Which car should i get to learn how to work on cars?

[SuperCookie78]

I really want to learn how to work on cars. I am trying to find cars on craigslist for under 500 so i can learn how to work on cars without breaking one of my parents cars. which of these cars would be the easiest to work on? 

• 91 Chevy C1500
• 97 Chevy C1500
• 02 Chevy Malibu
• 04 Ford Explorer
• 98 Subaru Legacy Outback
• 94 Mazda B4000
• 98 BMW 318ti
• 99 mercury sable wagon
• 00 Saturn SL
• 95 VW Cabrio Convertible
• 91 Chevy Geo Storm

[Real_PhillBert]

I vote 91 Chevy pickup.

 

Drivetrains are very simple, engine compartment is huge, and parts are readily available and cheap. 

[dizmo]

Don't get an import, parts costs will be high.

I don't think they make Saturn anymore so that'd be off the list as well.

 

Really, while it's a great thing to learn, it's better to go to school for electric vehicles. As we progress, that's what's going to be in demand. Unless you're just doing it for the shits and giggles of it.

[ApolloX75]

Out of all those options the two C1500s are your best bet if you want to learn and not break the bank. Parts are plentiful and dirt cheap, as well as the trucks being very simple and roomy to work on.

 

The Malibu is terrible, I work on one for a friend all the time, it's a royal pain in the ass, rust is a serious issue, they usually have no rockers left by this point.

Ford Exploders are complicated and have a lot of non-replaceable parts in common problem areas. Engine work is a royal pain.

Subaru is great when it works but expensive when it doesn't, my wife's is in the doesn't category now thanks to a bad fuel pump. Super expensive to replace even when doing it yourself.

Mazda B4000 is a good option, it's basically a Ford Ranger, easy to work on but not nearly as reliable as an old Chevy.

Just say no to BMW if you are a beginner.

Mercury Sables are terrible and should be burnt.

Saturn SL is a great econobox, super easy to fix body issues but parts are more scarce now.

VW is a mystery to me, I've barely touched them as most people dispose of them before they end up needing work.

And last the Geo Storm, meh, simple crapcan car, super easy to work on, super cheap parts, probably kill you instantly in a crash.

[Guest]

I'd probably go with the Chevy C1500. 

[SuperCookie78]

4 hours ago, dizmo said:

Don't get an import, parts costs will be high.

I don't think they make Saturn anymore so that'd be off the list as well.

 

Really, while it's a great thing to learn, it's better to go to school for electric vehicles. As we progress, that's what's going to be in demand. Unless you're just doing it for the shits and giggles of it.

well i would love to have a vintage car collection some day so learning this stuff will be useful. plus I think if we can switch over to biofuel for cars the need for electric cars goes way since it would be carbon neutral. 

[SuperCookie78]

4 hours ago, Real_PhillBert said:

I vote 91 Chevy pickup.

 

Drivetrains are very simple, engine compartment is huge, and parts are readily available and cheap. 

why the 91 over the 97

[klh2000]

5 hours ago, SuperCookie78 said:

why the 91 over the 97

They are the same truck basically. I'd go for which ever one was in better shape. They both probably use Rochester TBI for the fuel injection, which is about as simple as it gets except for carburated.

[bimmerman]

I would aim for anything 96 and newer, because OBD2 diagnostics make it SO much easier to diagnose issues with the engine. Doesn't really matter what it is, as all vehicles post-96 were mandated to comply with OBD2.

 

I would actually suggest the 318ti as your best bet. The 4 cylinder is gutless and boring but is reliable, parts availability for BMWs is pretty incredible (and super easy to find part number information for, and well stocked, and reasonably priced). Granted, I'm a bit biased since I work on 80s-2000s BMWs very frequently, but the 318ti is a durable little car. Slow and boring, but easy to work on, easy to find parts for, not terribly expensive to repair, and super easy to learn on (I did, on my 95 M3).

 

But, more philosophically-- what do you want to get out of this vehicle besides learning how to wrench (which is a good idea) ? Motorsport stuff, daily driving stuff, adventure/off-road stuff? I would pick your vehicle appropriately for what you want to use it for in between wrenching sessions.

 

Also, get the 318ti. Good little car for a beginner wrencher/driver, and is a blast to autocross. If you go down that road, hit me up and I can suggest repair manuals and good reputable parts sources/sellers.

 

15 hours ago, dizmo said:

Really, while it's a great thing to learn, it's better to go to school for electric vehicles. As we progress, that's what's going to be in demand. Unless you're just doing it for the shits and giggles of it.

 

A gas or diesel vehicle's engine is only one aspect of a car that needs work. An electric vehicle also has suspension, cooling, brakes, bearings, interior 12v electronics, etc.....it's not like an EV has zero need for maintenance or wrenching. They simply don't have a need for combustion system-related work.

 

I spend the overwhelming majority of my time wrenching on cars on non-engine-related issues.

[Radium_Angel]

Do you want to do this for fun, or do you want to do this for a living?

 

If for fun, none of those cars are right for you, there are enough electronics/black box sealed crap, to prevent you from really understand how things work.

In which case, hit up a junk yard, find an old MGB, and go to town. You will learn more about how a car works....and doesn't work, from an MGB, than you will from any modern vehicle.

 

If you want to do this for money, go VW. They are, by far and away, the worst POS mobiles on your list. Electrical problems abound. You will have your hands full of clients trying to get their lights and cruise control to work at the same time.

[airdeano]

definitely not one to be your daily driver.

ive owned the 91 c1500, easy to work on, parts still available, and not a tight space monger.

it pre-dates OBD2, so troubleshooting can be straightforward.

 

get a dealer user manual to show exactly how the dealership would repair that vehicle.

simple hand tools will be enough, no real 'specialty' tools needed with the exception of a data scanner to provide 'eyes on information'. software and spre cheap laptop can suffice.

 

[mr moose]

Get 70's model datsun with the old A series engines.  You can practically rebuild the entire car with a $30 tool kit and off the shelf shit from the local hardware shop.

[Raspi454]

20 hours ago, SuperCookie78 said:

why the 91 over the 97

97 really just has an updated interior over the 91. However the 97 does have OBD2, (on board diagnostics) so you can get a diagnose it easier. But whatever's in better condition, lower miles would be better though. I have a 95 C2500 with the 5.7 V8. It's my daily driver and since it's 2wd, (hence the "c" which is 2wd and "k" is 4wd) i get about 24 mpg, which is great for a truck.

[SuperCookie78]

18 minutes ago, mr moose said:

Get 70's model datsun with the old A series engines.  You can practically rebuild the entire car with a $30 tool kit and off the shelf shit from the local hardware shop.

after talking with my grandpa (who was a mechanic for 30+ years) i decisied to get a 77 Ford f-150 

[MadyTehWolfie]

Easiest car to work on that's cheap is a Honda.

[airdeano]

On 6/29/2018 at 10:33 PM, SuperCookie78 said:

after talking with my grandpa (who was a mechanic for 30+ years) i decisied to get a 77 Ford f-150 

wasn't one of the choices, but ok.. (i too have been a mechanic/technician for 30+ years and still techin')

[SuperCookie78]

7 hours ago, airdeano said:

wasn't one of the choices, but ok.. (i too have been a mechanic/technician for 30+ years and still techin')

I found it after i made this post

[Pixel5]

the big question for me would be do you want to learn how to work on old cars or do you want to get knowledge how to repair modern cars?

 

old cars are relatively simple and there are many things you can easily repair by yourself, on modern cars sometimes the only thing you can do yourself if maybe a brake and oil change because everything is full of specialized electronics.

[SuperCookie78]

On 7/1/2018 at 12:14 PM, Pixel5 said:

the big question for me would be do you want to learn how to work on old cars or do you want to get knowledge how to repair modern cars?

 

old cars are relatively simple and there are many things you can easily repair by yourself, on modern cars sometimes the only thing you can do yourself if maybe a brake and oil change because everything is full of specialized electronics.

old cars. When i get the money I am getting a 64 Plymouth barracuda and restoring it.