What is the oldest car that you still commonly see on the road?
Posted by TatianaWinterbottom@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 164 comments
As someone living in the midwest, rust has taken many cars. However, there are still some survivors from the 90's that are still common. They include
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1st gen (1997-2001) Honda CR-V
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GMT 800 Suburbans/Tahoes/Silverados
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Late 90's Toyota Camrys (facelifted XV20 generations)
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3rd generation Toyota 4Runner's.
Besides that, even reliable 90's cars like Civics, Corollas, RAV4's, and Accords have disappeared from the roads
Piccolo_Bambino@reddit
Most Toyota models
teachthisdognewtrick@reddit
I see a fair number of C3 corvettes. And several C4s that are even driven in the winter. (I can’t imagine trying to drive them in the snow, squirrely enough when it gets too cold)
kitteh-in-space@reddit
Mid 90s Pontiac Sunfires
Ace_And_Jocelyn1999@reddit
Model T fords are a pretty common sight on the road in my area during the summer. There are a ton of collectors and enthusiasts around who take them for Sunday drives when the weather is nice.
Flintmane@reddit
90 to 93 accords, those things are indestructible and I see many every day
bigcee42@reddit
C4 Corvettes
A lot of them have pretty low mileage for being 30-40 years old.
orangeventura@reddit
That’s because boomers view Corvettes as “investments” when most of them are nothing special. Unless you had ZR1, Sledgehammer or Calloway C4 but even then they don’t pull what some of the other generation special Corvettes bring.
bigcee42@reddit
Grand Sport also.
Last year model only. LT4 engine combined with wider rear track and special paintjob.
TheKiddIncident@reddit
There are old VW Beetles from the 1960's running around all over CA. My neighbor drives a 1970 914.
Salt is banned on roads here so rust doesn't eat the cars as quickly. You have to live pretty close to the beach in CA before rust becomes a major problem.
justino@reddit
Volvo bricks.
jestermx6@reddit
I daily drive a 97 z3. I'm usually the oldest car whenever I look around while driving. Saw an early 90s lebaron turbo convertible last week and about snapped my neck doing a double take lol
horsgang@reddit
I see c4 corvettes all the time in nc. I also own one, but I see at least 5-10 a day.
Aminopop@reddit
Still see many hummer H2s on the road. Built like tanks.
grassesbecut@reddit
Living in Arizona, I see tons of vehicles from the '90s still running around. Especially Ford and GM pickup trucks. Almost none of them have any paint left, though.
jckipps@reddit
Sand-blasted off, or peels off from the sun?
grassesbecut@reddit
Both. Mostly sun damage, though.
nixiebunny@reddit
That era was when they switched to more environmentally friendly paint, and it had adhesion problems. Peeled off in big sheets. But my brother has a ‘74 Malibu whose paint just wore down to nothing in the sun.
TankedUpLoser@reddit
Mercs and Volvos from the 70s
GirchyGirchy@reddit
We have plenty of GMT400s and similar year OBS Fords (brick & aero nose) here in central Indiana. I've counted up to six of the former in my parking lot at work before.
Hutwe@reddit
Toyota Previa and an 80’s El Camino
Captkarate42@reddit
Your list is definitely accurate in my area, but I'd add XJ cherokees and ford/chevy half ton trucks pretty far back. There are a lot of old farmers around here driving pickups from the 60s and 70s every day. One guy even has an old 4x4 mercury pickup with an FE and a flatbed conversion.
Blasted-Banana@reddit
Definitely a lot of OBS Fords still running around here in varying states of drivability. Solid amount of older YJ and TJ Wranglers too since so many now just use them as summer runabouts so rust doesn't get them quite as badly.
Formal-Tradition6792@reddit
See early generation Prius’ all the time!
Odd-Cod2516@reddit
As much as I hate them, this is accurate!
ToddtheRugerKid@reddit
Why do you hate them, one of the greatest cars ever made.
Theclevelandchubb@reddit
Dude they are so freaking ugly looking that is probably why. I am not buying a car that looks like absolute ass.
Odd-Cod2516@reddit
Meh. Just not for me.
You do you! No judgment over here.
equitymans@reddit
How dare you say that about his favourite appliance! Haha
Odd-Cod2516@reddit
🤣
Spring__Warrior@reddit
this is the answer, i see second gen priuses like every day
Tigermike10@reddit
I never used to notice them until my daughter asked me to buy her one then I realized how popular they are in my area, Minneapolis.
VL-BTS@reddit
I live near the Jersey Pine Barrens, so Jeeps would be #1. Lots of people who take them into the woods, but also plenty who are in it "for the aesthetic".
carpet_whisper@reddit
A surprising amount of early 2000’s 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks.
Beaten to hell but still going.
jckipps@reddit
Central Virginia
81-87 'squarebody' Chevy trucks
88-98 gmt400 Chevy trucks
92-97 'obs' Ford trucks
92+ Econoline Ford vans
97+ Express Chevy vans
There's a decent smattering of older Jeep Cherokees around too. I see plenty old Wranglers, of which some of those could be dating back into the 70s for all I know.
likewut@reddit
To be fair it’s kinda hard to tell a 2003 Express from a 2026
jckipps@reddit
Huh. I was thinking that grill change was in 2005, but you're right that it happened in '03. I guess it was at the same time that they switched from the SBC to the LS.
The Express van is the ultimate consumerism snub. If you can't tell the difference between an old one and a new one, there's less needless 'upgrading' to the latest model. I wish more vehicles followed that pattern.
BC999R@reddit
The Wrangler came out in 1987. Before that they were CJ’s and look quite different.
mc_nibbles@reddit
It depends on where you live.
I live in a fairly poor area that doesn’t do vehicle inspections and you see a lot of late 80s to late 90s vehicles. Some are a bit rough, others are held together by hopes and dreams.
My brother drove a 2001 Corolla that needed basically every suspension component replaced. I eventually fixed it up for my sister, but a shop would’ve just said toss it.
Without inspections we still have cars on the road that would’ve been in the junk yard 15 years ago in other states.
I see a lot of OBS fords around where I’m at. I even had one as a beater truck for a while.
jungle_jake@reddit
Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
RareCareer7666@reddit
I still see lots of 90s Honda and Toyotas on the road. Plenty of gmt400s. I even see some 90s ford trucks often lately
AdTurbulent7730@reddit
Many Subarus are still running and on the road daily.
Mouser29@reddit
Ford model t
I go to church in a rural area and when I'm leaving and going back home to the city I drive on a road where every once in a few months I'll see a bunch of model ts driving on the road
superultramegaextra@reddit
Ford Model A
TimboFor76@reddit
Desert dweller here. I see lots of square body chevys still being daily driven. I drive an 87 Toyota year round. The guy that owns the local liquor store drives a 49 Chevy truck year round. Era correct inline 6, dual carbs, split exhaust and glass packs. Painted in green tractor paint.
07AudiS6V10@reddit
Same Same, Lots of OBS fords and Chevys, Rust is seldom the issue, more often it is lack of maintenance. I love my 93 F150.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
Same..desert area and see a lot of older cars and trucks. My vehicles are all from the 90s but my neighbor like his older. He rotates his fleet but his 36 Chevy sees action every couple of days along with his 55 Chevy PU
nixiebunny@reddit
Your Camry is newer than my newest car, a Vanagon. I see a few of those around town, not as many as in Portland of course.
travisjd2012@reddit
Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibes are still kicking... I always notice then because they were what got me into cars but I was too young and poor to buy one of those when they were new
breaulius@reddit
Excluding classic weekend cars, 3rd gen TDI Jettas, 1st gen Echos, and GMT400 extended cabs.
idontevenliftbrah@reddit
99-02 F250s are everywhere in central Washington
Wonderful-Yard9396@reddit
Pontiac sunfire
rimstrip@reddit
Honda Element
Terrh@reddit
This has gotta be a super regional thing.
I'd bet the mix is very different in nevada than it is in michigan.
howrunowgoodnyou@reddit
Astros
Vitriolic_III@reddit
I just wish they would have put the 4.8 in as an option.
qkdsm7@reddit
A factory 4.8/5.3 Astro/Safari would have been pretty spectacular. Shoot, even the aluminum \~300hp "LV3" 4.3 that came in \~2013+ stuff would be solid....
birdpix@reddit
Miserable vans to ride in!! I was driving a Dodge Caravan (loved) daily but had to ride in a Chevy Astro van from Orlando to DC and felt like riding in a beater pickup truck.
The ones we see around FL usually have severe paint blistering and peeling off in sheets, leaving huge rust spots on the side and roof.
qkdsm7@reddit
I've driven ours on \~15 or more 700+ mile family trips. I prefer taking the Town Car (of course!!!) but zero complaints from passengers....
Equana@reddit
The cockroach of vans.... Un killable, easily fixable Very useful, GM should have never stopped production.
Dangermouse454@reddit
That’s why they killed it… same with Geo
metrawhat@reddit
They killed them because they couldn't pass front impact standards
grassesbecut@reddit
I don't know, a guy I know managed to detonate quarter sized holes into a couple of pistons on his Astro. Don't ask me how.
ktappe@reddit
Since you live in the Midwest, my explanation for the reliable Japanese cars disappearing from the roads is rust. I’d still have my ‘94 Accord if rust hadn’t taken out the entire underside. It was still running great, and the paint still looked great. But there was nothing underneath to keep all those parts together.
Infinite_Incident107@reddit
Where in the Midwest are you? I live in a very snowy area in the Midwest and honestly man, seeing 90s era cars is a rarity anymore.
I don't see any 90s era GMC trucks or suburbans. I might see some from early 2000s but they are so rusted they a shouldn't be on the road.
For daily drivers I might see some old Toyotas from that period. Outside of that the only 90s cars I see are clearly show vehicles or something that's kept in a garage most of the year.
But recently I did see a early 90s Chevy lumina on the road. Caught my eye because my dad owned same model. Haven't seen one driving in probably 20 years since they are total shit boxes. This one must have been one of the best off the assembly line. LOL
AnonUser1452@reddit
I daily drive a 1980s Toyota pickup, and I see other ones on the road daily; there are usually three parked on my three-block section of urban road.
Other very frequent spots: 1970s-80s diesel Mercedes, 1960s-early 70s Mustangs, and VW Beetles and buses.
Location: Los Angeles metro area.
Mrmagoo1077@reddit
60s VW bugs
qkdsm7@reddit
Those GM 800 SUVs are not from the '90s... but I see a lot of GMT400 generation trucks and SUVs
Camrys, Accords, and Civics. Anything Buick 3800 powered.
ChaunceytheGardiner@reddit
Searched for this. Anything with GM’s 3.8 or 3.1 is immortal.
XMAN2YMAN@reddit
Jeep wranglers, jeep grand Cherokee and Cherokee. Pretty much anything with the 4.0 inline 6
Bubbly-Pirate-3311@reddit
60's mustangs are all over the place near me, same with early 2000's Subarus.
DirectionImmediate88@reddit
The only 1980s cars that I see regularly are pickup trucks.
PlatinumGoon@reddit
Crown Vic’s and Town Cars
abnormalRetard@reddit
The oldest commonly seen where i am are 09-13 corollas, civics etc. Not much older then that still on the road. There are a few rarities but right now the 2009's are going extinct.
watcher953@reddit
Saturn SC. Ford falcon
dlickyspicky@reddit
Not commonly, but on a nice day when old guys bring out their classics in my area 9/10 times it’ll be a Bel Air
Sumocolt768@reddit
Cavaliers would still be around if they weren’t notorious rust buckets. Those engines were bulletproof
tuanies@reddit
First gen Toyota Highlanders. I have one, they’re like cockroaches. Any time I drive mine, there are 5 other silver ones on the road at the same time.
Hitt1te@reddit
Those gmt800s are prob on their 3rd transmission.
BairyHalsack@reddit
Astro Vans from the 80s and 90s, they seem to be everywhere around me
tyzer24@reddit
1st gen Nissan Rogues (2008 - 2013) are still kicking it in the rust belt...with the jatco transmissions. Very shocked to see so many. I have a 2013 with 130k mi as our 3rd vehicle.
jds8254@reddit
I'm in the heart of road salt land, so anything pre-2010 is "rare," but there's a good condition AMC Eagle running around my area.
JSTootell@reddit
I see people driving 1970's vehicles to work every day. I guarantee there is one in the parking lot today at my work.
LastRebel66@reddit
Volkswagen Beetles
banananas_are_sick24@reddit
Quite a few people in my area drive around in tri-5 chevys
Sp00nD00d@reddit
It's only been pretty recently that seeing a Cavalier stopped being a daily occurrence. Those things will run like shit longer than most cars will run at all.
Viking2151@reddit
Commonly see, I always see GMT400s on the roads around here, 88 to 99, and about the same year OBS Ford trucks, Yeah GMT800s are all over the place still.
FordF150ChicagoFan@reddit
I still see GMT400 trucks and SUVs
bfrogsworstnightmare@reddit
Panther body sedans. I still see Town Cars and Grand Marquis’ every once in a while.
Tigermike10@reddit
I live in Minnesota so any daily driver will have rusted away at 10 years.
Revolutionary-Bus-99@reddit
I see allot of Saturn ions and drive one myself.
Practicality_Issue@reddit
Last gen Thunderbirds and Cougars where I’m at. Not a huge surprise since it’s a Panther that never saw much beyond Boomer duty - daily to work, covered parking most of its life, and gentle driving.
Potential_Stomach_10@reddit
Ford mf'in ranger !
Superb-Photograph529@reddit
Nissan 350Z
Bottlecollecter@reddit
90’s Chevy trucks.
dmv1985@reddit
I see my 1962 galaxie on the road everyday.
Legitimate-Web-5540@reddit
Still see 60s mustangs around often enough to submit them to the list.
MattTheMechan1c@reddit
GMT 800s by far.
Early 2000s Honda Civics and CRVs
First gen Toyota Highlander
Mk4 VW Golf’s
Vitriolic_III@reddit
Long live the GMT800! I have 3 in the driveway right now and you can't go out anywhere without seeing at least one, and they're 20+ years old.
WittyFix6553@reddit
Oh neat, I can answer this one with a technicality!
I see an old model T from the mid 20s pretty regularly… Because it belongs to the guy who lives a block down my street. I see it just about every weekend when it’s nice out.
scottwax@reddit
Camrys, Corollas, Accords and Civics from the 90s and even older. Cars don't rust here so as long as they're mechanically good people keep driving them.
JolyonWagg99@reddit
You name it, you’ll probably see it around the Central Valley.
Jack_ButterKnobbs@reddit
Knock it down to GMT400s, I see a lot of those still even when its not me driving mine. Michigan might have a skewed representation of older american cars though, Im not sure.
CyanShadow42@reddit
Probably 90s Subaru Legacy Wagons.
Good_Split_3749@reddit
I see my 2001 Accord every day :) and my neighbors 1991 F150
SubstantialKick2452@reddit
1997-2001 Toyota Camry
Odd-Candidate-9235@reddit
My dad’s 1996 Buick Roadmaster.
Realistic_Belt@reddit
Buicks. Park Avenues and Centurys.
colofarmer@reddit
One guy in town still daily drives a mid 50's Chevy pickup, but oldest commonly seen there are lots of squarebody Chevy's, fair number of 70's and lots od 80's 90's Ford pickups.
Beard_Hero@reddit
mid-late 80's F series, NA miatas, Fox body mustangs, are all common enough you'll usually see one oot n aboot. I own all three, so I'm a little more aware of other ones on the road.
nopester24@reddit
93 camry
meggerplz@reddit
Mercurys
Boilerguy82013@reddit
90's cars are extremely rare, early 2000's cars are pretty rare, even early 2010s are gone. Im in NY where the roads are more salt than asphalt in the winter.
HungryYeastStarter@reddit
I just saw a 1980s Mercedes 300D yesterday while driving my 1980s Mercedes 300D.
birdpix@reddit
80s Monte Carlo SS are alive and well in the Florida sunshine.
(As someone born in Warren that generally despises GM, it takes a lot to give them any credit)
K_Linkmaster@reddit
I love in the south so I see 50's cars frequently.
completely-random-na@reddit
Square bodies
Strange_Pop6376@reddit
80s Chevy trucks
troycalm@reddit
I just seen a 73 Chevy Vega 2 days ago.
elgorbochapo@reddit
There's still quite a few 8th gen impalas round here. Ones a cab that's been in service FOREVER. Thing must have over a million on it. Lots of 9th gens around, but those can be as new as 2016
Retiredpotato294@reddit
I live in a small town in Wyoming and somehow there are three Escort GT survivors being used as daily drivers and one Escort wagon.
Virtual_Win4076@reddit
20+ year old Camrys and Ford Crown Vics
Medical-Community-78@reddit
Yes lol. I drive my 2000 crown Vic almost daily, and work on it myself.
VW-MB-AMC@reddit
Where I live we still see W124 Mercedeses almost every day. They went out of production in 1995.
During the warm part of the year we see a lot of classic cars from the 1950s-1980s. I have a 1963 VW Beetle that I do most of my driving in (and also a few others). Our neighbor has a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air that he drives a lot. One of our friends mostly drives a Daf 66.
Important_Chef_4717@reddit
I’m still driving my W124 and our daughter drives my W202!
VW-MB-AMC@reddit
Those are both very good cars. We have a W123.
NoEmu5969@reddit
W202 are still everywhere too but hard to notice because they’re so plain.
Ok_Concept_4245@reddit
1980’s Toyota Trucks - I see 84-88 body style Very often.
travielane42069@reddit
GM G bodies, gmt400s, obs Ford trucks, 2nd gen Rams, 1st gen Dakotas
There's a TON of 30 year old cars where I'm at
exbike@reddit
My 1997 S-10 is still chugging along, and I see quite a few of them still out and about.
mmmmmyee@reddit
That and old ford rangers, a d every generation Toyota truck/tacoma that guatamala has hasn’t picked up yet
Top-Work-4425@reddit
I have a 02 with the 4.3 with nearly 300k that just won't die. It's been used and abused since new, still original engine/trans.
ConsiderationNearby7@reddit
I see 80s era Toyota Landcruisers all the time.
LankyNihilist@reddit
Early Ford super duty Cat eye Silverado
seeking_zero@reddit
A lot of 20+ year old 4Runners….
Downtown_Reward_6339@reddit
Panthers
METV2021@reddit
A guy near me drives an old beat up 57 chevy all the time.
PracticableSolution@reddit
Old Altimas never die but they all get new black plastic bumper covers
InvertedEyechart11@reddit
First-gen Saturn SL sedans.
BonezOz@reddit
Here in Australia, there are still a lot of Holden Utes from the 70's on the road being used as dailies, along with 80's Ford and Holden Utes. I've also seen a surge in the number of 80 series Landcruisers.
Mags_LaFayette@reddit
Still see many late 90s and early 2000s Toyotas
liltuffie@reddit
My daily...93 Civic LX
poo-on-a-stick-@reddit
Land cruisers and hilux’s mostly.
Fryguy302@reddit
Crown Vics still roam the roads as daily drivers and are still on the road as taxis in some states.
42ElectricSundaes@reddit
Early 90’s Oldsmobile Cutlass
10_Ply_Big_Guy@reddit
Theres a lot of new edge mustangs still driving around in my area. That 4.6 will run forever
slartibartfast64@reddit
In rural areas there are still plenty of 70s & 80s Ford & Chevy pickups in regular use.
Not restored classic car show type examples, but just maintained/repaired working trucks.
kidskwid@reddit
Early 2000s ford rangers and late 90s/early 2000s civics.
Im also in a rust heavy area so 20ish years is kind of the max
Mediocre-Age-1729@reddit
I occasionally see older pickups and the big old boats like Cutlass, Grand Marquis, Buick Regal. And I'm not talking about classic cars or some pristine ride granny drove on Sundays. These look like they've lived 20 rough lives lol
ImFromTheDeeps@reddit
I still see sunfires and cavaliers from the 90s.
Madder_Than_Diogenes@reddit
Volvo 240s.
Willing_Sink_3623@reddit
mid 80's g bodies are still thriving in my rust belt town. some are mint, some are well worn, some wear the faded glory of a chester the cheetah livery, but the fact that worthless hunk of metal still gets depended on 40 years later is a testament to simplicity/low stress and american manufacturing.
Old-guy64@reddit
Square face Ford fckn Ranger.
ou2mame@reddit
I'm in long Island. I don't see many cars over 15 years old anymore. My car is always the oldest card wherever I go unless it's a car show. I drive an 87 Mercedes 300d.
reesesbigcup@reddit
1997-2001 Camry. I had a 97 years ago. still see many driving around, almost all in that same beige colar as mine was
RupturePharms@reddit
Bug. The real ones, not the modern 'Beetle'.
wannagetcock2@reddit
As a purveyor of older vehicles, I drive a 91 BMW 325ix as my daily, 93 GMC Sierra, 87 BMW 325, 71 Harley FLHP, 69 Harley FLH, and those are here in Alaska. There is a lot of old iron that comes out during the summer months up here, guy down the street has a 38 Ford with a built flathead that his dad bought new. Rust is very minimal on the majority of vehicles up here as we don't use salt on the roadways. There are a lot of 90s, 2000s, 2010s running up here on a daily basis!!
Heavy_Gap_5047@reddit
80s Ford Pickups/Bronco.
e90t@reddit
Pre lci E90/92 BMWs are still very common in LA
Winnipesaukee@reddit
I still see a few GM C/K Trucks on the road.
FederalExpressMan@reddit
F150s. Maybe it’s the law of large numbers but I see one from the 2000s every day.
Plenty-Sleep-3792@reddit
Saw BMW 2002 today!
Current_Theme7251@reddit
Early 2000s Toyota Camrys, es 330, accords, mid 2000s Prius, civics, crown Vic's and Early's 200s trucks such as f150s, tundra and Tacoma
jimmythefly@reddit
1990s Subarus (mostly Imprezas and occasional Forester). Plenty of older Land Cruisers around from all years. JDM Mitsubishi Delica vans from late 90s. XJ Jeeps. 1980s Chevy and Ford pickups. Toyota and Nissan trucks too.
Those are the broad categories, of course there are many more cars where I will see specific individuals driving an old car like my neighbors 1960s convertible that he drives all summer orthd bro with the restored '68 Chevy 4x4.
SquirrelNormal@reddit
First gen Mustangs, at least when the weather is halfway decent. I don't think I can go a day without seeing at least one.