Scotty, can you comment on which vehicles to target that would be easiest for the borderline competent home mechanic to do engine repairs? It seems that timing belts, head gaskets, stuck lifters, valve cover gaskets are the most common mnt/repairs. Please correct if I am wrong and of course, avoid such issue in the first place is desirable, but what would be the makes and engines (preferably models and years) that you would recommend to account for potential home repair feasibility? While I am currently looking for is a road trip worthy SUV with a naturally aspirated, timing chain, non-AWD without all this modern day VEHICLE TRACKING NONSENSE BY BIG BROTHER, I HATE going to the auto shops for repairs and want to be able to tackle this scope myself. Curious to what you think would be best. Thank you kindly.
the smartest thing to do when getting a road trip worthy car, is simply to just buy something RELIABLE. You want something that doesn't NEED to be worked on. You don't want to go to too old either, because old cars are money pits.
In other words, get a low mileage Toyota.
Welcome new member!
+1 for RAV4 and CRV. But if you really want to do that level of service yourself, I’d look for a 2WD, inline 6 XJ Cherokee. They’re everywhere and they’re cheap.
I’d look at an older Toyota RAV4. You can get an idea on which model years were better than others below:
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/RAV4/
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Also, you will need a service manual and scan tool. See my signature below for more details.
1965 Rambler American with a flathead six-cylinder engine. (Not an SUV but about the easiest thing imaginable to work on this side of a lawn mower.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3gf2RSc8sY
For engines, my personal favorite is the Honda K-Series engine. K20, K23, K24 and their variants. It has been used in Civics, Accords, and CR-V, and other Honda and Acura products, for the past 20+ years. My only concern would be which transmission it is mated to (avoid the ZF transmission).
If possible. I recommend 4 cylinders, because they seem easier to work on. V6 engines seem a little more cumbersome because some of the cylinders take some digging around to get to.
Otherwise, a post 2012ish RAV4 or Highlander might be a good choice. (I’m not exactly sure what years, but some late 2000’s Toyota had oil burning problems.) The only quirky thing might be changing the PCV valve, but there are some clever workarounds.
