vehicles to avoid include all models that showed above- or below-average overall reliability (Used Car Verdicts) in our 2006 Annual Car Reliability Survey, which drew responses on about 1.3 million vehicles.

Pay particular attention to CR Good Bets and CR Bad Bets, which we compiled from the longer lists. They cover the models for which we have sufficient survey data for at least three years, and have either performed notably well or have been especially troublesome. CONSUMER REPORTS considers problems with major engine components, engine cooling, transmissions, and drive systems to be more serious, and they are weighted more heavily than other areas. For detailed reliability Ratings on the six latest model years, see the charts starting on page 184.

Reliable vehicles

These models earned better- or much-better-than-average Used Car Verdicts in our 2006 survey (see page 184). Vehicles are listed by price range and alphabetically by manufacturer. Price ranges (rounded to the nearest $1,000) are approximately what you should expect to pay for a typically equipped model with average mileage.

LESS THAN $4,000

Chevrolet Prizm '98; Tracker '98

Ford Escort '99