Recommend a cheap car for someone who won't take care of it

"NaturallyAspirated" (NaturallyAspirated)
02/02/2015 at 17:49 • Filed to: Oppo Recommends, VW Type 3

Have a VW Type 3 Fastback for your trouble, as seen on my lunch break today.

One of my co-workers just blew up the motor (2.0L Zetec) in his 2002 Ford Focus. I had assumed that he broke his timing belt, but his mechanic just called and told him that he couldn't turn the crank and that the engine is either seized or has catastrophic bearing damage.

My co-worker is absolutely terrible about taking care of his car despite me and several other co-workers ragging on him about it. So the long and short of it is that he needs a car to get to work, he probably won't take care of it, and I live the closest to him so I'm the logical carpool provider until he gets a replacement.

I have other co-workers who don't take good care of their cars, but one drives a Nissan Hardbody with the 2.4L that doesn't seem to give a damn whether it's taken care of or not, and another drives a Toyota RAV4 that hasn't had any issues yet.

I was thinking of recommending a Geo Prizm or a Mazda Protege, but perhaps something like an old Nissan Pathfinder would be good? Maybe even a GM W-body?

Going on the assumption that he won't take any better care of his next car than he did this one, what would Oppo recommend?

DISCUSSION (38)

jkm7680 > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:50

That looks awesome, Haha.

bob and john > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:50

2002 toyota corolla.

those things. do not. fucking. die.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:51

A Corolla or Camry.

Party-vi > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:52

Corolla or Civic. He deserves punishment.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:54

Kinja'd!!!

This might make Coty cry.

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
02/02/2015 at 17:54

My citroen won't start > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:54

Give him a bike until he learns how to take good care of his things.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:55

Something with a dodge slant 6. Unlikely he'll find that though.

In that case, something cheap that people beat on mercilessly. Chevy Celebrity is a good choice. A less better choice is a Cavalier.

Rainbow > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:55

A Schwinn.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 17:56

Volvo 245. They don't ever die, and when he's done thrashing it, you can buy it cheaply and do an LS1 swap.

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux
02/02/2015 at 17:58

Good god man I still have an Xmas gift for you sitting on my desk :$ It'll make it's way up there soon I swear!

ranwhenparked > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:01

Accordcamrycorollacivic. They're the moving equivalent of a refrigerator.

NaturallyAspirated > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
02/02/2015 at 18:01

Oh wow, I forgot all about the Celebrity.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/4869546993…

pmendoza502 > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:02

Corolla or Camry.....

pmendoza502 > Party-vi
02/02/2015 at 18:02

corolla yes, non interference engines, civic, still need to keep tabs on oil levels and coolant levels...

GhostZ > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:03

Old Pathfinders do require attention and care, especially when it comes to keeping them clean and rust-free. I would not recommend.

E. Julius > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:03

This car actually looks mildly interesting now given its age. Closer in time to 60s classics than modern cars.

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
02/02/2015 at 18:04

haha I was wondering about that. No worries Party!

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:05

Modern examples: Chevy Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla. They're also dirt cheap.

dogisbadob > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:06

92-96 Camry. Best car ever made.

The 93-97 Corolla/Prizm is also a good choice. You really can't go wrong with Toyota

NaturallyAspirated > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
02/02/2015 at 18:07

245s are uncommon around here, but I see an awful lot of 240s on Craigslist.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/487150…

NaturallyAspirated > GhostZ
02/02/2015 at 18:09

Good to know. My aunt in San Diego went over 300k miles in her Pathfinder with only basic maintenance, but rust would obviously not be a concern down there.

DavidHH > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:11

The Buick Century would be best, as they don't apparently need maintenance and can be bought cheaply from old people who can't drive anymore because of rigamortis.

DavidHH > Party-vi
02/02/2015 at 18:13

Make it the Honda Civic then. Too bad none are left on the road with the hondamatic semiautomatic transmission, as these were horrible to drive.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:14

What year was hers? I just picked up an '03 with 15ok, and it seems to have many miles left in it.

NaturallyAspirated > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
02/02/2015 at 18:17

I don't recall what year exactly, but it was the pre-'96 body style that was essentially the Hardbody frame with a bed cover and carpet.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:18

Well, the 245 is the Volvo geek nomenclature for the 240 wagon.

911e46z06 > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:29

90s Chevy truck with a 350. You can pretty much just ignore it. Run it on Coors Light instead of gas. Use gravy instead of coolant. Roofing tar instead of oil. Doesn't matter. It'll still run.

911e46z06 > 911e46z06
02/02/2015 at 18:31

Or an e36 318. My uncle put like 600k on one with pretty much just oil changes.

GhostZ > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 18:36

Yeah, depending on the year and engine they are awesomely reliable, but fuses and rust tend to be Nissan's Achilles heel for anything made before 2005.

AdverseMartyr > NaturallyAspirated
02/02/2015 at 19:33

80-90s jeep product with the straight six, maybe. The two I owned seemed nigh un-killable and lord only knows how hard the owners before me worked at killing them (and I know they tried.)

(Let's just say that I acquired one with studded snow tires and a leaky gas tank in the middle of summer. I think that should tell you some of the effort the previous owner put into killing it.)