I realize Y2K didnt really amount to anything, but what car would you
like to be in if a disaster scenario was unfolding and you had to
travel across the country with few possessions and needed reliable
transportation?

The car would have to be

-dependable
-solid engine and transmission
-easy to repair if something did go wrong

On the same note, what spare parts would you keep in your car that you
might want to have on hand? replacement thermostat, battery, spark
plugs, oil filter, oil, transmission fluid, water?

I had an 88 crown vic with a 5.0L that seemed to want to run forever,
until I realized the cooling system was terribly corroded and turned
green coolant brown even after having the system flushed. But it would
run and run and if it overheated it would just chug and stall, and
start right back up a few minutes later so you could drive it another
mile. Then two or three freeze plugs went out and I gave up.