What is the single best vehicle to buy if you're a tightwad?

A good used 1989 Dodge Aries. With the 2.2L engine. Seats six.

Plus one for the K car. One of the best beaters I ever had. Mine was a 1986 Chrysler Town & Country wagon. Purchased from an estate for $260.00, put 100K relatively trouble free miles on it, and sold it for $1300.
 
Anything USDM with a carby straight six and a manual transmission. The engines are immortal, the transmissions live twice as long as the chassis they're bolted to, they're so simple you never need to pay someone else to work on them, and parts cost NOTHING.

Fuel pump for my 250cid I6 in my 71 C10? 15 bucks and 10 minutes to install. Clutch kit? 125 bucks and an afternoon. Cheap and easy upkeep 👌
 
I had his friend Dan years ago. I was looking at Porsches and Bmw’s and said to me “do you know why I’m buying German?” and I asked why Dan? And he continued stating “because I cant afford Italian.”
 
That was just a couple of years, first year woes. Many got replaced under warranty, thus leaving it questionable just how many are still in the wild with this potential issue.

Want to say, their biggest issues are lifter failures (which may take out the camshaft?) and oil coolers. The oil filter screws into the oil cooler and overtightening can crack, causing a substantial leak. [They might crack regardless of gorilla tightening, not sure.]
Yeah, not so sure about 'only the first couple years' of the Chrysler 3.6 having problems.

 
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Yeah, not so sure about 'only the first couple years' of the Chrysler 3.6 having problems.
My response was about the cracked cylinder heads--as far as I know of, that was a first year (maybe two) problem. The other issues are a different issue.
 
My response was about the cracked cylinder heads--as far as I know of, that was a first year (maybe two) problem. The other issues are a different issue.
Yep, if you watch the video that is exactly what he is talking about. In fact, he specifically discussed the cracked heads being an issue well after the first few years, so I'm not sure what you are talking about.
 
Don't say Toyota Corolla...
2024 Chevy Trax
I literally took this photo about 30 minutes ago and sent it to my wife. There will come a point in time (doesn’t mean anytime soon) that we would replace our second car and this looks pretty cool even gets decent write ups. This would be one candidate if we went ICE.
Just don’t expect to do a quarter mile anytime fast.
It’s made in S. Korea
IMG_7713.jpeg


Here is a review, Car and Driver gave it a 10 out of 10
https://www.caranddriver.com/chevrolet/trax-2024
 
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Yep, if you watch the video that is exactly what he is talking about. In fact, he specifically discussed the cracked heads being an issue well after the first few years, so I'm not sure what you are talking about.
I did not watch the video, sorry. I go by scuttlebutt on BITOG for most auto issues.
 
No problem. Chrysler hasn't meaningfully fixed the cracked heads issue on the 3.6 V6, sadly.
They fixed the head cracking issue a decade ago after extending the warranty on the left cylinder head (the one that was cracking) and claiming publicly that 0.5% of them were experiencing that issue. There were a few scattered reports of cracked heads in 2014, but by 2015 that issue evaporated.
 
They fixed the head cracking issue a decade ago after extending the warranty on the left cylinder head (the one that was cracking) and claiming publicly that 0.5% of them were experiencing that issue. There were a few scattered reports of cracked heads in 2014, but by 2015 that issue evaporated.
Yeah, I've seen that old article that they claims fixed them (here's a link) https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/has-anyone-heard-of-the-3-6-cracking-heads.71069/

The problem is that it actually did NOT get fixed.

See below (yes, I know some will say that it is "OMIGERD A YOUTUBE VIDEO")

You have to actually watch the video and understand it. He does mention that it is a Fiat engine, which is technically incorrect, but that shop has been in business for well over a decade and is well known for its work ethic.

 
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All of these forum entries are well after 2014 and for vehicles newer than 2014 article you mention above)

https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/cracked-cylinder-head.2437913/

https://www.jeepgarage.org/threads/2017-3-6l-wk2-gc-head-gasket-failure.245818/

https://www.chryslerminivan.net/thr...-my-30th-anniversary-town-and-country.179071/

Personally, I don't think they are fabricating the continued issue with the 3.6 Chrysler cracked heads above, although they *might* have gotten it fixed in the last couple of years. Is it better than it used to be? Probably, but not completely gone, at least not by 2022.
 
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All of these forum entries are well after 2014 and for vehicles newer than 2014 article you mention above)

https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/cracked-cylinder-head.2437913/

https://www.jeepgarage.org/threads/2017-3-6l-wk2-gc-head-gasket-failure.245818/

https://www.chryslerminivan.net/thr...-my-30th-anniversary-town-and-country.179071/

But they must all be lying above, right? And you know more than the top technician at The Wichita Chrysler dealer who deals with these every month, right?
All I’m saying is it’s not nearly as big a problem as you’re making it out to be. If it were BITOG, FB groups, and forums would be flooded with “my 3.6 Pentastar cracked a head” posts but they’re not. Chrysler themselves said half a percent had the issue, you know no lawyer would have allowed them to publicly state that if it wasn’t true.

And I have a friend who’s a master tech at Ford, he won’t touch anything ford with a 20ft pole. I’d bet any amount of money I can find a tech for every single brand on this planet who thinks all they work on is junk, including the BITOG darling Toyota/Lexus 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
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Hey, love your 'giggle time' emoji.......that was cute

But I get it, if it were 'really an issue' BITOG 'would be flooded with complaints!"

LMAO

Also love the whataboutism you included about Ford, Ford technicians, Toyota/Lexus, lawyers, etc etc. That was cute too!

Yes, the problem was at its worst up until about 2014. Did it get better after that? Yes, probably. But there are still problems with the 3.6, to include cracked heads, although the failure rate isn't as horrific as it used to be.

It is definitely on my list of engines not to buy. I don't think ill of those who have had good luck with them though. Most are probably fine. But a simple google search turns up repeated issues with these even in recent years, and yes, the worst failure rates were the earliest ones. I'd say no thanks even to a recent one.
 
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Hey, love your 'giggle time' emoji.......that was cute

But I get it, if it were 'really an issue' BITOG 'would be flooded with complaints!"

LMAO

Also love the whataboutism you included about Ford, Ford technicians, Toyota/Lexus, lawyers, etc etc. That was cute too!

Yes, the problem was at its worst up until about 2014. Did it get better after that? Yes, probably. But there are still problems with the 3.6, to include cracked heads, although the failure rate isn't as horrific as it used to be.

It is definitely on my list of engines not to buy. I don't think ill of those who have had good luck with them though. Most are probably fine. But a simple google search turns up repeated issues with these even in recent years, and yes, the worst failure rates were the earliest ones. I'd say no thanks even to a recent one.
Yeah I’m not saying they don’t have issues, they most certainly do. I just think it gets blown out of proportion.
 
Yeah I’m not saying they don’t have issues, they most certainly do. I just think it gets blown out of proportion.
Fair enough. Most of the Pentastars are fine. But I think they have cracked head issues more than the average engine. I wouldn't buy one at 'regular price', but to each their own.
 
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