What's the most simple, bullet-proof, reliable daily driver you can find today?

In reply to AngryCorvair :

Are there specific years?

In reply to rustybugkiller :

Duratec motivated ones, zetecs will occasionally drop valves 

+1 for manual focus w/ duratec.  Aside from the factory clutches having a reputation of letting go early they just work. Also they like to rev and can make good power but that may not be the goal..

Also Honda anything, and old cavaliers.

In reply to rustybugkiller :

IDK the specific years and trim levels, but like those guys up there said, duratec + manual = win.

I may just know where a 5 speed duratec Focus could be had for pretty cheap, if you don't mind figuring out why the running lights don't work. Just saying.

In the same boat so I can make the wagon a project car.

I've settled on essentially a +13 Focus hatchback w/ a manual and just about any Toyota.

Am leaning closer to the Focus because newer and manual whereas the majority of Toyotas I'm coming across are much older and autos.

Single speed, Carbon belt drive, puncture resistant tires, and if you somehow find anything to break within that simplicity, pushing it is easy.

Lol I'm a dick.

In reply to Cactus :

Lies, most are equipped with the dodgiest motors that can be found. 

In reply to captdownshift :

I meant that specific model. Shindelhauer Viktor. It's made in Germany, it's not cheap. It's a beautiful piece of work, though.

Cactus said:

In reply to captdownshift :

I meant that specific model. Shindelhauer Viktor. It's made in Germany, it's not cheap. It's a beautiful piece of work, though.

I think he means the rider!

kilgoretrout said:

A CRV? My mom has a 2005 that is closing in on 300K miles and the only thing out of the ordinary that broke was the A/C (black death or whatever). Other than that, it still drives like new. No oil leaks, or burning, nothing. I had an Element of the same vintage that was a similar story until it was killed by a Volvo. I would say any CRV made until they started putting in the CVT trans.

Speaking of Volvo's I also had a cockroach 940. I bought it for $1K, drove it for 3 years (including 2 yrs earning mileage as a sales rep), changed the oil a couple times, and sold it for $2K. Seriously nothing else. I beat the crap out of that thing and it never broke.

YEP.  CRV.