Cars That Run Like Old Trucks?

[Ramblejam]

Couldn't think of a better subject.

Here's what I mean by "like an old truck" -- take the GMT-800, for example (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMT800). You still find tons of these running around here, as they're inexpensive to buy, everyday reliable/high-mileage durable, easy to work on, parts are cheap/available everywhere, and when little stuff does go wrong, it's not a complete shutdown/stranding event (various electronics, sensors, etc.)...they'll still drive along until you fix it.

Realize I'm painting with a very broad brush here, but are there full-size cars out there (2000+) like this? Especially, any of the domestic cars (other than the Crown Vic) that I could pull out of a fleet for cheap...

Thank you!

 

[Nick1994]

Aha! You said 2000+, that meets the criteria for my old Camry!

It's ugly, got totaled in March but runs fantastic. Gets at least 65-70 miles a day. No less.

 

[artificialist]

The Nissan Maxima had some hits and misses.
2000-2003 Good. Not as good as the 1995-1999 model, but still good. As a plus, some of them had manual transmissions.
2004-2008 random quality
2009-2014 so far, so good
I see many early Chrysler 300 models on the road. I'm not sure if it was due to popularity or if it was a great car. There were winners and losers, avoid the 2.7L engine. The one weakness I can think of is the suspension wearing out quickly. There may be upgraded performance suspension parts, but I am not sure because I have no passion for MOPARs. I don't see many Dodge Magnums, but wagons always had slower sales than sedans, and they were discontinued after only a few years. Many of these cars got a Benz NAG1 transmission, and that was a huge upgrade over automatics made by Chrysler.

 

[Ramblejam]

Thanks, guys. Really appreciate it.

Guess I should clarify -- I'm coming from the perspective that cars, in general, are finicky and difficult to work on (relative the truck I mentioned). Off base?

 

[c502cid]

A little off the years but the 97-up Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regals, Chevy Impalas seem to fit the bill more then most. I'm sure this will be followed by.... blah blah, pieces of junk... I had one and it....

I've owned a few and they fit your description well... just like my 2002 GMC pickup! Just my 2 cents.

 

[spasm3]

3300 and 3.8 powered cieras.

 

[itguy08]

I see plenty of the 2000+ Taurus' here. As well as the GM midsize (Pontiac Grand Am, Buick, etc.) of the same era.

 

[bioburner]

Ford made the Taurus with the 3.0 and was great engine. My lastest car purchase was a 2013 Scion Xb and the engine compartment is easy to get around and hooked to 4 speed auto tranny. I have seen many on CL hitting well over 100k. Would buy another in a heart beat if this one gets wrecked. Wouldn't mind picking up a 1st generation in a manual.

 

[krismoriah72]

Easiest domestic car to work on where parts are available and cheap is a 2002+ Camry 4cyl with a timing chain.


The platform you listed is made either in the US, Mexico or Canada.

"Wish a Ford and a Chevy... Would still last ten years like they should" - Merle Haggard- Snowball Headed For [censored].

 

[BrocLuno]

I have found that once you cross the boundary into EFI, it is no fixable on the side of the road with a bobby pin ... A points car/truck - sure. Anything later and you need more tools and a basic scanner.

That said, what I mostly see is older EFI cars being neglected and then folks getting mad when the quit ... But it need not be that way. Mostly feed the engine and the chassis a REALLY good fresh/cleaned ground circuit and link the engine to the firewall with another biggish ground circuit and these things will run until the door fall off.

So many have been having intermittent this and that. I go to work and do a basic rewire on the ground side with soldered and crimped lugs on good wire, never seize under the threads. New Top Post batteries and they fire right up and run well

you just gotta pick one you like and figure how to work around electronics and aging steel and copper

 

[buck91]

I know you mentioned 2000+ cars but my 1996 Mustang GT has been just about as easy to work on and reliable as one could hope! Of course, so issues I've brought on myself either through ignorance or mods but you can hardly hold that against the car. If you wanted to eliminate a number of potention problems, get a coupe instead of my ragtop!

Very few changes up through 2004.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Thanks, guys. Really appreciate it.

Guess I should clarify -- I'm coming from the perspective that cars, in general, are finicky and difficult to work on (relative the truck I mentioned). Off base?


I think you might be on base, but only be degrees. Once you get used to say removing a front drive axle, FWD work might not be so hard to do after all. Removing the nut on that axle is a real pain--right until you bought the 1,000+ft-lb impact wrench and then suddenly it was a trivial nut to remove (and install). Same for those wheel bearings too.

I watched my mechanic drop the transmission on my Jetta; I thought it'd be a nasty job. I think he had it down in like 45 minutes, maybe less. Just had to have the right tools, and experience.

Speaking of wheel bearings, it seems "common" for them to be pressed into the front hub, on FWD. Yet I was perusing HHR's (which means Cobalt's also) and the front hub just bolts in and out. Making it trivial work, and from what I understand, the hub isn't that expensive either.

I wonder if some of the economy cars are easier to work on, in general. Sometimes OEM's will cut corners, and economy cars are a pain to work on (especially once rust hits). Other times, maybe they aren't too bad, once you get used to their quirks. Also, I wonder if picking the I4 version instead of the V6 version makes a difference--my Camry with an I4 has "lots" of space around it, because it isn't the optional V6. Well, 'cept for the serpentine, it is a longer engine I suspect.

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted By: buck91
I know you mentioned 2000+ cars but my 1996 Mustang GT has been just about as easy to work on and reliable as one could hope! Of course, so issues I've brought on myself either through ignorance or mods but you can hardly hold that against the car. If you wanted to eliminate a number of potention problems, get a coupe instead of my ragtop!

Very few changes up through 2004.


A friend of mine has a 1998 Mustang GT. The odometer quit working at 167,000 miles and who knows how many miles are on it now. For sure over 200K. Original engine, rear and trans. No major issues ever. Just an alternator and harmonic balancer.

 

[cb_13]

Ford Escort Zx2. About the only things that go wrong with them are thermostat housing, and the ccrm that controls AC operation. The timing belt is routine maintenance but is very simple to replace.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Thanks, guys. Really appreciate it.

Guess I should clarify -- I'm coming from the perspective that cars, in general, are finicky and difficult to work on (relative the truck I mentioned). Off base?


I don't think I buy that as long as you keep up on maintenance and stick with a decent brand.

Wife's Escape was 12 and 160k when we traded it. Still ran great and didn't need much repairs - wheel bearing, a few seals, and flex pipe were about all we remembered. Now the trans was just starting to occasionally slip on WOT shifts and it did have the usual Duratec oil leak but it started every day and I would not have hesitated to drive it cross country.

Now before you say "It's a truck" - it wasn't. It was basically a Mazda 626 that was jacked up and had an AWD system bolted on. IOW a car.

Not sure how "toady's" cars are but so far so good on mine at 6.75 years and 103k.

 

[andyd]

80's BMWs , believe it or not. Mid '90s Toyotas,

 

[turtlevette]

Corvettes. Almost any year. The bodies don't rust, just keep the frames oiled. Leaky seals do that automatically. Some have aluminum frames. They have Chevy engines and transmissions, basically old truck engines and transmissions. Tons of aftermarket support. Everything is straightforward.

There will be some around a 1000 years from now, if mankind makes it that long.

I have 400k+ miles on mine.

 

[asand1]

95-98 Maxima's are tough to kill. 99's are a bit weird, NATS (anti theft) will leave you stranded. Also, a 99 might have a 4th gen part or a 5th gen part under the hood dependong on what weekday it was produced.

 

[4WD]

Ford Crown Vic - had a couple as company cars - taxi, cops, you name it ...

 

[eljefino]

I'll throw the saturn s-series in here. The engine was purpose-built for the car so access is easy for most jobs. Over 11 years a few million were made so parts are easy and there's online forum support.

The ion is not nearly as good-- you have to drop the engine and trans as one unit to do the clutch, for example.