What car would you drive in the zombie apocalypse?

"mazda616" (mazda616) 11/23/2015 at 19:53 • Filed to: Zombie Cars

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I’m watching The Walking Dead and this episode is boring so I thought I’d pose Oppo a question. All things considered, what’s a good zombie-proof ride? Just for fun, let’s say the car has to be stock. Something you’d be able to find easily and just drive. No “Mad Max” inspired beast-mobiles.

For me, I’d have to say a Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ. Old, tough, easy to work on (mostly), and reliable enough. Ground clearance and four-wheel-drive to squish zombies if they get in the way. Only downside is fuel economy. Have fun gassing up the 14 MPG wonder once all the service stations are in ruins and the fuel attendant is a rotting, animated corpse.

A Laredo 4x4 with the venerable 4.0 six-cylinder would probably be my choice. Less power, but reliable as a tank. We had a ‘94 Limited with the 5.2 V8 when I was growing up. My stepdad still drives it. It’s pushing 400,000 miles now.

What about you? What are you grabbing the keys to once the zombie shit hits the fan?

Eberle-Hills-Cop > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 19:55

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F-150. Because you can’t drive half a mile without seeing 4 more. (parts)

Rico > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 19:57

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Autofixation > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 19:59

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As much as I hate GM products, I would have to say a 90’s Chevy Tahoe or Suburban with a 350. Parts are everywhere, they are durable, easy to work on, and can carry supplies, people, and weapons.

Steve in Manhattan > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 19:59

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Toyota Land Cruiser - overdesigned, overbuild, and very reliable.

not for canada - australian in disguise > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:00

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Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:02

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Rally Fighter. Made from parts bin stuff so parts aren’t too hard to come by, fast and good on poor terrain. Also it looks awesome.

BeaterGT > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:02

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Whatever I can run over Glenn with.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:03

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See? Everyone thought I’d take a Macan or Cayenne, but no.

The new Ford Edge Sport, beause I know for fact it’ll go longer than a new Porsche without maintenance. How’s that for edgy. ^_^

jkm7680 > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:05

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Because fast enough, reliable, durable and otherwise generally awesome.

djmt1 > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:09

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Skoda Octavia VRS. For starters they are just Golf GTIs underneath so there are plenty of spare parts. You can get it as a diesel so I’m good for fuel. The reason why you buy a Skoda is because you want a VW with much more Space, carrying capacity is very important for resource gathering. It’s quick and economical but most importantly they are borderline indestructible. Both the ambulance and police use them and boy do they beat on them.

TheHondaBro > Steve in Manhattan 11/23/2015 at 20:13

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^

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > jkm7680 11/23/2015 at 20:13

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Smarter than I. Raise it up a couple inches too.

Cherry_man1 > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:13

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My Gran Torino, because you said no mad max, I’m going full mad max because it’s all steel. It’s carburated in case of EMP from nuke for god knows why. Also could be good at taking off knee caps with it’s bumper.

jkm7680 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 11/23/2015 at 20:16

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Agreed!

I’d usually be saying Allroad, but I’d be much more comfortable flogging on a car that was built to be flogged 24/7.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Steve in Manhattan 11/23/2015 at 20:18

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People in remote areas are living proof that this(and possibly the Nissan Patrol) is the only correct answer.

ranwhenparked > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:18

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Kaiser Jeep M35 - I know where at least two are parked that would be easily accessible (former employer’s maintenance yard), and they can burn pretty much anything - gasoline, diesel, kerosine, whatever you can find.

Opposite Locksmith > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:21

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1997 montero 4x4 with Adjustable shocks. May not be the absolute best, but sometimes the best car is the car you know the most.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:25

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Yup

Reliable. Frugal. Parts everywhere. Fast. Quiet. Fun. Not draughty or leaky at all. Comfortable. Seats upto 11. Goes anywhere, sometimes it’s late.

I like Land Rovers.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:25

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An early G-wagen 461 (Military destination). Bullet proof 5 cylinder diesel, will go any where, has space for tools, and they have been in most countries.

Speed > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:28

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I daily a ‘93 ZJ. $500 and going strong over 2 years with lots of neglect and very little maintenance. What I like about it is the reliability and utility, but also the simplicity when it comes to repairs and the small size. These things can fit a lot of places a full sized truck or SUV can’t. Not to mention many parts interchange with the TJ and XJ.

That said, I think I’d choose something newer, but similar. While the old Jeeps are generally reliable, things do break. Get something new that only needs gas, oil and tires for 100k or more with little else. You need something small enough to maneuver around tight spots, but powerful enough to push through things when needed. The ZJ is PERFECT in that respect, but they’re all aging.

That said I’d consider a late model TJ since they were built through 2006 and still share many parts. Also, the Jeep lug pattern is shared with a ton of other cars like some Fords and front drive GM cars. I think finding something with a common lug pattern is on of the most crucial parts of a good apocalypse ride. Other considerations would be late model 4x4 Rangers and really any smaller or mid-sized truck/SUV.

Once I set up a permanent home I’d begin collecting anything cool I could get like classics and exotics.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:31

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Duh... The obvious choice is a mint green 2010 Hyundai Tucson FWD. Just kidding. I’d probably stick with my Subaru. It has decent off road capabilities, gets decent gas mileage ranging from the mid 20’s to 33 or so, it's huge inside, and has only needed oil changes in the 19,000 miles that I've put on it in the last 11 months.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 11/23/2015 at 20:32

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Ooh Nissan Patrol. Good shout.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 20:32

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GMT800 Suburban 2500 8.1L

Big, heavy, tough as nails, comfortable (which is weird to have as a perk during a zombie apocalypse but you have no clue how long you’ll be in it), the 8.1 has enough power to push vehicles out of the way with ease, they take basic mechanical knowledge to work on, and there’s enough GMT800 vehicles out there to keep it running forever. Fuel economy will be a bit of a concern but gas pumps should work long enough to keep it fed.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/23/2015 at 20:44

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I second this many times.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/23/2015 at 20:46

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That’s because you’re a smart person.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/23/2015 at 20:54

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You know what they say about great minds!

Steve in Manhattan > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 11/23/2015 at 21:07

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4Runner would probably do the trick as well - body on frame construction, if I’m remembering correctly.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Steve in Manhattan 11/23/2015 at 21:16

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Fully boxed, body on frame. I would have suggested it, but I’m a bit biased. Also, there are tons of the them around.

BigBlock440 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 11/23/2015 at 21:36

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Sure it’s part’s bin stuff, but which bins? You’d have to keep a cross-reference book with you if you ever broke anything.

Your boy, BJR > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 21:52

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My own caddy. It's reliable enough, and the only car I really know inside and out, plus, Northstars won't be too hard to come by.

Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 22:01

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No “Mad Max” inspired beast-mobiles.

C’mon we’re talking Zombie Apocalypse and I’m almost done with the interior house section (the garage was done earlier this year).

I plan on living in here for the apocalypse and back the car out for raiding the locals as I travel across the country.

6Cylinder > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 22:02

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With the 3.4 v6 (Not to be confused with the terrible 3.0) and 5spd.

I used to own one and know that you can wreck it three times, fly down washboard gravel roads, up treacherous PNW 4x4 trails and never break down. I owned mine from 166k to 230k miles and I only replaced the front wheel bearings. Not because I had to, because I wanted to.

13/10 would buy again.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > BigBlock440 11/23/2015 at 22:09

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Thats the sort of thing you could tattoo on your body with a lighter, a needle and a ball point pen for safekeeping.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Steve in Manhattan 11/23/2015 at 22:15

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Only downside to either is gas mileage.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 11/23/2015 at 22:16

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Have you ever done this?

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > mazda616 11/23/2015 at 22:17

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My vote definitely goes to an early square body Dodge pickup, and it has to have a 5.9 Cummins diesel.

Why? I’ve worked on a handful of them, so I know basically every bolt on them (let’s be honest there’s about 10) It’s an old mechanical diesel, and there’s not much to go wrong. If it does go wrong, it’s not going to be down for long. Pretty tough, and you could probably run it on most any fuel in an emergency and it probably wouldn’t care, but I live in farm country so there’s plenty of diesel around, both of the on-road and off-road variety (which I know these will happily run on) And if anything breaks/falls off, well it probably didn’t work to begin with and I didn’t need it. Plus they aren’t too rare, and Dodge never changed their trucks for about 30 years, so if I really need anything it wouldn’t take long to scrounge it up.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 11/23/2015 at 22:25

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I have not, but I imagine it’d be useful after the apocalypse.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 11/23/2015 at 22:26

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I was wondering because of the very specific materials list.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 11/23/2015 at 22:30

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That was based entirely off watching the movie “Memento” once.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 11/23/2015 at 22:31

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I’ve heard that I should watch it but haven’t gotten around to it.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 11/23/2015 at 22:36

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It’s pretty good, I’d recommend it.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 11/23/2015 at 22:43

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It’s on Amazon prime so I’ll get to it eventually.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > mazda616 11/24/2015 at 00:17

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Early 12valve cummins dodge ram. You only need a few wires to make it run and it will run on lots of different fluids and can haul shit and run zombies the fuck over

BigBlock440 > Gizmo - The Only Good Gremlin, but don't feed me after Midnight 11/24/2015 at 07:42

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Whoa, That’s cool.

PWRandSPD > ranwhenparked 11/24/2015 at 08:20

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You sir have the same idea I do. This or a Humvee or any military vehicle that is flexible in what it will run on. Every time I see them leave military spec vehicles behind it drives me crazy. However I live in the northeast and think that if I need fuel, almost every house will be my filling station due to the abundance of heating oil tanks.

Steve in Manhattan > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 11/24/2015 at 11:16

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True - I recall that those underpowered 4 cylinder 4Runners were especially atrocious due to the power/weight ratio.

Dru > mazda616 11/24/2015 at 15:58

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Tie between three:

1. ZJ but with the 5.2 V8. Chrysler hasn’t done many things right, but the 5.2 V8 was one of them, and that is probably leftover from AMC, I’m really not sure.

2. 80 Series LC. Ridiculously reliable, carries several people or lots of stuff when you’re on supply runs.

3. Half-Ton GM truck. Stupid reliable, and I live in the southeast, so there are approximately 7 Million Silverado/Sierras per square mile. Lots of parts.

Amoore100 > mazda616 12/04/2015 at 00:55

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If you knew me well enough, you’d expect this: