These are great examples. I’d also throw in any FWD GM sedan that’s newer than the burgundy LeSabre but older than the white LaCrosse.
1DownFourUp
90’s Hondas. If they made it this far and didn’t succumb to rust (RIP my ’98 Civic), hooning (my ’96 Integra), poor mods and maintenance, or being raced, it’s probably worth keeping.
2-StrokeToro
S10s, Rangers, and 1st Gen Dakotas.
lt12765
Civics, square body trucks (GM, ford, Dodge), Dodge HDs with Cummins engines. Somehow the original Ranger has been out of production for 13 years yet I still see them around looking almost new.
kikiacab
I’d argue the previous gen corollas are more user friendly and easier to keep running, the E110 corollas (1995-1998) are the last to have metal intake runners and the E111 facelift (1998-2002) were the first to have timing chains in the 1zz engines, meaning timing chains every 200,000 miles instead of timing belts every 50-80k. Furthermore, there’s heaps of space to work on anything mechanical that could go wrong.
No_Crazy_3412
15. I’m rocking the 92 century right now and I’ll keep her going for as long as possible. Buick gang ftw. Really though, there’s always gonna be people keeping many of these cars alive just like it’s done for classics. Which some of these are and will be.
truckinfarmer379
Pre-emissions Dodge pick up trucks with the 5.9 Cummins
ur_sexy_body_double
No Subaru on the list? Mine is ticking away just fine at 165,000 miles over 8.5 years, and a buddy is still daily driving his 03 Legacy Outback with 350,000.
MBrady242
2008-2020 Dodge Grand Caravans, you will never be able to get that much interior space for that little money ever again.
peepers_meepers
any old subaru. I still see old outbacks and legacies on the road. They will last forever if you take care of them.
slump-donkus
As a dude that owns an OBS Ford and helps my buddy keep his 300d on the road, you’re pretty much on the money. I would be remiss if I didn’t throw my 2 cents in for air-cooled beetles
Zerofawqs-given
My 2020 Chevy V6 Colorado🤣
Serious-Rutabaga-603
Jeep Cherokee Xj
I would be happy only owning this vehicle. But mine is so damn rusted out underneath.
From 1999-2006 (some were built for 2007 as “Classic” models)
These are mechanically excellent, they have iron block LS V8s that don’t have the cylinder deactivation that causes issues on the newer ones. The Duramax diesels of this era don’t have any DPF or DEF issues.
The 4-speed automatics of this era are also great, people dog on the 4L65 but if you’re not adding horsepower they handle the factory power just fine. Mine has 245,000 miles on the original engine and transmission that have never been rebuilt, just fluid changes every 60,000 and engine oil every 5000.
The main issue with these trucks, at least in areas with snow, is that the rocker panels and cab corners eventually rust out, rust takes them off the road before mechanical failure.
Difficult-Catch-4396
E70 BMW X5 3.0i
argilla11
These are all ancient vehicles at this point. They will leak, paint, and interior will deteriorate quicker than you can fix it. 2010-15 vehicles are getting dirt cheap and are worth keeping running.
Badhorse_6601
Mid 90s – early 00s gm cars with a 3800 series v6 Any dodge/ram pickup with a cummins ( excluding late 00s to current generation rams due to emissions crap) 1st generation s10/blazers Any toyota pickup with a 22r/22re
PracticableSolution
My last Super Duty made it 19.5 years before I sold it and got a new one, and the dude I sold it to still drives it around town. I expect similar performance from my new one
Complex_Habit_1639
Jeep Cherokee 4.0 Liter Inline 6
idontlikeyou85
I’d put my money on the Honda and Toyota offerings. I’m guessing that Super Duty has the 7.3 in it, and that makes it worth keeping. That M-B though… I’m guessing it’s gonna be on the road even after I’m gone.
GenialGentlewoman
5th gen 4Runner
Building_Everything
3rd & 4th generation Toyota 4Runners, especially with the V6. They regularly go more than 500k miles, mine is a 2008 and I am nearing 400 myself.
Limited_Surplus_4519
I didn’t see a Dodge Cummins 2500 in there!
k20vtec
8th gen civic for sure those things last forever
sotism
My 93 Bronco. Basically the same truck as that OBS F-150
oddlotz
My 2003 Blazer.
Novel_Frosting_1977
Tundra and Gx
cowboysdominion
GMT400 + GMT800 all day! i live in socal and there is still a HUGE amount of these on the road today, and there probably will be for a long time. i’m planning on buying one as a second car once i have some extra cash
19610taw3
I think OP is on to something with the 99-04 superduty trucks but with gas engines opposed to the diesels. 7.3 engines were great, but as with all electronic diesels, you’re going to start chasing computer and sensor problems. 6.0Ls … not so good.
But for a 4×4 with a gas engine … Leaf spring front suspension. No cam phasers. Manual transmission or relatively simple 4 speed automatic. If it’s 2wd, the twin i-beam suspension is the most durable independent front suspension that showed up in trucks.
The 2 valve 5.4/6.8 were pretty good engines that occasionally would blow out a spark plug.
They seemed to hold up better than the same era GM/Dodge trucks.
dudududusjdjejr
My ranger refuses to die
E90BarberaRed6spdN52
Have an 2002 Lexus ES300 fully loaded with the gold package trim on the family. It has about 155k miles on it. One small rust bubble in the paint on the rear quarter and that is it. Cold AC, all options work, runs great and we expect it to last 3-5 more years barring something unexpected. I have maintained the car and it had the original starter in it until 145k miles. Replaced the timing belt and water pump at 80k miles, brakes twice, wheel bearings and exhaust recently. Tires, oil changes and usual maintenance otherwise.
robertpercy93
The Mercedes W123 will last forever. The diesel ones can easily be run on vegetable oil or other forms of primitive biodiesel, and quite a few of them will probably also get EV converted either as restomods or out of necessity.
37 Comments
These are great examples. I’d also throw in any FWD GM sedan that’s newer than the burgundy LeSabre but older than the white LaCrosse.
90’s Hondas. If they made it this far and didn’t succumb to rust (RIP my ’98 Civic), hooning (my ’96 Integra), poor mods and maintenance, or being raced, it’s probably worth keeping.
S10s, Rangers, and 1st Gen Dakotas.
Civics, square body trucks (GM, ford, Dodge), Dodge HDs with Cummins engines. Somehow the original Ranger has been out of production for 13 years yet I still see them around looking almost new.
I’d argue the previous gen corollas are more user friendly and easier to keep running, the E110 corollas (1995-1998) are the last to have metal intake runners and the E111 facelift (1998-2002) were the first to have timing chains in the 1zz engines, meaning timing chains every 200,000 miles instead of timing belts every 50-80k. Furthermore, there’s heaps of space to work on anything mechanical that could go wrong.
15. I’m rocking the 92 century right now and I’ll keep her going for as long as possible. Buick gang ftw. Really though, there’s always gonna be people keeping many of these cars alive just like it’s done for classics. Which some of these are and will be.
Pre-emissions Dodge pick up trucks with the 5.9 Cummins
No Subaru on the list? Mine is ticking away just fine at 165,000 miles over 8.5 years, and a buddy is still daily driving his 03 Legacy Outback with 350,000.
2008-2020 Dodge Grand Caravans, you will never be able to get that much interior space for that little money ever again.
any old subaru. I still see old outbacks and legacies on the road. They will last forever if you take care of them.
As a dude that owns an OBS Ford and helps my buddy keep his 300d on the road, you’re pretty much on the money. I would be remiss if I didn’t throw my 2 cents in for air-cooled beetles
My 2020 Chevy V6 Colorado🤣
Jeep Cherokee Xj
I would be happy only owning this vehicle. But mine is so damn rusted out underneath.
Toyota sequoia 1st Gen
Honda Element.
2012 ford fusion.
GMT 800 GM full-size trucks.
Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche
GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL
Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT
From 1999-2006 (some were built for 2007 as “Classic” models)
These are mechanically excellent, they have iron block LS V8s that don’t have the cylinder deactivation that causes issues on the newer ones. The Duramax diesels of this era don’t have any DPF or DEF issues.
The 4-speed automatics of this era are also great, people dog on the 4L65 but if you’re not adding horsepower they handle the factory power just fine. Mine has 245,000 miles on the original engine and transmission that have never been rebuilt, just fluid changes every 60,000 and engine oil every 5000.
The main issue with these trucks, at least in areas with snow, is that the rocker panels and cab corners eventually rust out, rust takes them off the road before mechanical failure.
E70 BMW X5 3.0i
These are all ancient vehicles at this point. They will leak, paint, and interior will deteriorate quicker than you can fix it. 2010-15 vehicles are getting dirt cheap and are worth keeping running.
Mid 90s – early 00s gm cars with a 3800 series v6
Any dodge/ram pickup with a cummins ( excluding late 00s to current generation rams due to emissions crap)
1st generation s10/blazers
Any toyota pickup with a 22r/22re
My last Super Duty made it 19.5 years before I sold it and got a new one, and the dude I sold it to still drives it around town. I expect similar performance from my new one
Jeep Cherokee 4.0 Liter Inline 6
I’d put my money on the Honda and Toyota offerings. I’m guessing that Super Duty has the 7.3 in it, and that makes it worth keeping. That M-B though… I’m guessing it’s gonna be on the road even after I’m gone.
5th gen 4Runner
3rd & 4th generation Toyota 4Runners, especially with the V6. They regularly go more than 500k miles, mine is a 2008 and I am nearing 400 myself.
I didn’t see a Dodge Cummins 2500 in there!
8th gen civic for sure those things last forever
My 93 Bronco. Basically the same truck as that OBS F-150
My 2003 Blazer.
Tundra and Gx
GMT400 + GMT800 all day! i live in socal and there is still a HUGE amount of these on the road today, and there probably will be for a long time. i’m planning on buying one as a second car once i have some extra cash
I think OP is on to something with the 99-04 superduty trucks but with gas engines opposed to the diesels. 7.3 engines were great, but as with all electronic diesels, you’re going to start chasing computer and sensor problems. 6.0Ls … not so good.
But for a 4×4 with a gas engine … Leaf spring front suspension. No cam phasers. Manual transmission or relatively simple 4 speed automatic. If it’s 2wd, the twin i-beam suspension is the most durable independent front suspension that showed up in trucks.
The 2 valve 5.4/6.8 were pretty good engines that occasionally would blow out a spark plug.
They seemed to hold up better than the same era GM/Dodge trucks.
My ranger refuses to die
Have an 2002 Lexus ES300 fully loaded with the gold package trim on the family. It has about 155k miles on it. One small rust bubble in the paint on the rear quarter and that is it. Cold AC, all options work, runs great and we expect it to last 3-5 more years barring something unexpected. I have maintained the car and it had the original starter in it until 145k miles. Replaced the timing belt and water pump at 80k miles, brakes twice, wheel bearings and exhaust recently. Tires, oil changes and usual maintenance otherwise.
The Mercedes W123 will last forever. The diesel ones can easily be run on vegetable oil or other forms of primitive biodiesel, and quite a few of them will probably also get EV converted either as restomods or out of necessity.
Subaru WRX. Fan base just won’t let one die.
Carolla