Used cars drove us to tears, smiles

If you had a million dollars, would you buy a nice Reliant K-Car?

Apparently some of the richest people in the world would.

Ingvar Kamprad, founder of Swedish furniture company Ikea, is the proud owner of a 15-year-old Volvo 240 GL – a sensible car that barely made a dent in his $33-billion savings account.

When he's in Seattle, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen tools around in his 1988 Mazda B-Series pickup. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is partial to his 2001 Lincoln Townie. And Jim Walton of Wal-Mart fame shares his affections between a 2002 Dodge Dakota and an older Acura Integra.

These individuals of mind-numbing means know the value of a buck and wouldn't think twice about acquiring a good, used car after the depreciation free fall of the first few years of ownership.

If you're partial to saving money – and you don't have to be a billionaire to appreciate it – take a look at Second-hand's used vehicle picks and pans for 2007.

"By far the most reliable car we sold was the Aveo. The owners raved about them," confessed a former Chevrolet service adviser on the Internet.

Yep, 2004-07 Chevrolet Aveo and Pontiac Wave drivers are a happy bunch. The diminutive Korean-built cars are cheap to keep and cheerfully go about their business with little drama.

About the only thing to be wary of is the timing belt, which has been known to snap prematurely – a few reported breaking just after the warranty ran out at 60,000 km. Dealers recommend replacement at 96,000 km, but best to inspect the belt occasionally for wear.

Another small car with a surprisingly stout heart is the Suzuki Aerio.

Look past its oddball proportions (it seems taller than it is wide) and you'll find a quick and comfortable sub-compact that works hard to satisfy owners. Available as a four-door sedan or wagon, it was the least expensive car in Canada to offer optional all-wheel drive.

In terms of Aerio headaches, about the only reoccurring reported repair had to do with failing air conditioners – not a delightful occurrence since parts are costly and hard to find outside the dealer, owners noted.

Despite the fact the Ford Ranger compact pickup hasn't been updated in a dog's age, the venerable trucklet is a reliable performer, doing everything the big brother F-150 can do except burn lots of gas.

Its automatic transmission can be problematic, the clutch slave cylinder may require early replacement, and front-end components have been known to wear quickly, but these problems are fairly uncommon.

Our recommendation extends to the Mazda B-Series, which rolls off the same Minnesota assembly line until the end of 2009 – when both trucks will be snuffed.

Kia ripped a page out of Ford's Explorer playbook and bolted a stout body atop a rigid frame of box-section rails and cross members to create the Sorento sport utility.

It's definitely hardcore: 4X4 models featured a low-range transfer case, a standard Eaton limited-slip rear differential, skid plates, a full-size spare and 21 cm of ground clearance.

The Sorento was the first Kia that didn't have to sell on price alone.

Watch for vibration at speed, which some owners learned was remedied with a driveshaft replacement. Others reported bad transfer cases, differentials and transmissions – in small numbers.

Many used-SUV shoppers might be better off in the first-generation Mitsubishi Outlander, a capable "soft-roader." Introduced five years ago along with the Mitsubishi dealer network, it flew under most people's radar like a major Canadian film release.

But owners told us this car-based ute is a winner with no real mechanical deficiencies to speak of. You might want to avoid the debut '03 model with its 140-hp four cylinder, which got upgraded to 160 hp in 2004 to match the segment-leading Honda CR-V.

The 2003-07 Cadillac CTS has done much to resuscitate Cadillac's reputation. Employing an especially stiff rear-drive platform and well-tuned engines, it's a welcome successor to the problem-plagued Catera.

Owners adore the car's styling, comfort, driving dynamics and value. Still, it may be wise to avoid the inaugural 2003 models, which exhibited a number of teething pains, including blocked a/c drain hoses, failed power-steering solenoids, batteries and automatic trannies.

Built in Ohio on the same platform as the Accord and Odyssey minivan, the front-drive 1999-2003 Acura TL was girded for a dust-up with the Audi A4 and Lexus ES 300, among others.

Unfortunately, by borrowing some common components, the TL fell victim to the same malady afflicting Honda's bestselling sedan and minivan: faulty automatic transmissions.

The Internet is rife with complaints about the TL's slush box. And the rebuilt units don't always perform well nor do they last, drivers noted. One owner reported being on his sixth transmission!

Despite General Motors' takeover, Saab continues to samba to the beat of a different drummer. It updated its near-luxury 900 for 1999 by incorporating a thousand improvements including a new, hyphenated name: Saab 9-3.

It was motivated by a light-pressure turbo 2.0-litre four cylinder making 185 hp, while high-output SE models made 200 hp.

Trouble is, Saab's turbo fours are notorious for seizing, especially those made between 1999 and 2002. With the hot catalytic converter positioned under the oil pan, it would cook the oil and produce sludge, clogging the engine with all the efficacy of a triple cheeseburger.

Shop with care. Incidentally, the 2003 and newer 9-3 models use GM's Ecotec turbo four cylinder, which doesn't seem to promote sludge.

The Saturn Ion earned considerable sales for its stylish, dent-resistant panels, decent power and big trunk. Some Ion owners even said that they preferred the econobox's novel centre-mounted instruments.

But the 2003 and 2004 models were particularly trouble prone, with numerous complaints about the automatic transmission and its failed valve body. Watch for slipping gears.

More common were broken ignition switches and sudden stalling or cold weather start problems, along with a cacophony of creaks and rattles. All in all, not a great showing by GM's import fighter. Ironically, it's been replaced by Germany's Opel Astra for 2008.

No question Audi's first-generation TT Coupe is an arresting automobile. It's also quick, which may result in your own arrest.

But the early models were plagued with mechanical glitches, partly stemming from the problematic 1.8-L turbo, reputed for its short-lived MAF sensors, coils, timing belts and turbo, as well as leaks and oil consumption.

Audi's electrical problems are legendary and the TT is no better: entire instrument panels have been replaced, as well as fuel tank sending units, window motors, lights and numerous sensors.

If you find the TT's curves irresistible, look at a '03 or newer model; Audi seems to have addressed many of the faults in its later cars.

Of the 30 cars and trucks Second-hand reviewed in 2007, there's only one that truly earned the derision of its owners: the short-lived 1999-2002 Mercury Cougar.

Artfully styled in Ford's "new edge" treatment, this handsome hatchback unfortunately adopted the automaker's Contour front-drive platform. While that made for some good driving dynamics, the Cougar also inherited the Contour's myriad mechanical problems.

The most often repeated gripes involved short-lived alternators and fuel pumps as well as battery cables susceptible to melting. There were countless other electrical bugaboos as well, such as failed sensors, batteries and starters.

Other pricey and sobering concerns include broken automatic transmissions, air conditioners, catalytic converters and even sunroofs.

While it resurrected a nameplate from the 1960s, this Cougar is one 40-year-old you may want to cross the street to avoid.