yeah, the best way to have a reliable car is to not modify it. i daily drive this VW and it's stock, but has some silly aftermarket exhaust and no cat, but that's it. it gets 28 mpg driving normaly, 27 when i floor it a lot, and boy is it wierd to drive. but it's stock and reliable, starts every morning, doesn't leak much of anything.
most of all- it's boring.
but that's why i'm fixin the quest.