What would be a good choice for a juggernaut/beater car?

Question

I live in an area where the roads are total c**p. The pavement is broken apart and it's pretty much dirt roads with chunks of asphalt here and there. Also, for some reason, tourists somehow find my road and race back and forth on it, even though it's only a one lane road. So between the tourists and the people who actually live on my road(all of whom drive with snowplows on year round), there's usually three or four accidents a week. My last set of neighbors, who lived next to me for three days, thought that their Mercedes-Benz was so wonderfully well built that it would last forever, even here. On day 2 of their stay, their car was T-boned and the cab was separated from the engine compartment. The guy driving the volvo semi with snowplow didn't even stop.

I'm looking for a car that you could drive over a herd of cattle with and still have enough speed to go through the farm house. I need a car that can take a beating. It doesn't have to be pretty, but it's gotta be an auto.

Answer 1

Mid to late seventies Chrysler, Imperial, Newport...etc.

5,800 pounds of Detoit steel, I ran one (Newport) in a Demolition Derby

it won,and it left the race under it's own power. No prob.

Answer 2

You need a truck... I would probably go with something like a Ford F-250 with a big diesel engine.

Answer 3

1980's era Chevy Impala/Caprice....that car will outlive you.

Answer 4

Chrysler Fifth Avenue.

Answer 5

Consider a Jeep Cherokee, those are rugged doggone things. They have a frame like a truck and rugged suspension. The engine has lots of torque.

OTHERWISE:

Sounds like you need a 1966 Chrysler with a 440 engine, airlift suspension, and BIG tires.

Those were built like a tank.

Or maybe a 1955 Buick? 5,000 pounds of steel.

Not many cares after 1980 seem to offer what you need. They started making them lighter and smaller.

Answer 6

Look for a 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham with a 5.7, that will do the job for you.

Answer 7

A 95-96 Chevrolet Impala SS has plenty of power (5.7L V8 Corvette engine) and is a big solid car.  My father had a 95 model and went at it with a semi.  Was side-swiped by one on the highway and just had minor body damage.  It's still retaining some value.  A 95 model is still going for about $8K.  Not sure if that's in your price range but it's a fast, roomy car.