What's the most reliable vehicle you've owned?
- Thread starter 357-RevolverGuy
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James K
Member
I worked for a vehicle delivery company and we had 'chase cars' to pick up drivers. Several late 90s Corollas had over 300K and several early 2000 era Prius the same. And my boss did little to maintain them. The Honda Sienna van also had major miles.
Bright yellow metal Tonka. Couldn't kill that thing.
1956 Willis Jeep....went everywhere...simple to work on....
I got an 2012 FJ with 160k in it, no issues. I know a guy who has a 2007 FJ with 430k on it and it’s his daily driver.
I had a 1999 Toyota Camry with 230,000 with just regular maintenance ...oil changes , brakes and tires etc .
We now drive a 2015 Toyota Camry with 74,000 miles and a 2016 Rav4 with 91,000 miles and so far just tires and brakes on both.
We use synthetic oil and keep it changed regularly.
I figure both vehicles are good for another 100,000 miles each minimum with no major expenses....hopefully !
Both vehicles have been paid for for some time and we plan on keeping them for as long as we can.
A new vehicle would be nice ... but a reliable paid for vehicle is nicer still.
We now drive a 2015 Toyota Camry with 74,000 miles and a 2016 Rav4 with 91,000 miles and so far just tires and brakes on both.
We use synthetic oil and keep it changed regularly.
I figure both vehicles are good for another 100,000 miles each minimum with no major expenses....hopefully !
Both vehicles have been paid for for some time and we plan on keeping them for as long as we can.
A new vehicle would be nice ... but a reliable paid for vehicle is nicer still.
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I have a late 70s F150 daily driver - regular maintenance.
I also have a late 90s CrownVic, the only issue was a recalled cracked intake manifold that never made the recall, and then, later a hardened rubber intake manifold coolant gasket. I think that's good for 25+ years of trouble free service.
The vehicles that impressed me were the Chevy/GMC 2500 delivery vehicles that we had where I worked. Hundreds of miles everyday in all driving conditions, different drivers all while loaded and maintenance done on the severe service intervals. That included 2500 vans and the S10/Sonomas.
I also have a late 90s CrownVic, the only issue was a recalled cracked intake manifold that never made the recall, and then, later a hardened rubber intake manifold coolant gasket. I think that's good for 25+ years of trouble free service.
The vehicles that impressed me were the Chevy/GMC 2500 delivery vehicles that we had where I worked. Hundreds of miles everyday in all driving conditions, different drivers all while loaded and maintenance done on the severe service intervals. That included 2500 vans and the S10/Sonomas.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
Why Old Blue of course! 1999 Chevy Suburban. 462,000 miles on the original engine (tranny got rebuilt at 435,000 miles). Would spend around 1,200-1,500 every couple of yeard or so fixing up stuff that wore out but she rode good until the day I traded her in on a 2023 Tacoma. Got $500 for Old Blue-suspect that she is being driven somewhere south of the border now.
Oldengineer
Member
In the 80’s and 90’s, the industry regarded the useful life of a vehicle as 7 years and 120,000 miles. As such, general durability testing was run almost nonstop for 120,000 miles. We had no idea what happened after that, but if the hardware was not bruised or worn, the life was expected to continue. The unknown variables were things like severe dust, sun load, and salt exposure. We still own a 2005 4.0L Explorer that has 160,000 miles and almost 20 years in Arizona. I’m convinced that paying attention to scheduled maintenance intervals, using synthetic oil, and keeping the vehicle clean has helped keep the old girl alive. She (Betsy) is the loaner/hauler/foul weather pick. She is cheap to insure and gets horrible gas mileage!
Tom H.
Tom H.
2011 Hyundai Accent. Bamabiker took me to dealership In Birmingham when I bought it new.
Kept it for ten years and it never let me down. I’d meet Dad at OGCA show in Wilmington and always set land speed records
Here is a Friday dash picture on the Interstate before show setup.
Kept it for ten years and it never let me down. I’d meet Dad at OGCA show in Wilmington and always set land speed records
Here is a Friday dash picture on the Interstate before show setup.
Attachments
I had a '67 Toyota Landcruiser that needed an overhaul when I bought it. Price was right and back in the mid 80's I went through the Japanese version of the venerable 235" Chevy six. I replaced the exhaust with a set of Clifford headers and decent muffler, replaced the ignition with a Delco dizzy, and installed a two barrel Weber carb. It was without any doubt in my mind the absolute best off road four wheel drive vehicle I have ever owned, not so great on the highway which was their eventual demise but off road or around town it was unstoppable. I put larger BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires on it and once while sturgeon fishing with a buddy we were blasting around on some low water mud flats, came around a point that opened out onto a large mud flat with seagulls flapping about. I was going around 35mph in low range and we went onto the flats with about an inch of water on top, I turned the wheel and nothing happened, a little more and still nothing...I backed off the throttle and began to feel it bite, we did a big arcing turn, hydroplaning like Miss Bardahl water flying out over the front wheels, got it headed back for shore and I am still going about thirty, cant slow down or were done. We hit shore, there was a good bit of a rise and no way of knowing what was on the other side of the rise...In for a penny, go for the dollar. We hit that rise and went airborne like in "Rat Patrol" just missing some guys that were camped about fifty yards to my right, they were all standing up with mouths wide open as we flew by, landing with plenty of room to avoid any real danger. The undercarriage never looked better, what a great vehicle. The kids loved it because it had a heater facing the rear seats, I'd pick them up with the heater blasting while they climbed in from the rear. I knew guys put V8's in them but in my opinion it just ruins them, too much horsepower ain't good off road, maybe on water but not off road.
servmgr64
Member
2007 Tacoma
Bought it new and still drive it daily. 260,000 miles. Only replaced the A/C compressor 5-6 years ago. It will be for sale in 2-3 weeks as I made a deal on a new one. The only reason I am upgrading is for the newer safety features & bluetooth, backup camera. Upgrading to a 2025 Tacoma TRD Off Road. The last pickup that I kept this long was a 1980 Chevrolet, but I had to replace the engine once and the transmission 4 times. Love my Toyotas.
Scott
Bought it new and still drive it daily. 260,000 miles. Only replaced the A/C compressor 5-6 years ago. It will be for sale in 2-3 weeks as I made a deal on a new one. The only reason I am upgrading is for the newer safety features & bluetooth, backup camera. Upgrading to a 2025 Tacoma TRD Off Road. The last pickup that I kept this long was a 1980 Chevrolet, but I had to replace the engine once and the transmission 4 times. Love my Toyotas.
Scott
Jon651
Member
I had a series of Chevy pickup trucks - 1988 C1500, 1995 C1500 diesel (bought in 1996), 2004 Silverado 2500HD diesel, 2013 2500HD diesel (bought in 2014), and my current 2024 2500HD diesel. The shortest I kept one was 8 years and the longest was 10 years, but each was traded in for the next because I wanted something newer/bigger/better and not because any particular truck was bad.
I do not consider routine maintenance and wear items as reliability issues. The most expensive single repair on any of my trucks was a water pump on my 2004 Silverado 2500HD diesel - because the water pump is integrated into the block and a royal pain to get at. The most problematic was the emissions system on the 2014 Silverado 2500HD diesel but all of that was covered under warranty. This truck also had the most work done on it but that was because it was damaged by the mechanic while it was in the shop for the DEF tank recall, so not the truck's fault. Needless to say, I don't go back to that dealer for service anymore.
The truck I am/have been the most worried about is my current 2024 Silverado 2500HD diesel - for the simple reason it has by far the most computers and computerized controls. I read somewhere that it has either 16 or 18 separate processors (each more expensive than the last, I'm sure...), and as such is the only truck I ever paid for the extended warranty up front because I just know any electrical/electronic/computer problems it may have will be Expensive with a capital E!
2003 Ford Taurus that I put 212,000 on. Sold it to a neighbor in 2015 and they were still driving it in 2020.
MORSNO
US Veteran
jaguargolf
Member
1992? 4dr Honda Accord. I traded it in with 270,000 miles on it for $500 towards a Jeep Cherokee.
The Honda smelled like the World Trade Center and I couldn't get rid of the smell.
The Honda smelled like the World Trade Center and I couldn't get rid of the smell.
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Repeater
Member
1963 Chevy Impala...at 80K miles, I had to replace the starter brushes...yes, the brushes, not the starter! Total cost $6.00 or so. (did it myself) After that , a radiator at 100K miles. Not sure of the cost, but six bolts, two hoses and four clamps later, I was back in business. (also did it myself) And they call today's vehicles advanced...Hahahahaha!
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