My parents-in-law in LA, California, are very unlucky, when it comes to cars: they often have smth bad happen to their car, be it their fault or (most often) not - just bad luck. They drive over curbs at night, get rear-ended or sideswiped by others, and get regularly involved into tons of various other mostly minor incidents resulting in (mostly light, but at times severe enough) car suspension and body damage. They used to drive ordinary city cars like Corollas or Subarus, and these do not last long with them. Just recently, their another Subaru Legacy has been totaled after it got severely rear-ended by some idiot who just drove away afterwards...
So they definitely need a new (maybe not quite new, maybe this time preferably used) car which would be safe and robust enough to withstand severe beating with minimal damage, which would be bodywork and suspension repair-friendly, which would be as reliable as it can be, and which would not cost too much - also in terms of maintenance. In addition to that, this car should be LA city driving compatible, so an armored SWAT-style truck (which I would otherwise advise them to buy) would probably - and unfortunately - not qualify.
{black}:face:
So here is my main question:
What car could realistically fit their lifestyle, if there is one existent on Earth?
And one bonus question: if someone knows a good car mechanic, Scotty Kilmer-style, in LA, California, preferably somewhere around Sherman Way or San Dimas areas, please-please let me know. They will most definitely need one to assist them with checking their next car - this time a used one, I believe - before they buy it, as well as to service and repair this car for them afterwards for years to come. Dealer workshops and new cars do not suit their lifestyle well enough, I believe.
P.S. Some other people I know in LA are also interested in finding a good and honest mechanic in that same area.
Thanks in advance so much for any helpful input!!!!
Kind regards,
Michael Weise aka DontKnowler, from cold and snowy Moscow
d.knowler (at) gmail.com
If you are looking for something like that, an ol cop car would probably be able to take several beatings. Ford crown victoria's. Do pretty aight in the demolition derby lol. Any gen of those are pretty reliable if maintenance is had, but are gas guzzlers. And then for a minor potential upgrade to get a metal undertray for it due to running over curbs and the whatnot. You probably want to find one owned by the cops though as they typically have some upgrades and might even come with with a bash bar. My friend bought his for 1k at 90k on odo, put 1k into it and the car now has 140k. That 1k he spent was for stuff like rear back seats, rear door locks, and minor suspension work. I'm sure you can probably find a good one given the ton of em that's out there. If you don't know what you are looking for have a tech take a look for ya and if the seller refuses, walk away.
No one can kill a Crown Vic. My younger brother is a Sheriff Deputy and I've seen videos of his where they are hopping curbs at 40mph, sliding through golf courses, hitting top speed for extended periods, etc. In my own personal experience, I've abused a few of them way more than they should be and they never died. I'm telling you, it takes a meteor strike to finish one off.
