It’s no secret that virtually anyone must buy a vehicle in the US. Even in big cities, public transportation can be unreliable or unsafe. Besides that, the car is an integral part of the American way of life. If, as an adult, you don’t have a driver’s license, chances are even the Police might find you suspicious. Believe it or not, it has happened. Officers have been giving people the stink eye (or worse) for just walking or casually running.
David Long of the Car Wizard YouTube channel and the Kansas-based Omega Auto Clinic is the technician bringing us a list of affordable rides that shouldn’t be in our driveways. Although he recently said that he wouldn’t work on vehicles manufactured by established American automakers, you could still send your European- or Japanese-made whip to his shop to get fixed. Car Wizard is known for being fair and not charging customers for work that hasn’t been done or parts that weren’t needed or installed.
The mechanic argued that having all the right tools and pricey software was becoming a burden. So, he simply decided to just not to accept Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Buick, Ram, GMC, or Lincoln vehicles brought in by average customers. He’ll still work on some of them, but only on those owned by his content creator friends.
Besides that, Car Wizard has a history of not caring about manufacturers’ opinions or demands. He has always spoken his mind, even though that might have landed him in hot water with some carmakers. Around two years ago, for example, he compiled a list of cars with terrible fuel economy, which, normally, should’ve been not that thirsty.
In one of his recent videos, the experienced technician warns Americans to avoid some cars that may have great prices but are very expensive to maintain. He’s adamant about you not even entertaining the idea of acquiring these five autos. Here’s the list and his reasons.
Photo: Car Wizard on YouTube
2010 Chevrolet Cruze
Long says the 2010 or newer Chevrolet Cruze with the turbocharged 1.4-liter engine is prone to turbo failures and even points out that the turbocharger will almost always fail sooner rather than later.
The mechanic says these vehicles weren’t manufactured with the utmost care, and Chevy hasn’t tested them enough to see if they might leave the factory with catastrophic failure points.
To defend his opinion, Car Wizard reminds us that General Motors initiated a recall for the steering wheel breaking off the steering shaft in 2011, one for engine fires in 2012, and another one for loss of braking power in 2013. All three targeted the sedan.
The man even goes as far as to say that the Cruze is “garbage.” Needless to say, if you trust Car Wizard, you shouldn’t shop around for a used Chevy Cruze with the 1.4-liter powerplant. You wouldn’t want to spend thousands to fix a car that costs between $1,000 and $6,000.
Photo: Car Wizard on YouTube
2015 Hyundai Sonata
Although we recently looked at a 2024 Hyundai Sonata N Line and concluded that the sedan can be a good buy for those who want a sleek, good-looking, and non-hybridized commuter, Car Wizard believes prior generations of this car should not be on your shopping list.
Long blames the 2.4-liter engine for Sonata’s place on this list of 5 affordable vehicles you shouldn’t consider buying.
He says the powerplant is almost impossible to maintain and gives as an example a customer who completely gave up on their vehicle because repairing it would’ve cost way more than the sedan’s actual market value.
Still, he tried to save the Sonata from going to the scrapyard and called for quotes about a new engine. Official Hyundai dealers couldn’t help him because they had none.
Photo: Car Wizard on YouTube
Audi A8 (any generation)
Surprisingly, Audi‘s luxobarge is on Car Wizard’s “do not buy” list. He’s so disappointed and upset with this posh ride that he even recommends his followers not to consider acquiring any version of it, not even a brand-new one.
Even though he said that he would only repair European- and Japanese-made vehicles, the man is convinced that the A8 will always be broken after the 100,000-mile mark is reached.
Based on his experience, the A8, which can cost less than $5,000 on Facebook Marketplace, is a costly car to fix, and when it needs repairing, the bill the customer will see can be absurdly high.
Car Wizard also says that Audi’s flagship will start leaking oil and other fluids after a few years on the road. “The oil leaks don’t stop, and they’re usually big teardowns,” said the mechanic.
Photo: Car Wizard on YouTube
2004 (and newer) Mazda RX-8
Long believes this vehicle is “absolute trash.” He even compares it to a dumpster, which feels a bit exaggerated. The RX-8 is a car many people like, but, truth be told, it’s also one that gets much hate.
Typically, people who have owned one say that they’re not reliable, they have bad fuel economy, the power output is not enough, they feel sluggish, and they are not practical despite the cool doors.
Car Wizard says he is frequently questioned by owners about start-up troubles, too much smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes, or feeling weird on the road.
The shop owner says that the Wankel engine is almost guaranteed to fail after around 70,000 miles or needs major repairs. He also underlines that very few mechanics will work on this sports car. You might have to become one to be able to keep an RX-8 in running condition.
Long guarantees that you’ll regret buying a Mazda RX-8, which currently costs anywhere between $5,000 and $12,000.
Photo: Car Wizard on YouTube
2007-2015 Nissan Rogue
The SUV is almost anyone’s favorite type of vehicle nowadays. There are very good reasons why people want a higher driving position and an increased ground clearance. But if you want such an automobile, it’s best to avoid the Rogue.
Car Wizard says this Nissan made the list because it has the JATCO CVT transmission issue. This transmission is known to fail at around 80,000 to 100,000 miles due to not having enough torque transfer capacity. Owners and other technicians say that it’s Nissan’s fault, not JATCO’s. They blame the Japanese brand for not providing JATCO with the right design parameters.
Car Wizard says that owners who take really good care of their Rogues can prolong the transmission’s lifespan, but the negative outcome can rarely be avoided.
The mechanic warns prospective buyers that fixing the Rogue’s CVT can cost twice the SUV’s retail value, which renders the entire job useless. In Scotty Kilmer‘s terms, this Nissan can be a money pit. That’s disappointing, but there’s a reason to those very low prices you’re seeing online.
Finally, the mechanic says that the 2016-2019 Nissan Titan with the Cummins V8 engine should also be avoided, but we’ll let you discover in the video below why.
