Stuff that lasts

[cadzag72]

Sam's recent MTD thread got me thinking, what products are out there nowadays that do hold up over time? I have plenty of old items that impress me still. My first car, a 72 Dodge van, has 441,000 miles on it. My Cubs go without saying. My '56 JD 420 is a tough old buzzard. My father's '90 Dodge Cummins pickup soldiers on without fail despite tremendous abuse early in its life. What about new stuff?

2 vehicles come to mind for me. My '06 wrangler I bought new, and it still fires up without hesitation, hasn't thrown a check engine code, and is pushing 160,000 miles. No oil leaks, no rusted out parts, original exhaust, etc.

The other one is a work truck, an f-150 (2002 I believe). It's still in use pushing 200,000, and has never been offline for more than an oil change. ( compare that with our 2 GM work trucks, an 88 that went out on the flatbed every other week and got scrapped at 42,000 miles and the 2010 that had parts falling off before it hit 10,000!) Only real wear that shows on it is rotted rocker panels and a ripped seat.
Apart from that, I can't think of much that hasn't hit 10 years without becoming a headache. Anyone else have things that were built to last within the last decade?

[J-Mech]

I own a fortune in Snap-On tools. My grandkids will be able to use them, assuming the next generation takes as good of care of them as I do.
On the same subject, I have been overly impressed with my Milwaukee tools too.

I've been pretty happy with cell phones over the last couple years. I haven't had a bad one is quite a while. I have a Galaxy 6 right now. My wife has all kinds of issues with here Galaxy 7, but my 6 works perfectly.

I think Stihl and Husqvarna have both proven to be equipment that lasts. I only own one Stihl, but know several people with both brands that have ran for years with no issues.


On the older stuff.... I agree. They don't build things like they used to. I just sold my 1990 Dodge D250 diesel truck. 500,000 miles on the original motor with the only "engine" parts that got replaced were the injection pump at 250K and it had the "killer dowel pin" fall out and get fixed before 200K. Other than that, it was all just standard wear items and parts that just wear out. It was hard to sell the ol' girl. I had had her for nearly 15 years and put over half the miles on it she had. But.... I got me a 1991 Chevy K2500 for a steal that is in fantastic shape. When I get done fixing up a few more things I'll have to post up some pics.

Ian, as a "veteran" mechanic, I have to say that on your Ford..... well.... I guess every now and again even Ford can make a good one. LMFAO!

[Tacosteelersman]

Don't laugh, I have had great luck with two 1995 Ford Aspires. Junk cars but run like a Swiss time piece. Over 200,000 on both with no work besides maintence. Also a 1995 Tacoma that went 300,000.

Harman pellet stove that works flawlessly.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Tacosteelersman

Don't laugh, I have had great luck with two 1995 Ford Aspires.

I (we) had one of those in the late 90's. WHAT A PIECE OF SH!T!!! I was never as happy to get rid of a car as when that thing went. It was my ex-wife's first car. I hated that thing.

[Terry C]

Cars in general have improved. They stop better, get better mileage,and last longer than they used to. I own three Jeep GCherokees that have the straight six and two have over 300k. I quit driving the one cause the body started falling apart. If you had 100k on a car from the 70s like when Cubs were made, it would be junk.
Don't know why people put up with mowers that are such junk now. I'm sure the expensive Deeres are good but price reflects that.

[Dirty Steve]

Wrenches, firearms, and older Cub Cadets. With a little care they will outlast us.

[johncub7172]

I can't say I agree 100% on the "new" car opinion.

Everyone gawks at me that I still run a 1982 F-100. Well, to the very best of my knowledge, all this truck ever needed was a new water pump, aside from the normal things!! I would not even think twice, about driving my F-100 anywhere in the U.S.A with just a new set of rubber and brakes. No joke. The darn truck is built so simple, that I can preform most of any repairs.

I always get a kick out of seeing new cars with a headlight out, or tail light out! Amazing! Not in the 34+ years have I had to replace any headlamp or tail light on my F-100!

These new cars, the're going to try to make their money back before it's junk in less than ten years, or exactly when that payment book is up. Especially on body panels, and all that fancy crap not covered on the manufacture's warrenty. Never amI going to pay 40 - 50K on something just to run to work in this "rust belt"! Rather have a 70' Chevy 4X4 250 from the west, and not drive it in the winter.

But, on the other hand, those Ford A.O.D transmissions,.... well lets just say I would not hit a dead dog in the ass with one of those! My '02 Chevy Blazer is running just fine at 166k ! Everything works as should, and passes e-check!

The old Homelite saws of the 60's and 70's were pretty bad a** too!

[john hall]

2001 550 Kawasaki Mule--now that is a quality machine. It has burnt up 2 mufflers and when the original starter went out I replaced it a couple times with Chinese imports. there is no telling how many thousands of times it has been cranked. I have around 1,850 hours on it. I change oil once a year and have never added a drop. This is a farm machine--it goes where I want, when I want.

Kymco 4 wheelers, fantastic equipment--my son has had a 50, 90 and now 150. Minor issue with the auto choke on the 50. Otherwise fantastic machines. It would be hard to justify twice the money for a major adult sized machine unless you just want to beat the crap out of it.

[Cub Cadet 123]

Unfortunately, we live in a time when people are looking for "cheap" stuff and often are not willing to pay for quality items, from shoes to tractors, cars to towels, paint to tires, furniture to building materials. People are wanting inexpensive things and lots of them! The market is responding to this to help create a "throw away" society by producing inexpensive goods that are cheaply made and don't last very long. In 2008, my brand new Chevy Silverado was rusting out within 2 weeks of me taking possession of it and the tires on it began peeling on the sides to the point that they got slow leaks. My '95 Silverado had Michelin XCX's on them from Sears and lasted over 210,000 miles on the tires. I sold them after 74,000 miles on them and my brother used them for another 146,000 or so.

Everybody wants something for nothing. The Chinese had that horrible drywall that they shipped over here and sold at low prices only to find out that their materials they used to make it was hazardous. It's the sign of the times, but that doesn't make it right. I hate to rant, but even our yutes of today do not value the traditions of spending time with their grandparents. Of course that is somewhat of a hasty generalization, but I believe it to be true to a large extent of this generation and the last one, too!

Cub Cadet 123

[Sam Mac]

I can't complain, my old Craftsman tools still work (some are 55 years old), my pre 96 Cubs are bullet proof, the BX2660 runs great, I love my Toyota Tacoma and the wife's Subaru and my Stihl stuff (my O15 dated 1975 still runs like new) always works when I need it. I don't abuse my stuff and I do maintain it. The wife did have a flat tire last year. I think the 4" long screw stuck in it may have caused the problem, honey what is this light on the dash for?

I'm older than dirt and still kicking, maybe not as good as 40 years ago but everything still works. LMAO.