Latest second-hand-car bible rates the best and worst

By JULIE MIDDLETON

The latest edition of second-hand car buyers' Bible, The Dog and Lemon Guide (Publications (2004) Ltd, $19.95) is out.

In usual fashion, the maverick authors are upfront and feisty about the merits of the cars we drive, sieving their opinions through owner accounts, crash test data, transport safety bodies and car magazines.

More than 1000 common vehicles, from the Alfa Romeo Alfa to the Fiat Yugo 45, have been measured for their "fitness for the purpose", says editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, a yardstick that covers issues such as reliability and ease of repair.

There are few perfect cars. For example, the BMW Mini comes second on the "best" list, but Mr Matthew-Wilson says, "It's sometimes as unreliable as the old one ... we love the car but hate the reliability, and can produce volumes of data to back this."

Strangely, the Automobile Association, asked to comment on the list, goes all coy. Technical expert Jack Biddle agrees to have a look at the list, but later leaves an answerphone message: "The AA does not want any part of or to be connected to in any way, anything to do with The Dog and Lemon Guide."

You could describe the relationship between the AA and outspoken Mr Matthew-Wilson as fractious.

The Land Transport Safety Authority stops short of endorsing the guide, but spokesman Andy Knackstedt says anything that raises safety awareness among buyers is valuable. The guide uses much of the same crash-test data as the LTSA.

By the way, Mr Matthew-Wilson says he drives a 1960 Morris Oxford with retro-fitted airbags. But it's too old to be included in its owner's car-buying bible.

Best cars

1.Toyota Lexus IS 300

2. BMW Mini

3. Subaru Forester

4. Subaru Legacy

5. Honda Odyssey

6. Mazda 6

7. Nissan Maxima

8. Jaguar XJ series

9. Toyota MR2

10. Toyota Corolla

Worst cars

1. BMW 7 series

2. Ssangyong Musso

3. Renault Laguna

4. MG MGF

5. Porsche Cayenne

6. Citroen C5

7. Toyota Prius

8. Alfa 147

9. Land Rover Freelander

10. Land Rover Discovery

* Source: Clive Matthew-Wilson