Jman Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 About to hand over my new car to my youngest as a college graduation gift. I am going to buy a "beater" to roll to work and back with. Car or truck 10-15-20+ years old. Maybe spending 2 to 3 K on it. I possess slightly above average mech skills. Knowing what you know, recommend something please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Growing up, we never sent a car to a mechanic. No computers, all mechanical switches and an owners manuals that actually told you how to keep it on the road. Something major needed repairs and dad might even spring for a Chilton's Manual. So I guess I'm talking about something built in the 60's or earlier. Most are easy to work on, many have lots of replacement parts available, and cruising down the road in style is pretty cool. I believe Ted Nugents' black Bronco is a '73. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSEMARTIN Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Ford Taurus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodownzero Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Easiest car to work on ever made: Chevy Caprice/Impala. Otherwise: almost any truck, preferably older, and GM, because they share more parts with other vehicles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlspeed Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I would say just about anything as well. You can find almost anything in the range you specified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) The biggest reason I spent more to get a Diesel truck, is ... ..I told my wife I did not know how to fix a diesel Thats cool what you are doing for your kid Edited January 17, 2011 by AlamoShooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic_jon Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Easiest car to work on ever made: Chevy Caprice/Impala. Otherwise: almost any truck, preferably older, and GM, because they share more parts with other vehicles Agreed, My first car was a 72 Impala and that is what I really learned about cars on. There are a ton of Chevy small blocks out there so parts are cheap and easy to find. Also, the Chevy 350 with a 4 bolt main is nigh indestructible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share Posted January 17, 2011 One of the many reasons I live in the desert SW is the climate. We commonly see cars and trucks out here built in the 60's and 70's driven everyday and NO RUST. The more I read up on that 22R motor in the older Toyota's a little pick up might fill the bill....we shall see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rishii Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 One of the many reasons I live in the desert SW is the climate. We commonly see cars and trucks out here built in the 60's and 70's driven everyday and NO RUST. The more I read up on that 22R motor in the older Toyota's a little pick up might fill the bill....we shall see. I got one, 90 toyota pickup, 22R with a 4 speed manual transmission, the drive train is solid, the rest of the truck not so much. I've had it for 15 years and so far have replaced the clutch, shocks, brakes, battery, muffler, and a stupid nylon bushing on the bottom of the stick shift, other than regular maintenance, that's it. it still has the original radiator. I keep saying I'm going to replace it in a year or so, but never had a need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boz1911 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 An older Explorer might fill the bill and give a young driver some crash protection. Parts would be easy to come by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpolans Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 90-97 Mazda Miata is a fun car that's pretty easy to work on. RWD, great manual transmission, relatively large engine bay for the longitudinally mounted inline 4. Cheap too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
open17 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 In a car, look at a 90's Buick with a 3800 Series II in it. Usually purchased be older people, well maintained, low miles. Gets pretty good mileage too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 There was a time where the answer to this was simple - a VW bug. Two people could take it apart and put it back together in an hour. One guy to work on it and another to hold it up in the air. Not sure if there are any of the old air cooled engines still around but... Alternatively, depending on availability, an old car or truck with a diesel engine is usually pretty easy to work on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aglifter Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 If you don't care about power, an pre-87 Mercedes 240D. They were taxi cabs for much of the world, and absurdly easy to work on, and beautifully made. - be sure to get the 85MPH chassis, or switch out the rear diff to that ratio, if you get one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 How far is back and forth to work? (At $3/gal ) - A car that might not break down much might be a good option. - Easy to work on...Jeep. But, a key being that you will want good A/C in Mesa? Maybe...as much as it would make you feel great to give the new car to your youngest...they might really get a lot out of getting their first post-grad. job and buying their own ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I have a 1998 Ford Ranger. It has done pretty well for the last 130,000 miles. It has mostly recognizable components. It does have a computer but that has been hacked for years and you can get a device to read it out. In fact there are firmware tweaks you can do. The same basic engine was used in the Merkur. The 4 cyl gets about 26-27 highway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 One of the many reasons I live in the desert SW is the climate. We commonly see cars and trucks out here built in the 60's and 70's driven everyday and NO RUST. The more I read up on that 22R motor in the older Toyota's a little pick up might fill the bill....we shall see. I was going to go against the grain and recommend an old Toyota truck. I had an 88 4wd with the 22RE that I drove for 18 years and sold it because I did not have the skills or time to give it the TLC it needed to go another 100k. I put 125k on it and never did much but batteries, exhaust, tires and pretty religious oil changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CocoBolo Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 JMan - I made my living building racecars for 10 years, so I know my way around a vehicle. Back about 1989 I decided that I could either buy a new vechicle and pay $200 a month payment or get another turd and spend $200 a month on parts. I decided to save money on soap and skip the time spent on my back under the car. You didn't say how far it is to work? Now if you live more than 20 miles from work, I'm going to tell you to stop the foolish thinking about driving an old gas hog. There are a few deals out there right not in cars that are good sense Toyota Corolla (buy american, one of the most american made cars on the road, Camary is the most american), Mazda 3, Nissan Sentra. These are all cars capable of 35-37 mpg, reliable and in expensisve to buy. The expectation is that Gasoline will be $5.00 per gallon by 2012 so those gas hogs will be very unpopular again soon. If you are going to persist be sure to get a stick shift. 3 years ago I bought a 98 Sentra for one of my daughters dirt cheap with a messed up trans. I bought a trans at the junk yard with < 15k on it for $200. Yes manual trans, now that is about a 4K savings compared to going to a auto trans shop and getting put down. The clutch kit cost me $120 and 3 hours later she was driving her car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny Warrior Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Easiest car to work on ever made: Chevy Caprice/Impala. Otherwise: almost any truck, preferably older, and GM, because they share more parts with other vehicles First car I ever drove was my dad's Chevy Caprice. Drove it for about 8 years. Easy to fix, but things always went wonky...it was getting old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3quartertime Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Easy to fix, but things always went wonky...it was getting old. I would definitely suggest you stay away from the cars that go 'wonky'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modoc Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Jman, I'd make you a scramin deal on a '66 Ford Camper special. The only problem is that we are about 2 states away. I have to second the get something that you don't HAVE to work on. The reliabilty + payment vs. no payment + downtime + repair costs. On the other hand, I want to find a 60's International Scout or Ford Bronco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 On the other hand, I want to find a 60's International Scout or Ford Bronco Find two, I want one too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) Looking at a 94 Toyota Pick Up in the AM. Correction...I was going to but someone beat me to it. Dang. Edited January 18, 2011 by Jman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 Maybe...as much as it would make you feel great to give the new car to your youngest...they might really get a lot out of getting their first post-grad. job and buying their own ? You would be embarrassed of this statement if you were fully aware of the particulars. I may well be mis-reading it but it is a tad presumptuous...no? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 I'm with CocoBolo, spend money on payments and get better mileage a warranty and piece of mind and weekends free, or spend money on parts, and weekends crawling around on the ground, and trust me if something is gonnabreak it's gonna break on a Sunday evening, in the rain, when it's freezing, and you gotta be at work Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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