Cars you like working on

In reply to mazdeuce:

I like working on my Subaru Legacy GT. Everything is easy to do, clutch, timing belt. Plugs are a little tough until you find the right tools. I wouldn't try to do anything under the valve covers with the engine in the car, but the engine itself is easy to pull.

My Miata is easy also, but it's got a few tight spots.

I had an old '88 Mazda 626, it wasn't too bad but I hated starters and alternators. I'd also say it has the most securely fastened transmission that I've ever seen. There must be eleventy-billion oversized bolts.

My Nissan Titan hasn't needed much work, but it looks well laid out with lots of room. It's my favorite to do an oil change on. They put a drip channel near the drain plug, and a steel ramp under the oil filter to prevent spills. It's a nice touch that they didn't have to do, but did. Plus I don't need ramps. Headlamp bulb changes do require removing the grill and headlight housings though.

Worse car was a '89 Cavalier Z24. They used every fastener they could, SAE, Metric, Torx, Allen. Stuff broke that should be lifetime on most cars. They used parts bin parts that didn't always interchange with parts from the same car from the same year.

In the other direction.... FWD Caddys of the more modern sort. Every try to take the 4T80E out of an Eldorado? Yikes.

I'll add a +1 to the 88-92 626 and MX6.

Also, my FD is very easy to work on. But I don't have AC, ABS, or PS, so that helps a bit.

I don't know why but aircooled VW's just work for me.

+1 again for 88-92 mx6/626. Everything is cake to get to and built extremely well. I don't like to work on cars in general but if I had to pick a car to work on out of my fleet, it'd be my 90 mx6 GT.

I say this all the time, but K-cars. They're still the only car i will happily buy with blown engines and transmissions because its just not a big deal.

Big old Ford and GMs 60s-80s.

I loved working on my ae86, I could pretty much stand in the engine compartment

All I needed for the early bronco was a hammer, screwdrivers and a couple of sockets. The e36 is pretty easy with an internet connection and a multimeter. The 928 takes an internet connection, multimeter, a workshop manual and photo guide. The MG has taken a cut off wheel, a welder, hammer, electrical engineer and a fair bit of head scratching to make things work - but only 5 parts are stock (roof, doors, hatch, cowl). But it's a frankenmobile so that's expected and fun.

I do like that many of the electrical parts like switches on the 928 are serviceable or rebuildable and it's rewarding when you figure out a way to fix or replace a bit that's a fraction of the new part price (heater motor is $600 for the factory part or hack in a non-factory motor for $100).

Cars I like working on:

Anything that I (or family members) don't have to rely on.

It always seems that if I have unlimited time, everything comes apart and goes back together easily. If I need to fix something because someone needs it to get to work in the morning, bolts are rusted, things don't fit, etc.

mazdeuce wrote:

Knurled wrote: Any VW/Audi built from the '00-era and up (I find them really easy to work on esp. the B5 and A4 chassis cars, except for the longitudinal 1.8t downpipe which always sucks, no exception), classic Saturns, anything with the Honda 3.5 engine (especially in VUEs - no power steering pump!) and anything with a 3100/3400.

Really? My wife had a '00 Audi TT that was a miserable bastard. The only thing worse is my sister's '00 Beetle.

I concur with Mazdeuce. A co-worker had to disassemble the entire nose of his Audi A6 to change the starter.

wearymicrobe wrote: I don't know why but aircooled VW's just work for me.

Me too, but I haven't touched one in 40 years.

Working on my D-21 Hardbody truck hasn't been too bad. Everything is pretty accessible.

Working on my Spitfires is like a love/hate relationship. It's great to sit on the tire and work on the engine, but anything dealing with the rear spring sux.

HappyAndy wrote: I like SAAB c900s, but they're an acquired taste, and I can understand why some people can figure them out. My BMW experience is all positive so far, but I'm purposely avoiding the V8s.

Once I figured out the logic used in the C900 with it's "backwards" engine mounting.. it has become a piece of cake to work on. I think the hardest thing to figure out was the driver's side engine mount.. until I noticed the long bolt that ran through it from the side that allowed it to seperate into two seperate parts.

I have found that BMWs up through the E36 are pretty pleasant to work on. I cannot say beyond that as I have not been under the hood of anything newer than a 96 318ti

R53 MINI's.

After weeks/months (now years...) of fighting with my E30 which seems to have been designed by 10 teams that never talked to each other, working on a MINI is like sitting in a nice, comfy chair...

I know I'm in the minority here, but I hate that E30 with a passion...

EG Civics, Yugos, Spitfire.

I hate working on my F150 though also MINIs.

any SBC powered truck (pre LS) and RX7 gen 1&2. Hell the rx8 isnt that bad either since I'm already familiar with the F chassis.

also add 240sx, that was easy straightforward car to work on, lots of room to do anything.

RealMiniDriver wrote: Cars I like working on: Anything that I (or family members) don't have to rely on. It always seems that if I have unlimited time, everything comes apart and goes back together easily. If I need to fix something because someone needs it to get to work in the morning, bolts are rusted, things don't fit, etc.

This^^^^^

I now try to have at least three cars in the driveway, so that when one needs fixing, we still have a car for the wifey and me. This way, I can relax, and concentrate on the repair. Since then, I rarely curse anymore at the cars I'm working on.

Boost_Crazy wrote: In reply to mazdeuce: I like working on my Subaru Legacy GT. Everything is easy to do, clutch, timing belt. Plugs are a little tough until you find the right tools. I wouldn't try to do anything under the valve covers with the engine in the car, but the engine itself is easy to pull.

I enjoy working on SWMBO's Outback, its very straightforward.

I'll second the MG reference. A multimeter for the 4 circuits, normal screwdrivers and a BFG are about all that was ever needed.

For most things my '70 Mercedes 220D is pretty nice to work on. Shocks were shockingly easy. All the fasteners come apart easily even after decades. Dash bits aren't quite as friendly.

All cars suck to work on. I just prefer the ones that aren't rusted up junk.

My Subaru.

Even cars that are mostly easy to work on have one or two infuriating things. The S197 Mustang is, for the most part, very easy to work on. I've installed entire suspensions using only jacks and jackstands.

That being said, whoever designed the bulb replacement methods on the 2010+ models should be shot and peed on.

I don't mind most 2wd front engined RWD cars because the components usually have enough room.

BMWs are especially well thought out - if you are struggling or needing a lot of blunt force, there is usually something you are doing wrong.

Now... my truck... holy hell. It appears it was designed to be worked on by a person with only 5lb hammer, oxy torch and channel lock pliers.