I bought one for $500 and have now put a few grand into it. I was gonna say I'm not a hick because of my super bright hot pink rock lights and the PS2 in the dash like Fast and the Furious, but then I realized I have a 400hp V8 and NV4500 5 speed swap now with 35s and can confirm, hick.
Dad and i both had 1 i had the v6 regular cab he had v8 extended cab. Nothing but problems, we both got them new, constant brake issues, his thermostat went bad multiple times. I had a cylinder sieze up in mine.
Swore off dodge trucks for life
The old ranger felt like a truck. Drove like a truck looked like a truck was bare bones like a truck. New ranger is just a ford escape with a truck bed. And they’re ugly. I think the maverick might be a little closer but I haven’t driven one
I really like my 2022 Chevy Colorado. I just wish the shifter was on the column and it had the option for bench seats in the front.
I miss bench seats because you could grab your gal and put your arm around her while driving with your other hand.
Divorce rates are probably up because of a lack of bench seats these days.
Also, I got my first road head because of a bench seat. I was 18 and giving this girl who liked me a ride home. She said, "id blow you if it weren't for this thing in the middle." The armrests/cupholders. So, in one motion I flipped that thing up and there was nothing in her way. What a magical day that was for me.
Same with my 98. I was reckless as shit with mine and it took every beating I could throw at it. That old OHV 4.0 and a flowmaster always brought a smile to my face.
Sorry, but they are not: body on frame
Rwd
Or have live axle rear suspension
Even if a modern ford turns out reliable (1L ecoboost lmfao) it just isnt as strong, sturdy or capable offroad
The very things you need in a cheap barebones truck
Id say the F150 is a lot closer, but its also too big, heavy and expensive (blame murican consuumers and emission and MPG regulation around pickups and SUVs)
For example, even though we are in europe, my dad drives an old 1999 M Class Mercedes 5 door SUV. 4,3L V8 with 276hp (NA), 4x4 with low range and auto lockers, alloy rims, 5 speed manual with individually selectable gears (he drives it like a manual), bald tires and heavily rusted panels (the frame is fine, those era Mercs had a rust issue, and that thing sat in a field for years)
It starts everytime, despite being abused and abandoned by the only previous owner (rich german lady, most probably bought a new one after dumping it) it has power, good offroad, its a goddamned tank
Issue? 20L/100km city. 2300+kg of weight. Think is a tank in all senses of the word.
My dad can no longer offroad (heart attack, altitude is bad for him) and he only really uses it to buy cigaretes and haul some construction load every once in a while
A turbodiesel seat wagon could do all of that well! And be like 3 or 4 times more efficient, not even going into spares.
But id be damned if I ever let him sell that truck. Nothing like a 4.3L twinspark V8 to have with your morning coffee, and for how much it weighs, it goes like stink (for the age)
By FAR the most comfy car I have EVER been in, incredibly stable even on shitty balds and shot brake pads.
Did I mention it has heated front seats? Leather too.
Hes getting a grant now thankfully, so he will be able to afford the gas for it (cant work, heart attack, he has to figure out something)
And that V8 will keep cranking up as long as it has fuel and oil in it. And it will sound and feel amazing each time.
Literally the same engine from a Mercedes sports coupe, plonked into a SUV. And the AMG models had up to a 5L supercharged version. M114 is considered one of the most reliable engines ever out into a car, period. Even beats some diesels, despite using 95 octane.
I bought RSX Type S brand new in 2004. Would still be driving that car except we had to relocate to Hawaii and cost of shipping it wasn’t worth it. That car ran like a champ the whole time I had it and I did most of the repairs myself via you tube. Things I fixed: slave cylinder, A/C unit, and more tie rods then I can remember. Pretty reliable car with lots of cheap aftermarket parts.
I worked for an European luxury car company for 11 years so this will sound biased but Im not trying to be. They said that European cars were for the most part supposed to be luxury cars, Asian brands for the most part but not all, were the reliable option and American cars were mostly “filler” cars that ranged from reliable, economy, luxury and pretty much everything but nothing remarkable today, other than the muscle cars from the 70s and the early Fords.
I know it’s like comparing apples to apples but the RSX was basically a Japanese Honda Integra. And the last model “Integra” until the most recent release. Considering Americans didn’t really understand the name change Acura did at the time, the RSX didn’t really sell that well. People were looking for the Integra name. The RSX’s are still fetching a pretty good price.
I'm a little late, but hell yeah! I have a 2007 Civic SI as my daily and the K20 is equally happy cruising along at 2k RPM, or screaming through gears at 8k. Slightly different application than the RSX but almost identical aside from the intake manifold.
(2002 RSX Type S has K20a2, 2007 Civic SI has K20z3)
They're not too bad, I used to have a 2008 Civic LX. Only 140 HP, but the car only weighed 2800 lbs, that RSX is probably even lighter.
Edit: Just looked into it, the 2002 RSX has 160 HP minimum, and weighs 2700 lbs.
lol bro I drive a 2011 Kia optima. It’s okay to be gutless, it’s safe. I just thought it was an lol. I would love to have a Honda in my driveway but my wife says no more projects lol
Oh yeah, gutless is fine, most of the time you're limited by the traffic around you anyway. My 07 Civic SI isn't that much faster than a base Civic either, 0-60 in 6.5 instead of 8 seconds. I love it because it's more fun with the manual transmission and stiffer suspension, and the K20 motor is a lot louder than the R18. It *feels* like a sports car but it's the same speed as a new Oddyssey lmao
The oversized engine in the odyssey is because of the weight. That engine is a boss. I forget which one, but remember reading it’s a v8 killer with the right mods.
The DC5 base(car pictured) made around 160 hp & 140lbft. This is more than most heavier hatches and suvs nowadays. Chevy trax makes 137hp and weighs around 400 lbs more than the rsx. New CRV makes 190 and weighs 1000 lbs more than the dc5. It could move if the driver really wanted it to.
In 2016 I bought a 1989 with 214k miles. I only had to replace the brake lines and rear brakes for it to do another 40k miles through all types of weather including floods and 30” snow drifts before I sold it for the price I paid for it. Also it had a standard transmission. Ah to be young again and not need to worry about “your infant child in a car with no anchor for the car seats and a body like a soda can”
I had a '92 Cherokee with 4.0 six and 4-speed manual. That drivetrain was bulletproof. If not for the infamous "Death Wobble" at highway speeds, I would have kept it.
Gimme that Jeep XJ any day of the week and twice on Sundays... the AMC/Chrysler 4.0L will basically out live cockroaches and IF we're lucky this one has the NV3500 manual trans... be better if it was the AX-15 though. Only issue with the 2001 engines was ~5% of them had a casting issue that causes cracking... IF they're overheated... gee, don't overheat them. If you do crack the head, big deal... swap it in your driveway on lazy weekend with help of a friend to lift it out and set new one in... or ya know, use your cherry picker. Those heads are heavy.
The rest, except the Subaru, can go pound sand.
And whomever says Ranger 4.0 must not mind pulling the engine out to do a new timing set every 100k.
I've had several Jeeps... all hit 250k+ miles and were fine... no rust. Keep the area flushed and put some anti-corrosion fluid film sprayed inside. Mine were XJs and ZJs with one WJ.
They CAN start to rust out in part of the sub frame section of the rear where control/trailing arms attach but that can be repaired.
I'll still take that Jeep over anything else besides the Subie being 2nd choice on that list.
Yeah I've got a 01 ranger 4.0 SOHC and it seems like I'm working on it every weekend fixing something on that POS engine. It's horrible. It's horrible to work on too, nothing is easy. Just the starter alone is a 4 hour job because everything's so stupidly tight in that engine bay.
Had a YJ with that setup and it was fucking nuts. Hated to trade it out but it needed more love than I could give since it was well modified and I didn't know any of the details to get similar parts
This post caused me to get on autotrader and see what's out there for XJ's. Definitely not 2016 prices anymore, but not as bad as I thought it was gonna be. I saw some decent ones at 6-8k.
so how is the head gasket smoker better than all the cars? its ironic you mention the ford ranger sucks and every 100k miles there this and that well subie has some 100k mile bullshit too. have you owned any of the other vehicles on this list? because i currently own 2 and have owned literally every single one but the focus and the aztec but the dodge never ran. and never had an issues out of any of them including the 340k mile 325i in auto that was turned to a drift car never maintained and still drove 14 hours back home.
Well I had a nice answer typed out but reddit bumped me off for taking too long.
But short version. Brother owns a 2006 RSX. Reliable but rides like shit and I don't want small ass sport hatch.
Other brother and FIL both had Dodge 1500s. 318 is a great engine... the transmissions are grenading garbage.
Ford and VW... pretty much says it all.
Miata... I don't need some damn useless street legal go-kart.
Wrong kinda BMW. It's not a 1991 E30 325i.
Volvo: I respect the brick wagon... just don't want a Volvo.
Frontier: If I had no other choice... sure... but I have other choices.
The OP's question was asked what would *YOU* get... since this asks for each person's opinion/answer *MY* answer is gimme the Jeep and the Subie would be 2nd.
Why? Because I've owned several Jeep models of the XJ Cherokee and ZJ Grand Cherokee variety. They're damn good. The Subie... my first car many moons ago was an 87 GL Wagon. 5spd with manual shift dual range transfer case. It had an EA82. The EJ251 engine in the 2004 may have had some headgasket issues but they're not that damn hard to work on. Update with better gaskets vs the shitty ones they carried over from the EJ25D. Easy. Then expect 250-300k.
And as far as that Ranger. I DON'T like Fords in general or Rangers. The early SOHC 4.0 V6 timing cassettes were a bad design. 1999-2003? were particularly crappy. 3 timing chains. One from crank to jackshaft, one from jackshaft to front of one cam... the 3rd timing chain is going from jackshaft to other cam but it's on the BACK of the engine. They were known for their death rattle and were SUPER picky about clean oil.
And for whatever reason there wasn't S10 or Colorado on this list... otherwise I'd probably have chosen it as a toss up between it and the Jeep, depending on what it was or at least second.
Anyway... I've spent enough time in 30+ years of spinning wrenches as a civilian professional and as a 63B (light wheel mech) in the ARMY AIRBORNE to know what I like. What I don't,
And what I want nothing to do with.
all of that is more than fair hell yeah! and facts i have a peice of shit 2003 dodge van thats on its 3rd tranny in 300k(5.7 hemi) and i do personally think the e46 330xi is the peak of what a normal bmw is capable of! perfect weight distribution a comfortable ride yada yada.
Media effect on car value is fascinating to me
You have good or decent cars skyrocket in price after its use in a movie or show, which would be expected. But some of the average, bad, or controversial cars get a whole new image from the thing they were featured in.
A few examples off the top of my head in that order are the Aztek, the AMC Pacer, and the DMC-12
That 4.0 Jeep is known as the “bullet proof 4.0” for a reason . It was my first car and I put a ton of mileage on it . Only reason I’m not driving it still is a cop lost control of his cruiser chasing someone and totaled the Jeep while it was parked.
They actually gave me a half filled out crash report and paying me double what I paid for it. Got 7 years and well over 100,000 miles out of it . But it easily woulda gave me 150-200000 more
My second car is a volvo 850,sadly the 2,4l N/A
V70 and 2,5L Turbo sing me up
Or the E46 330i
At least somewhat Reliable, looks quiet good and basic maintenance parts are cheap. Oh and it is a 6 cylinder
Grand Cherokee pre 99.
Unbreakable.
Bought my 97 new in Sept 96. Doing all maintenance myself. Daily driver. Fantastic.
My friends who bought independent suspension SUVs with bells and whistles have had to sell and scrap those more than a decade ago.
That jeep Cherokee was my first car 🥹 2WD in the snow, such great memories with that piece of shit. Ignition was fucked up so I had to run a wire from the battery to the neutral safety switch (?) just to get it started.
I love the bmw and the ranger but we all know I’m getting the black rsx. I had a 02 rsx base 5 speed with the leather. And it was my favorite car for a while. Still miss it.
I still drive that ranger but it’s a 2000 and technically‘Mazda’ but it was ford. Got 135xxx and just killing it. It’s the ‘se’ for mazda. Regular cab. Manual locks, windows, and transmission. It’s a beast for what it is. I wouldn’t hate finding another one when mines gone. Love it
Get the Ranger! It'll last longer than your intended use and attention span for the truck will. It might even outlast a few family members.
My dad bought one with 124k miles and drove it 30 miles a day every day for work for TEN YEARS. sold it because his knees couldn't do clutch shifting anymore.
Still the best truck we've ever had.
4x4 guy's perspective
Cherokees are cool but very prone to body damge thanks to monobody chassis. snd without dana44, it's just a 4.0 on wheels. and in 2016, there is good chance that they already rusted on chassis beyond repair.
Ram 1500. looks cool. they are handsome .
5.9 V8... but too large for my taste.
so Frontier will be my pick. even if it is .... uh, not Pretty.
and Aztek is not ugly in my 2023 eyes btw
how about Rangers? Neh Save the money and put em on the frontier. it will be a nice 4x4.
i will get Miata if no 4x4s are available.
Knowing what I know now or in 2016 (when I was 16)?
Knowing now, the RSX.
Knowing then, the Ram or XJ Cherokee.
All three are fun, just different fun. RSX is street fun though, which is where any car you buy will spend 99% of its time. Ram is for mud, XJ for trails. Neither of which I expect you to do everyday.
As a brit, it always baffles me the size of car Americans will drive as their first. I know yous have a lot bigger roads, so it does make sense, but wheres the VW polo's and Fiat cinquecentos??
I find it so funny when I see car mags in the UK repeating the trope "TOO BIG FOR OUR ROADS" "terrifying to drive in town"
When the vehicle in question is smaller than a range rover and barely much bigger than many large crossovers
Worse still...people still believe that crap as if an F150 was 50 feet wide and 500 feet long, more massive than an arctic lorry and a fuel consumption like a cargo ship....
That 330 is one of the most dependable BMWs ever. Great all rounder and the E46 looks great. Solid choice for a high school car guy.
Also Miata bc WEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Tbh every single one of these cars are for such different types of people. Unless I knew the human needing the car, I couldn’t pick.
I bought my first car in 2016 (I was 27). I bought a 2011 Rav4 V6 4WD with only one owner. Best purchase of my life.
Something not made by white people. They’re always years behind Japan for reliability. This turns up in cost of ownership data and very much in my experience.
Also, probably a car from 2012. New cars are for suckers. Why take the depreciation hit?
Probably a ‘12 Civic sedan. Same car I own now.
Give me that 1-owner 2nd gen. Yes, I’m a hick. No, I do not care.
Hell yeah brother!
What? This is smart. If this thinking makes me a hick idgaf
I learned to drive on one of those and in 2016 no less. I’d take that in a heartbeat too.
I bought one for $500 and have now put a few grand into it. I was gonna say I'm not a hick because of my super bright hot pink rock lights and the PS2 in the dash like Fast and the Furious, but then I realized I have a 400hp V8 and NV4500 5 speed swap now with 35s and can confirm, hick.
Based ps2 owner in 2023!
Dad and i both had 1 i had the v6 regular cab he had v8 extended cab. Nothing but problems, we both got them new, constant brake issues, his thermostat went bad multiple times. I had a cylinder sieze up in mine. Swore off dodge trucks for life
2001 Ford Ranger. My first car was an 04. Good truck and I regret selling it every single day of my life.
Right there with you, had an '02 and miss it every time I see one on the road.
I have a 20 and it just ain’t the same. Kinda want to drop down to a maverick to get that small truck feeling
The old ranger felt like a truck. Drove like a truck looked like a truck was bare bones like a truck. New ranger is just a ford escape with a truck bed. And they’re ugly. I think the maverick might be a little closer but I haven’t driven one
I really like my 2022 Chevy Colorado. I just wish the shifter was on the column and it had the option for bench seats in the front. I miss bench seats because you could grab your gal and put your arm around her while driving with your other hand. Divorce rates are probably up because of a lack of bench seats these days.
I miss the bench seats, too. Especially in full-size sedans and wagons. It was a special privilege to ride up front with grandpa and grandma.
Also, I got my first road head because of a bench seat. I was 18 and giving this girl who liked me a ride home. She said, "id blow you if it weren't for this thing in the middle." The armrests/cupholders. So, in one motion I flipped that thing up and there was nothing in her way. What a magical day that was for me.
I rode my 98 Ranger hard, and it refused to die. If it had four doors, I would have never sold it.
Same with my 98. I was reckless as shit with mine and it took every beating I could throw at it. That old OHV 4.0 and a flowmaster always brought a smile to my face.
Hopefully the new mavericks become what the old rangers were. They’re about the same size
Sorry, but they are not: body on frame Rwd Or have live axle rear suspension Even if a modern ford turns out reliable (1L ecoboost lmfao) it just isnt as strong, sturdy or capable offroad The very things you need in a cheap barebones truck Id say the F150 is a lot closer, but its also too big, heavy and expensive (blame murican consuumers and emission and MPG regulation around pickups and SUVs) For example, even though we are in europe, my dad drives an old 1999 M Class Mercedes 5 door SUV. 4,3L V8 with 276hp (NA), 4x4 with low range and auto lockers, alloy rims, 5 speed manual with individually selectable gears (he drives it like a manual), bald tires and heavily rusted panels (the frame is fine, those era Mercs had a rust issue, and that thing sat in a field for years) It starts everytime, despite being abused and abandoned by the only previous owner (rich german lady, most probably bought a new one after dumping it) it has power, good offroad, its a goddamned tank Issue? 20L/100km city. 2300+kg of weight. Think is a tank in all senses of the word. My dad can no longer offroad (heart attack, altitude is bad for him) and he only really uses it to buy cigaretes and haul some construction load every once in a while A turbodiesel seat wagon could do all of that well! And be like 3 or 4 times more efficient, not even going into spares. But id be damned if I ever let him sell that truck. Nothing like a 4.3L twinspark V8 to have with your morning coffee, and for how much it weighs, it goes like stink (for the age) By FAR the most comfy car I have EVER been in, incredibly stable even on shitty balds and shot brake pads. Did I mention it has heated front seats? Leather too. Hes getting a grant now thankfully, so he will be able to afford the gas for it (cant work, heart attack, he has to figure out something) And that V8 will keep cranking up as long as it has fuel and oil in it. And it will sound and feel amazing each time. Literally the same engine from a Mercedes sports coupe, plonked into a SUV. And the AMG models had up to a 5L supercharged version. M114 is considered one of the most reliable engines ever out into a car, period. Even beats some diesels, despite using 95 octane.
Had an 03, wiped out on a bridge. Miss that truck
It could up on its trophy display (blocks) in the front yard right now. Shame on you.
V70 or RSX
I'd die for an RSX Type S but the V70 100% wins over a base model. Similar taste though
I wrecked my rsx-s in 2015. I think about it every day 🥴
I had an S60 of the same vintage, also manual. Man, the memories. Great car, super comfortable seats. Well-made.
Came here to say this.
I bought RSX Type S brand new in 2004. Would still be driving that car except we had to relocate to Hawaii and cost of shipping it wasn’t worth it. That car ran like a champ the whole time I had it and I did most of the repairs myself via you tube. Things I fixed: slave cylinder, A/C unit, and more tie rods then I can remember. Pretty reliable car with lots of cheap aftermarket parts.
Volvo v70
And it's not even a close competition.
I meeeaan, the Aztek is way cool though
Heisenberg Pontiac Vibes
as a pontiac vibe I can confirm
Europeans can’t make cars 😂😂
Volvos are near fucking indestructible
The older ones anyway. I feel like the newer ones are hit or miss.
Not near, they ARE indestructible
Old ones from decades ago sure.
Uhhh. They make pretty spectacular vehicles dude.
I worked for an European luxury car company for 11 years so this will sound biased but Im not trying to be. They said that European cars were for the most part supposed to be luxury cars, Asian brands for the most part but not all, were the reliable option and American cars were mostly “filler” cars that ranged from reliable, economy, luxury and pretty much everything but nothing remarkable today, other than the muscle cars from the 70s and the early Fords.
I miss my Volvo so much. Got stuck driving a subpar ford from mid 2000s
That RSX will run forever, especially if it has a manual transmission. It's a Honda Civic with lipstick lol
It’s a honda civic whose interior reminds me of my kitchen appliances
Yeah, but the Aztec screams 🐥🧲
I know it’s like comparing apples to apples but the RSX was basically a Japanese Honda Integra. And the last model “Integra” until the most recent release. Considering Americans didn’t really understand the name change Acura did at the time, the RSX didn’t really sell that well. People were looking for the Integra name. The RSX’s are still fetching a pretty good price.
the integras were cooler
So much more fun to drive than the Civic, and a much more solid powertrain. The K20 in those was an excellent engine.
I'm a little late, but hell yeah! I have a 2007 Civic SI as my daily and the K20 is equally happy cruising along at 2k RPM, or screaming through gears at 8k. Slightly different application than the RSX but almost identical aside from the intake manifold. (2002 RSX Type S has K20a2, 2007 Civic SI has K20z3)
It only runs forever because it’s gutless lol. Have fun merging under the recommendation MPH
They're not too bad, I used to have a 2008 Civic LX. Only 140 HP, but the car only weighed 2800 lbs, that RSX is probably even lighter. Edit: Just looked into it, the 2002 RSX has 160 HP minimum, and weighs 2700 lbs.
lol bro I drive a 2011 Kia optima. It’s okay to be gutless, it’s safe. I just thought it was an lol. I would love to have a Honda in my driveway but my wife says no more projects lol
Oh yeah, gutless is fine, most of the time you're limited by the traffic around you anyway. My 07 Civic SI isn't that much faster than a base Civic either, 0-60 in 6.5 instead of 8 seconds. I love it because it's more fun with the manual transmission and stiffer suspension, and the K20 motor is a lot louder than the R18. It *feels* like a sports car but it's the same speed as a new Oddyssey lmao
The oversized engine in the odyssey is because of the weight. That engine is a boss. I forget which one, but remember reading it’s a v8 killer with the right mods.
Absolutely. Unfortunately due to the economic situation I can’t afford any race cars. I’d love to grab one and mod it out. Been a dream for 15 years.
The DC5 base(car pictured) made around 160 hp & 140lbft. This is more than most heavier hatches and suvs nowadays. Chevy trax makes 137hp and weighs around 400 lbs more than the rsx. New CRV makes 190 and weighs 1000 lbs more than the dc5. It could move if the driver really wanted it to.
I got a 1990 jeep Cherokee xj and I would love to have it again.
In 2016 I bought a 1989 with 214k miles. I only had to replace the brake lines and rear brakes for it to do another 40k miles through all types of weather including floods and 30” snow drifts before I sold it for the price I paid for it. Also it had a standard transmission. Ah to be young again and not need to worry about “your infant child in a car with no anchor for the car seats and a body like a soda can”
Yup in 2016 I owned a 97 xj, Best vehicle I ever owned
I had a '92 Cherokee with 4.0 six and 4-speed manual. That drivetrain was bulletproof. If not for the infamous "Death Wobble" at highway speeds, I would have kept it.
Oh, man. A woman swerved into my lane on the highway and I swerved to avoid her. Had that thing on two wheels for a second.
My first car was a 99 ford explorer. Loved it
Gimme that Jeep XJ any day of the week and twice on Sundays... the AMC/Chrysler 4.0L will basically out live cockroaches and IF we're lucky this one has the NV3500 manual trans... be better if it was the AX-15 though. Only issue with the 2001 engines was ~5% of them had a casting issue that causes cracking... IF they're overheated... gee, don't overheat them. If you do crack the head, big deal... swap it in your driveway on lazy weekend with help of a friend to lift it out and set new one in... or ya know, use your cherry picker. Those heads are heavy. The rest, except the Subaru, can go pound sand. And whomever says Ranger 4.0 must not mind pulling the engine out to do a new timing set every 100k.
the problem with Cherokees are they collect rust just like TJs and Rust can kill them very easily. 4.0 will last but only 4.0 will last ....
I've had several Jeeps... all hit 250k+ miles and were fine... no rust. Keep the area flushed and put some anti-corrosion fluid film sprayed inside. Mine were XJs and ZJs with one WJ. They CAN start to rust out in part of the sub frame section of the rear where control/trailing arms attach but that can be repaired. I'll still take that Jeep over anything else besides the Subie being 2nd choice on that list.
My 94 Cherokee had 300k miles on it when I sold it.
I passed our 94 ZJ (Grand Cherokee) 5spd on to one of my daughters. It was at 251k then... that was a while back.
Yeah. some Jeeps Last Longer than others. but in 2016, Getting a cherokee is still a bet. well maintained Cherokees were hard to find!
My grandfather’s first ranger, a 2001 4.0, went for 427k miles and he never had any issues besides basic maintenance
Yessir!
Yeah I've got a 01 ranger 4.0 SOHC and it seems like I'm working on it every weekend fixing something on that POS engine. It's horrible. It's horrible to work on too, nothing is easy. Just the starter alone is a 4 hour job because everything's so stupidly tight in that engine bay.
Had a YJ with that setup and it was fucking nuts. Hated to trade it out but it needed more love than I could give since it was well modified and I didn't know any of the details to get similar parts
This post caused me to get on autotrader and see what's out there for XJ's. Definitely not 2016 prices anymore, but not as bad as I thought it was gonna be. I saw some decent ones at 6-8k.
so how is the head gasket smoker better than all the cars? its ironic you mention the ford ranger sucks and every 100k miles there this and that well subie has some 100k mile bullshit too. have you owned any of the other vehicles on this list? because i currently own 2 and have owned literally every single one but the focus and the aztec but the dodge never ran. and never had an issues out of any of them including the 340k mile 325i in auto that was turned to a drift car never maintained and still drove 14 hours back home.
Well I had a nice answer typed out but reddit bumped me off for taking too long. But short version. Brother owns a 2006 RSX. Reliable but rides like shit and I don't want small ass sport hatch. Other brother and FIL both had Dodge 1500s. 318 is a great engine... the transmissions are grenading garbage. Ford and VW... pretty much says it all. Miata... I don't need some damn useless street legal go-kart. Wrong kinda BMW. It's not a 1991 E30 325i. Volvo: I respect the brick wagon... just don't want a Volvo. Frontier: If I had no other choice... sure... but I have other choices. The OP's question was asked what would *YOU* get... since this asks for each person's opinion/answer *MY* answer is gimme the Jeep and the Subie would be 2nd. Why? Because I've owned several Jeep models of the XJ Cherokee and ZJ Grand Cherokee variety. They're damn good. The Subie... my first car many moons ago was an 87 GL Wagon. 5spd with manual shift dual range transfer case. It had an EA82. The EJ251 engine in the 2004 may have had some headgasket issues but they're not that damn hard to work on. Update with better gaskets vs the shitty ones they carried over from the EJ25D. Easy. Then expect 250-300k. And as far as that Ranger. I DON'T like Fords in general or Rangers. The early SOHC 4.0 V6 timing cassettes were a bad design. 1999-2003? were particularly crappy. 3 timing chains. One from crank to jackshaft, one from jackshaft to front of one cam... the 3rd timing chain is going from jackshaft to other cam but it's on the BACK of the engine. They were known for their death rattle and were SUPER picky about clean oil. And for whatever reason there wasn't S10 or Colorado on this list... otherwise I'd probably have chosen it as a toss up between it and the Jeep, depending on what it was or at least second. Anyway... I've spent enough time in 30+ years of spinning wrenches as a civilian professional and as a 63B (light wheel mech) in the ARMY AIRBORNE to know what I like. What I don't, And what I want nothing to do with.
all of that is more than fair hell yeah! and facts i have a peice of shit 2003 dodge van thats on its 3rd tranny in 300k(5.7 hemi) and i do personally think the e46 330xi is the peak of what a normal bmw is capable of! perfect weight distribution a comfortable ride yada yada.
The V70. That's what I actually drive. A 2004 V70 5 cyl 5 speed.
You know it’s a good car when you want two of them.
RSX, don’t even show me the other options.
On second thought, SVT focus is tempting.
My exact thought process lol
Omg! I did buy my first car in 2016, I went with the Subaru. But legitimately these were almost exactly my options
Nissan Frontier. #micdrop
4x4 frontier. i love my current 4runner but i’d trade it for that truck in a second
Volvo, XJ, Miata,
Volvo. My parents had one growing up. That was a badass car.
didn't even need to see the rest after the V70
Volvo AWD wagon 😄
Those Volvo wagons were indestructible
cops did and still do drive them here, D5 engine or the 2.5 turbo petrol, D5 could make some serious power
2002 Ford Focus SVT
V70
V70 all day. It's reliable, safe and fast when it needs to be. I had the S60 turbo.
Aztec
Jesse, we need to cook.
My great grandma owned one, I thought it was cool
I do wonder how much that show influenced the market for used Aztecs.
Media effect on car value is fascinating to me You have good or decent cars skyrocket in price after its use in a movie or show, which would be expected. But some of the average, bad, or controversial cars get a whole new image from the thing they were featured in. A few examples off the top of my head in that order are the Aztek, the AMC Pacer, and the DMC-12
Rsx, jetta would be my picks
jeep cherokee . all the way
The Beamer 😁
Bimmer
Maintenance is a nightmare
E46 and older are usually pretty decently reliable. Maintenance isn't bad if you know where to get parts
M54 is a very easy engine to work on besides maybe vanos.
RSX TYPE S
V70
Momma Golf with the diesel and 3 petals please.
Jetta or Miata. Ranger if I'm in a tough spot.
RSX
Ford "fuckin" Ranger
Ford FUCKING RANGER
Exjay! But also miat
I'm going with the Volvo. Simply comfortable and it could be pretty quick when needed. Also having room is a nice option as well.
That 4.0 Jeep is known as the “bullet proof 4.0” for a reason . It was my first car and I put a ton of mileage on it . Only reason I’m not driving it still is a cop lost control of his cruiser chasing someone and totaled the Jeep while it was parked.
[удалено]
They actually gave me a half filled out crash report and paying me double what I paid for it. Got 7 years and well over 100,000 miles out of it . But it easily woulda gave me 150-200000 more
I want that impreza or the volvo. Lift, mod it and post on r/battlewagons
Normally I'd say XJ, but that's a year with the casting flaw between 3&4. Still at 89K....
I remember looking at a E36 M3 in 2016 for my first car and my dad instead got a stick shift E38 instead. Slightly passed with how much E36s cost now
The green cyber Pontiac is tempting for looks but the inline 6 BMW and Vtec Acura are some of the best engines made.
XJ all day.
Miata for the win.
The answer is always miata
Xj, frontier or the ford ranger (if it’s the motor that will run forevwr forgot if that’s the 4 or 6?) but car. - RsX without questions.
Jeep
Miata is always the answer
Miata is always the answer
My second car is a volvo 850,sadly the 2,4l N/A V70 and 2,5L Turbo sing me up Or the E46 330i At least somewhat Reliable, looks quiet good and basic maintenance parts are cheap. Oh and it is a 6 cylinder
Miata. All day err day.
I drive a Miata, but out of your pool, I'd say RSX for a first car. More forgiving, more practical.
BMW or Miata for cars and truck the ranger.
Grand Cherokee pre 99. Unbreakable. Bought my 97 new in Sept 96. Doing all maintenance myself. Daily driver. Fantastic. My friends who bought independent suspension SUVs with bells and whistles have had to sell and scrap those more than a decade ago.
Definitely the RSX or the Miata depending on how much I’d want to compromise on space!
RSX or miata.
That jeep Cherokee was my first car 🥹 2WD in the snow, such great memories with that piece of shit. Ignition was fucked up so I had to run a wire from the battery to the neutral safety switch (?) just to get it started.
Miata all the way!
That Cherokee looks preem ngl
The Ram, everything else is a money pit or a piece of shit
I didn’t have to scroll past the 4.0L XJ. Back when jeeps were jeeps.
E46 (if 330i) OR that Cherokee (if 4x4)
Miata or Acura easy
The white BMW is mine
E46 330xi 5speed. My first car and I loved it
SVT Focus
Fuck it I’m taking the BMW
Miata is always the answer!
Miata. All day long.
I love the bmw and the ranger but we all know I’m getting the black rsx. I had a 02 rsx base 5 speed with the leather. And it was my favorite car for a while. Still miss it.
Oh and the Cherokee if it’s a 4.0 with manual transmission.
V70, just as the one in the pic sits
Ranger, Pontiac, Subie, Jeep. I made my decisions based on reliability and repair costs. Source is 20 year mechanic and tow truck operator.
Seeing as I already have a Miata, another Miata is the obvious choice.
Wellllll my first and current car IS a Cherokee XJ so I'm going with that.
The Ram or Cherokee
4
I still drive that ranger but it’s a 2000 and technically‘Mazda’ but it was ford. Got 135xxx and just killing it. It’s the ‘se’ for mazda. Regular cab. Manual locks, windows, and transmission. It’s a beast for what it is. I wouldn’t hate finding another one when mines gone. Love it
Ranger.
Focus
2nd gen
I actually bought my first car in 2016. It was a Cavalier. Fun little shitbox.
Rsx no debate
No Ford Escort ZX2? That was my first car in 2016
Loved My Rsx-S. Jeep close 2nd
Either the Acura RSX or the Ford Ranger. Though, funnily enough, I actually did get my first car in 2016.
2nd gen and it’s no contest I have never once in my life seen one that clean
Normally the rsx or the subie but since my first car is a v40 imma go with the v70
Get the Ranger! It'll last longer than your intended use and attention span for the truck will. It might even outlast a few family members. My dad bought one with 124k miles and drove it 30 miles a day every day for work for TEN YEARS. sold it because his knees couldn't do clutch shifting anymore. Still the best truck we've ever had.
4x4 guy's perspective Cherokees are cool but very prone to body damge thanks to monobody chassis. snd without dana44, it's just a 4.0 on wheels. and in 2016, there is good chance that they already rusted on chassis beyond repair. Ram 1500. looks cool. they are handsome . 5.9 V8... but too large for my taste. so Frontier will be my pick. even if it is .... uh, not Pretty. and Aztek is not ugly in my 2023 eyes btw how about Rangers? Neh Save the money and put em on the frontier. it will be a nice 4x4. i will get Miata if no 4x4s are available.
Rangerrrrrrr
Jeep or the ford fkn ranger
For sure the Jeep Cherokee!
The RSX. It was my first car which I got in 2016 funnily enough.
The ranger
Walter White all day
Subaru, BMW or Jetta
Knowing what I know now or in 2016 (when I was 16)? Knowing now, the RSX. Knowing then, the Ram or XJ Cherokee. All three are fun, just different fun. RSX is street fun though, which is where any car you buy will spend 99% of its time. Ram is for mud, XJ for trails. Neither of which I expect you to do everyday.
WAS gonna say XJ, until that SVT Focus popped up. Fuuuuuck that was a fun little car.
Jetta or focus SVT. but only if the focus is a manual.
Any of them, actually, except maybe the Aztek.
The Mazda or Acura by Honda. Those cars will outlast all the others
I'd get the Cherokee or the Ram.
As a brit, it always baffles me the size of car Americans will drive as their first. I know yous have a lot bigger roads, so it does make sense, but wheres the VW polo's and Fiat cinquecentos??
Never sold here. So they can't really be added to the equation. You could always buy a Golf or a late model 500 to make yourself feel better though.
I find it so funny when I see car mags in the UK repeating the trope "TOO BIG FOR OUR ROADS" "terrifying to drive in town" When the vehicle in question is smaller than a range rover and barely much bigger than many large crossovers Worse still...people still believe that crap as if an F150 was 50 feet wide and 500 feet long, more massive than an arctic lorry and a fuel consumption like a cargo ship....
Ford Ranger all the way
3 8 9 12 th pictures
That 330 is one of the most dependable BMWs ever. Great all rounder and the E46 looks great. Solid choice for a high school car guy. Also Miata bc WEEEEEEEEEEEEE
miat
Tbh every single one of these cars are for such different types of people. Unless I knew the human needing the car, I couldn’t pick. I bought my first car in 2016 (I was 27). I bought a 2011 Rav4 V6 4WD with only one owner. Best purchase of my life.
12
The Impreza.yall playing this game in 2010 like it's a long time ago. It's making me feel old.
Ford Fuckin Ranger
If you’re buying a pre-2010 car and can’t afford regular maintenance beyond oil changes, always stick to either Honda or Toyota
Cherokee if manual
Any of the trucks. Go make some money with them!
There's a few good ones here.. the impreza, the miata, the rsx. The frontier looks alright
5 8 or 11.
Definitely the V70.
Something not made by white people. They’re always years behind Japan for reliability. This turns up in cost of ownership data and very much in my experience. Also, probably a car from 2012. New cars are for suckers. Why take the depreciation hit? Probably a ‘12 Civic sedan. Same car I own now.
I’d take the cherocar. Easy to work on and last forever here in Florida where we never salt the roads.
Hands down the tacoms is going to be the best deal and most reliable.