hattaresguy said:
Simple to service car...
- Thread starter OneEyeJack
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8th or 9th gen Ford F-150 with the 4.9L inline six and a manual transmission.
67-72 Chevy Pick-up with a late 60's Cadillac 472/TH400. Simple & powerfull!
anything gm 70's thru 80's pretty easy
g-body
impala's
elcamino
nova all very simple
I would not rule out 99-07 silverado's very simple to work on obd2
Mustang's older 5.0's are fun to fix up.
any older tacoma is easy if a 4 cylinder
I have a small lust for 0's civic si models and the new FRS looks simple easy and fun to hold for long term ownership.
g-body
impala's
elcamino
nova all very simple
I would not rule out 99-07 silverado's very simple to work on obd2
Mustang's older 5.0's are fun to fix up.
any older tacoma is easy if a 4 cylinder
I have a small lust for 0's civic si models and the new FRS looks simple easy and fun to hold for long term ownership.
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For years I drove a 57 Chevy pickup. I dropped a 327 in it with a turbo 350 trans. Mallory Unilite distributor brought the maintenance down to minutes for tune ups and oil changes.
80's Toyota
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Older car: 1968-76 Chrysler A-body...probably a Duster or Demon.
Agreed had a 1975 Dodge Dart with slant six engine. It was the engine that got me tinkering.
Lots of room and everything in reach.
Older car: 1968-76 Chrysler A-body...probably a Duster or Demon.
Agreed had a 1975 Dodge Dart with slant six engine. It was the engine that got me tinkering.
Lots of room and everything in reach.
Originally Posted By: cjcride
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Older car: 1968-76 Chrysler A-body...probably a Duster or Demon.
Agreed had a 1975 Dodge Dart with slant six engine. It was the engine that got me tinkering.
Lots of room and everything in reach.
I had '69 Valiant, '71 Dart, and '72 Dart. All were very easy to work on, even the one that had a 318.
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Older car: 1968-76 Chrysler A-body...probably a Duster or Demon.
Agreed had a 1975 Dodge Dart with slant six engine. It was the engine that got me tinkering.
Lots of room and everything in reach.
I had '69 Valiant, '71 Dart, and '72 Dart. All were very easy to work on, even the one that had a 318.
This is a deceptively difficult question. If you go back too far and you go with an option that doesn't have a good aftermarket support, parts availability is going to get you if you're not willing to swap in a more common drivetrain.
But then there's a period starting at some point in the '70's going through the '80's where some/many/most carburetor equipped vehicles came equipped with annoyingly complex emissions systems.
Then you have the more modern vehicles with aging electronics to deal with.
I guess I'd go with a '90's Honda with a four cylinder engine and a manual transmission. The electronics are simple relative to more recent cars, parts availability is still great, they're known for being reliable and easy to maintain, and they're fun to drive.
But then there's a period starting at some point in the '70's going through the '80's where some/many/most carburetor equipped vehicles came equipped with annoyingly complex emissions systems.
Then you have the more modern vehicles with aging electronics to deal with.
I guess I'd go with a '90's Honda with a four cylinder engine and a manual transmission. The electronics are simple relative to more recent cars, parts availability is still great, they're known for being reliable and easy to maintain, and they're fun to drive.
Early 70's Chevy Nova was very easy, especially the one without any options, the engine bay has plenty of empty space to do any maintenance.
The simplest car I have ever seen was a VW microbus. One side benefit is that it can be used as an RV, which should be great during a crisis situation.
Unfortunately, It is my understanding that those air cooled VW engines aren't as long lasting as liquid cooled engines. Maybe a diesel Vanagon would be better.
Unfortunately, It is my understanding that those air cooled VW engines aren't as long lasting as liquid cooled engines. Maybe a diesel Vanagon would be better.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
The simplest car I have ever seen was a VW microbus. One side benefit is that it can be used as an RV, which should be great during a crisis situation.
Unfortunately, It is my understanding that those air cooled VW engines aren't as long lasting as liquid cooled engines. Maybe a diesel Vanagon would be better.
I've owned I think, 11 VW buss's and they were all bullet proof and easy to work on. A neighbor purchased a water cooled bus and it was nothing but trouble from motor mounts to water pumps to the fuel system. He dumped it, practically had to give it away to get rid of it. I sold him an older air cooled bus and after 30 years he's still driving it. An older VW bus might just be the ticket for that simple vehicle. On top of that you can double the head on crash protection by applying 2 coats of paint to the front end. Anything in the way of parts are available and all you have to do is develop a new sense of forward motion.
The simplest car I have ever seen was a VW microbus. One side benefit is that it can be used as an RV, which should be great during a crisis situation.
Unfortunately, It is my understanding that those air cooled VW engines aren't as long lasting as liquid cooled engines. Maybe a diesel Vanagon would be better.
I've owned I think, 11 VW buss's and they were all bullet proof and easy to work on. A neighbor purchased a water cooled bus and it was nothing but trouble from motor mounts to water pumps to the fuel system. He dumped it, practically had to give it away to get rid of it. I sold him an older air cooled bus and after 30 years he's still driving it. An older VW bus might just be the ticket for that simple vehicle. On top of that you can double the head on crash protection by applying 2 coats of paint to the front end. Anything in the way of parts are available and all you have to do is develop a new sense of forward motion.
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
Originally Posted By: artificialist
The simplest car I have ever seen was a VW microbus. One side benefit is that it can be used as an RV, which should be great during a crisis situation.
Unfortunately, It is my understanding that those air cooled VW engines aren't as long lasting as liquid cooled engines. Maybe a diesel Vanagon would be better.
I've owned I think, 11 VW buss's and they were all bullet proof and easy to work on. A neighbor purchased a water cooled bus and it was nothing but trouble from motor mounts to water pumps to the fuel system. He dumped it, practically had to give it away to get rid of it. I sold him an older air cooled bus and after 30 years he's still driving it. An older VW bus might just be the ticket for that simple vehicle. On top of that you can double the head on crash protection by applying 2 coats of paint to the front end. Anything in the way of parts are available and all you have to do is develop a new sense of forward motion.
Yeah, I know the WBX engine was awful, but the Vanagon diesel engine was basically the same as the one used in the VW Rabbit.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
The simplest car I have ever seen was a VW microbus. One side benefit is that it can be used as an RV, which should be great during a crisis situation.
Unfortunately, It is my understanding that those air cooled VW engines aren't as long lasting as liquid cooled engines. Maybe a diesel Vanagon would be better.
I've owned I think, 11 VW buss's and they were all bullet proof and easy to work on. A neighbor purchased a water cooled bus and it was nothing but trouble from motor mounts to water pumps to the fuel system. He dumped it, practically had to give it away to get rid of it. I sold him an older air cooled bus and after 30 years he's still driving it. An older VW bus might just be the ticket for that simple vehicle. On top of that you can double the head on crash protection by applying 2 coats of paint to the front end. Anything in the way of parts are available and all you have to do is develop a new sense of forward motion.
Yeah, I know the WBX engine was awful, but the Vanagon diesel engine was basically the same as the one used in the VW Rabbit.
I think I would take a Fairmont Futura with a straight six and a manual transmission. Preferably with a 300 six instead of the 200 though. I really miss the one I had even though it was in poor condition. I still like the style a lot.
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Can't beat a fuel injected 2.2/2.5 Chrysler.
Everything is on the left side of the engine (front of the car).
Distributor, thermostat, filter, plugs....all right there when you open the hood.
Timing belt wasn't that bad at all.
Or maybe a Rambler American with a flathead.
Can't beat a fuel injected 2.2/2.5 Chrysler.
Everything is on the left side of the engine (front of the car).
Distributor, thermostat, filter, plugs....all right there when you open the hood.
Timing belt wasn't that bad at all.
Or maybe a Rambler American with a flathead.
I just thought of this, but my 2012 Silverado still has the "old school" 4.3 engine based off the small block and a 4 speed automatic that should hold up well. Parts widely available and the thing gets 19 mpg average with all the latest safety features. You can get that engine in a number of older model years. Not sure when it started but I'm pretty sure it was mid 1980s. You're probably looking for something older, though, but the electronics actually add to the reliability.
something old enough to avoid smog would be too old to be dependable daily driver...
or it would be a VW diesel, just as bad...
or it would be a VW diesel, just as bad...
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