What Make Of Car Is Most Repairable In The Sticks?

[yetibone]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Here's a thought. Spend a few extra bucks and put your daughter in a car that isn't likely to break down. Any late-model Honda/Toyota, etc. We bought our daughter a new Civic sedan. My son drives a 99 Cherokee with 180k on the clock (and has been dead reliable for 5 years now)...but my little girl is far less likely to be stranded on the side of the road. I consider it money well spent.

Eureka!

XJ Cherokee! One of the best mid-size SUV's ever made, and one of the last trouble free Jeep models made. It was an American Motors carryover, along with the CJ, that Chrysler was smart to keep on producing. They even made them beyond 2000 model year, I believe.

Parts are still available, bomb-proof 4.0 inline six, similarly bomb-proof Asin transmission, reasonably tough New Process X-case, and Dana axles. It's something that any mechanic will be familiar with, and any reasonably mechanically inclined person can fix. Small, and easy to drive, or park. Pretty good room inside, but much smaller than mid-size SUV's of today.

Exhaust manifolds crack at the collector, and after about 200k miles, they leak oil from the crank seals, but those are the only common issues. Alternator, radiator, and serpentine belt are kinda hard to replace, but not like "all day" hard to replace.


If Jerry can find one that hasn't been turned into a rock crawler, or huntin' truck, I'd say that's the best candidate so far.

[speeder]

Any of your basic Asian or domestic cars from this century are going to be equally repairable in the places she's going to be. I'd concentrate on which ones are least likely to break down, and that would be most of them.

There has never been a Toyota anything that is known for being temperamental and most are absolutely bomb-proof. Late model cars from S. Korea are quickly gaining an unbelievable reputation for reliability. Buy a decent one and get a PPI and forget about it. Definitely get AAA for peace of mind no matter what she's driving. Just used mine an hour ago.

As someone who grew up with air-cooled VWs, (took my drivers test in one in '75), that's the dumbest suggestion I can imagine in the year 2015. Most people also survived WW2 in Poland as well, what an asinine yardstick. Put her in something modern with airbags and seat belts that work, not to mention crash survival engineering and actual road worthiness. I wouldn't put Kanye West and his wife in an old Beetle, FFS.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

A carbed Cheby small block pick up with cap so you can sleep in it if need be.

Needed a new crankshaft for one of mine, dropped in at my local Dunkin Donuts and picked one up.

Originally Posted by john rogers

I agree with an air cooled VW as number 1, then any model Ford Pickup, any model Chevy pickup, both possibly a 4 wheel drive model.

The fuel bill on that suggestion in CA. right now would make the payment on almost any new car under $30k being sold. Not to mention expensive tires, suspension parts/labor, etc., etc...

A terrible choice, unless you own Tesoro stock and you're trying to run it up.

And yes, I've owned multiple Silverados and Tahoes including the one I have now.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Scott R

I work with a lot of homeless getting them back on their feet. For cars we recommend to Chevy S10's (or blazers) The parts are the cheapest, and available anywhere, and just about any garage anywhere will work on them.

Probably not peoples first choice, but repairable in the sticks? Yes.

just what I was about to say- a 4.3 or the iron duke 4- even a 10 year old knows how to fix the common problems.

rjp

[Tobra]

The S-10 will spit the front transmission seal on a regular basis if it is an automatic.

[GH85Carrera]

My brother would tell you it is a 1954 VW Bug. He has used his as a daily driver for over 35 years. He has never once been stranded but he is a very mechanical thinker. His wife will not drive it under any circumstances. People ask him why he is driving a 60 year old car and he tells them the car has no idea how old it is. A Leatherman multi tool, small vice grips and a screwdriver with interchangeable tips is all he carries. He has never called for a tow or for someone to come get him.

I will admit it is not a good car for the average driver.

[yetibone]

Originally Posted by Tobra

The S-10 will spit the front transmission seal on a regular basis if it is an automatic.

...and if it's L35 or LF6 engine code:

intake gaskets, distributor caps, rotors, wires, ignition coils, AC compressors, heater cores... intake gaskets again,..

Best thing that could have happened to my '99 ZR2 was to get pulled out in front of, and total it. I was about to put $1000 worth of parts on it and it had less than 100k miles.

[JavaBrewer]

How about something that never breaks down? I recommend a Land/Range Rover, preferably with the air bag suspension. Those never fail.

[look 171]

Modern safety would be my main concern. If things break, they will learn or find ways to get it repaired. Any Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Ford products with enough airbags, 5 year or less old should fit her/your needs. Sorry, as much as I like the old Bugs, they aren't safe compare to new cars.

[Cajundaddy]

In the sticks everyone knows how to repair a Ford... because they get the most practice at it.

For a kid car that just never breaks down in the first place... Civic, Corolla, CRV, Focus, Tacoma. My kids beat the daylights out of these cars and they never got stranded, not even once.

[GH85Carrera]

Top Gear proved it should be a Toyota Hilux. You can't kill them.

[Steve F]

My wife's 2004 Rav4 has been the absolute bomb of a reliable car. It's unstoppable! 2.4 liter ,30 mpg 160 hp and has a real timing chain, no belt

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by speeder

The fuel bill on that suggestion in CA. right now would make the payment on almost any new car under $30k being sold. Not to mention expensive tires, suspension parts/labor, etc., etc...

A terrible choice, unless you own Tesoro stock and you're trying to run it up.

And yes, I've owned multiple Silverados and Tahoes including the one I have now.

You need to move.

I paid $1.83 for regular the other day.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

You need to move.

I paid $1.83 for regular the other day.

Hmmm $3.30/gal this morning. Thanks for looking out for us Jerry!

[ckelly78z]

Older Ford Ranger for the fuel mileage, the reliability, the availability and price of parts, and the utility of being able to haul stuff.....especially going to camp. I know it isn't a fashion statement, but those little trucks are hard to kill.

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by jyl

What do we think about early 2000s Subaru Foresters?

Subies are super common in the PNW. Not sure about CA mountain towns.

Common, parts are affordable (compared to a Porsche - ha!) and they are absolutely everywhere. Good practical cars. I bought one for my Mom, one for our daughter, and a couple of others have passed through the hands. When our son was going to school in Eugene, he borrowed his sisters and it was the carpool vehicle when there was snow and ice on the roads. WATCH HEAD GASKETS. Except for these, these are really good reliable cars. Even with the head gaskets, they warn you well before they dope out completely. Test drive should include a long grade. If it heats up, good chance the gasket is starting to go. If the PO says they just put a brand new radiator, thermostat and water pump in it - the head gasket is probably bad...

Our daughter's currently has 270,000 miles on it. The gaskets were done about 4 years ago. Consider the gaskets a large maintenance item. Do them every 100,000 along with the timing belt assembly. Do that and they will drive after you and I are long dead. Stick with the SOHC engines. The DOHC was 98 or so and then they switched over. If you ever have to replace the engine there are far many donor SOHC than DOHC cars.

Oh...and Redding, Ashland, Reno, Carson City, etc., all easy places to get subarus repaired. You can go to a dealer, but there are plenty of private shops that work on these. We've never sent one to a dealer. Remember we are in Medford, so if your child's car breaks down here - CALL US! No way in hell we're leaving your kid stranded!

angela

[look 171]

Last year we were at Tahoe Subis were everywhere. I will report back in a few months. We are going to be in Yosemite for two weeks in December. Rav 4, Subi, CRVs are going to be hard to kill. The first two would be my choice.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

How about something that never breaks down? I recommend a Land/Range Rover, preferably with the air bag suspension. Those never fail.

I am surprised a late model Jaguar has not been mentioned either?

Being the resident fan of things Korean I would be remiss if I didn't toss out the idea of a Santa Fe.