Looking for cars with very specific specs
- Thread starter FixltAgainTony
- Start date
Why not seek out a...2008 Altima?
If you find something you like, stay with it. For example, I'm on my seventh Chrysler minivan after recently picking up a low-mile 2007 from California.
Look hard enough and you can find almost anything.
If you find something you like, stay with it. For example, I'm on my seventh Chrysler minivan after recently picking up a low-mile 2007 from California.
Look hard enough and you can find almost anything.
If I were looking for a keeper, I think I'd be looking more at outcomes than I would visible component specs.
While everything you've listed is readily observable, there are sub rosa factors that arguably matter more, things like the alloys used in the many parts, avoiding hot or cold spots in the engine, providing adequate oil flow to all areas as needed as well as ensuring that oil can drain freely from all areas. There also the simple matter of the overall quality of the engineering in design and construction of the vehicle, which you can't see.
I don't mean to tell you what you're really looking for, but what you're really looking for is long-term low-cost durability and reliability along with ease of repair as needed. I think this is what you intended in creating your well though out list, but I think that most of us could come up with examples that check all of your boxes that would be anything but good propositions for long-term ownership.
Maybe focus more on reliability and durability and less on specs?
While everything you've listed is readily observable, there are sub rosa factors that arguably matter more, things like the alloys used in the many parts, avoiding hot or cold spots in the engine, providing adequate oil flow to all areas as needed as well as ensuring that oil can drain freely from all areas. There also the simple matter of the overall quality of the engineering in design and construction of the vehicle, which you can't see.
I don't mean to tell you what you're really looking for, but what you're really looking for is long-term low-cost durability and reliability along with ease of repair as needed. I think this is what you intended in creating your well though out list, but I think that most of us could come up with examples that check all of your boxes that would be anything but good propositions for long-term ownership.
Maybe focus more on reliability and durability and less on specs?
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ES 350 is high on my list of potential options. I really like the 2GR-FE's reputation.
I know that I have to make some compromises and that's okay. Sunroof isn't a deal breaker but I'd just prefer not to have one. I love the Panther platform, specifically the 3rd gen Town Car.
I currently have the Altima, but I know at some point it's going to need to be replaced. I like to do my homework now so I can be ahead of the curve. But I do plan on driving my Altima til the wheels fall off, then put them back on and keep driving.
No complaints with that, long term reliability is at the end of the day my primary focus, secondary is ease of repair-ability which I plan to do all work at home.
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- Feb 6, 2025
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- 836
1995 thru 2011 Buick LeSabre/Lucerne checks all those boxes except for maybe the Double DIN radio.
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Follow your screen name.
A Fiat Spyder 2000 would fit all of your criteria although it might not deliver on reliability. Not hard to work on though.
Had a 2014 Mazda 6 iSport (trim) that meets the majority of your criteria. One of those cars I wish I had kept longer. A very comfortable car (especially for road trips), economical, reliable, and had some Mazda Zoom Zoom built in (handling). While it was my daily driver that car ended up going all over the U.S. I took it on road trips to Florida, Arizona, California, Ohio, Michigan and my sons (who had a very nice GTi and a WRX ) would borrow it for road trips as it's trunk was large, it sat 4 adults comfortably, and got good gas mileage and had a bladder busting cruising range.
Yeah this is like someone insisting on 4 wheel disc brakes and we find out it's because they can't service drums.
Pick up some skills instead of narrowing your horizons.
Though I would't want to do a DOHC V configuration timing belt, nor an Audi where the bumper comes off, LOL
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- May 8, 2021
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Crown Vic 2004-2011 Gemini says...
2004–2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (P71): Built for fleet duty, these are about as rugged and analog as you can get. The 4.6L V8 is naturally aspirated, port-injected, and chain-driven. They have heavy-duty metal cooling components (including oil coolers), mechanical parking brakes, and transmission dipsticks. Because they are police specs, they usually come with heavy-duty cloth bucket seats, manual adjustments, and zero luxury features. Minor compromise: The factory radio slot is 1.5 DIN, though many owners modify the bezel to fit a Double DIN.
2004–2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (P71): Built for fleet duty, these are about as rugged and analog as you can get. The 4.6L V8 is naturally aspirated, port-injected, and chain-driven. They have heavy-duty metal cooling components (including oil coolers), mechanical parking brakes, and transmission dipsticks. Because they are police specs, they usually come with heavy-duty cloth bucket seats, manual adjustments, and zero luxury features. Minor compromise: The factory radio slot is 1.5 DIN, though many owners modify the bezel to fit a Double DIN.
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- Mar 19, 2022
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- 884
A low mileage panther platform with no rust will run many many miles. Ive seen some with well over 500k.
Also a 3rd or 4th gen toyota hybrid will go 300k+ without even a fluid change. I have had both panthers and toyota hybrids. Ford SOHC mod motors were not powerful but very easy to work on and reliable.
Also a 3rd or 4th gen toyota hybrid will go 300k+ without even a fluid change. I have had both panthers and toyota hybrids. Ford SOHC mod motors were not powerful but very easy to work on and reliable.
Mazda is high on my list of potential options. I like the Mazda 3s and 6s a lot.
I don't disagree with this, but there's a world of difference between changing drum brakes and changing a timing belt. I have the tools and skills to do it, what I don't have is the desire to do it.
Panther body's are amazing and I love the Town Car, hard as it is for me to find a good condition one near me. Double DIN isn't majorly important to me, I just like the option of adding a Carplay compatible radio for navigation.
I am clearly the only one with a poor panther experience.
I bought mine 3 years old, 50K miles or so. At under 100K it burned up a valve - missing on one cylinder. DIagnosed as bad valve. The engine had to come out because you can't get the head off in the car or so I read. Fortunately I found a guy that did work at home moonlighting because I didn't have the space to pull an engine.
Got that fixed. Then it seemed like every sensor failed twice. AC compressor at 150K. Finally fuel pump at 180K and I called it quits. THe trim and interior were shot. The power pedals had seized in place. I don't remember what else. The heat worked!
I'll stick to Xterra's that do the energizer bunny thing.
I also had a 2018 Mazda 3 GT liftback. Naturally a little more tight on the interior (back seat) than the 6. A sedan would have more cargo room than the liftback if that's important. It was a great car as well and didn't have any of the driver assist features my current 3 has (most of which I despise). Surprisingly, the 3 didn't get much better gas mileage than the 6 (mid 30's on highway) but it did have a lot more Mazda Zoom Zoom genes than the 6. It was given a nice touch of Miata handling.
a 2026 elantra se or sel sport 2.0 fits almost all of those boxes.
bonus 10year/100k warranty.
Your wishlist:
(in rough order of importance):
Naturally aspirated yes
Port injected yes
Timing chain yes
No connected services - optional
No variable displacement yes
No auto start stop (SEL SPORT doesnt have it) SE does
Mechanical parking brakes yes
No driver assist can turn it off.
Transmission dipstick and drain plug no/yes but serviceable.
Double DIN radio no
Also as a joke I asked Gemini to find me a car with those specs and it returned:
bonus 10year/100k warranty.
Your wishlist:
(in rough order of importance):
Naturally aspirated yes
Port injected yes
Timing chain yes
No connected services - optional
No variable displacement yes
No auto start stop (SEL SPORT doesnt have it) SE does
Mechanical parking brakes yes
No driver assist can turn it off.
Transmission dipstick and drain plug no/yes but serviceable.
Double DIN radio no
Also as a joke I asked Gemini to find me a car with those specs and it returned:
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