What are some legendary cars for longevity, reliability, and/or function?

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Yeah, it is becoming apparent that there really isn't one car that is top in all the measures.

I've heard of volvos over 20 years old without a spec of rust, but their motor or tranny is gone.
Perhaps a volvo with a merc 5-cyl diesel would be ideal.
I've been considering trying to find a jeep with a decent body but high mileage or blown engine and replacing the motor with a merc 5-cyl, since custom adapters are available to allow for a merc engine to be used with a jeep transmission.

toshison said:
Its really a case of "they don't make them like they use to".. It's hard to look at current gen cars and hold them in the same regard as those old Landcruisers or Mercs. It takes years to become a "legend" but I think mid 90's Nissan Maxima's & Pathfinders was touted as being a good rides with a solid motors. The early 90s civics and accords are good too but its hard to put them up them with a Lancruiser.

The elements in our neck of North America will destroy any car that could otherwise live a long life in warmer climates. In Australia for example you see a good amount of older cars like old Datsun 500/510's. Winter + salt up here eats cars alive.
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caboose483 said:
It's not terribly uncommon for them to gave transmission problems. I can't remember if its the stick or auto tho??

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well SOMETHING has to break on something eventually, i think its the autos....which is okay by me...the manual B-series trannies synchros get shot but thats because the b-series engines get abused by wanna be racers every single day....
 
Red_Liner740 said:
Honda Civic hands down for reliability and longevity.

VW's are known for at least ONE dash light on, and at least one taillight out...lol
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Good luck fighting rust

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RockerGuy said:
Good luck fighting rust

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lol, right cuz VW's dont rust? EVERY mk3 has their hatches rusting away, a lot of mk4's have lower front fender rust.

btw, my civic, zero rust, they really improved after the EK's
 
Bigevildoer said:
Original air cooled VW Beetle.
Can't be beat for reliability.
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But remember, you need two ice scrapers, one for the outside, one for the inside...
 
1990-1993 Volvo 240, they finally fixed the rust issues that had plagued the series many years prior.

The wifeys 03 Honda CRV has been bullet proof, regular maintenance, odometer nearing 300,000 kms.
 
I once read a list of 10 cars you can't kill. The 2 I remember are the Volvo 240DL and don't laugh, Chevy Chevette.
 
the old volvo 200 and 700 series were the proverbial tanks, my mom had one where a dent took a toonie sized piece of paint right off, down to bare metal....for sure i thought i'd be grinding rust off of it a week or two later but it remained free of rust for the next 2 years.

the engies the b21 and the b230 family of engines are bulletproof unless u try to hot rod them, 2.3L, 115hp, no **** it will run forever, its so under stressed...lol
 
my father has a 1924 Model T. it was driven daily from purchase in '24, until 1978. it was passed down to the new drivers un the family, and was well maintained, but never garaged, and driven through the winters it got new paint in '92, and new interior in '94, and the (wooden) spokes re-finished in '05.

otherwise basic maintenance, magneto rebuilds, and other normal wear and tear. there was 1 spot of rust on the front drivers spring, fixed when it was painted. the engine has never been opened, but starts in 2 cranks every time.

it is a solid car. better in snow than any car i know.
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