Easiest cars to work on?

[ph9]

I'm half thinking about buying an old car and attempting to maintain it myself. What sort of cars are worth considering?

[milkround]

Easiest will be something modern as it won't break down anywhere nearly as much.

Contrary to what you will read on here - most cars are not that hard to work on (neither old nor new). It's the access that's a problem. So just look for something with loads of room in the engine bay. Changing a cam belt with no access at all isn't all that fun. Nor is having to take half the car off to change an alternator.

But as you asked... an old defender or an mx5 would be easier than most.

[ph9]

Thanks. I actually have a Td5 Defender, but get it serviced by an independent. It seems a bit too big/heavy/awkward for me, plus it's my main motor, and don't want it to be out of action if I mess it up!

I also have a Mk1 Yaris which might be a contender, but it's still a bit complicated. However, the main problem is that it's seriously rusty, and removing any component looks like it might be too much of a challenge for me.

I was daydreaming about 2CVs and Minis, but then saw what they're selling for nowadays! Also, I had a Mini years ago, and I seem to remember it needing a lot of maintenance, plus some bolts were awkward to reach, and the rust was a killer.

[milkround]

ph9 said:

Thanks. I actually have a Td5 Defender, but get it serviced by an independent. It seems a bit too big/heavy/awkward for me, plus it's my main motor, and don't want it to be out of action if I mess it up!

I also have a Mk1 Yaris which might be a contender, but it's still a bit complicated. However, the main problem is that it's seriously rusty, and removing any component looks like it might be too much of a challenge for me.

I was daydreaming about 2CVs and Minis, but then saw what they're selling for nowadays! Also, I had a Mini years ago, and I seem to remember it needing a lot of maintenance, plus some bolts were awkward to reach, and the rust was a killer.

Mk1 yaris would be fine.

Unless it's a main car if you mess it up you walk away and make a coffee, have a smoke or just forget about it for a bit. I've done a cambelt in a megane carolet. It wasn't fun but I wouldn't say it was hard. Even with my cock ups. I've also don't the rear window regulators again not fun but doable.

Worst case scenario you pull the engine and work on it out of the car. Don't spend money on another car if you have a scrapper to work on.

You will soon find you 'need' loads of tools to spend your money on. All my life I've done without a rattle gun but I've realied I 'need' one when I saw it on offer.

[smn159]

milkround said:

But as you asked... an old defender or an mx5 would be easier than most.

Provided you can weld

[brman]

ph9 said:

Thanks. I actually have a Td5 Defender, but get it serviced by an independent. It seems a bit too big/heavy/awkward for me, plus it's my main motor, and don't want it to be out of action if I mess it up!

I also have a Mk1 Yaris which might be a contender, but it's still a bit complicated. However, the main problem is that it's seriously rusty, and removing any component looks like it might be too much of a challenge for me.

I was daydreaming about 2CVs and Minis, but then saw what they're selling for nowadays! Also, I had a Mini years ago, and I seem to remember it needing a lot of maintenance, plus some bolts were awkward to reach, and the rust was a killer.

for a modern car the yaris has got to be as simple as it gets with good access round the engine etc?
If you want an old classic beware that the mini is easy to work on but access is restricted at times. Something easier (and possibly cheaper) would be a herald. You can sit on the front wheel to work on the engine
2CVs can need some odd specific tools etc IIRC.

[milkround]

smn159 said:

milkround said:

But as you asked... an old defender or an mx5 would be easier than most.

Provided you can weld

Being serious for a second - I recon that it's part of the deal with working on old cars to do a bit of welding. Now my welds look like stevie wonder has been let lose with the kit to have a go. But if they hold they are fine.

[Evoluzione]

A Ford Model T is pretty basic, you'll need some imperial spanners though.

[tapkaJohnD]

ph9,
Consider a Triumph, 'small chassis' that is.
A Herald, or a Spitfire, has superb access, you can even sit on the front wheel while you service the engine.
John

[PurpleTurtle]

I had an air-cooled VW Beetle as a student and learned a lot about car mechanics from that. All very simple and accessible to work on, and relatively low cost.

[l354uge]

Morris minor are simple and have plenty of access. You'll get plenty of practice too, from my experience with one!

[Arnold Cunningham]

Remember when I had my first mini many years ago. Was looking forward to getting a bigger and more modern motor that would be easier to work on.
OH NO!!

I think a morris minor is a good call, super easy to work on. My defender is a breeze. My MGTF isn't so bad, except you need to faff around taking the cover off it - but once that's done, it's OK.

The Audi. Oil pressure switch? Engine out sir. EGT? Engine out sir. Steering rack? Engine out sir. The Saab. Alternator change? Engine out sir (or not, now, thanks to a youtube vid where someone has found another way)

[Oldandslow]

Shockingly no one has said MX5 yet.

So, MX5!

Mechanically simple, cheap to buy, very good parts support. Watch for rust.

Ooops, so yes MX5 already mentioned.

[Catatafish]

I find my 130i easy to work on, but it hardly ever goes wrong...

[HealeyV8]

Whilst older cars are simpler as they are analogue and don't need you to plug in a laptop or anything, the downside is shearing bolts that have rusted solid over the years.

[300bhp/ton]

milkround said:

Easiest will be something modern as it won't break down anywhere nearly as much.

Contrary to what you will read on here - most cars are not that hard to work on (neither old nor new). It's the access that's a problem. So just look for something with loads of room in the engine bay. Changing a cam belt with no access at all isn't all that fun. Nor is having to take half the car off to change an alternator.

lol, so basically avoid most modern cars as access is usually dreadful, especially on European/Japanese style fwd hatches.

[brman]

brman said:

for a modern car the yaris has got to be as simple as it gets with good access round the engine etc?
If you want an old classic beware that the mini is easy to work on but access is restricted at times. Something easier (and possibly cheaper) would be a herald. You can sit on the front wheel to work on the engine
2CVs can need some odd specific tools etc IIRC.

tapkaJohnD said:

ph9,
Consider a Triumph, 'small chassis' that is.
A Herald, or a Spitfire, has superb access, you can even sit on the front wheel while you service the engine.
John

I think there is an echo here.....

I think it depends on whether the OP wants to spend most weekends on working on the car, learn how to weld etc etc (in which case herald, moggy etc would suit) or just something that he can learn stuff on as and when needed. In which case the yaris he already has would be just fine. If it has electrical engine issues then might be more involved but everything else should be easy to do. That said, ironically the only problem I had with my wifes yaris was an engine electrics problem that I never did get to the bottom of.....

[Yertis]

If it’s literally so you can learn how to ‘spanner’ cars, then another vote for the Spitfire (or Herald although personally I don’t like those). Excellent inexpensive parts supply, inexpensive to buy, so incredibly easy to repair and work on, zero electronics to confound or perplex.

Just get one without much rust. A Mark IV would be my choice.

[kambites]

Another vote for a Spitfire. The forward hinged front clam shell gives fabulous access to the engine and the A-series is a very simple engine with great parts availability. The issue, as with most classics, is rust.

[smn159]

Spitfires didn't have A series engines. I've had a few classics over the years, including a couple of Vitesses, including doing all of my own repairs and using them as dailies. I'd disagree that they make a good choice for someone wanting to learn how to spanner their own car.

They're pretty much museum pieces now, with designs that are now 60 years old. Learning to work on these will give you a very different skillset to working on something more modern.

Buy something cheap and recent and learn some skills that might actually be useful in the 21st century - unless you're after a job at Beaulieu of course