Best Car/Van for DIY maintenance.

Discodog

I have a Freelander 1.8 & whilst they have numerous problems they do have the advantage of being easy to work on with a good parts availability & loads of online advice.

So what do you think it the best car or van from a home DIY maintenance point of view ?

It must have easily accessible cheap parts especially via ebay - saves travelling & money

Have manuals & online advice readily available via forums.

Be easy to do the majority of jobs without the need for special tools etc & have good engine accessibility.

2qk4u

I have a Hiace and its very easy to work on, I just changed the front anti roll bar bushes and droplink bushes along with a rear shock and took no time at all, I had never done the bushes before.
I do most of the work on it myself but needed a hand doing the clutch, I service it and do the brakes too...
One of the advantages of a van is it saves the backache of bending down to reach in under a car bonnet.
As for parts, I got the alternator and the starter reconditioned when they needed it instead of replacing.

Captain Slow IRL

BMW e30, see link in sig

The majority of Honda's can be worked on with basic tools, the crank tool is the only specialist tool you need to buy and they're fairly cheap.

Discodog

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

BMW e30, see link in sig .

I used to sell those

Captain Slow IRL

Then you're probably sick of them!

Discodog

No but if I was considering an old vehicle then I would want it to be old enough to avoid tax, nct etc. I would love an old Landrover but living by the sea adds to the problems.

Ronnie Beck

my '97 lancer's like lego. Nothing that cant be replaced or fixed in less than a half hour.

I remember trying to fix my mother's '04 renault megane drivers window which got stuck at the bottom and ending up close to tears an hour later with still FA access to the window. Gave up in the end. Little bit of flimsy plastic had snapped and the whole mechanism had to be relpaced. Even taking out the battery is a pig of a job.

Discodog

That's why I am asking the question. I will need to get a newer vehicle but is there anything left that can be maintained at home ? My Freelander may be a pile of crap but I was able to replace 10 valves, in my driveway & with a total parts cost of €130 when the cambelt tensioner broke.

engrish?

Discodog wrote: »

That's why I am asking the question. I will need to get a newer vehicle but is there anything left that can be maintained at home ? My Freelander may be a pile of crap but I was able to replace 10 valves, in my driveway & with a total parts cost of €130 when the cambelt tensioner broke.

Have you had many problems with it? What year is yours?

My Daewoo has just suffered a death, I'm looking for something with space in it for 3 big dogs. I dont have much money to spend and I want to be able to work on it myself!

Discodog

engrish? wrote: »

Have you had many problems with it? What year is yours?

My Daewoo has just suffered a death, I'm looking for something with space in it for 3 big dogs. I dont have much money to spend and I want to be able to work on it myself!

No one that has ever owned a Freelander would recommend one. I too have 3 dogs & being able to work on the vehicle is a prime consideration.

engrish?

Discodog wrote: »

No one that has ever owned a Freelander would recommend one. I too have 3 dogs & being able to work on the vehicle is a prime consideration.

Haha! I will follow this thread to see what you find - let me know if you stumble onto something!

Discodog

I am actually surprised at the lack of responses/suggestions. I would of thought that it was a subject that would appeal to the people in here.

Farmer Pudsey

Discodog wrote: »

I am actually surprised at the lack of responses/suggestions. I would of thought that it was a subject that would appeal to the people in here.

What size van do you need a big merceedes van or a small opel combo 1.4 diesel and you might get more replies, alot of van have different advantages example a berlingo or kangoo are good van's reasonable to buy but with them you can only legally tow 1.1 tonnes inc load in back howeve VW caddy is 50% more expensive but you can tow 1.8 tonnes legally ( i think). Give us something to chew on

mister gullible

R4

Discodog

mister gullible wrote: »

R4

Which R4 - renault, audi

Slidey

The older type caddy, pre 04, esp the non-turbo are a piece of piss to work on.

If I could get one where I am I would snap it up in a heartbeat.

Poxy petrol cars...