2008 Ford Ranger is comparatively hard to work on? I've had a couple of late 90s Rangers and I think they are pretty easy to work on. Can't imagine the 08 is much different.
Modern vehicles that are both reliable and easy to work on
- Thread starter himemsys
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Get the 2016 or newer Honda Civic you can’t go wrong.
I think we have a generational difference of perspective.
That looks pretty tight. But I'm 48 years old.
compared to nearly every other newer car, this one is out in the open! just take a look at the new ones!I think we have a generational difference of perspective.
My Elantra is pretty easy so far.
I have to honestly say the Camry is a good car. I'm a die hard domestic brand buyer but my son has a 2003 Camry and it is really reliable with over 100K miles on it so far.
The 9th gen Accord 2013-2017 is very easy to work on for a modern car, if you get the I4. Lots of room under the hood, the CVT is very easy to change the fluid on, and they don't pretend it's "lifetime fill" either.
Someone else also mentioned Mitsubishi, probably also a good answer. Oh wait, they're not really that "modern" are they?
Someone else also mentioned Mitsubishi, probably also a good answer. Oh wait, they're not really that "modern" are they?
Those things cost more than some cars
My Forester is pretty easy as far as DIY work is concerned. The only exception is replacing the plugs is a bit of a pain,
Any pickup truck that has a large engine option, with the smallest engine available.
The new one is a nicely repackaged Nissan Rogue, so not really old tech anymore.
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I honestly wouldn’t call much of anything “easy to work on”, simply because it all depends on the repair. Every “easy” car to work on always has something difficult about it. And those “easy” components to remove?? You know they’ll never fail! I remember a power steering rack on a Ford...it was right there out front in the open. And I said...wow, that’ll be easy to replace and someone said...thsts why they put it there, it’ll never break. And he was right. Haha.
But any modern four cylinder with the intake manifold in FRONT of the engine, not the back, I would consider a plus. Any newer car that actually has a dipstick on the transmission and a pan (with a drain bolt). Four wheel disc brakes (not fixed calipers and not rear e-brakes in the hat of the rotor). Simple single exhaust with only one catalytic converter and two oxygen sensors. An evap system with the charcoal canister NOT on top of the GAS TANK! I hate that. Don’t put it in the rear wheel well either, where it’ll get destroyed in two years because of salt. And a plastic gas tank, not metal. And an access through the trunk to the fuel pump is a must. Please please don’t bury the car battery under a seat or up inside a wheel well. Just put it up front and don’t cover the darn thing. And give me a simple spin on oil filter and a drain plug that I don’t have to REMOVE a cover underneath with 50 little bolts. Just give me an access.
So, basically a Corolla.
But any modern four cylinder with the intake manifold in FRONT of the engine, not the back, I would consider a plus. Any newer car that actually has a dipstick on the transmission and a pan (with a drain bolt). Four wheel disc brakes (not fixed calipers and not rear e-brakes in the hat of the rotor). Simple single exhaust with only one catalytic converter and two oxygen sensors. An evap system with the charcoal canister NOT on top of the GAS TANK! I hate that. Don’t put it in the rear wheel well either, where it’ll get destroyed in two years because of salt. And a plastic gas tank, not metal. And an access through the trunk to the fuel pump is a must. Please please don’t bury the car battery under a seat or up inside a wheel well. Just put it up front and don’t cover the darn thing. And give me a simple spin on oil filter and a drain plug that I don’t have to REMOVE a cover underneath with 50 little bolts. Just give me an access.
So, basically a Corolla.
Although, it feels like a good portion of this forum would think this is too modern and complicated.
My 2006 Tacoma 4-cylinder is hard to beat for simplicity, reliability and ease of service. I suppose a Corolla or 4-cylinder Camry from the same era would be about the same.
The 1998 Volvo S70 non turbo I-5 is easy to work on..spark plugs, oil changes, transmission fluid changes, ignition coil, camshaft position sensor, crankshaft position sensor, throttle position sensor, thermostat, coolant temp sensor, upper radiator hose, coolant reservoir hoses, transmission torque mount, cap and rotor, spark plug wires..all doable by a DIY'er..I have done all these items..I had help doing heater core, heater hoses, alternator and starter and the dreaded PCV system..A bit more involved but not impossible for a good DIY'er on their own..
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Our Mazda5 with a 2.5 is easy enough and it has cutouts from the factory in the lower cover so you don't have to remove it to service for routine maintenance. Spark plugs and coils right under the beauty cover. Water pump is not bad and external. Trans has a drain plug too. Brakes are easy too. My 2007 Dodge 1500 Hemi is easy too. I agree on the Rangers being tough. Took me 4 hrs for valve cover gaskets.. Spark plugs a couple hours. Told my wife, when some body comes out with a truck that I don't have to use a side step to get in, I will be buying it. Replacement hip doesn't like steps. Oh I forgot to say the Mazda has a trans dipstick too.
2020 F-250 with a 6.2 seems pretty easy to maintain. Oil filter is vertical and right beside the oil pan, you can pull the drain plug and filter into the same pan. Engine bay has lots of room however there's been no repairs yet so time will tell. Plugs and coils are all visible so that's a huge plus. The suspension is almost identical to the Twin I Beam used by Ford in the 90's and aren't bad to work on.
I hear the rear ends can be nasty to work under.
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