What makes a good forever car?

[Krieg]

The Tesla orbiting the sun.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

The best thing for a forever car? A good climate.

PLUS a garage!

 

[justalubetech]

I will probably keep my 2006 Civic as long as gasoline cars are still relevant - I love the looks, and it's stupid easy to work on and parts are cheap, I can just buy another engine if need be for a few hundred and less than a day's work and keep on motoring.

 

[1uz_4me]

Dont they all burn oil?

Vs?

 

[Shel_B]

Perhaps an older Suburban:

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/section/road-to-improvement

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2021/09/09/meet-big-green-our-1981-chevy-suburban-project-in-road-to-improvement-episode-1

 

[joekingcorvette]

The problem with a forever car is they age slowly but surely. They start out brand new then its a scratch and a door ding then a windshield chip. Pretty soon it needs new tires and the installer scratches a rim. The headlights haze over and the rust begins to form. The drivers seat gets a little rip in it and the carpet gets a little dirty. Pretty soon its a 20 year old car that has been babied however the elements take their toll on a daily driver. As others stated more than likely a 4x4 pickup would be the best forever car.

 

[pcoxe]

Drive trains usually last longer than the upholstery.

 

[Quantico]

I keep stuff as long as economics make sense. When i can buy a newer nicer car for less than a repair i move on.
If your talking a 356 speedster its different but then your not going to drive it much.
Good choices to keep a long time are manual trans cars that are fun to drive and handle well. Not insanely expensive parts wise. Bmw e36 comes to mind. 1967 mustang also. Maybe a 1980 ford pickup truck. A scout.. first gen bronco

 

[scrowley]

Originally Posted by atikovi
Forever car? You serious? You're not talking about a Porsche Ferrari or Corvette. A 200,000 mile Previa is a $1000 or $2000 beater. Easy to replace if wrecked or breaks down.


The cost of maintaining it would eclipse the cost of updating it.

Like a guy with an old microwave willing to spend $300 on parts instead of $89.99 on a Walmart beater model new one.

FIL has an OLD Radarange microwave, I mean old.

 

[scrowley]

My suggestion, start collecting common replacement components that will be hard to find in the future, now. You mentioned an ECU, get it now. Better yet, find a whole vehicle for parts and get it now.

Get an old Fox-body,eventually you will have spare engines, trannys,rear ends,etc It just happens.

 

[Ws6]

Get an old Fox-body,eventually you will have spare engines, trannys,rear ends,etc It just happens.

I have one that I gave to my Dad. It is now 34 years old. The interior is slightly faded from the years parked uncovered, as is the paint, but the dash is uncracked, the seats untorn, etc. Probably the best **** interior I've ever seen for longevity. It ain't pretty, with porno red cloth, but she stands the test of time. Those 5.0 fox's are troopers if you can keep the rust off of them (not hard to do, really).

 

[scrowley]

Got one in my garage, when inspiration happens I will change out my 200,000 mile rebuilt engine and drive another 200,000.i estimate she has about a half million miles on her of which I have driven 1/2 of that.No rust whatsoever anywhere.

 

[doublebase]

Like so many others have already said, it’s probably not so much the car or truck, it’s the person. To keep something THAT long and everything that goes with it...takes a certain mental makeup and commitment that many aren’t willing to make. Look at Irv Gordon, that appeared to be his life, or his lifelong commitment. You google him, he and that car pop right up. He passed away in 2018 and his name, his car, still carry on.

Think about it, a guy that is famous for just driving his car and maintaining it enough to allow it to last forever. Millions of people own and drive cars, drive them a lot too. Very few are recognizable names we all associate with. That guy and his Volvo, the million mile Honda from Maine, the million mile Ford van from Minnesota. The people you see with them, their stories. It’s cool, but it’s hard to do. IMO.

 

[eljefino]

Spare ECUs are fine but the car needs to be from an era when they weren't VIN-tied... or you'll need the dealer computer to force different modules to talk and behave. And that dealer computer should probably be able to do it by itself and not need a subscription to the manufacturer. Some ECUs are easy to re-cap but others fill the case with potting compound.

The cars you see at car shows-- the 8's, not the 10's... have aftermarket radiators, wrong-year engines, numbers don't match etc. And they're enjoyed by their owners. You say you don't want to go down this road on your Previa yet but all it takes is a frustrating breakdown in a strange town and the only parts store open just carries Dorman.

The Previa has a fan base online-- find it and trade parts. If you live in the country you have room for a parts car.

 

[Car guy]

I bought this car when I was 17. I turned 61 yesterday.

 

[twouvakind]

Make time stand still.

 

[UncleDave]

Today, I'd probably say an F150 is about as close to a vehicle you can keep running forever. Due to popularity, parts will be available always.

Especially if you can only have one "forever car" in my case it would have to be a 1/2 ton.

Although surprising I had a drivers side window break on my watch and it took a surprisingly long time to get a replacement and the local ford places were of no help.

 

[350Rocket]

It's easy to make a car a "forever" car. The question is if you want to put the time and resources into it, especially if it's a vehicle that has little market significance.

You can always purchase a few spare parts that you may need in the future, or have a mechanic that has the resources when those parts fail.

Grace Braeger's 57 Chevy was also never driven in the rain and tucked away in the winter. It was also extensively restored inside and out a few years ago, the transmission has been replaced, as well as most of the exterior engine components. It's also a relatively rare vehicle, and it's value makes it worth it.

Irv Gordon's 66 Volvo also had the engine rebuilt at 690,000 and the engine was replaced in 2009. He was constantly maintaining the car, but there was decent aftermarket support from Volvo. The advertising was also a boon for Volvo, and they capitalized on it. It's also a rare vehicle and it's value makes it worth it.

Are you willing to put the time and effort into something like a Toyota Previa, which is not a rare vehicle and has very little value or appeal? Will it have that level of value and appeal in 40 or 50 years time?

You also have to question driving a very old vehicle in today's traffic if you live near/in a big city. I enjoy getting both the 442 and T out for a Sunday afternoon drive, but I'd never want to use either as a daily driver-they simply aren't as suited to be around modern traffic. Both are far more maintenance intensive than either my modern pickup or our Equinox.

I can't remember the last time I saw a previa around here. An 80s 442 I see one every couple days through the summer months. I could see it being worth something in the future as they didn't really make anything else like it.

I just pulled the tarp off my forever car and moved it back onto the driveway in hopes that I won't have to snowblow again soon. I had to fight off a mouse that made the intake manifold it's home first.