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We are never going back to the days of carbs, mech fuel pumps run off the cam, and standing in the engine bay while working on the car's engine. But what can I buy new or slightly used that isn't a death trap, and can most likely be repaired at home with a decent set of hand tools and a jack if something goes wrong? No removing the front end bodywork to get to a windshield washer pump (Subaru), no jacking the engine off its mounts to get to an alternator (Mazda), no disassembling the engine bay to replace a sensor (VW). And for f**k's sake, no turbo or hybrid anything (Ford).

We are never going back to the days of carbs, mech fuel pumps run off the cam, and standing in the engine bay while working on the car's engine. But what can I buy new or slightly used that isn't a death trap, and can most likely be repaired at home with a decent set of hand tools and a jack if something goes wrong? No removing the front end bodywork to get to a windshield washer pump (Subaru), no jacking the engine off its mounts to get to an alternator (Mazda), no disassembling the engine bay to replace a sensor (VW). And for f**k's sake, no turbo or hybrid anything (Ford).

(post is archived)

[–] • 8 pts

Anything that has a General Motors 350 cc/5.7 liter engine. They've been using basically the same base for 50+ years. Still lots of pre-2000 cars with this motor still on the roads and the junkyards are full of spare parts too.

[–] • 3 pts

There's a guy in New Zealand buying back old tractors to ship back to the UK because farmers are done with new tractors computer chips refusing to turn on cause too cold. Among other reasons.

Farmers aren't stupid they see where things are going with spares and need to self repair which new tractors are locking them out of

[–] • 1 pt

Farmers aren't stupid

Of course they aren't, they're the backbone to Aryan civilization :)

[–] • 4 pts

That shit bugs me. What do you mean I have to remove a structural support to change the battery? Wtf?

Or pulling the oil drain plug causes the oil to splatter everywhere off of the suspension arm or frame? The engineers didn't know cars have wheels and suspensions? Wtf?

[–] • 5 pts

It's bad design, that's all it is. To make things easy to work on requires a little thought and a little more money. The car makers are short on both.

[–] • 3 pts

Same with oil filter why do i i have to unscrew it horizontally so oil gets all over my other engine components. Want to change a headlight or air filter? Better remove all these other parts first.

[–] • 1 pt

My massey furgusen has a vertical oil filter because it's designers weren't idiots

[–] • 1 pt

FFS, I had browed a friends car. He had a blinker that was out and lived in a big city. As a "Thank you" I replaced the fing thing for him because he was lazy.

IT TOOK AN HOUR AND I HAD TO REMOVE THE BATTERY. For A damn turning signal. What a POS.

[–] • 0 pt

I assume they have a special oil pan for dealer service shops. I don't think a professional car mechanic would put up with that nonsense.

[–] • 1 pt

Not that that doesn't suck but I got a fumoto oil valve and makes it a lot easier to change the oil, especially if you've got skid plates all over the place.

[–] • 1 pt

Because the dealer sucks the oil out rather than drain it

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

They're outsourcing all kinds of engineering to Asia, not just software, and it shows.

[–] • 1 pt

Falcon radiator swapover involves infinitely more time and temper tantrums than the four bolts and two hoses and pull on a Holden Commodore....

[–] • 4 pts

New? Nothing. You have to be a goddam computer expert. The new F150 has $25,000 worth of sensors, almost all of them UNNEEDED BULLSHIT. Fuck a new car in the tailpipe.

[+] [deleted] • 2 pts
[–] • 2 pts
[–] • 1 pt

Good answer I went with a dodge 5.9 diesel but that Toyota is a legend

[–] • 0 pt

Not anymore though, DO NOT BUY NEW.

[–] • 2 pts

I was just thinking about this the other day. This is a problem that pissess off a lot of people. Also, the manufacturers stop making parts after 7 or so years making it harder to find replacement parts.

What if a bunch of us started a company that only sold a few models (sedan, truck, SUV whatever). The frame would always be the same, the space allocated for parts would always be the same, the parts would always mount to the same spots, so even if there were improvements over time, because they were given a bit of extra space to begin with, the new parts could be swapped in easily. Essentially you could buy all of the parts yourself and put it together, or buy one pre assembled. This is the big one. NO computerized parts. Everything works on its own.

[–] • 1 pt

I bought a 2002 Grand Prix GT 6 years ago and wish I never sold it. It was easy to work on, parts were still available at O'Reilly & AutoZone, and didn't have to deal with any weird electronics.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

Anything with a 1993 or before 6.5 liter diesel engine would be my vote.

Mine has 330K miles on it, there is no electronics at all - the glowplugs are triggered by a switch on my dash, the injection pump is 100% mechanical, so the fucker will survive an EMF blast to boot. The military uses these blocks in hummers- simple to manufacture and repair. They are also still in production for this purpose.

Bonus: The old fuckers will run on anything to include frying oils (newer diesel designs won't do this easily)... not saying that I do it, but you could, in theory, easily obtain kerosene or "offroad only diesel fuel", which has no highway tax added to it, and it will run just fine. Diesel also stores better longterm than gas will, and happens to also run the generator for my house and tractor. Building a fuel dyke at home is a must if you intend to have any autonomy during a crisis.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

How about a naked motorcycle? All you need is some luck and godlike reflexes, and it's faster and more efficient than any cars. You just have to live in California to make the best of lane splitting. You also have a higher chance of dying before retirement, so you don't have to worry about saving money.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

I purchased a 1998 VW TDI diesel new. It has an ECU but will run without it using a mechanical fuel pump and will run on piss if you drink enough whiskey the night before. 50 mpg and seriously, it will run on canola oil.

[–] • 0 pt

what can I buy new or slightly used that can most likely be repaired at home with a decent set of hand tools and a jack if something goes wrong?

Nothing.

Type 1 VW was designed for DIY maintenance. Panther platform Ford Crown Vic for "not a death trap" Part availability and cost is superior for both.

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