The Value of a Reliable POS -ETCG1
Vložit
- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- I recently did a bunch of work to my 2001 Honda Odyssey. Many of you commented that I could have bought a new vehicle for the time, money, and effort that I've put into it. I would agree that you're probably right. I spent about 4K and the van is worth, tops 5K. That said, I know have a perfectly reliable vehicle that I don't have to worry about. No payments, no wires, I just drive it. Personally, this is my favorite type of vehicle. One that I can just drive and not have to worry about. Perhaps this video will bring you around to my philosophy. If not, I'd love to hear about it. Here's some useful links for you.
EricTheCarGuy Channel: / ericthecarguy
Discussion about this video: www.ericthecarguy.com/kunena/1...
Odyssey Strut Replacement: • Front Strut Replacemen...
Odyssey Shocks: • Rear Damper Replacemen...
Odyssey Sliding Door Repair: • Sliding Door Repair 20...
Odyssey Clock Light Bulb: • Clock Light Bulb Repla...
The Most Important Purchase For Your Vehicle: • The Most Important Pur...
Know When To Quit: • Know When To Quit- ETCG1
The best place for answers to your automotive questions: www.ericthecarguy.com
Facebook: EricTheCarGu...
Twitter: / ericthecarguy
Google+: plus.google.com/1001951801966...
Information on Premium Membership: www.ericthecarguy.com/premium...
Stay Dirty
ETCG1 - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I found out how to prevent your cars from depreciating. Never sell it.
James GMS
Wow!!...............
czcams.com/video/sluNuVp2_TE/video.html
czcams.com/video/BYtO7iPlb5c/video.html
You prolly dont care but if you're bored like me during the covid times then you can watch all of the latest series on instaflixxer. Been streaming with my girlfriend for the last few days :)
@Lian Asher Yea, been using instaflixxer for since december myself :)
@Lian Asher definitely, I have been using instaflixxer for months myself :D
the mark of the true POS is leaving the keys in the ignition, if someone wants to steal a true POS, they needed it more than you did.
+DieselFume1 Yes - this is so true! I used to do this delivering pizza in a 2000 Ford Taurus POS. I'd leave my car running in the street and so many of my customers asked me if I worried about getting my car stolen. Never crossed my mind since the damn thing was only worth $500 and they'd be doing me a favor by stealing it since it needed $3000 bucks worth of repairs at any given moment haha. Finally gave that car up when it kept trying to kill me (like my brake calipers seizing up on the freeway). After I bought a "new" car, I left the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked for several nights hoping someone would take it. (no one ever took it despite the high rate of car thefts in my area haha).
+spuddapotato2494 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Funny story!!!
I'm Dutch, we have a big bicycle culture. We use them to go from A to B. There are more bicycle garages and shops than their car equivalents. There are more bicycles than people in the Netherlands. I'm not saying we're the best in regards to bicycles in any way, we just have a lot of them
Anyway, I have a POS bicycle. Mechanically, its fine. It goes and it doesn't break. I purposefully did an OK paintjob on it, with normal stuff, and then I did another way cheaper and really bright blue paintjob on it. The thing stands out basically. The purpose of two paintjobs was to have this ultra-rust prevention system. - I didn't maintain it well so it didn't work but who cares.
I didn't even put a lock on it anywhere. I go with it anywhere as long as its not too far. Park it anywhere, festivals, you name it. I come back, I grab it, I cycle away. My friends often ask why I don't have a lock, I ask them if they would want to steal it.
The trouble is, my POS is where I store all my tools
A reliable POS is the best kind of car to have.
My 1991 Chevy S10 has been through damn near everything. It has over 233000 miles on it and it still starts every morning and I still watch that oil pressure gauge hit 80 psi with no problems. One day when I was at my girlfriends house I parked the truck on the hill with the parking brake and put it in 1st gear. Well little known to me my parking break had worn out and all the weight was resting on my first gear, so while I was inside the truck popped out of gear and ran into an old lady's house. It put a hole in her wall and knocked her porch out of the ground a little. After we finished talking about insurance and what not I was able to just hop in the truck and drive it away, with a few more significant dents no less, but she just started up and drove away. No broken windows, no axles out of alignment, just some dents in the fender and bumpers. I paid $500 for this truck and I'll never regret it. I could drive this truck to hell and back and not get a single complaint from it. They truly don't build them like they used to. It may be a old POS, but when I park it at the grocery store, I still look back and admire the war scars and the beauty of that old unstoppable beast.
Reliable POS, best car in the world. Nobody will steal it. But the mechanics of the vehicle are absolutely reliable because you repaired everything in it and you KNOW it works and will work. Don't have to worry about someone damaging your car because it already has dings in it. Nobody will key your car because it won't even be noticed. After my mom and sister borrowed it, the fog lights were completely knocked off. Wires are hanging off the mounts. Who is going to bother with it? No one. If 100 car thieves came to a parking lot and stole the cars, my car will be the only one left even though it will be the most reliable.
I joke with my brother that our car will be the last one stolen off the parking lot, if anyone would bother at all.
I like older cars for many reasons. Their simple, so repairs are practical. They're less common on the roads today, so you feel more individual and different (in a good way). And they tend to be more modifiable/customization than newer cars. Newer cars are generally safer, but I like the feeling of having a car that's been worked on and customized in a way that nobody else has. I love being different.
I learned this early on while offroading. The guys with the brand new trucks were so scared to scratch the paint, and my rusty old '74 K10 didn't care.
POS = POM , piece of mind.
I always drive l0 year old Corollas with manual transmissions. I worked many years in inner city DC and Baltimore and the car was never touched. why? for the same reason that a few years ago, a manual transmission Mercedes was carjacked in DC and didn't go l5 feet before the thief gave up and walked away lol!
My 1996 Toyota Starlet is the definition of a reliable POS. Dented,keyed, flaking paint, lifting lacquer, saggy seats, but the chassis is 100% solid and the mechanics 100% reliable. Still drives nicely.
Buy a vehicle for $500, spend next to nothing on it, maybe $150 per year and that is a reliable POS!
I bought a 1968 Corolla for $300 in 1988. My first car. It's still my only car and I have less than 5K in it and the entire car has been rebuilt, and upgraded over the years. That works out to about $170 per year. I'm about to do the engine one more time while the parts are still available. Brand new engine with ALL new parts and me doing the work about $500 and two days time.
Hell, I've spent more on just liability insurance all this time than I have on the car and have never had an "at fault" accident.
It's been hit a few times...always when it was parked (cuz you can't touch me if I'm driving) and I just take the money and fix it myself. I've actually about broke even with what I've put into it and what I've gotten from insurance...so I've had a free car all my life and it's value continues to go up. I've been offered $22k and won't part with it.
When it turned 25 it got lifetime antique tags so I don't have to buy tags every year and the property tax is only $7 a year.
Never buy a new car. If you must go for certified pre-owned.
Old, used up, dinged up car it's so free and liberating to own. It gives you such peace of mind. I would hate driving a new or really nice car. Used cars keep me so calm and relax.
Have you noticed if you park in an area of a car park away from other cars, to try and avoid it getting dinged, someone always comes and parks right next to you?
Or the time when someone in a Land Rover hit my car in a car park, when my car was the only other sodding car there....
I can relate to that. I park away in the back and sure enough someone will park very close to me. Also, for some strange reason when i park my sn197 mustang, other SN197 mustangs will park next to mine on either side. I am good with that due to the fact i figure they will be careful as i will.
so true !😁
No. I park and others avoid parking near me. The sign of a POS, others are scared to park by yours, ding, ding ding.
*ahem* It's 'soLdding".
j/k
This is ALL so true. I LOVE owning my 77 Pontiac Lemans, it's only failed me once in over 2 years, and it was a starter. Which I called a friend, bought the part, and changed it in the parking lot. I've drove it out of state multiple times. And the AC worked on it until last summer the compressor went out. I can care less about parking lot dings. It don't even ding, the steel is too thick. I run over curbs, haul stuff on the roof, tow people home, etc with it. I leave the keys in it with the windows down. No one seems to want it, lol. I barely have $1200 in the car. Bought it for $700, done a tune-up. Replaced starter and alternator, and put on a new set of tires. That's it. I'll take it's 14mpg over paying for a new car. You live WAY more carefree when your not worried about your precious new car possibly getting dinged.
locomojo0485 Love those!
Unfortunately I got rid of it now. Was still running great, trans was starting to slip some. But I wanted something different. So I got a Japanese Kei truck (92 Suzuki Carry) 4x4, 660cc, 5spd, with AC. Hauls my motorcycle better than the lemans.
I've got a 5-speed '99 Cmary and it's the best car for my needs for sure. All terrain tires, trailer hitch, big trunk and back seat, shitty paint, it's great.
I've got a great reliable POS, my 98 Ford Windstar LX. Bought it in 2003 for 5K with 99K mile, now almost 12 years later, still running with 222K. I am what you call novice mechanic, intimately learned this vehicle and my novice mechanic abilities exclusively with this vehicle. Every sensor, wheel, brakes, suspension, power steering pumps & hoses, and recently corroded brake line replacement. watching vids like ETCG puts out helps me tremendously, Thanks Eric!
My reliable "POS" is a 1991 Lexus LS400 with 325,000 miles. I know it from top to bottom, front to back. The last car I will ever buy until it dies (wrecked beyond repair) , or I die.
the more i know about cars (fixing them etc.) the more i just want a fun driving old car that i can fix for cheap and keep it running by myself
I have a 1999 Chrysler Town and Country with the 3.3L, it has 220,000 miles. Has rusty sliding door bottoms, rear hatch rusty, passenger side front door rusty bottom. However, put in new front and rear struts, completely new ignition, valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, transmission pans, tires, rims, both front window motors, front blower, thermostat, alternator, battery, water pump, and a lot more service work done. I did it all, and payed out $3,500 in parts, plus my own labor. It's just one of the reliable POS in the lot!! Proud to keep it running, and plan on doing work to the motor to keep it running longer such as: timing chain, oil pump, rod bearings, main bearings, plus other things to help. I'm glad that you are on CZcams, and love watching your videos!!
2001 Pontiac Aztek. Transmission at 150k, Head Gasket at 165k, Water Pump at 165k, Radiator at 165k , Harmonic Balancer at 175k, Rack and Pinion (twice), and rust removal. I probably should have junked it when the head gasket blew but I fixed it and after putting all the other work into it. My Aztek is a great daily driver again.
+Bad Drivers of North Central Maryland It seems that you've invested enough money into this thing to the point of where it's basically a zombie that doesn't look, act or feel like a zombie, if you know what I mean. It's skin and shit are all torn up, but he'll shoot hoops with you casually like nothing happened. Hahahaha
+prizedcoffeecup Exactly.
+Bad Drivers of North Central Maryland How's the meth biz these days?
+pearlmax It has its ups and downs.
Bad Drivers of North Central Maryland
Good luck with the car wash gig
I drive a very dependable but beat up looking 1978 Ford F150 everyday. It is a great thing, no worries of getting dents, scratches, or anything.
Got an Escort wagon for $250. Put $1400 in it. Now it's basically all new. Literally every wear item is new. It's still ugly, but it's way more reliable and refreshed than anything I'd have gotten for $1650.
Plus how many hours of your labor, though?
OMG? LABOR? of course you wouldn't want to put any REAL labor into a POS. When this dudes driving by you on a cold day and you BE WALKIN.... better RE- THINK that "happiness" shit, ... gonna be a long walk....
happiness A lot. But at the time I was cash poor and time rich (sortof). It's not like counting the minutes would have made a difference. I didn't have the money for something reliable, so I made something reliable.
Now I have more money than time so I'm driving a 2017 car and 2015 truck.
I love POS cars for those same reasons you stated in this video. I've had new vehicles before - first owner - and bad massive stone hits the hood first week I had it, same with the windshield like 2 months later. also had people hit the car door with theirs, or those damn shopping carts. my best POS ever was a RENAULT ALLIANCE!!!! most comfortable car ever and that thing would take a beating and still going. had many tickets for broken parts but she ran very well.
I bought a pos for 500$. Invested 1200-1500$ to fix suspension and maintenance. Bodywork is still a pos. But the car - start'n'go. That's it.
Not gonna lie, your humor never ceases to make me laugh at least once per video. Thanks Eric for being informational and entertaining at the same time. Love your videos man!
I've driven my 1986 f150 for almost 10 years. $500 truck put a new engine and lots of other matence, 280,000 miles on it. This has been my philosophy as long as I've been driving
I have a 1995 F150, owned it for quite a few years now. It was 900 bucks, put a little money into it, its a great truck. 221,500+ miles and still going strong. I don't drive it as much as my 1994 F250, but I know it will always be there when I need it.
Just got my first car 2 weeks ago, a 1998 Dodge Neon. It had an awfully torn up steering wheel, the A/C doesn't work, the seats and carpet are absolutely disgusting with stains, the windshield is cracked on the lower drivers side, the speedometer doesn't work. Only the back speakers are connected. It went under a trailer home when the previous owner was checking his mail and it got dented up and scraped. It was $1,000 (my parents got it from a family friend, should've been $700 in my opinion). I've cleaned the outside, replaced the battery terminals, replaced the steering wheel, and plan on replacing the windshield. I plan to give it that factory look and maintain it really well so I can sell it for a bit more. Hopefully replace the windshield, buff the car, take out the carpet and seats to give them a really deep cleaning, connect all the speakers, etc.
I totally get what you mean with the freedom of liberty in a POS car. It's reliable, and you feel awesome after fixing something.
+Fernando Mendoza At least the tranny isn't a piece of shit it's the famous Torqueflite automatic!
I actually have a car that uses the Tourqueflite...*Can't fix the R gear?* just pop it into N then let it roll back down the hill...* :D
+Fernando Mendoza It does feel good to fix the stuff on your car. My 03 Foz won't die, it's a great daily driver, don't feel guilty doing personal mods, not scared to attempt bigger jobs since it's a beater, has all the gadgets i've installed out of preference, and runs like a champ due to maintenance. As long as any repair is cheaper than 6 months of car payments, i'm sticking with it. May even have the head gasket done this year (had slight external leak for 60k). If i bought a new car it would be nice at first, but i'd soon want to personalize it which i wouldn't do to a new car, then the payments hit....yeah been there done that, these days a decade old japanese car has plenty of life left - nearing 200K in mine.
+Fernando Mendoza To all you owners of sunfires, cavaliers and neons. You go girl.
har har har jk bud
Mitchell Greatrix Oh man, I know. It's a girly ass car! Hahahaha.
I might start a new job soon at the high school (where I'm literally a year older than the students lol), and I hope with that I can afford to buy a better, less girly car.
I don't think I've ever owned anything BUT a Reliable POS.
;-)
Me neither. Always owned reliable POS.
i've owned some unreliable PsOS
I love driving my reliable pos 1999 E150 conversion van. It has seen it all in the past 330k miles. I sold it, bought it back after 4 years and 80k miles of neglect and getting trashed. I work out of it, if it gets dirty, no problem. I get sideways in the middle of a highway and go for a little involuntary off roading, no sweat (just glad I dodged that light pole). pull it out, rinse it off, life goes on. I love high mile vehicles that have been taken care of, especially anything rwd. Modern vehicles are built to last, if you know what you're doing you can get 300K 400k 500k out of a vehicle no problem. I don't understand why people buy new vehicles. The pressures of having a car note, high insurance, worrying about every new scratch that shows up is enough to give me an ulcer. In addition to the van-that-wouldn't-die I've had several other high mileage vehicles and they have all have been very low maintenance. A 99 and an 01 Ford F150 V6 automatic. The 99 I bought with 199k and sold with 219 to a friend and all I ever did was buy a used tire every once in a while. The 01 had 229K and 262K when I sold it to another friend who needed a reliable beater to spare his pristine 02 F150, I put an alternator and 3 tires on it, and replaced the upper intake gasket while I was fixing a corroded heater hose port. My friend now prefers the beater over his nice truck. I also currently have a 2002 GMC Yukon XL 2500 with a 6.0 with 242K. And i shit you not it gets 26 mpg highway and I have not had a single problem with it since I bought it in April. The van was just as low maintenance before I sold it 6 years ago and it had 242 on it then. The mechanic who changed the timing chains commented that besides having worn timing chain tensioners the engine had almost no wear, and was clean enough to eat off of inside. All of these vehicles have one thing in common: they were well maintained. If you stay on top of them and do the little repairs they occasionally need you'll avoid catastrophic problems down the road and get many hundreds of thousands of miles out of a vehicle, for a fraction of what you'll spend on a new vehicle.
Listening to your description had to laugh. I live near an ethnic market with an ethnic clientele, although many others shop there because of cheap prices, but they don't accept food stamps. Whatever,anyway a shopping did roll into my car making a healthy sized ding, The cart was laden with over a hundred $ of food. A dozen women appeared suddenly, and I asked who owned the cart's contents.A couple times asking this question. No answer. Waited 5 minutes. Still no answer. The assembly of women grew. Then I stated, "well I guess this is unwanted, so it must be mine". I then proceeded to put the stuff into my car and 2 of the women started to cry. I drove off. A week later the store manager accuses me of theft( I am not a member of this particular community, ethnically). I explained to him what happened, and he accepted my explanation. Still drive same POS though (94 Nissan Sentra).
Liberating is really the right word. The shedding of worry and guilt for the sins you will inevitably commit to your shiny luxobarge.
I totally found this video shopping for a POS. I of course did not use thay search text.
The first time someone told me that new cars depreciate 25% as soon as you drive it off the lot, the only thing I could think was "why would you want to sell it the day you bought it?"
You know, it really doesn't matter that a new car depreciates the day you buy it.
+acoow Exactly. If you plan to keep the car until it's, in essence, mechanically a total loss, then why would depreciation matter at all? It's going to be yours until the very end, so that makes zero difference in the decision.
Or, just buy one with 1000 miles.
If you keep that car until you can no longer get parts for it (like in 20-30 years) the cost of when you bought it new would be worth it :) which i plan to do when getting a brand new truck.
It does matter. You could have bought a car only a year or two older for at least 25% less.
acoow it matters, I have a friend that got laid off less than 3 weeks after buying a 2016 scion frs.
Love my reliable POS. The best part is, it was FREE. My uncle bought it and passed away several years ago, so now its mine. It's a totaled-rebuilt 2004 Malibu from Florida. It gets 36mpg highway, parts are cheap, and it always starts and goes where I ask. It's a lot like Eric's Subaru he got rid of. It's like a little puppy thanking us for snatching it from the wreckers yard and accepting its flaws. The bondo is peeling off everywhere behind the rear doors, the trunk leaks (from the cracks in the bondo, but that's ok because the trunkwell is made of bondo too and wont rust, and the previous owner drilled a hole for it to drain.) The carpets are all stained, the botched paint job is chipping, and its an ugly car to begin with. It has a goofy front fascia that makes it look ever happy, stupid, and willing. It keeps the miles off my family's good cars while I'm at school, and since its a small, recycled car, its also better for the environment than ANY hybrid.
Still own my first car, which is a major POS (rusty '88 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3), but it still gets me to work everyday. Within the past 6 years of ownership, the water pump, upper radiator hose, struts and brakes, were all that had to be replaced. It's easy to drive, reliable and very comfortable. Even made it through epic snow storms this past winter here in NYC with no problems. And being RWD, she loved getting thrown around in the snow. I absolutely love the thing.
my dads brand new 82 camaro, one of the first in vancouver b.c. he told some fat lady to please not swing her door into it, she did. he kicked her rear quarter panel so hard it completely caved in.
My current POS is a 1987 Toyota Starlet. My previous (and first) car was a 1998 Suzuki Swift - never maintained anything except tires, just drove it into the ground - learned my lesson now :-)
I did that to a cabbie in Toronto once, when I used to live there. Didn't cave in the rear quarter panel though. Mine was a moving target. So I couldn't get enough force behind it, just a passing kick. He was some crazy Russian cabbie (those people have some serious driving issues. Everyone over in Russia has a dashcam, cause accidents from stupidity or possible drunkenness are so common. CZcams is full of videos of bad Russian drivers). He turned a corner just as my buddy and I were stepping off the curb. We had the right of way and dude almost kneecapped us both. So we both kicked the rear quarter panel and bumper as he went by.
He got out a third of the way down the block, got out and started yelling at us. So, we returned the favor and told him off and what he'd done. Then, of course, he wanted to possibly fight, so we both made like we were both gonna fight him (cause that's fair, lol, he almost kneecapped both of us.) and he was a big Russian. Hehehe. He got back in his cab and left. He knew it was his fault. A couple of kicks to his car should be the least he receives.
Sorry but you not the first one to fart in it Eric. I work at a VW Plant and we love leaving a good fart in the car for the next guy down the assembly line.
+crashcx OK first one outside of the assembly plant then?
Just as long as you don't leave a POS in there! ;¬)
All the sales people also farted in your car.
Priceless :D
I was in the testing bay remember the feces they found in cars and the cut break lines? What a bunch off assholes
I daily a 2006 Accord with cloth interior and a dent in the passenger door. The hubcaps fell off a long time ago and it rocks the black steelies. But it has 137K miles and runs/drives like a top! Best car I’ve ever owned, I’ve had it for 8 years.
I got a 1991 Honda Accord with 130k miles on it. Reconstruct title.
While working on it after getting it from a tow yard auction, I came to find Eric and his automotive channels. Since then, it went from barely running with no brakes POS to a champ of a ride.
Thanks, Eric!!
Hey +ETCG1, is there anyway we can get a "Reliable POS" window sticker made? I'd buy one.
😂🤣 I like that.
NOW I know the secret formula to the new car smell. ETCG farts.
There is something liberating about driving a reliable POS. The freedom from worrying about dings, scratches and other nasties. Take on any mountain backroad without a second thought. I got my first POS to drive so I wouldn't destroy my brand new car. Now a POS is always in the stable. I've so far been through about 4, and usually get quite attached to them. I actually prefer driving them!
I've been watching your videos, which have helped me a lot so I thank you, but this one struck a chord with me because I live off of cheap cars for exactly the reasons you listed. Your Honda main relay video totally fixed my CRX's weird starting problem that had been giving me a headache. Even went to a mechanic who told me to replace the battery, I did but no help. Found your video and it was an easy job. Keep up the quality work man!
first person to fart in it.....i liked that
j cc Haha I bet Eric has done FPF (first person farts) alot, LOL!
You see, POS is a relative term. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder lol. Personally, if it runs and drives who gives a fuck if someone else doesnt like it, hence the POS. The POSs give you the best memories. Wheres the fun when you have a brand new car lol, My heavy chevy has blown a rear end, fuel pumps, leaks, been hit twice, and been roof deep in mud, but at the end, shes still there and awesome.
My 91 Honda Accord is like a revived life. Old, but new heart. Has new H23A JDM engine and will survive another 20 years! Thanks to this video, I value my ride even more! Thanks, Eric!
Fantastic! The reliable POS is a wonderful choice of automobile. I just changed the front and rear brake pads and rotors on my girlfriend's 2003 Protege 5. That new small scuff on the rear bumper from someone else backing into it? It blends in nicely with the other ten or more scuffs on the bumper. It's an awesome reliable POS.
Fix em, don't crush them
Grand Marquis baby!
Hey eric , i drive a pos but i am very pleased with it since it gets me from point a to point b . I am very inspired by your work and it encourages me to do better and fixes my problems on my own. Mechanics in the past have screwed me thousands of dollars in repairs in the past. But thanks to you and other persons such as scanner danner and scotty kilmer i have found a motivation to reduce my maintenance bill significantly, reliably and most of all i know what i have at the end of the day.
I used to own a honda accord 92, with more rust on the body than you could imagine, some of the paint was peeling off, 250 + thousand miles. But, here's what was good: A/C was working, Electric windows working, radio was working, very comfortable ride, very comfortable seats, Frame and exhaust had no rust, Barely cost anything to maintain, decent gas/mileage. Life was good and it was my first car. Ended up selling it 500$ to a 17 yrs old single mother. I parted ways with that vehicule 4 yrs ago now and I still see it every once in a while on the road and I know it's was mine because I had a bright green sticker on the back window. It puts a big smile on my face everytime! It's a 22 yrs old freaking reliable POS. Loved that car!
I drive a 1988 Volvo 740 gle with 337,000 miles on it
So YOU'RE the one who farted in my new car!
sorry i know this is old but lmfao
How d I you think new car smell is injected into it ??
I have a 2001 Fairmont wagon that I bought for 600 bucks, fixed an electrical problem, threw some new tyres on and a new exhaust when the old one fell out, most reliable car I've ever owned, I am the second owner and it has 340000 kms on the clock
My dad calls my banged up 93 integra a POS but it's MY reliable POS and I love it. Everything I know about car maintenance and mechanics I learned with it, and keeping it alive and running well is now my favorite pastime (bordering on obsession).
i have being driving a pos for the last 6 years,
like you , i keep it in good repair , never let me down in the last 6 years of driving to work.
about 120 miles a day, 5 times a week, and a big plus, no car payments
Thanks Eric, keep up the good work
i find my self hitting the "like" button as your videos start now, keep up the good work
i hope you get in a few older B-series cars in the future even though you naturally have gravitated towards family cars nowadays..
my Reliable POS is a 92 eg Civic VTI, B16a2 engine you got in the states in 99 in the civic si.. it has been 100% reliable ever since i changed the radiator last year
Recently hired a couple of brand-new cars for a few road trips; it was probably the most stressful driving experience of my life. Every bush leaning into the road, every oncoming car, every roadworks where there could be lose gravel - all of it was just terrifying.
And then I bought a car for
Totally agree with this, Eric. If the car will start and get me there and back again, it's my favorite car!
HI. Mr. Eric. I am from Melbourne Australia, i am watching your car repair job for a month or so it is very very good and informative above all you are very humane i mean you even show us your mistakes as for me i learn more from mistakes. by the way i am not a full time car mechanic i did go to mechanic school for two years that is 40 years ago since than i am dental technician now i am trying to be DIY car mechanic for my cars thank you i appreciate your you tube thank you.
Hello Eric, I came across a gold mine about 2 months ago when my co worker sold me his 1995 GMC Sonoma. It purchased it with 165727 miles to be exact, It has a 2.2L 4 cylinder engine with a 5 speed transmission. I only had to replace the clutch on it and a few maintenance parts on it. I think that this would be a perfect project truck in honor of your friend ryan. R.I.P., I will upload pictures to my google+ account for your viewing pleasure. BTW...Your videos have been really informational and really inspirational, Keep up the good work! Kudos!!!
I had bought an '01 audi a4, because well being young and it being an audi i fell in love, than less then a week later it blew a timing belt. Its been over six monthes now and i actually found EricTheCarGuy by searching for 'what to look for when buying a used car' and after the second video i hit subscribe. I really appreciate everything he talks about, some of his videos are inspirational as to attitudes in life. I really had a shitty one, to be honest. But hes said a few things that i feel really apply to me, but without an authoritative tone, just from his personal experiences which really made me listen. And well, thank you!! Now about that audi, its gettin scrapped tomorrow and i plan on buyin an early 90's honda. And armed with the knowledge Eric has given me i feel really confident about what to look for, not just how fast does it go. Thanks a TON!!
Eric, Thanks, I have had my 1998 Accord EX for 3 1/2 years now. Your videos gave me the confidence to do some of my own repairs and maintenance. So far, I have logged 55,000 miles on my 3500$ car. Pretty good as I bought it at 122,000 miles.
I bought a 99 gmc yukon 2 years ago so I could park my e55 for winter. I still have the yukon and it's got 251k miles. It runs and drives great, 4x4 works awesome, ac is ice cold etc. I paid a grand for it, it had brand new snow tires on it, and a bad transfer case. I replaced the transfer case for 175 dollars and a few hours time, then rebuilt the entire suspension a few months ago. Some days I think of buying a new car for the warranty, better gas mileage etc. Then I think... I don't owe anyone anything for this old boat, it keeps on going through the snow when everyone else is struggling, my 3 kids fit in, and it doesn't really matter if they dump that bottle of bug juice everywhere lol
I subscribed to you a while ago because I saw you did a lot of honda work. Lots of good info on your channel but not what I was looking for. however I loved this video as I relate all to well I have an 88 civic that looks like hell but has a bunch of various swaps and what not to make it the most reliable car in my stable. Its nice to know that even if she breaks down on you somewhere randomly you know exactly what is wrong and can typically fix it roadside if you planned ahead.
Got a 2000 Buick Lesabre, 160k miles. I'm younger than 20, so for me, this is a throwback to my grandfathers old car.. still drives like a champ, decent mileage, reliable POS... As much as I'd love something else, I don't have the $$ and do have a reliable POS. Gotta love it
1986 cutlass supreme, had it 17 years. floors are gone, brake line put together with compression fittings, I still drive it now! I put a 350 rocket 10 bolt valve cover and 350 turbo in it 12 years ago.
POS!! Eric that van's a treasure. My 2001 SL2 is a true beater. Every year it gets 1 new
thing. Last year tires, this year struts. When it needs 2 new things it goes to POS
heaven.
Reminds me of my uncle years ago. He brought his brand new car home from the dealer and put a ding in the rear quarter panel and said "There, now I don't have to worry about it".
Iv had my 1997 Isuzu rodeo since highschool (4-5 years) right now with 145k miles on it and still runs great. Just now needing replacement but nothing major. (tires, belts, ignition coils, ect) Paid $650 for it, and still under $600 in repairs since I bought it off my brother.
I think this was your best ETCG1 vid, Eric. Definitely had some valid points.
Love you videos man. I have a Ford Focus wagon that I got brand new in 2003, and while I've replaced a few relatively minor things here and there over the years, overall it's been a fantastic car that I have no intentions of getting rid of in the foreseeable future. It's been a great and very reliable car...and I won't call it a POS! haha
Amen Brother! I got a 98 Corolla in trade for some work on a co-worker's Rav-4. I originally started fixing up this free Toyota for my Son but he turned it down, ended up becoming my daily driver. It's ugly, dependable, everything on it works, parts are plentiful & gets amazing gas mileage. I parked my 16 Jeep & only drive it out of town. There's definitely a freedom that comes from driving a POS. Thanks for the video, great channel!
I love a reliable beater. It's so nice not having to worry about a new car getting scratched, not having a car payment, not having to pay out big bucks for full coverage insurance, exc. An old beater is more fun when you don't care so much about little imperfections... If it snows you do donuts in the parking lot and you don't think twice you just have fun with it. I just sold one reliable pos and got another one. My '92 Cougar was starting to get bad with rust so I sold it and got a 99% rust free '92 Ford Ranger extended cab. It's in great shape but it has it's dings, scratches, and it's little flaws but has had a topper on it most it's life so the bed is solid as day one. As I get money together I'll fix it up but leave it pretty much stock like it came out of the factory. Maybe slowly restore it to factory fresh while the parts are cheap from LMC Truck. When you boil it down I see a new car as a burden. There are 10 times more things to go wrong with it, parts are an arm and a leg, and they serve the same exact purpose as an older beater, getting you from Point A to Point B.
I drive a $300 Corolla with 180,000 miles, the previous owner replaced all of the major wear items just before selling. It has no dome light, speedo or radio, but it is one of the best pos's I have ever had......
I have to whole heartedly agree with this video. My reliable POS finally died a couple weeks ago. It was a 2000 Cavalier Z24 with 180k+ on it. I got it for free from my family and drove it for 2 years. I quickly sourced a replacement for the EXACT reasons you spoke of. This replacement is a 2001 Grand Marquis LS. I've had it for a week and the more I drive it, the more I love it. It's a bit of a gas hog but it's old school luxury and I LOVE it. It's just a big, comfy, floating, boat of a car. I still have my '08 VW GTI when I want to have fun, but going from a street/track car to the Marquis is a nice break when I just want to relax and not give a crap.
1995 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4... owned it since 1997, bought it used, 2 clutches (yep 5-speed transmission) This SUV has 168,000 miles... I have done 97% of the work, 100% of the maintenance, I drive it a lot, and it just keeps on going. Take care of your junk and it will take care of you!!! This old 4.0l V6 is awesome, bulletproof, no leaks at all! This is a very capable off road vehicle to, and excellent in the snow. POS's rule!
I love this video. I've always had this thought in mind but i thought i was crazy. Awesome!
I have one POS that I'm always working on, and one brand new car that I drive to work. Best of both worlds and loving it!
I've got a 98 Sentra. Had 140,000 miles on it when I got it two years ago and now has 207,000. I've done a tuneup, tires, struts, an axle and she's not given me any issues since I've owned her. Ugliest thing ever, but the most reliable car I've ever driven. I love it.
My pos DD is a 3.5- 6 speed Maxima, 150,000 miles and still gets 27mpg. Has been in two accidents, pulled the frame once but still has good alignment and doesn't wear tires. On the weekends I tow a 17ft aluminum boat sometimes on long distance fishing trips. I can't be happier. Looks good, its luxurious and does everything I ask.
I'm under the same philosophy. I'd rather have an older car and have it well taken care of to make it reliable. Cost of ownership is usually a heck of a lot less. The pride of ownership is big for me. Knowing that I don't have monthly payments to worry about is a great stress relief. Insurance seems to be cheaper as well. Be careful when you buy a new POS. do your homework and have a thorough check of the car, van or truck before dropping your hard earned money. Love the show Eric.
My first truck,a 94 ranger. Bought it when i was 15, and rebuilt the front end, breaks all around, shocks, rear shackles, wheel bearings, exhaust, and put the thing on the road with 1500 total investment. Been on the road for a year now, and no problems. Cheap parts, cheap insurence, good on gas, reliable and easy to work on even if something does go wrong. Yeah i get ripped on for driving a POS, but id have alot less pride in a nice car my parents paid for.
Same here man, I worked all last summer and I bought my very own 1995 ford ranger with the money I earned, I'm currently putting new shocks on it and totally replacing the brakes. All my friends drive their parent's cars but I have the pride to know the value of a working car that you take care of.
1984 Honda CRX DX. Carburated wonder. Never left me stranded, EVER.
8L/100km city, 6.5L/100km highway. 15.5 quarter mile, 0-60 in 8 seconds, goes where you point it.
1800km trip one way, one sitting, 1600km trip back, one sitting, no probelm.
Alternator died, drove it 50km home, headlights on, intermittent wipers. Put on a spare. Good luck doing that with fuel injection.
Ran over junk on the highway, blew up the rim, jacked the strut. Drove it home (on a space saver), put on spares.
Parked for now, still runs and drives great. Don't have the heart to let it go. I love that car.
Plus there's just something about old cars. They have a personality.
My favorite reliable POS was my 1987 Chevy astro van. It had 546,000 miles on it before a brand new jeep wangler killed it. I bought It from my step dad for 400 bucks and put about 400 in to it. Not a spot of rust anywhere on the body and the suspension/ drive train underneath wasn't that bad. I did Tires, exhaust, struts, a rebuilt carb, brakes ect. It lasted me about 5years. It was painted with house paint so I scraped and sanded it down and re painted it 2tone black as the upper right before bottom of the window and black as the bottom. I even did a single racing stripe. It started right up, never got stuck in the upstate NY snow and it actually drove super nice. I've been looking for another (as Eric says) of that vintage but they are getting rare. My worst pos was my 3.1l fireturd....
Yep, 2002 Sienna that I have done similar overhauls like you Eric. 197,000 miles and I have replaced all kinds of stuff but it is paid for and runs great. it runs better than all my friends and family's cars that are 2008 or newer. I use Motorkote in all areas of the unit, replaced entire brake assembly including abs pump and computer. almost the entire emissions system including the charcoal canister. The entire suspension is 1.5 years new except the control arms. 3 sets of iridium plugs, third timing belt and all replaceable pulleys and water pumps. OEM (Japanese) of course. 5th set of tires. third set of all 3 denso O2/AF sensors. I like my old beast!! my father in law has been begging me to get a new vehicle and to change the carpet in this one. all the work on this has been done by me. The obvious not said, oil changes and air filters and MAF cleanings, and pcv changes I am all over at their correct intervals. original wires! original valve cover gaskets and original exhaust, original starter, second alternator, second compressor. getting ready to change flange gasket and spring bolts before cat on downstream. I have had this green machine for almost 11 years. bought with 58K. only car better I have owned was a Lexus LS400. Totally agree Eric! Why not buy the tools and learn how to fix it yourself and avoid the stealership. This also lets me stay DIRTY.
There was one point in my life where I bought (and financed) a 2 year old car. It was the only point in my life I'd had a car that was that new. Everything worked and worked well. After awhile, I started to miss having things on the to do list, using my tools, figuring out fixes or modifications, going to the junk yard and just the experience of having a beater that I could keep running. So I had to buy one.
Eric, I've recently bought a mega cheap car that is 19 years old, I'm in the UK btw, and it is a Skoda Favorit, a compact car with a 1.3 engine, and it had 10 months roadworthy certificate (MOT) for a hundred pounds, about $150 bucks. It's got hardly any rust, and has done less than 70,000 miles. It has a dented front fender, and when i got it, the rear wiper didn't work, and a broken parcel shelf, and missing spare tyre. It had a service with new plugs, leads and cap, rotor , fuel filter,just before I bought it, and I fitted a new rear wiper motor for £15, and a 2nd hand spare wheel was £16 from ebay, that has 8mm of tread on. The car drives superbly, and since i got it in January, I've done 800 miles in it
Great topic. Thanks for the video.
Love the reliable POS: It allows you to cherish your nice vehicle, while appreciating your daily driver for what it is.
one of my favorite videos! see in my eyes a reliable POS is JUST as you described, but also cosmetically screwed. yeah the space odyssey's seen some battles but i still think as a whole its in fantastic cosmetic and mechanical shape. sure its a little dirty, but eh nothing 3 bucks at a gas station cant fix IF you feel like it. this too is my favorite kind of vehicle. a great running older car that still looks decent and has some kind of residual value
I find this very relatable. I just bought a 2015 Impreza a little over a month ago and everything he's mentioning has come to mind. My old car was a reliable POS, but it wasn't a comfortable one and it was hardly a safe one either. I don't care if I'm driving something that's dented, scratched, and ugly. I don't really care if its noisy, if the sound system is bad, or if it doesn't have much trunk space. What I do care about is if the defroster doesn't work, if the cabin fan doesn't work, and if my fuel economy is dropping. These are just some of the problems with my old car, so even though it had plenty of life left in it, I just didn't want to deal with it anymore. I'd like to have kept my old car for trips where I'm prone to getting dinged (such as snowy weather or dense-city driving) but honestly, the Subaru is still better at dealing with those situations due to AWD, better steering ratio, better blind spot view, and a rear-view camera.
So true. You just don't care as much about it. Like Eric said, you care BUT......you kinda don't too. I take pride in ALL my vehicles, even if they are ugly and I treat them as new and kinda baby them. Y'know, cause they are old and can't handle that kind of abuse anymore, lol. So, they last me a long time and I just keep repairing them, until it's not feasible anymore, money wise. Currently driving an $800, 2000 Hyundai Accent with 160,000km on it (about 75,000 miles?) so not terribly high. Put about $2000 into over the course of 3 years, so not too bad. Just did some brake maintenance (thank's to Eric's awesome brake videos and the one man bleed procedure) and it's almost done with repairs. It's a reliable POS, so far.
With where I live, out in the country, I completely agree with you, Eric. I just put 1000 into a 95 chevy c1500 but I know what I've got and I know how to work on it a little bit.
I've got a 98 Honda Civic that's I've been putting some money into. Timing belt in the last few months, new clutch and my input shaft bearing is going out so now I need to have the transmission rebuilt. It's easier to repair than buying a new car. I love that car. No rust at all, body in great shape, paint in great shape. No reason to get rid of it!
I found that buying a good reliable Japanese POS with no rust and an automatic transmission is the most expensive type of POS. I recently bought a nice 2001 VW passat (manual transmission) that needed 4 tires, a water pump and some minor oil leaks repaired(valve cover/ chain tensioner gasket/seal), I paid for 500.00 for the car . For the same 500.00 I can pick up a 2000 rusty door Corolla that needs brake and fuel lines with no sunroof or remotely cool or helpful options. If you like to fix them, an old Euro POS like a VW or Volvo in a manual transmission (not likely to fail like an automatic) is not a terrible POS to be had for the price. Unless it's a very unreliable make with too many fancy options, an old Euro car with almost no rust is a good and enjoyable POS to buy. I really enjoy driving the car.
eric ur thoughts are awesome
Same, I completely agree, my 1999 town car is exactly what you are talking about
I love my old 99 altima. She's reliable, and not too bad to look at. Thanks again for another good video Eric!
I drive a 65&67 Mustang fastback. The 65 is primer with a built engine. The 67 is a 6 cylinder with a Granada overdrive for 25 mpg. It has 514000 miles on it. It showed 29000 miles on the odometer when I got it in 1979. I have turned it over 4 times since. Very dependable. Original block, carb and distributor. You may not believe it but it's all true. Also have an 05 Grand Marquis but like driving the Mustangs more. Newer cars are ok but expensive to fix if it has to go to the dealer. Besides nobody offers to buy the Marquis. I get offers on the Mustangs a lot.
I have two reliable POS Odysseys (01 & 02). Love 'em.
They both grew up in Tx .. virtually no rust anywhere.
I love this video! I completely understand! My first car was a 1972 AMC Gremlin, originally owned by my grandparents. An ugly car but mechanically near perfect. I loved that car because it was bulletproof reliable and nobody else could care any less about it, plus it had the big 6-cylinder (Jeep engine) which made it fun to drive. I left the windows rolled down on hot summer days, never had an issue... theft repellent was built into its DNA at the factory. I missed that car more than the 1965 and 1967 Mustangs that followed it... no kidding! After driving it 100,000 miles without the slightest hint of trouble, I sold it for more than I paid for it. It wasn't worth much money, but as reliable transportation, it was priceless. Long live the reliable beater.
You are so right. I've had so much more fun in a pos than I've ever had in my pride and joy!!
great video, have to show my brother (no kids, brand new Hyundai), that is giving me crap for buying a 98 windstar (3 kids -so far-) with 207000 for 350.00 nice list of issues but worth putting into it and although about 6 months ago I knew very little about vehicle repairs I am now fully confident I can have it going really good, since I found the ETCG videos about 6 months ago