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http://aolsvc.aol.consumerreports.org/auto...ID=AAOCA&id=109Would you buy that car again?
Back in 1901, Packard ads urged early auto shoppers to “ask the man who owns one.” Today, as part of our Annual Questionnaire, we ask our subscribers--the men and the women who own a car or truck--whether they would buy that model again, considering its price, performance, comfort, and reliability
The more than 226,000 responses to that question yielded the owner-satisfaction ratings in our vehicle profiles and the highs and lows listed here. Even the least-satisfied owners were far from miserable. But their responses can help you choose a model you’ll find satisfying to own:
• Imports continue to outscore domestics. Asian and European brands fill all but 3 of the 33 slots within our Most Satisfying list. Two of those three, the Avalanche and Corvette, are Chevrolets, while the third--the Hummer H2--is based on the Chevrolet Tahoe.
• Hybrids are a hit. The first-generation, 2001 to 2003 gas-electric Toyota Prius tied with the nonhybrid Lexus LS430 luxury sedan as the most satisfying overall. Close behind: Honda’s Civic Hybrid.
• Car-based, unibody sport-utility vehicles outstrip conventional, body-on-frame models. More than 25 percent of satisfaction reports were for SUVs, and owner preferences are clear. This year’s Most Satisfying list includes nine car-based SUVs and only three with a separate frame. Though large SUVs were well liked, conventional, body-on-frame SUVs account for the most low scorers.
• Passion often outweighs practicality. Sports-car and sporty-car owners were most satisfied overall. Least enthused were owners of minivans, despite those vehicles’ user-friendly designs.