# What is the best automobile to have post-apocalypse? (think Mad Max or zombie apocalypse) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2023, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162 "2023-12-06T08:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/41 "2023-12-06T19:02:07Z")
Just the amount of firewood needed over a year of subsistence living would mean serious issues without a mode of transport. Indigenous subsistence folk moved camp often, not only because of depleting the local wildlife / slash n’ burn plots for food, but because there was no pickable firewood left within a realistic foraging range anymore. Those people had the space to do it, but the Apocalypse has much higher population densities, even after the initial die-off. A hundred other subsistence tasks would be greatly facilitated by having a set of wheels for a period. Imagine carrying barrels, bricks, sheet metal, sacks of grain etc. etc. over substantial distances on foot, while being subject to robbery. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/42 "2023-12-06T20:29:33Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > A hundred other subsistence tasks would be greatly facilitated by having a set of wheels for a period. Imagine carrying barrels, bricks, sheet metal, sacks of grain etc. etc. over substantial distances on foot, while being subject to robbery. If I have to build, I’m pretty much screwed anyway. Either I can find an unoccupied house still standing, or I make my way into the Appalachians where I know the locations of more than a few caves in heavily forested areas with nearby water sources. Caves have the advantage of not needing a lot of heating: get a decent distance inside, and in the VA/WV area, they’re 55° year-round, which reduces the quantity of firewood needed to feel warm. I’d need to have a gun or a bow, and get good enough with it to be able to start shooting deer before I starved, though. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/43 "2023-12-06T21:07:52Z")
I’ve never had gas go bad on me. I think that’s a scare tactic, for what reason, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/44 "2023-12-06T21:08:35Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > I’m not fighting the hypothetical. Sooner or later fuel will go bad and we’ll all be walking but in the meantime I’ll drive where I can for as long as I can. Agree. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/45 "2023-12-06T21:13:46Z")
Leave gas in a carbureted engine for a couple years, especially ethanol added, and let me know. I find it’s easier to just throw the carb away and get another on Ebay. Another vote for bikes or quadrupeds, although if my solar array is still working, an e-bike or small EV would be awfully handy ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/46 "2023-12-06T21:19:21Z")
Guess the longest I’ve gone is a year or a year and a half. Never been a problem on a carbureted engine. Starts right up. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/47 "2023-12-06T21:25:28Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > if my solar array is still working, an e-bike A e-bike, particularly if it’s one of the rugged cargo bikes, would be ideal. You could charge the battery in many different ways, and it gives you enough range to make some decent scavenging runs in your local area, with enough cargo capacity to be useful. And if the battery runs down, you still have the option to just ride it like a normal bike. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/48 "2023-12-06T21:28:53Z")
We had a family member who had left their car in a garage un-driven for years (3+). Wheels were all flat, covered in dust, battery dead. We called a tow truck to have it towed but the way the driveway and alley were arranged the tow truck could not get in there at all. So, the guy used a portable battery and connected it to the car. I said no way was that thing gonna start. He turned the ignition and it started right away. I am not saying the car was in any kind of condition for good operation (tires obviously but old oil and gas and whatever else) but still…it started and was sufficient to drive it 100 feet to the tow truck. ---
**Author:** ![EnolaStraight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/49 "2023-12-06T21:56:05Z")
A Ford F-250 pickup with the 7.3 liter IDI Diesel from International Harvester/Navistar. This engine can use ANYTHING as fuel…used deep-fryer grease, old Automatic Transmission Fluid, charcoal lighter fluid, etc…and the robust suspension is better than the basic setup on the F-150. Besides, the Ford Pickup has literally been the world’s best selling motor vehicle for over a quarter of a century, so you won’t have a hard time finding spare parts. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/50 "2023-12-06T22:35:15Z")
As @Tride mentioned, I’ve fought way too much varnishing in carbs that sat a year or two to not have nightmares about it. Ethanol gas seems to be worse, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/51 "2023-12-06T22:53:28Z")
Everything but the tires on a bike will last for a very, very long time, and even two or three so you can cannibalize for parts will be a lot cheaper than any motor vehicle. You’d want a good supply of spare tires/tubes on hand when the Apocalypse happened, though. When the tires do eventually run out, I think I’d probably try wrapping the rims in a bunch of rope. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/52 "2023-12-06T23:44:13Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > One of the primary characteristics of an apocalypse is a drastic population reduction, so until stored parts becomes unviable bicycles will be able to run. I guess the first thing to go will be tires, since I know rubber eventually degrades. Having owned bicycles that I have performed less than the minimal required maintenance on, I would expect that a bicycle, tires, chains and all, would long, long outlast me in a world full of zombie hordes. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2023, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/53 "2023-12-06T23:48:31Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Model T? That was my first thought. It was specifically designed for the sort of conditions one would face after the apocalypse. And in addition to all the other things you mentioned, it was designed to be cranked by hand, so you will never have to worry about finding a replacement battery. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/54 "2023-12-07T00:05:25Z")
Missed the edit window, but for something a _little_ more modern, how about a Russian UAZ truck? They actually have a lot of the attributes of the Model T – designed to operate in remote parts of Russia on bad roads, rugged, simple to repair, and… a hand crank. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FFJ-3evD2XM/hqdefault.jpg "MotorWeek | Retro Review: '94 Russian UAZ Sport Utility and Light truck") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFJ-3evD2XM) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/55 "2023-12-07T00:05:58Z")
I’ll just quote my earlier answer from a similar thread from 2 years ago, although it asked about EVs for a PA scenario: > [@EV and the apocalypse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ev-and-the-apocalypse/953072/30): > > Since we’ve already more or less gone over the numbers for the answer in regards to _powering_ said EV for an apocalypse, I wanted to have fun by discussing some of the other merits or lack thereof for EV in an apocalypse. Because when I was reading the thread, I kept wondering _which_ apocalypse to plan for. In my mind, there are really only two, with an important sub-category for a third. > > 1. Low population apocalypse, best example, the Stand. > Result? - ICE wins. Here, there’s almost no one left (99.7% fatality). But almost everyTHING is left. So, yeah, no grid or power generation available, but all the fuel and part you can scrounge. Sure, the fuel will degrade over time, but you can do all the prep you want ahead of time in terms of stabilization or going to military facilities with long term storage options. They’re all open. Plus, you don’t really need to worry about a nomadic life. Pick a place and fort up - unless you’re doing the go out and look for survivors, at which point, well, if one vehicle breaks down, you’re spoiled for choice on the next. > 2. High population apocalypse, which is most for varying values of ‘high’. Here, IMHO, EV is very competitive, and has one big advantage over ICE as well. Here, your concern is do other survivors value what you have enough to take it from you? Any functional vehicle is going to be a possible target, so fuel type is a wash. Assuming you get your hands on your parts early enough, you at least won’t be forced to fight or compete with other people for fuel supplies, which will likely be a primary target in such circumstances. While everyone is fighting over the gas stations, you can keep your distance and concentrate on staying safe. An additional perk, if you disable the artificial engine noises (if any depending on your vehicle) you’ll also be at least somewhat less likely to draw attention than the noise of an ICE. > 3. Zombie apocalypse - A big subcategory which has some of both of the above categories. In a ZA, I’d go with EV, almost certainly some variant of a E-bike. Here, you have the low population of survivors (so if you need supplies, you can get them almost anywhere), but the concerns about being attacked are much higher. Any sort of vehicle noise is likely to bring down the hordes, so being able to ride your bike quietly is going to be a big advantage, but with the electric motor option being a big help for escape if you do draw notice. Sure you can’t transport nearly as much, but safety first when you’ve got a full post-life world to scavenge! > > Plus, a E-bike has a huge advantage in any scenario (1 & 3) where there there is likely congestion on the roads and other transportation networks - you can thread between vehicles or on the shoulder more easily, or even cross rivers / mountains on a railroad crossing/bridge/shoulder that would otherwise be impassible in a larger vehicle. > > Honestly though, this is all for the first few years tops of any sort of Apocalypse. Unless you have serious mechanical skills and get very lucky, equipment is going to fail from age, wear and weather, no matter what sort. In terms of medium to long term, it’s going to be shoe leather or horse. Fuel breaks down, and it’s very unlikely that anyone is going to be growing enough spare for biofuel options (for diesel or military grade multifuel). Given a few years of weather, transportation, accidents and the like the photovoltaic options are going to seriously degrade, if the batteries themselves don’t fail first. One additional concern I’d mention with horses, is that while they are to a degree fuel independent, self-repairing and replicating, that they may be a direct competitor with you depending on the type of apocalypse. If you’re in any sort of post biochem/nuclear Apoc, you’re now needing to vastly increase your contaminant free water, hoping that your horse doesn’t graze on something toxic/contaminated because it doesn’t know any better, and doesn’t make any extra noises or smells that attracts zombies. In terms of likely --long term-- options, I’ll stick to a bike as I personally lack the skills to locate, train and support a horse. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/56 "2023-12-07T00:11:51Z")
Lamborghini Countach. In New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/57 "2023-12-07T00:29:46Z")
I’d maybe add another category of apocalypse: Infrastructure-destruction apocalypse. If all of the big cities are nuked, then it’s going to be a lot harder to find replacement cars or car parts. Especially since the places that aren’t nuked are also going to be the places that have the most survivors, who are jealously guarding their own property. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/58 "2023-12-07T00:46:17Z")
Maybe a good second hand 1980 Lada Riva 1200. Or a Trabant P50. The Damnation Alley thingie would be ideal, but I’m still PTSD’ing over dude getting eaten by giant post-apocalyptic mutant flesh-eating cockroaches to entertain the idea much further. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/59 "2023-12-07T00:55:31Z")
That’s fair @Chronos - in the prior thread, and in this one, I am mostly trying to make the point that a PA has a very wide variety of situations, each of which implies totally different vehicular needs - at least in the short term. Long term, yeah, you’re pretty much screwed no matter what. If I was to redo the prior post from scratch, I’d probably do it as High vs Low _Scarcity_ rather than population, although there’s normally a huge correlation between them. In most scarcity situations, you want to avoid attention and/or competition than anything else. If there’s relative abundance though (most but not all zombie situations, or the Stand as I mentioned) then you pick and choose whatever you want for immediate needs (granting the likelyhood of congested roads preventing easy travel especially in urban environments). And again with zombies, a PA implies one of the “world of the dead” scenarios where your first and probably last priority is how not to be noticed by the dead. 🧟 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162/60 "2023-12-07T01:06:21Z")
I’d go with a railroad handcar. The rail lines will be usable by those vehicles for a long time until survivors or zombies intentionally disassemble them. Even then there are so many miles of track laid that small breaks can be repaired. You can’t go just anywhere, but you can get where you can go fast and carry a lot with you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-automobile-to-have-post-apocalypse-think-mad-max-or-zombie-apocalypse/994162.md?page=4)