Vigo said:I think the ecotec 2.2 was pretty reliable too. The water pump is semi-annoying for a DIYer, but i dont think there's a lot else that isn't either normal or better than average.
Agreed, it is. Those years are more prone to timing chain issues from neglect (not changing oil), but still very solid engines.
Still, I'd take a Prius for reliability (and safety) over any Cavalier.
I would go Honda Fit. Simple motor. Simple car. Super flexibility.
3800 powered front drive GMs from my observation of 2 friends' cars. Things will apparently run like E36 M3 for years.
One of them puts a E36 M3 load of miles on their neglected Olds LSS and it just keeps going, the other has a 9C1 Impala that just keeps ticking along. Both cars have progressively gotten uglier but they both keep going.
Thanks for the recommendations. Now I know what to keep my eyes open for.
Some of them are impossible here, like the 90's Mazda's. My father had a '00 Protégé 1.8l. I learned to drive on that. I recall it rarely needed repairs, but after 10 years rust started to claim it back. Today I rarely see any Mazda's older than 10 years.
Avalon is tempting, especially if it has the front bench seat.
Depending on how slow you wanna go, how about a Metro?
You can buy them cheap, parts are everywhere and ive seen a few with 600k miles on them.
He's in Quebec.
All the Metros and a lot of the cars mentioned rotted away 20 years ago
In reply to Rocambolesque :
what kind of budget? because there is a mazda6 that fits this for pretty much every generation that was made.
1k-15k will go a long way for a mazda6
I just had this conversation with a cab company owner in nyc. he said they get about 100-150 out of crown vics, slightly less out of the escape, and 450k+ out of the camry hybrids. I'd go toyota.
I have to say Camry or Corolla, even better if you can find a manual, if your commute is manual-friendly. I would also look for an older one, with less electronics.
Another thought - Mazda Miatas are stupid easy to work on, and cheap. My daughter picked one up for under $4k with 92k miles on it, automatic.
captdownshift said:How vanilla are you willing to go? Toyota Avalon vanilla? Because that's your answer. If you want fancy vanilla with the little specks in it, Lexus LS
+1 for the Avalon, any year. My Cavalier was surprisingly trouble free but look at a couple crash test videos and you'll get the Avalon.
Daylan C said:3800 powered front drive GMs from my observation of 2 friends' cars. Things will apparently run like E36 M3 for years.
One of them puts a E36 M3 load of miles on their neglected Olds LSS and it just keeps going, the other has a 9C1 Impala that just keeps ticking along. Both cars have progressively gotten uglier but they both keep going.
+1 for GM W-Body with the 3800. I had an '08 Grand Prix that was on it's way back from the moon that was the most reliable car I've ever owned.
Father time and the Tin worm have sorted out pretty much any weak links in that badge engineered wasteland by now.
flatlander937 said:Mazda2 is about as simple and reliable as it gets for a modern car.
4.5 years and 110000 miles. Only gas, oil changes, tires, and front brakes (which are due to be replaced soon). Still on the original clutch.
Ram50Ron said:Daylan C said:3800 powered front drive GMs from my observation of 2 friends' cars. Things will apparently run like E36 M3 for years.
One of them puts a E36 M3 load of miles on their neglected Olds LSS and it just keeps going, the other has a 9C1 Impala that just keeps ticking along. Both cars have progressively gotten uglier but they both keep going.
+1 for GM W-Body with the 3800. I had an '08 Grand Prix that was on it's way back from the moon that was the most reliable car I've ever owned.
Father time and the Tin worm have sorted out pretty much any weak links in that badge engineered wasteland by now.
except they eat front suspension parts like a fat kid and candy.
vwcorvette said:flatlander937 said:Mazda2 is about as simple and reliable as it gets for a modern car.
4.5 years and 110000 miles. Only gas, oil changes, tires, and front brakes (which are due to be replaced soon). Still on the original clutch.
I agree (as being a prior M2 owner) but if you look at the interior plastic it will scratch, that was my biggest beef with it. Since its small you jam and cram everything into the back and that black plastic is a specific type of resin that makes triangles as you scratch the surface which causes reflections in light making it look like it has white scratches everywhere but its your mind playing tricks on you with color because its cheap PP parts.
more of a nit pick and i understand its an A segment car and I bought my touring new in white crystal for 17k out the door with tax and 0 % apr for 60 months...
Fiestas, inspite of their reputation, are pretty reliable , especially the manuals.
Powershift CAN be reliable but it's a crap shoot. The newer the better the odds.
fidelity101 said:Ram50Ron said:Daylan C said:3800 powered front drive GMs from my observation of 2 friends' cars. Things will apparently run like E36 M3 for years.
One of them puts a E36 M3 load of miles on their neglected Olds LSS and it just keeps going, the other has a 9C1 Impala that just keeps ticking along. Both cars have progressively gotten uglier but they both keep going.
+1 for GM W-Body with the 3800. I had an '08 Grand Prix that was on it's way back from the moon that was the most reliable car I've ever owned.
Father time and the Tin worm have sorted out pretty much any weak links in that badge engineered wasteland by now.
except they eat front suspension parts like a fat kid and candy.
Never had a problem with 30k miles of Milwaukee minefields...erm roads. My 2006 Magnum was a bigger consumer of suspension parts.
I think the question is do you want the car to be "good" for a long time or usable. Both of the cars I mentioned are 0 berks given beaters. The LSS in question is currently sagging a bit on the driver side after hauling an SBC short block in the back seat. My buddy with the Impala hasn't mentioned it in a while but last I checked it had 230k miles, needed a motor mount and had an exhaust leak.
Both cars look like what they are, interior and paint are garbage on both cars.
I'll throw out 2000-2001 Nissan Maxima. The VQ30DE-K is virtually bulletproof (the VQ35 on the 02+ have a few issues but are still very reliable). The transmissions are strong. Suspension setup is about as simple as it comes, really. They aren't known to rust like other similar-vintage Japanese cars (though of course they can rust). Fast, roomy, good stock handling, especially the SE model, and much more fun to drive than a similar-vintage Accord or Camry.
Mine had 180k on it when I sold it (including lots of autocross, a track day, and generally hard driving). with no significant issues that I recall.
irish44j said:I'll throw out 2000-2001 Nissan Maxima. The VQ30DE-K is virtually bulletproof (the VQ35 on the 02+ have a few issues but are still very reliable). The transmissions are strong. Suspension setup is about as simple as it comes, really. They aren't known to rust like other similar-vintage Japanese cars (though of course they can rust). Fast, roomy, good stock handling, especially the SE model, and much more fun to drive than a similar-vintage Accord or Camry.
Mine had 180k on it when I sold it (including lots of autocross, a track day, and generally hard driving). with no significant issues that I recall.
I know of one that had about 350k on it last time I saw it. All the electrics were still functional as well.
The most "bulletproof" car I've owned so far other than the Miata would be a 1994-2004 Mustang with the V6. Not too hard to find a garage kept rust free Mustang and it's not a very complex car. Not sure how available they are in Canada. Nobody wants stock parts from the V6 cars so used parts are stupid cheap. I've actually seen a lot of Mustangs for sale in my area with over 200k miles.
grover said:I just had this conversation with a cab company owner in nyc. he said they get about 100-150 out of crown vics, slightly less out of the escape, and 450k+ out of the camry hybrids. I'd go toyota.
I've heard the same about the Prius and sienna taxi models.
Fueled by Caffeine said:grover said:I just had this conversation with a cab company owner in nyc. he said they get about 100-150 out of crown vics, slightly less out of the escape, and 450k+ out of the camry hybrids. I'd go toyota.
I've heard the same about the Prius and sienna taxi models.
I'll second this. just sold my 2003 sienna with 245k miles on it for 2200 to a US post office contractor to deliver mail in.
In reply to FIYAPOWA :
Have you been to Quebec in the winter? I don't think a Miata is a good choice for that region.
Anything can go through winter here as long as it has good snow tires. Even in 2018 some people think snows are a scam and buy some cheap Sunny or Snotrakkers to conform to the law. If you wash it every 1-2 weeks to remove salt, it won't rust too badly, but almost no one does this.
I actually found a 2200$ Miata and it's tempting. But I know if I get it it'll become a project...
What about the mahindra jeep clone? Don't get any simpler and winter capable that a jeep with a diesel tractor engine
to satisfy all four stated requirements, ie "Most Simple", "Bullet-Proof", "Reliable", and "Daily", i'm going with manual Focus.
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