3 lousy car brands you should never buy (plus 2 you should)

I am something of a nerd, in that I get very excited when I find a great value buy.

Some brands are just so reliable and provide so much return on my investment that they build an almost unbreakable bond.

And when it comes to motor vehicles, it turns out my top pick is backed by hard data.

According to the most recent J.D. Power and Associates survey, there are two car brands in particular that stand head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to reliability.

At №2 is Toyota, and I can vouch for this.

My 2015 Corolla is nearing 200,000 kilometers on the odometer and all I’ve ever had to replace are brakes and tires.

My love of Toyota was inherited to some extent: My parents had a similarly positive experience with the Camry they bought when I was a pre-teen.

And at №1: Lexus, which is owned by … Toyota.

Now there’s a big mushy middle in those rankings, which we’ll get to in a moment, and it may be that you’re willing to accept a slightly higher risk of mechanical problems for a vehicle that looks cool or a brand you have a long relationship with.

But what are the brands that the rankings suggest you should avoid at all costs?

Let’s talk about those now.