What are some cars with very reliable powertrains, but where the rest of the car just falls apart?

Posted by Minimum_Persimmon281@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 25 comments

My mom’s fiance had a Citroën C3 Pluriel with the 1.4 tu3 a few years ago. The drivetrain was rock solid and took a hell of a beating from just really questionable maintenance habits and overall legligence. The only issue the engine ever really had were a few smaller issues like an oil leak for example. From what i’ve read, this seems pretty typical of tu-engines. The manual transmission had no hickups aswell.

Unfortunately, the rest of the car was really not good. The electronics and suspension broke down pretty regularly. Even the interior fell apart somewhat, as did the exhaust system.

Ultimately, it was scrapped at only 230.000km. It had something like 12 failure points at it’s last inspection, lol. It was just over 20 year old car at that point, but still.

So it got me wondering, what are some cars where the powertrain just goes on and on and can take a real beating, but everything else is widely known to just fall apart at an alarming rate?

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Comfortable-Study-69@reddit

2.5L Jettas. That engine won’t leak a drop of the oil and the DSGs are… clunky, but decently reliable. But those things will basically crumble to pieces around the engines. All of the interior trim goes to shit after 100k miles and they rust horrendously. The AC units and alternators are also pretty crap.

Remarkable_Spirit_68@reddit

All the manual Ladas :) the body disintegrates far before engine or transmission will need any repair.

Royal-Yogurtcloset57@reddit

I wouldn't judge a 20 year old car - a lot of the rubber bushings, hoses, etc start to dry rot and start failing due to age. It's nothing to do with the vehicle being or not being reliable.

I had an old Land Rover, and yes it was a POS, but to be fair, at least half of the issues it had were because it was old and everything was falling apart. If the vehice was 10. Years newer with same mileage, it wouldn't have had the same failures

Krokodil__Gena@reddit

Late Rovers. They had Honda engines.

Brixmis51@reddit

Only a few, the R3, 600 and 800 if i remember. The later ones usually used the k-series, which was a little fragile

JCDU@reddit

K was a great engine let down by the bean counters - built right they're great but their reputation was ruined early.

A mate of mine had a Rover 75 which did the usual HGF a couple of times. We figured out that the cooling system just wasnt up to the job as he spent a lot of time sitting in traffic. I think he eventually put a really heavy duty twin fan rad in and rerouted the entire cooling system through the boot so ensure there was plenty of coolant going round. Bit extreme but it worked. When the Chinese bought the MG marque and toolings, they sorted out the K-series,turbocharged it, renamed it the N-series and put it in the MG6 where it was actually ok. Sprintex sold a supercharging kit, which could be fitted to the 75 and ZT's as a dealer accessory and sold here in Western Australia. By all accounts they were absolutely rapid.

Absolutely correct!

ExcellentMaize4141@reddit

Depending on the year/engine, the W203 Mercedes Benz C-Class can have a bulletproof powertrain. But, those things rusted horribly. Every single on has the doors just disintegrating.

Are those the OM606 engine donor era?

Those things rusted away like a 70's Datsun at the seaside but the engines are absolute goats, very common swap into lots of stuff.

Powerful_Bad_6413@reddit

2nd gen rams with the Cummins. Cars with the GM 3800. the pentastar 3.6 V6 was often paired with bodies that rusted out and weak transmissions. the taurus sho. panther platforms with the 4.6

reidft@reddit

I had a 24v ram for a short time. 455,000km. Engine was MINT, zero blow by whatsoever. Everything else? Biggest pile I've ever owned. I'll never touch another Chrysler.

Any Dodge Ram with the Cummins diesel

Vind-@reddit

Buy a Seat Ibiza 1.4. Run it for 25 years. Next 10 you’ll see it dissolve around the engine and gearbox, that will survive the rest of the car forever.

RealSprooseMoose@reddit

Chevrolet Cavalier & Cobalt.

PetriDishCocktail@reddit

Cobalt SS.

Electrical_Art_4196@reddit

Mercedes-Benz. Especcially Diesel engines until 2010 and petrol engines until 2003.

Actually there is not that much breaking down on Mercedes. But if something breaks it´s gonna be expensive.

superstud666fromhell@reddit

7.3 Excursion or any 3800 engine car

hentaigabby@reddit

Nissans with manual transmission or non CVT transmission

d__max@reddit

First gen mazda3 . Terminal rust issues on an otherwise solid car .

Gubbtratt1@reddit

Old diesel land cruisers, or really diesel vehicles with box section frames in general.

EnigmaticSpaceCowboy@reddit

4th gen rams, especially the revision in 2013 onwards to 2024. 5.7L hemi and the Zf8 is one of the most reliable powertrain xombos in the half ton market, it’s just a shame the rest of the vehicle is such a dog.

United_Average_8767@reddit

Honda Brio, an economy hatchback sold in India, South Africa and a few other developing countries. It has a fantastic little 1.2 VTEC, no issues with that engine or gearbox whatsoever, but unfortunately the bodies rust quite badly.

Lrxst@reddit

1990s Chrysler products.

jtj5002@reddit

Tacoma frame rot