I always wonder what type of car people are comparing pretty much any enthusiast car to when they point out the weak points of a particular car. So, if you wanted a car that was known for having a strong transmission (if its a manual) or an automatic that will easily last 200k with proper maintenance, has a very reliable HVAC system with easy access for a heater core replacement or other repairs, and can handle autocross and track days with no oil starvation issues, would such a thing exist? Or is that pretty much a general list of the weak points on pretty much every car ever made?
chevelle with a th400/m21/m22 with new suspension?
In reply to Travis_K:
Have you had a lot of problems with heater cores? Strange that that's a major point for you. I have owned several 200k-mile cars and never replaced a heater core.
strong transmission in relation to what? I've had several 100k-300k cars that have been heavily autocrossed, driven hard, etc and I have never had transmission problems with any of them.
-Maxima (230k on the original CLUTCH!)
-Accord coupe (280k)
-WRX (currently 80k)
-Integra (240k with 1 clutch change).
IMO people who have frequent transmission issues either are driving something with MUCH higher power than stock, or don't know how to drive, or like to do 5k launches at every stoplight.
Good friend of mine has a 70k WRX, fully built engine pushing 500hp, and has a few dozen drag passes on it, and he's still on stock clutch and stock tranny with no issues. And this on a car that people say has a "glass transmission"
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heater core? I've never thought of that as a "frequent" problem on cars. My 1985 e30 still has its original heater core, which has a small leak....but that's a 30-year old car.
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most modern cars and transmissions will go 200k with regular maintenance and not driving like an asshat.
never had oil starvation issues in autocross with any of the above listed cars (all of which did many of them). Not sure about trackdays, but nothing an oil accumulator can't resolve....
Whats your definition of great for Autox and Track?
The strong trans and such made me think of Fox and early SN95 Mustangs. with CMC and such, they can be made fairly great cars for the above. Stock the brakes lack some, but its still a fun ride.
I can't think of many manual cars that wouldn't fit this description.
Datsun1500 wrote:
tr8todd wrote:
Chevy/Ford truck.
That would be great for auto cross and track days
Ok then. S10, Dakota or Ranger
e30s have pretty nice access to the heater core. its been a while since i drove one with a working A/C so i cant remember how well they worked but with new o-rings and hoses i cant imagine why it'd be an unreliable system.
Forgot one. Quantum Syncro Wagon.
The transmission will outlast the car as well as the next three cars it will be in, even if you triple-quadruple the horsepower.
The heater core took me 20 minutes to replace. As an added bonus, the old one wasn't plugged and so did not require replacement.
Despite having only 3 1/2 quarts in a looooong oil pan, oil starvation is never an issue unless you run the engine three quarts low and then corner hard.
Downsides? None! The car is a complete blast to drive. Every time I get behind the wheel, I'm clicking off upshifts at max power in every gear. For example, it takes nearly 30 seconds to get to 70mph, at which point fourth gear is topped out and it's time to bang into 5th to reach the car's top speed of 75mph!
That and they're kinda rare. The last time I saw one for sale, it was $4000 and 3/4 of a continent away...
Alan Cesar wrote:
In reply to Travis_K:
Have you had a lot of problems with heater cores? Strange that that's a major point for you. I have owned several 200k-mile cars and never replaced a heater core.
I haven't, the whole reason for those things that I mentioned is that it's one of the things that people mention to watch watch out for when buying a used car (mk4 vw and Volvo 850 especially, but others too). Same with weak transmissions, I haven't ever broken one, but almost every car people say that it's a problem. The only issue that is one I have actually had is hvac problems, as in other than my Shelby charger, I haven't ever even owned a car with a properly working heater lol.
IMO, the thing to do with cars that are known to have heater core issues is to use Bars-Leaks as preventive maintenance before it gets a chance to leak. Use the silver flakes, not the brown gooey stuff. The worst thing that can happen is that it won't work.
typically (as in all the cars ive seen these issues in) on heater cores and transmissions its been a maintenance issue as in its never been maintained or on the tranny the salesman (or dealer) told them its a sealed unit and the fluid is lifetime (which is also never true.) As far as the heater core, the majority of people never think to get the radiator flushed and filled, ever. Much like most people never change out their brake fluid.
noddaz wrote:
Ok then. S10, Dakota or Ranger
Dakota needs the dash pulled to get to the heater box.
HappyAndy wrote:
IMO, the thing to do with cars that are known to have heater core issues is to use Bars-Leaks as preventive maintenance before it gets a chance to leak. Use the silver flakes, not the brown gooey stuff. The worst thing that can happen is that it won't work.
I have only seen one heater core leak in the last ten years and it was in the aforementioned SAAB 9000. Which, apparently, can be changed from under the hood.
However, I've seen plenty of heater cores fail from being plugged up. The number one plugger of heater cores is stop leak products, they accumulate in the small low-flow passages in the heater core and soon you have piss-poor heat.
Transmissions... trannies are usually not a problem unless you have a front-driver and you drive it with one wheel spinning a lot. And Subarus because even the WRXs had clamshell style transmissions that were designed for 50hp engines in cars half the weight. That's just begging for gear alignment issues.
I spell it "E36M3". No idea how bad the heater core is to replace, because mine is 18 and hasn't had it needed yet. Transmission is tough.
late 80s early 90s Honda civic hatch or CRX, E30 BMW (minus rear subframe issues), VW golf mk3
I havent ever heard an MK3 vw (well other than a tdi or VR6) described as having a strong transmission. I havent even broken a transmission though, my sister did kill a VW tranny, but that was by driving it from ca to idaho and back with no oil in it, and it still moved, just made really loud noises when you drove it. Once on another forum someone got mad when they posted asking about a stronger transmission for a neon, and I suggested that having broken 3 or 4 on the street with a stock engine pointed to an issue with the driver rather than the car.
Travis_K wrote:
I havent ever heard an MK3 vw (well other than a tdi or VR6) described as having a strong transmission. I havent even broken a transmission though, my sister did kill a VW tranny, but that was by driving it from ca to idaho and back with no oil in it, and it still moved, just made really loud noises when you drove it. Once on another forum someone got mad when they posted asking about a stronger transmission for a neon, and I suggested that having broken 3 or 4 on the street with a stock engine pointed to an issue with the driver rather than the car.
HA! I like that :) Had a similar problem with a customer at work. Kept on burning up clutches, expecting them to be warrantee'd. Decided the clutch/technician who installed it wasn't the problem.
I was specifically remembering the time that a friend of mine tried to blow up the stock 2liter motor in a VW golf. IIRC, even with a garden hose directly spraying at the intake, the thing wouldn't die.
Look at what blows up the least in Lemons.
Volvo 24x and 74x, Saturn S series, anything Dorito powered.
