Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Classic Cars That Are Shockingly Reliable


"1. Toyota Land Cruiser (1990–1997 J80 Series):
    Unstoppable durability: The 80-Series Land Cruiser is perhaps the most durable and dependable classic vehicle for sale at any price.
Owners routinely see 300,000+ miles on these trucks without major issues. While it's no sports car, the Land Cruiser's mission is clear: conquer any terrain and run forever.

2. Volkswagen Beetle (Type 1)
    Simple & reliable by design: Keep up with basic maintenance and this humble Beetle "will get you where you want to go".
    DIY-friendly: An iconic manual ("How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive") empowered countless owners to rebuild and repair their Beetles themselves.

3. Ford Mustang (Good as Gold for 3 Decades 1965–1993)

    Every part available: The original Mustang is so well-documented that "every single part… can be found brand-new in the aftermarket", even entire body shells.
    Evolved reliability: Later Mustang generations overcame 1970s malaise; many 1980s "Fox-body" Mustangs now run modern crate engines good for 200,000 miles.

4. Jeep Cherokee (1984–2001 XJ)
    Engineered to last: The XJ Cherokee's rugged bones are "bulletproof", anchored by the legendary 4.0L inline-six engine.
    Huge support network: Decades of production mean vast forums and aftermarket support to solve any issue that'll arise.
    Simple & Solid: It's simple solid-axle 4×4 design and minimal electronics make it easy to repair, and many still tackle trails daily with six-figure mileage on the odometer.

5. BMW 3 Series (E30, 1984–1991)

    Proven over time: The BMW E30's once "space-age" design is now fully debugged; "all the bugs have long been worked out" over decades of use.
    Plentiful parts: Strong enthusiast demand means parts are plentiful and even interior trim can be sourced thanks to racing communities (americancollectors.com).

6. Mercedes-Benz W123 (1976–1985)
    Over-engineered excellence – The W123 is renowned as "one of the most over-engineered cars ever built", often still running strong at 400k+ miles.
    Built for the world: Equally at home cruising the Autobahn or crawling through the desert, these Mercs were designed to taxi people reliably across continents.
    Parts for decades: Mercedes still supplies parts for many W123 components, and a global fanbase keeps these diesel (and gasoline) classics on the road indefinitely.

7. Porsche 911 SC/Carrera (1978–1989)
    Low-stress performance: The late '70s–80s air-cooled 911s feature "under-stressed engines, rust-proofed bodies, and relatively simple electronics", making them the most trouble-free 911s to own.
    Built to drive, not sit: These 3.0L SC and 3.2L Carrera models can rack up high mileage when exercised regularly, with durable galvanized bodies resisting the rust that plagued earlier 911s.
...
The Porsche 911's mystique often comes with a reputation for finicky maintenance – but the 1978–1989 911 SC and Carrera 3.2 are notable exceptions.

8. Chevrolet Impala SS (1994–1996)
    Proven platform: Under the menacing body, the '94 -'96 Impala SS is essentially a police-grade Chevy Caprice, sharing its tough body-on-frame chassis and LT1 V8 with cop cars and taxis.
    Cheap, easy repairs: Parts are abundant and inexpensive; for example, a replacement transmission costs under $2,000 – pocket change compared to parts for European classics.
    Modern usability: Fuel-injected and built in the 1990s, it starts in any weather and runs with modern reliability, yet it's old-school enough to fix with basic tools.
The mid-90s Impala SS is a muscle sedan that's as dependable as they come. Chevy essentially took its workhorse Caprice (famed in fleets) and gave it a performance twist, meaning you get both brawn and reliability.

9. Chevrolet Corvette (C4–C6, 1984–2004)
    Sports car stamina: Later-generation Corvettes are "exceptionally reliable vehicles" that often exceed 100,000+ trouble-free miles without breaking all stock parts.
    Robust drivetrain: The Corvette's ubiquitous small-block V8 (LS-series in C5/C6) is famed for durability and simplicity, sometimes likened to taxicab reliability despite its high performance.
    Daily-driver friendly: Models from the late '80s through early 2000s have modern fuel injection and electronics that, aside from a few quirks (like the C4's quirky digital dash), prove very dependable long-term.

10. Datsun 280Z (1975–1978)
    Japanese sports car, reliable soul: The original 240Z earned fame for "the beauty of a Jaguar with much better reliability," and the later 280Z only improved on that.
    Tougher internals: The 280Z's engine and components were slightly beefed up from the 240Z, handling emissions add-ons and stress with ease once those are sorted.
    Racing longevity: These Z-cars are so robust that some are still competing in racing events into their sixth decade, a testament to their durable construction.
The Datsun 280Z blended vintage sports-car style with famously solid Japanese engineering. The earlier 240Z had already proven a sports car could be both exciting and dependable, and the fuel-injected 280Z refined that idea even further.

11. Plymouth Valiant (1960s–1970s)
    Slant-Six power: The Valiant's trusty 225 cid Slant-6 engine is legendary for running forever; it was nicknamed "the leaning tower of power" for its peculiar tilt and bulletproof nature.
    Uncomplicated mechanics: No frills here: carburetor, distributor, and a sturdy Torqueflite transmission. Simplicity = fewer things to break, and any competent mechanic (or amateur) can fix what does go wrong.

12. Ford Crown Victoria (1990s–2000s Panther Platform)

    Police-approved toughness: Built on the rugged Panther platform, the Crown Vic's body-on-frame construction and V8 powertrain can "take substantial abuse in stride" while keeping maintenance cheap.
    Fleet tested: Ubiquitous as police cruisers and taxis for decades, these cars routinely saw 200k+ hard miles; as civilian classics, they loaf through an easy life by comparison.
    Old-school simplicity: A stout 4.6L SOHC V8, simple 4-speed automatic, and minimal electronics make the Crown Vic relatively easy to service and very forgiving of neglect.
The Ford Crown Victoria—and its Panther-platform cousins, the Grand Marquis and Town Car—might be the toughest American sedans ever built.

13. Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA, 1990–1997)
    Reliable roadster: The Miata famously revived the idea of the classic British sports car "with the much-needed reliability baked in," earning praise for its long-term dependability.
    Simple and solid: A lightweight 1.6L/1.8L engine, manual gearbox, and minimal frills make the Miata mechanically straightforward; many engines last 200k+ miles with routine care.
    Daily fun, low cost: The Miata rates above average in reliability and has low ownership costs (low $400s annual maintenance), so you can enjoy spirited drives without worry.

14. Honda CR-X (1984–1991)
    Starts every time: Even decades later, a well-kept CR-X will "turn the key every morning and know that it'll get you back and forth to work" reliably.
    Honda bulletproofing: Lightweight and mechanically simple, the CR-X benefits from Honda's 1980s engineering excellence – engines known to run well past 150k miles and robust manuals that rarely fail.
    Efficient and fun: Besides reliability, it's also incredibly fuel-efficient and a blast to drive, making it a practical classic that doesn't need constant tinkering (unlike many '80s sporty cars).
Rust is the main threat, but mechanically, these cars are bulletproof. That's why clean examples are prized today—they deliver 80s charm, lively handling, and classic Honda dependability."


Monday, December 29, 2025

Windows for Internet of Things (IoT) on Raspberry Pi (also Windows for ARM)

Windows for IoT: Complete guide on features and uses (Mar, 2025):
    https://www.polimetro.com/en/Windows-for-IoT/
"Windows 10 IoT Core:
This edition is the lightest of the family Windows for IoT. It is optimized for devices with low consumption by small processors, like the Raspberry Pi. It only allows one application to run at a time, but maintains essential administration and security features."


An overview of Windows for IoT:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/product-family/windows-iot
"Windows for IoT comes in three editions.
Windows IoT Enterprise
A full version of Windows Enterprise with specialized features to create dedicated devices locked down to a specific set of applications and peripherals.
Windows Server IoT 2022
A full version of Windows Server 2022 that delivers enterprise manageability and security to IoT solutions.
Windows 10 IoT Core
The smallest member of the Windows 10 operating system family. While only running a single app, it still has the manageability and security expected from Windows 10."

Windows for IoT Documentation - Windows for IoT, formerly Windows Embedded, is a family of operating systems from Microsoft designed for use in embedded systems.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC download:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/download-windows-11-iot-enterprise-ltsc-eval
Minimum System Requirements for Windows IoT Enterprise:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/iot/iot-enterprise/Hardware/System_Requirements?tabs=Windows11LTSC
Download Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC ISO – Complete Guide:
    https://www.itechtics.com/windows-11-iot-enterprise-ltsc-iso/
"This is a 90-day evaluation ISO. You will need to purchase a license of Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC after the evaluation to keep running the system. Otherwise, the wallpaper will turn black and the system will restart every hour."
"Hardware TPM requirements are relaxed for LTSC."
"The bloatware that comes with a regular Windows 11 installation isn't available in LTSC."
    https://pureinfotech.com/download-windows-11-ltsc-iso-file/

An overview of Windows 10 IoT Core:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/iot-core/windows-iot-core
Suggested Prototype Boards:
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/iot-core/tutorials/quickstarter/prototypeboards
Windows 10 IoT Core Download (Jul, 2024):
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=53898
Windows 10 IoT Core for Raspberry Pi 2 / 3:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=53360
Setting up a Raspberry Pi (outdated instructions?):
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/iot-core/tutorials/rpi
Windows on Raspberry imager:  https://worproject.com/downloads
"Chances are that you're coming from an outdated tutorial, so it's recommended to follow this guide:"
    https://worproject.com/guides/how-to-install
"... Raspberry Pi 2 rev 1.2, 3, 4 or 400. (minimum RAM requirement is 1 GB, but it will generally result in poor performance, especially on boards older than Raspberry Pi 4)"
FAQ - Windows on Raspberry imager:  https://worproject.com/faq
Raspberry Pi Imager:  https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/
"Raspberry Pi Imager is the quick and easy way to install Raspberry Pi OS and other operating systems to a microSD card, ready to use with your Raspberry Pi."

Setting up a Raspberry Pi:
    https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-iotcore-docs/blob/main/windows-iotcore/tutorials/rpi.md

Windows Device Portal:
    https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-iotcore-docs/blob/main/windows-iotcore/manage-your-device/DevicePortal.md
"The Windows Device Portal (WDP) lets you configure and manage your device remotely over your local network."

Getting Started With Windows IoT Core on Raspberry Pi:
    https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/downloads/pdf/getting-started-with-windows-iot-on-raspberry-pi.pdf

Win10 IoT Core on the Raspberry Pi (Also: Visual Studio):
    https://raspberry-projects.com/pi/pi-operating-systems/windows-10-iot-core/win10-iot-core-on-the-raspberry-pi

Embedded Systems With Windows IoT Core on Raspberry Pi - This free online course will help you leverage Windows IoT Core's full potential to advance your Raspberry Pi projects:
    https://alison.com/course/embedded-systems-with-windows-iot-core-on-raspberry-pi

Windows 10 IoT Core for Adafruit SPI Touchscreen (Sep, 2025):
    https://projects-raspberry.com/windows-10-iot-core-for-adafruit-spi-touchscreen/

How to Use Raspberry Pi in Windows: A Complete Guide:
    https://mechatronicslab.net/raspberry-pi-in-windows/
"FAQs:
1. Can I use a Raspberry Pi as a secondary Windows PC?
Yes, by installing Windows IoT Core or using tools like RDP, you can access a Windows-like environment on Raspberry Pi.

2. Is running full Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi practical?
While it's possible, performance may be limited compared to traditional PCs. It's more suitable for experimentation than daily use.

3. Can I program the Raspberry Pi from Windows?
Yes, using tools like SSH, Visual Studio, or even Python IDEs on your Windows PC, you can easily program your Raspberry Pi remotely."

10 Cool Raspberry Pi + Windows 10 IoT Core Projects:

    https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/raspberry-pi-windows-10-iot-core-projects/
"If you want to run a huge variety of specific windows apps, then Windows 10 IoT is a good choice. If you want to build a DIY magic mirror or simple Python script, then Windows 10 IoT is overkill."
"Management of Windows 10 IoT is through the web, and you need a Windows 10 PC to even install it, so it is dependent on a Windows environment from the start."

RPI Windows 10 IoT Sample Project - Create Simple Hello World Application for Raspberry Pi (Visual Studio):
    https://www.roboticlab.eu/homelab/en/iot-open/getting_familiar_with_your_hardware_rtu_itmo_sut/raspberrypi_rpi/building_your_first_project_winiot

How to Install Windows on a Raspberry Pi:  https://pimylifeup.com/raspberry-pi-windows/
"Despite the support of ARM within Windows, getting it to run on a Pi has been no easy task. A team of talented developers had to program a UEFI firmware for the Pi to even get the operating system to boot."

How to Install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi:  https://raspberrytips.com/install-windows10-raspberry-pi/
"Microsoft is now working on an ARM version of the full Windows 10 system. Windows still doesn't officially support the Raspberry Pi, but with a few tools and a good tutorial, you can find a way to make it work on your device."
Note: Windows 11 is now available, the process is even simpler than the one explained in this tutorial. I highly recommend reading this other article if you are interested. 

How to Install Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 4:
    https://www.techbloat.com/how-to-install-windows-10-on-raspberry-pi-4.html
"Hardware Requirements:
    Raspberry Pi 4 (preferably with 4GB or 8GB RAM for better performance)
    MicroSD Card (at least 64GB capacity, Class 10 or UHS-1 for speed)
    Power Supply: 5V/3A USB-C power adapter
    Display: HDMI monitor or TV
    Input Devices: USB keyboard and mouse
    Optional: External USB drive or SSD for additional storage
Software Requirements:
    Windows 10 ARM64 Image: Community builds or custom images tailored for Raspberry Pi
    Balena Etcher: For flashing images to MicroSD cards
    Windows PC: For preparing the installation media
    Network Connection: Ethernet or Wi-Fi for updates and driver downloads
    Additional tools: Hardware drivers, possibly included in community images"

Run Windows 10 on Raspberry Pi 3: 
    https://www.electronics-lab.com/run-windows-10-raspberry-pi-3/
    https://github.com/WOA-Project/WoA-Installer-Rpi  (This has been discontinued, see below ...)
    https://github.com/WOA-Project/WOA-Deployer-Rpi (Since replaced by Deployer - below ...)
    https://github.com/SuperJMN/Deployer - install Windows on ARM into Raspberry Pi.
"Microsoft's lightweight Windows 10 IoT was initially designed for Raspberry Pi, but this installer allows the full Windows 10 ARM experience.

Sunday, December 28, 2025

PowerShell Alternatives for iPad / iOS

PowerShell Alternatives for iPad / iOS
https://alternativeto.net/software/powershell/?platform=ipad
"PowerShell is not available for iPad but there are a few alternatives with similar functionality. The best iPad alternative is Termix (https://alternativeto.net/software/termix/about/), which is free. 
If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to PowerShell and four of them are available for iPad so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. 
Other interesting iPad alternatives to PowerShell are:

There used to be a product called iPowershell, but it appears to have been withdrawn from the market.

Using Python on iOS:  https://docs.python.org/3/using/ios.html

Scripting App:  https://www.scripting.fun/en.html
  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scripting/id6479691128
  https://www.scripting.fun/doc_v2/guide/doc_v2/Quick%20Start

20 Useful Scripts and Automation Workflows for iPhone:
  https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/useful-iphone-scripts-automation-workflows/
Here are 20 useful shortcuts you can create:
  • Morning Routine Automation       Automatic Email Organization
  • Location-Based Reminders         Battery Saver Mode
  • Travel Time Estimation                Auto-Responder for Vacation
  • Automatic Text Replies                Automatic App Launcher
  • Expense Tracking                        Emergency Contact Notification
  • Custom Photo Editing                  Automatic Backup of Photos
  • Health and Fitness Tracker          Sleep Mode Activation
  • Meeting Preparation                     Automatic Focus Mode
  • Smart Home Control                     Home Security Check
  • Social Media Management           Personal Productivity Tracker

Check out this curated list of tools for iOS developers:
  https://github.com/ios-dev-tools/awesome-ios-dev-tools

Top 9 must have tools for IOS Developers in 2025:
  https://requestly.com/guides/top-9-must-have-tools-for-ios-developers-in-2025/

iOS App Development Tools – A Complete Guide:
  https://www.zazz.io/blog/ios-app-development-tools

11 Free iOS Development Tools Every Coder Needs:

  https://justtotaltech.com/free-ios-development-tools/

iOS Pathway - tutorials and more:  https://developer.apple.com/ios/get-started/


Friday, December 26, 2025

Raspberry Pi Weather Station

Collect and Display Weather Data with a Raspberry Pi:
  • Based on a Raspberry Pi, version 2 or later – like the Pi 3 with built-in Wi-Fi.
  • Astro Pi Sense HAT add-on board – for Raspberry Pi, Adafruit #2738, adafruit.com
    • use the Sense HAT to measure temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure
  • Temperature/humidity sensor (optional) – DHT22 type, Adafruit #385
"Weather Underground (WU) lets you set up your own station and upload your data for others to use; your data becomes part of the aggregate weather data, and you (and your neighbors) can view your station's data separately as well."
 
"The complete source code is available on Github.