Latest news with #ScottyKilmer
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Mechanic says used cars buyers should be wary of one type of vehicle
Leading car mechanic Scotty Kilmer has warned drivers that they should be more wary than ever when it comes to buying a used vehicle A popular mechanic has urged motorists to think twice before splashing out on certain second-hand vehicles. The expert warned that used electric cars bring "more uncertainty" as their values plummet dramatically compared to petrol and diesel alternatives. He claimed many EVs remain "unproven" with drivers already stung by massive price crashes. This has resulted in owners losing nearly two-thirds of their investment within just a few years - a devastating blow for budget-conscious buyers. Scotty Kilmer shared his guidance on his YouTube channel, where he dishes out top tips and tricks for motorists, reports the Express. It comes as another mechanic named two specific cars people should avoid buying in the UK. He explained: "In the pandemic the prices of used electric cars were insane. People were selling used Tesla's for more than new ones. But that's not the way it always has been." The renowned car mechanic disclosed that five years ago, a customer in Houston snapped up a second-hand Tesla Model S for £35,500 ($47,000). Yet the motor had originally been priced at over £96,000 ($129,000) when it rolled off the forecourt brand new just years earlier. Scotty acknowledged the model was valued at merely one-third of its initial cost despite clocking up just 15,000 miles. Scotty continued: "Now prices are all over the place. Generally, the price of vehicles classically is the ones that are good and last a long time like Toyota's, have high resale value". "But the prices of unproven electrical cars, they're starting to come down. They might go right back to where they were five years ago. "You can pay one-third of what you pay for a new one. So just what you need more in electric cars, more uncertainty. Which makes me think most people should be rather uncertain whether they should buy an electric car or not." Fellow drivers swiftly flocked to the comments section to commend Scotty for his guidance, with some admitting they had fallen into the trap. Others even vowed never to purchase an electric vehicle, with many declaring their loyalty to petrol engines. YouTube user @TeijoKhanfan said: "Gee I wonder why? It's almost like people want a car they can take on long road trips and not have to worry about not only finding a charging station but how long they're gonna have to wait to even get into that station. "And then taking a half hour to an hour just to charge it back up so they can drive another couple hours." @AmericanMan2000 added: "I will never own another While @edwardb5501 said: "Definitely don't buy an electric car. You'll regret it later on."
The Irish Sun
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Three ‘best used cars' under £10,000 are revealed – including aero-dynamic EV & stylish five-seater
Read on to find out which car suits your needs best CHEAP & CHEERFUL Three 'best used cars' under £10,000 are revealed – including aero-dynamic EV & stylish five-seater A MOTORS expert has revealed the three best cars you can buy for under £10,000 that will serve you long. As the cost of living crisis bites and petrol prices soar with inflation, you might want to look for a reliable and affordable ride. 3 Toyota RAV4 is renowned for its reliability Credit: Getty Drivers often overlook these three models as they search amongst hundreds of petrol, diesel and electric cars under £10,000. But leading mechanic Scotty Kilmer has shared that these three vehicles are known for their reliability and reasonable price. Toyota RAV4 If you're looking for a hassle-free car and stability, then the motor expert recommends Toyota RAV4. According to Scotty, RAV4 can run for hundreds of thousands miles without ever breaking. He told Express: " I've never seen one of these break yet. As long as you don't drive through six feet of water and flood the whole car out, it's a really good system. "It's been out a while, this one is a 2015, and I've never seen one break." Data from Warranty Solutions Group has backed up Scotty's claims as it put RAV4 at the top of their reliability list. The study showed that only 9.68% of RAV4 owners had made car insurance claims. You can snap up this model for around £9,000, making it a budget friendly option. Nissan LEAF 3 Nissan LEAF is a sought-after EV which can cost less than £5,000 Credit: Getty Nissan LEAF is perfect for drivers looking to transition to EVs without breaking the bank. Farewell to the Nissan Versa: America's Last Affordable Sedan Discontinued Some models are available for under £5,000 and are still in high demand even a decade later. The Nissan Leaf is regarded as one of the most dependable electric vehicles available. With a reliability score of 95.6%, the model ranked second out of 18 vehicles in the WhatCar's most recent assessment of electric vehicles. Dacia Duster 3 Spacious Dacia Duster is perfect for families Credit: Getty Families looking for something a bit roomier might want to buy an SUV. But with models like Range Rovers out of many drivers' price range, Dacia Duster can be a great alternative. The Duster's spacious boot holds more than 1,500 litres when the seats are folded down. The model's interior may not be particularly noteworthy, but according to WhatCar?, it has a "good" overall reliability score, outperforming competitors like the Ford Puma.
Scottish Sun
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Three ‘best used cars' under £10,000 are revealed – including aero-dynamic EV & stylish five-seater
Read on to find out which car suits your needs best CHEAP & CHEERFUL Three 'best used cars' under £10,000 are revealed – including aero-dynamic EV & stylish five-seater Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MOTORS expert has revealed the three best cars you can buy for under £10,000 that will serve you long. As the cost of living crisis bites and petrol prices soar with inflation, you might want to look for a reliable and affordable ride. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Toyota RAV4 is renowned for its reliability Credit: Getty Drivers often overlook these three models as they search amongst hundreds of petrol, diesel and electric cars under £10,000. But leading mechanic Scotty Kilmer has shared that these three vehicles are known for their reliability and reasonable price. Toyota RAV4 If you're looking for a hassle-free car and stability, then the motor expert recommends Toyota RAV4. According to Scotty, RAV4 can run for hundreds of thousands miles without ever breaking. He told Express: " I've never seen one of these break yet. As long as you don't drive through six feet of water and flood the whole car out, it's a really good system. "It's been out a while, this one is a 2015, and I've never seen one break." Data from Warranty Solutions Group has backed up Scotty's claims as it put RAV4 at the top of their reliability list. The study showed that only 9.68% of RAV4 owners had made car insurance claims. You can snap up this model for around £9,000, making it a budget friendly option. Nissan LEAF 3 Nissan LEAF is a sought-after EV which can cost less than £5,000 Credit: Getty Nissan LEAF is perfect for drivers looking to transition to EVs without breaking the bank. Farewell to the Nissan Versa: America's Last Affordable Sedan Discontinued Some models are available for under £5,000 and are still in high demand even a decade later. The Nissan Leaf is regarded as one of the most dependable electric vehicles available. With a reliability score of 95.6%, the model ranked second out of 18 vehicles in the WhatCar's most recent assessment of electric vehicles. Dacia Duster 3 Spacious Dacia Duster is perfect for families Credit: Getty Families looking for something a bit roomier might want to buy an SUV. But with models like Range Rovers out of many drivers' price range, Dacia Duster can be a great alternative. The Duster's spacious boot holds more than 1,500 litres when the seats are folded down. The model's interior may not be particularly noteworthy, but according to WhatCar?, it has a "good" overall reliability score, outperforming competitors like the Ford Puma.
The Sun
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Three ‘best used cars' under £10,000 are revealed – including aero-dynamic EV & stylish five-seater
A MOTORS expert has revealed the three best cars you can buy for under £10,000 that will serve you long. As the cost of living crisis bites and petrol prices soar with inflation, you might want to look for a reliable and affordable ride. 3 Drivers often overlook these three models as they search amongst hundreds of petrol, diesel and electric cars under £10,000. But leading mechanic Scotty Kilmer has shared that these three vehicles are known for their reliability and reasonable price. Toyota RAV4 If you're looking for a hassle-free car and stability, then the motor expert recommends Toyota RAV4. According to Scotty, RAV4 can run for hundreds of thousands miles without ever breaking. He told Express: " I've never seen one of these break yet. As long as you don't drive through six feet of water and flood the whole car out, it's a really good system. "It's been out a while, this one is a 2015, and I've never seen one break." Data from Warranty Solutions Group has backed up Scotty's claims as it put RAV4 at the top of their reliability list. The study showed that only 9.68% of RAV4 owners had made car insurance claims. You can snap up this model for around £9,000, making it a budget friendly option. Nissan LEAF 3 Nissan LEAF is perfect for drivers looking to transition to EVs without breaking the bank. Farewell to the Nissan Versa: America's Last Affordable Sedan Discontinued Some models are available for under £5,000 and are still in high demand even a decade later. The Nissan Leaf is regarded as one of the most dependable electric vehicles available. With a reliability score of 95.6%, the model ranked second out of 18 vehicles in the WhatCar's most recent assessment of electric vehicles. Dacia Duster 3 Families looking for something a bit roomier might want to buy an SUV. But with models like Range Rovers out of many drivers' price range, Dacia Duster can be a great alternative. The Duster's spacious boot holds more than 1,500 litres when the seats are folded down. The model's interior may not be particularly noteworthy, but according to WhatCar?, it has a "good" overall reliability score, outperforming competitors like the Ford Puma.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
I've been a mechanic for 50 years - here are cars you should avoid
By He's the most outspoken mechanic on YouTube — and that didn't change in an interview with the Daily Mail. Scotty Kilmer, 71, has been fixing cars for 50 years. His grease-stained experience and candid rants have grown his YouTube channel ( @scottykilmer ) to more than 6.5 million followers, with viewers seeking his no-nonsense repair advice. And now, he's raising even more eyebrows. Kilmer (pictured) is warning drivers to steer clear of some of America's favorite big vehicles — calling some of them 'cr*p' for putting small engines in trucks that demand more grunt. He also thinks some of the most powerful executives are 'idiots' for ongoing parts issues. Here are the vehicles he thinks all new vehicle buyers should avoid: Toyota's big trucks 'The new Toyotas are [expletive],' Kilmer said. For years, the Japanese auto giant has built its brand image as America's most reliable car company. But Kilmer said its lineup of big trucks and SUVs — like the Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, and Land Cruiser — are now too large for their underpowered motors. The vehicles used to be equipped with giant V8s that Kilmer praised for their longevity. Now, they're propelled by twin-turbo V6s. Toyota made the move to get the cars in line with its goal to reduce fuel emissions in its fleet, but the V6 engines have been recalled several times because of engine debris in the motors. Kilmer alleges the move to smaller engines cuts against the brand's historic focus on reliability. He also says he's seen cheaper parts enter Toyota's supply chain since the onset of Covid-19. 'They were admitting they were no longer rejecting as many parts,' he claimed. 'They were using sub-standard components building their cars. 'Now they have cars where the plastic mirrors melt, paint peels off, and engines are blowing up.' Still, Kilmer says many other cars in Toyota's lineup remain top of the line for vehicle longevity. He praised Toyota's smaller hybrids — namely the Camry, RAV4, Prius, and Corolla — for their durability. 'Toyota really makes the best hybrid, they're still pretty indestructible,' he said. 'They're still making a lot of good stuff. But they also made decisions just to save money.' Toyota didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Kilmer's claims. American-made Fords Last year, America's best-selling vehicle was the Ford F-Series pickup truck, with over 730,000 units sold. It's also one of the top 50 most American-made vehicles at US dealerships. Ford has consistently claimed that 80 percent of its vehicles are assembled in the United States. But Kilmer says Ford's US manufacturing is part of its problem. He even took a shot at the company's top boss, Jim Farley. 'Farley, that idiot that runs Ford, he says: "they told me people don't want to work for us because they can make more money working at a Walmart," Kilmer said, claiming employees are making $17 an hour in the factories. 'Does he think they will do a good job? Of course not! Go to a Walmart and see the idiots that work there. You think they'll work in a factory and do a good job? Of course not.' The mechanic pointed out that Ford is this year's most-recalled auto manufacturer in the US by a long shot, with the company reporting a bevy of parts issues. A new truck... no matter the maker Kilmer said he wouldn't recommend a single new pickup currently on the US market. Just like Toyota, he says other automakers have prioritized fuel efficiency at the expense of reliability. He argues that today's trucks are plagued with recalls and parts problems caused by supply chain disruptions, staffing changes at US plants, and poor management decisions. Instead, he recommends drivers who need a bed on the back of their new set of wheels head to the pre-owned lot.
