Well, we’ve reached the end of another week, and this week, I’m just going to keep things simple. We’re doing a runoff of the week’s winners – with the scenario that whatever car you pick, it has to be the only car you drive for an entire year. Sound like fun?
First we need our fourth contender, and it was no contest: the Mustang won in a landslide. From the sounds of it, it’s not because you all loved it, but because the Genesis redefined the term “sketchy.” I guess we’ll see how that Mustang does against the rest of the week’s winners.
For me, it would be the Mustang without a second thought. The only old Genesis I’m interested in involves Steve Hackett. And I actually like the New Edge Mustangs. They pay homage to earlier models without being heavy-handed on the retro look like their successor.
Now then: when considering today’s choice, imagine that whatever car you choose, it has to be your sole form of transportation (barring occasional rental cars when you’re away from home) for an entire year. Reliability is going to be a concern, as is fuel cost, but it also has to be something you’re willing to drive for a year. I’ll go through what I consider to be the pros and cons of each one to help you decide.
1977 Toyota Corona
The case for it: Toyota makes some of the most reliable and durable cars on the road, and that was as true during the Carter years as it is now. It’s also kind of a cool car, in a dowdy ’70s kind of way. Running costs should be cheap, too.
The case against it: No air conditioning and only a basic AM/FM radio might make for a dull, uncomfortable year. And you won’t get anywhere very quickly, either. Safety equipment has come a long way since 1977, as well.
2004 Mitsubishi Galant GTS
The case for it: It’s a nice, reliable, relatively modern car that anybody could jump into and drive without worry. It’s also rare enough that you won’t see ten more in every parking lot. And with as much power as it has, it could be kind of fun to drive.
The case against it: Nothing, really. It’s perfectly fine. It’s just a bit dull.
1994 Mazda B4000
The case for it: Old pickup trucks are incredibly useful things, especially 4WD ones. The ladder rack may be helpful, or it may just be in the way, but I’m not making any rule that says you can’t take it off. This should be a pretty reliable truck, too.
The case against it: It’s probably not a very smooth or comfortable ride. I think you’d get tired of driving this one about six months in. I think you’d get tired of fueling it, too; the 4.0 Cologne V6 is a reliable engine, but efficient it isn’t.
2001 Ford Mustang GT
The case for it: I mean, it’s a Mustang. It’s fun, more or less reliable, and practical enough for an everyday car. And this one seems to be in pretty good condition. It has a good stereo, and the air conditioning works. You could do a lot worse.
The case against it: Since it’s a V8, the fuel economy won’t be great. And it will be terrible in the snow, if you live somewhere where that’s a problem.
A year with a car really isn’t that long. I daily drove my green Chevy pickup for a year, commuting into downtown Portland in stop-and-go traffic. It wasn’t fun, but I did it. And many years before that, I made it almost a year in a ’78 Plymouth Volare that I bought for $175. My point is that you can drive almost anything for a year, so you could pick the one you think would be the most fun. Or the most practical. Or whatever. What do you think?
I’ll take the Mazda. No, really – I genuinely want to buy this truck.
I am puzzled as to why Mark describes this thing as “beat up” in the poll. The photos show torn driver’s seat upholstery, one mismatched door, and a few scratches. The photos don’t show rust, missing bits, major interior wear/damage (aside from the driver’s seat), or anything to suggest this truck has severe mechanical problems. This thing is in very good condition for a 32 year old work truck. It is also a nicely specced (manual transmission, 6 cylinder, and 4wd) and has a clear title. Assuming seller isn’t hiding anything this is a great deal. I would almost certainly buy this truck if it weren’t 2,905 miles away.
Big block Galant for me.
It is perfectly cromulent for the half the year that destroys cars in the salt/rust/snow belt.
Then you just have a boring car for the rest of the year where conditions aren’t actively ruining the vehicle.
The Galant is the obvious right choice. The Mustang is the second best choice. The Mazda I can troubleshoot and fix with my eyes closed, so it is a personal easy choice. But my heart said Corona, and I’m going with my heart this time around.
I debated putting roof racks on the Gallant, but that would still limit where I can go. So I have to go with the Rang.. I mean B4000. The ladder racks would hold my kayaks April thru October and 28″ of snow from 2 weeks ago is still fresh in my mind. I already have 200k miles in seat time of a 5 speed 93 Ranger so I think I can do another year.
I was sure the Corona was catnip for this crowd. Well, it was for me.
Assuming that I don’t keep the car after a year I will take the Mustang. If I got to keep the car, I would suffer through the Mazda PU for a year to have a useful beater.
The Galant is the logical pick – and not just for a year.
Mustang is an easy choice for me, least boring choice to deal with for a year imo.
Gallant wins this one for a year of commutes and errands. It’s modernish, is okay on gas, comfortable enough, safe enough, could be fun with that power and handling, has a useful radio and has A/C. It would do okay in the mountains and if it snows, since it’s FWD I could either throw some chains on it or just take one of the other cars. I like the truck but as useful as it would be on snow days, it probably would not be as much fun, forgiving or efficient every other day.
This SHOULD be easy for me. My daily driving now is split between a 93 Ranger and a 01 Mustang. But they’re both manuals and I like to row my own. So, I’ll take a year in the Corona. Maybe it will help me appreciate modern conveniences?
Dang, it I thought the B4000 was an auto. I may need to re-think this!
I wanted to be all-in on the SN95, but I do live in a snow state and there would be at least 4 months where driving it would be dicey. The Galant is a modern if a bit frumpy car that you can drive in any weather. If you keep up on it to you could probably sell it in a year for just a bit under what you paid. I don’t want to spend a year paying to feed the Ranger and I’ll bet the fun novelty of having the old Corona as a DD will wear itself out in well under 12 months.
If we were talking about weekend cars I would definitely go with the Mustang with the Corona as a close 2nd choice.
It doesn’t snow THAT much here (Kansas), but I split daily driving between a 93 ranger (2WD) and a 01 Mustang. I have no problem with driving either all winter. But, I’m old and back then, that was all we had! I put 350 lbs of sand in the trunk/bed Nov 1st, and take it out April 1st.
Half the field would be too boring to stomach (I am looking at you Galant and Corona), credit to the Corona for being an oddball, but its looks don’t do much for me. I don’t really want to daily a single cab truck although that is definitely a contender if I installed a topper or tonneau. As they sit I think the only logical option is the Mustang!
Although, looking back at the week I think I would actually pick the Daewoo again, great paint color.
Galant was a salvage title… that bit was left out of this summary.
A salvage title Galant is still handle better than any stock Fox-body.
As I mentioned the first time the Mitsu appeared, it is a salvage title and has a weird air-freshener in it. 99% chance it is flood damaged. Good luck with the electrical gremlins, those of you voting for it!
The Galant is the most logical choice, so I’ll have the Mustang.
So the Goofus then.
For I cannot
Choose any other vehicle
but the Galant. 😉
(it’s a clean machine)
Gimme the Mazda. I don’t need to transport a bunch if kids anymore, and the best would be useful. My commute is pretty short, so the fuel economy isn’t a deal breaker for me.
I’d buy the Galant – and give it to my husband.
Of the four the Stang would be the least painful.
What I really want for a year is the Daewoo wagon that didn’t make the cut.
The Galant is the best one here, but I’d need a pickup now and then, and probably 4 wheel drive, too, so the Mazda has to be the choice.
I’m springing for the Corona. With the 20R under the hood, most of the oily bits are at least famliiar as I already have another old Yota with no air and a basic radio. We’ll get along fine, slowly, and with modest expectations of each other.
If it were just me it’d be the Corona absolutely hands down, abysmal lack of safety features notwithstanding. However, I have seven cats that I have to take to the vet on the reg, as some of them have medical conditions and sometimes I have to take more than one cat, that is, in more than one carrier, and also I still haven’t quite adjusted to the fact that my kids have grown up, started careers, and moved out so I no longer have chauffeuring duties for them & their friends, lol. So the Galant it is, with its four doors, plus it gives opportunities for jokes about Goofus and Gallant 🙂
Galant for the sensible choice, air condt and likely reliable drives to work and back 30min each way.
I wanted to vote Toyota real bad but no air in Ohio summer is kind of a deal breaker at my age. Could not care less about a radio but this old man needs air.
As someone who dailied a very similar Mustang for about a decade, it’s a great choice, barring heavy snow areas – though I’d drive mine in everything but ice.
An annoying issue that’s likely coming on this one is a need to replace the intake when the lip of the plastic coolant outlet breaks off due to age. It’s molded in unlike some other cars, so the entire thing has to be swapped out. Aftermarket ones have that outlet made of aluminum fortunately so you only have to do it once, but jeeze.
Heart says Toyota. Head says Mitsubishi.
Going with my head. If this is going to replace my Maverick pickup, the big V6 has the grunt to tow my utility trailer when I need to haul stuff. And I drive 30k miles a year, so I need something rock-solid reliable and comfortable.
I’d actually enjoy a year galumphing about in the Galant.
…I’d need to seriously rustproof it, but screw it, I’ll drive that Corona for a year.