What's the most over-engineered "mainstream" car ever built?
Discussion
Using the baseline of "old car's still being driven daily in SE Asia, here are a few nominations.
80's and early 90's Toyota Corola's, Corona's and Crowns
Peugot 505
Volvo 244 and 740
BMW 3 series (80's era)
Volkswagen Passat (80's era wedgey thing)
Austin 1800 "Land Crab" (this may be a quirk that there happen to be 4 or 5 of these running around my area all looking origional and unrestored)
dont see many pickups past 15 years old out this way as they have been worked to destruction, but the Toyota "Tiger" hilux has to get a mention as the most common "old" pickup.
and finally, my old w124 e300 THAT WAS 1991 on a J Plate, died 6 years old on 300,000 miles after a high speed head on with a BMW 3'er .... up till that point all that had failed was a back box and a water pump, otherwise it was showroom fresh!
80's and early 90's Toyota Corola's, Corona's and Crowns
Peugot 505
Volvo 244 and 740
BMW 3 series (80's era)
Volkswagen Passat (80's era wedgey thing)
Austin 1800 "Land Crab" (this may be a quirk that there happen to be 4 or 5 of these running around my area all looking origional and unrestored)
dont see many pickups past 15 years old out this way as they have been worked to destruction, but the Toyota "Tiger" hilux has to get a mention as the most common "old" pickup.
and finally, my old w124 e300 THAT WAS 1991 on a J Plate, died 6 years old on 300,000 miles after a high speed head on with a BMW 3'er .... up till that point all that had failed was a back box and a water pump, otherwise it was showroom fresh!
XJSJohn said:
my old w124 e300 THAT WAS 1991 on a J Plate, died 6 years old on 300,000 miles after a high speed head on with a BMW 3'er .... up till that point all that had failed was a back box and a water pump, otherwise it was showroom fresh!
I'm guessing you meant '6 years ago'? Although 300k in 6 years would be an impressive feat in itself!XJSJohn said:
Using the baseline of "old car's still being driven daily in SE Asia, here are a few nominations.
80's and early 90's Toyota Corola's, Corona's and Crowns
Peugot 505
Volvo 244 and 740
BMW 3 series (80's era)
Volkswagen Passat (80's era wedgey thing)
Austin 1800 "Land Crab" (this may be a quirk that there happen to be 4 or 5 of these running around my area all looking origional and unrestored)
dont see many pickups past 15 years old out this way as they have been worked to destruction, but the Toyota "Tiger" hilux has to get a mention as the most common "old" pickup.
and finally, my old w124 e300 THAT WAS 1991 on a J Plate, died 6 years old on 300,000 miles after a high speed head on with a BMW 3'er .... up till that point all that had failed was a back box and a water pump, otherwise it was showroom fresh!
Agreed on the crown. Here in Singapore they still run as taxis.80's and early 90's Toyota Corola's, Corona's and Crowns
Peugot 505
Volvo 244 and 740
BMW 3 series (80's era)
Volkswagen Passat (80's era wedgey thing)
Austin 1800 "Land Crab" (this may be a quirk that there happen to be 4 or 5 of these running around my area all looking origional and unrestored)
dont see many pickups past 15 years old out this way as they have been worked to destruction, but the Toyota "Tiger" hilux has to get a mention as the most common "old" pickup.
and finally, my old w124 e300 THAT WAS 1991 on a J Plate, died 6 years old on 300,000 miles after a high speed head on with a BMW 3'er .... up till that point all that had failed was a back box and a water pump, otherwise it was showroom fresh!
built like a tank. I want one to keep.
BritishRacinGrin said:
XJSJohn said:
my old w124 e300 THAT WAS 1991 on a J Plate, died 6 years old on 300,000 miles after a high speed head on with a BMW 3'er .... up till that point all that had failed was a back box and a water pump, otherwise it was showroom fresh!
I'm guessing you meant '6 years ago'? Although 300k in 6 years would be an impressive feat in itself!XJSJohn said:
Using the baseline of "old car's still being driven daily in SE Asia, here are a few nominations.
Peugot 505
I remember being impressed by the number of Peugeot 504s still in use as taxis in Egypt a couple of years ago, sadly they weren't quite as ancient as I imagined as they continued producing them in Africa until 2006!Peugot 505
Audi A2. Check out the curve on http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/audi_a2_tdi_s... and you'll struggle to find a flatter curve for any mainstream car.
Voldemort said:
Audi A2. Check out the curve on http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/audi_a2_tdi_s... and you'll struggle to find a flatter curve for any mainstream car.
I think that has less to do with being over-engineered and more to do with residual value and the lack of rust to kill them off (plus people's general fondness for them and willingness to keep them on the road). If we were to base this thread on 'howmanyleft', we'd have all manner of fragile exotic vehicles at the top of the list simply because they don't do a lot of miles and don't get scrapped. Also, the Audi A2- remind me, isn't that the car where the windscreen wipers caused it to rock from side to side? Most over-engineered windscreen wiper mechanism, perhaps
Awesome door shutting action on the 190e, especially when you consider that this was in the same class and period as the E30 (a great car, in different ways!). There was a very nice early 190e in the workshop several months ago for some paintwork and I couldn't resist shutting the door a few times just for the sheer pleasure of it.
What happened when it evolved into the 'C'-class?
What happened when it evolved into the 'C'-class?
I agree with previous posters about older Volvos, my 200.000 mile old 1998 v70 bought for £350 obviously doesn't feel as luxurious as the e38 I also run, but the beemer cost 4 times as much as new so thats to be expected, but the Volvo feels just as solid tho, it's 2 years between them in age and rather different design philisophies I agree, but I never really feel that there are situations where the Volvo might not perform brilliantly. It looks tatty, doesn't get much love but works like clockwork and has better seats then the comfort ones in the 750. The Beemer on the other hand feels like it's carved out of solid granite, but it really isn't. Love 'em both and will keep them both.
greygoose said:
XJSJohn said:
Using the baseline of "old car's still being driven daily in SE Asia, here are a few nominations.
Peugot 505
I remember being impressed by the number of Peugeot 504s still in use as taxis in Egypt a couple of years ago, sadly they weren't quite as ancient as I imagined as they continued producing them in Africa until 2006!Peugot 505
Concerning CTRs and the told fact that their gearboxes can withstand up to 350 hp - 1. GBs are rarely built in-house by the vehicle's manufacturer. 2. Audi and BMW 6-speed Getrags of the 90's era can handle up to 600nm without modifications, and that does benefit manufacturers but only in finance depts.
0a said:
Easy - merc 190 followed by the w124!
End of the thread! 
Just kidding...
I too would vote for Mercedes W201...with W124 coming along for the ride by virtue of being "Son of W201".
BMW E34/E32/E31 era come very close IMHO.
But when one starts taking things apart and putting them back together again on the two one does notice differences. It is just about possible, albeit with a degree of effort, ignorance and stupidity, to break things in the process on the BMWs. Despite my best cack-handed efforts, I don't remember actually "breaking" anything on a W201/124.
Stock answer to a PH thread but...MX5. I know they rust but how many mk1s do you see on the roads every day compared to any other g, h or j plate cars? I know that's partly due to how they're used compared to say a Sierra but I do think they're very well built and very under stressed.
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