The worst car I ever owned...

Well, the worst would have to be the 1986 Taurus. It came complete with a defective TFI ignition module which would cause the engine to suddenly stop running when the temperature in the engine compartment got too high. I can't express how exciting it is to suddenly stall in a busy intersection, have the damn rolling pile of crap towed to the dealer, and be told "we can't duplicate the problem". This was a particularly good one because Ford knew about the problem and covered it up for years.

The runner up would be the 1981 Subaru station wagon I got used. It was a GREAT little car, nothing but reliable until it reached 1000200 miles, when something in the exhaust system sucked motor oil up into the carburetor, blew it through the engine causing damae to the rings, the valves, and clogging the crap out of some little passages in the block which seemed to make the entire cycle repeat itself each time it was repaired. Now, I understood that these kinds of things can happen, so we put a new motor in it (easier than changing the starter motor, I know, i did both....). Again, everything was beautiful until I had 100K on THAT motor, when BANG, the same problem. Pattern? Planned obsolescence?

Honorable mention:
1971 Ford Maverick - It never failed, but it was so cheap that it didn't have a glove box - it came with a 4" plastic SHELF under the dash...

 

A 91 (i think) Ford Probe. It was a fun car to drive, got good mileage (around 35 MPG if I remember right) but it had loads of problems. The heater/ac fan went out on it after the first snowstorm. The fuel pump in the tank had to be replaced not long after I had it.

The windows wouldn't fit quite right and there was always a lot wind noise when driving down the road. And the rear hatch leaked (unbeknownst to me) and the spare tire wheel well filled up with water.

I was glad to see that car go.

 

I have not owned very many cars, and ironically my worst car ever is a 2001 Honda CRV.

First ever car was a 1975 Volvo. Sucked gas, but I couldn't kill it. It just keep going and going and going!

Second car was a 1995 Saturn SL1. I put over 200,000 miles on it with no issues. Drove it from the east coast to Alaska with all my world possessions, and then back again two years later. It finally developed a cracked head gasket and, since it had so many miles on it, I donated it to charity rather than fix it.

Third car was/is a 2002 Honda Civic. Great car, no complaints. 125,000 miles on it, no problems, still drive it. Plan to keep it forever.

Fourth car was/is 2001 Honda CRV. Perpetually overheats. Mechanics can find no problem with it. Fix would be under warranty, but since they never find the problem, they always charge us for the service visit. We have spent thousands of dollars trying to fix the problem that would be under warranty if they could figure it out. This is the car we will be dumping for our Prius.

 

I've had some real doozies in my time but the absolute worst one was a 1975 Chevy Camaro - standard tranmission. (Actually, it belonged to my ex. But I was there for all of these.) Car was a couple of months old when after backing out of the driveway, the transmission stuck in reverse. Did it again about six months later.

The electrical system was the worst though. There were times that the headlights would dim, for no discernable reason. One time, I stepped on the brakes and the headlights came on. I got told to quit messing with the lights - took some doing to convince ex that it was the car and not me.

A dozen times that POS just wouldn't start. One time we towed it into the dealer after it didn't start - again. Came back when they assured it was fixed. Ex asked the service manager to do a check ride with him. I waited at the dealership. Ex drove service manager out to the middle of nowhere, shut off the car, and tried to restart it. Funny - it didn't start. Service manager was pissed as this was the days before cell phones. It was a long walk to the nearest pay phone.

We traded the car in after eight months for a 72 Jeep Commando. We later saw the Camaro on the back of a tow truck - transmissions problem according to the driver.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(silentak1 @ May 9 2007, 02:27 PM) [snapback]438551[/snapback]</div>

That's weird, as one of the best vehicles I've ever owned, is our '93 Buick Regal. She gets 33 mpg on the highway. We've had her for 7 years now, and she has 190,000 miles on her.
We did have some issues the first year, which I pinpointed to a very dishonest service department at the dealership where we bought her. Once I nailed them to the wall, the problems stopped abruptly. We never use that service department now. I am a redhead, and I WILL let you know it, if you try to screw me over.

Worst car? it's so hard to narrow it down. I did have a Ford Escort for a very short time, as it blew a rod in the first month of ownership.
Worst car was a Pontiac. Loosest suspension and steering I've EVER encountered... It was a boat on the road, and steering it was a nightmare. I think I recall that the brakes were really iffy, too. It was a hand-me-down car.

 

1997 Audi A4 was my worst car. That is hard to say because I loved the look, feel of the car and was proud as hell to drive it with the Quattro in the winter. However, at 400 miles my power steering went out. Took Audi almost 6 weeks to get a part in so during that time I had to drive some cheap Ford rental car. I ended up geting Audi to pay for 1 month car payment as why should I pay when I'm waiting on your part under warranty. Then at 20K blue smoke started pouring out the tail pipe when I started the car each time. Then at 28K the clutch was giving out and sticking all the way down and I would have to pull it up with my foot. I reported the issue just before the 3 year date of when I bought it but Audi said they had me down for 2 days prior so my warranty was not valid. That was after keeping the car for a month to "test" the issue. Then they said it would be $1,800 to fix. I notice the clutch would only stick when the car warmed up so I drove it over to a BMW dealer and let the car sit for a while before I had them test drive it for trade in. I guess it never stuck so they gave me good cash for it and I walked out with a 325I.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(endoildependency @ Oct 8 2005, 12:31 AM) [snapback]138125[/snapback]</div>

 

Sigh....I hate to admit it, 1981 Dodge Aries K. My friends in high school called me Captain K car (yelled it like captain caveman). Yeah, back to therapy I go.

 

A 1987 Ford Escort, which has since caused an extreme, possibly irrational prejudice against anything Ford Motor Company has ever produced. God, I hated that car - when I actually had it in my possession. It was my first car, my parents bought it for me used, and it made it about 50,000 miles before the transmission went - the first time. It proceeded to need transmission work every 10k after that, pretty much like clockwork. Timing belts? Constantly needed replacing. It was broken in to after it failed me on the side of the road one night; oh, how I wish they had stolen the car (guess they couldn't have gotten far with it stuck in just first gear, though), not just my CDs and a couple of outfits. The last 6 months I had the car, it was in the shop for 4 out of the 6 months. It was replaced by my parent's old Buick Electra land barge...I mean, stationwagon. Leaked oil a little but other than that, it was great, and it would FLY. I got my first speeding ticket in that monster.

I've only had 3 other cars besides those - a 94 Mazda 626, which was a great car; a 2000 Camry that never gave me a day's trouble and just sold with 180,000 miles on it to a neighbor of mine; and the Prius, which I bought used a couple of months ago and absolutely love.

 

well i have had many cars and yes for a few years, i did have a used car resale business of sorts. went thru 30-40 cars in 3 years. so a lot i barely remember, others i didnt have long enough to evaluate. but a few i remember, a mecury monarch about 1978 i believe. pos. had issues with heat from manifold burning up starters. problem was, the starter was a major pita to replace.

another joke was a the chevy cavilier. i was lucky enough to have gone thru 4 of them and gotten rid of them and actually made some money on them.

i also have to mention the chevy s-10 pickup. one year had an issue where oil leakage would cause the clutch to be worn out causing major repair bill because the engine had to be pulled to replace the clutch and it was a real bear of a job. after my 2nd clutch in 3 years (was driving in SF bay area so that was part of it) i was at the dealership getting parts to do the job and was finally told about a $35 modification that would have prevented my issues. but i was not told about it because i had bought the truck new but in an after year sale. it was a 81 but i bought it in jan 83 (yes gm couldnt sell their garbage back then either) but it was waranteed as new and only had about 75 miles on it. i swore off GM (for new cars anyway) for life waaaay back then.

 

1987 Ford diesel F250. I had a personal battle with this truck, it went on for 13 years and $24K in just parts, I did 90% of the labor. I could never understand how a defective part replaced with a new part would end up going defective again. This truck was cursed, it ended up stolen from the next owner and driven into a swamp in SC. I bought another F250 and had zero problems with it. My brother was right, don't fight a bad vehicle, get rid of it right off the get go.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(endoildependency @ Oct 8 2005, 12:31 AM) [snapback]138125[/snapback]</div>

1994 Ford Escort L think it was a 1.6 Liter cant remmeber...First car. What a junker but I only paid $400

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(endoildependency @ Oct 7 2005, 09:31 PM) [snapback]138125[/snapback]</div>

The worst...it is a tie between a 1983 Mazda 636 and a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. The problem? I don't have enough time to explain...both those cars sucked!

 

My worst car ever was a Porsche 914 -- the poor man's Porsche. Mid engine, basically a VW chassis with a better engine and transaxle on it, so I was told. I bought it from my mother, of all people, who warned me it was a POS. It was. Nothing but maintenance headaches. When it ran, it ran like a scared rabbit, and I took it to Europe with me where I could actually drive the thing. But I traded it for another Datsun, which was just about to be rebranded with the Nissan brand.

I'll never own another sports car, that Porsche was SUCH a hassle.

Dan

 

Out of the 40+ cars that I've owned in my lifetime, I'd have to say the 1960 something Pontiac Tempest wagon that I got from an old girlfriend that died on me in the middle of the San Mateo Bridge one day. It had a dashboard mounted shift lever, just like the Prius, over 40 years ago. That was the only "good" thing about it.

Worst motorcycle: A 2001 BMW K1200RS are real lemon. Traded it in on a 2002 Ducati 998 -- one of the BEST motorcycles I ever owned) after going through 3 leaking front engine covers in less than 4 months! :angry:

 

In the 70's a Pinto that would die constantly and never could be fixed. Luckily it was totaled in a wreck. Next was a Chevette that was in the shop weekly for three years and had a complete electrical meltdown at 36 months and the paint vanished in the first 12 months. A Ford Futura that had an electrical fire in the dash at 36 months. Paint vanished within 6 months. For my next car I decided that Dodge had to be better than Ford or GM. Went to a Dodge dealer and tried to test drive three new Dodges. Two would not start and one died repeatedly before I could get it out on the road to test drive. Went straight to Toyota and have not stepped one foot on an American car lot in over 30 years. Friends and relatives who still buy Big 3 have the same, and more, problems I experienced 30 years ago.

 

79 Audi FOX GT. Got it used in 1984 when I was a teenager. Within two weeks I learned how to take the radiator out in 7 minutes. This was because things kept breaking and I couldn't afford a mechanic. One time on a date I had to rig up the power to the fog lights to the radiator fan to keep the car running. Burglars loved this car as it got broken in 8 times in 4 years. Once across from the Portland Police Bureau. At a party once my buddy took my keys and a girl and went to my car. He started the engine, fell asleep and floored the gas pedal (while in first gear but with brake was on) and blew the clutch. The girl left.

It eventually caught on fire when coming home from skiing one evening. I pulled over and popped the hood only to see a small fire going where the oil cap had been. Learned a lesson. Never put a chunk of snow on an oil fire....shot a flame about 8 feet into the air but the fire went out. I ended up selling it to a Hispanic man for $350 who towed it away with rope and his truck.

b

 

My father's a mechanic, so I grew up around lots of cars (both foreign and domestic). I've seen all the problems (both our cars and his customers') and seen some good cars. The only cars my father recomends are Hondas and Toyotas.


Two of the worst cars we ever had (both so bad, they are tied for 1st place) was an '85 Plymouth (un)Reliant and a '70 VW Squareback.

The (un)Reliant POS Edition: it would strand you several times a week. Always braking & blowing something in the engine. Always blew a head. Often would not start, thus requiring a tow to be fixed. Went through two motors, and many many many engine parts. Threw it's axel once while I was going to work (nearly took out another car with my flying hubcap from the force of the jolt). Called a towtruck and then kicked the car real hard (I was more than a little fed up and PO'd at it). My boss had to close the shop down to come get me! Spent a week carpooling with him while the damn car was being fixed. Only redeaming qualities: AC and really good gas milage; and since my only other car was an '85 Chevy Blazer with horrible gas milage (you could watch the guage go down as you drove!), I was driving the (un)Reliant more often due to gas prices rising fast.

VW Squareback POS Edition: My mom's car from before I was born til I was around probably 12 years old. Just as unreliable as the (un)Reliant. Always stranded you somewhere, especially on freeways. Motor would simply quit while in the middle of driving (stopped or going, didn't matter). Everything was always wrong with the engine. Also had starting problems. It was so bad, that my mom left it with all the windows open, the doors unlocked and the keys in the ignition, in the Bellevue Square Mall's parking garage. She was pissed when we came back several hours later and nobody had stolen it! LOL. This car had no redeaming qualities.


Most reliable cars we ever owned are my mom's '87 Camry (runs like it did new! Her current car), and my Acura RSX-S and Toyota Prius. I'll never touch anything other than Honda/Acura or Toyota.

 

I have/had a bittersweet relationship with my '96 Mercury Sable. It was my first car. My parents bought it in '97 as a used "program" car. I eventually took it over which was nice because it was paid off. Over the course of 10 years I replaced a lot of parts. I'd have to look at my records, but I know off the top of my head that I replaced the starter (at least 3 times), the alternator, speed sensor, idler pulley, brake pads, rotors, tires, struts and many other various parts (most regular maintenance things). Also, the #1 complain I have about this car was in about 2001 the transmission decided to start slipping. I didn't have the money to fix it, so I just kept driving it. In about April of this year the A/C decided to quit, right before the So.Illinois humid a$$ summer started. The windshield washer fluid pump doesn't work, it leaks antifreeze/coolant and the dashboard lights are burnt out, but to this day, the car is still driveable. It has 210k miles on it. I put every mile on it, except for 30k. That car was like my second home. She's taken on the role of a hotel room and sanctuary for me at times; on top of being a very reliable (90% of the time) car. That's where the sentimentality comes in.

And she's up for sale if anyone's interested. lol.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mad Hatter @ Jun 15 2007, 01:30 PM) [snapback]462540[/snapback]</div>

1 million miles! that's quite a haul

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusBrian @ Jul 14 2007, 08:12 PM) [snapback]478914[/snapback]</div>

Those visuals had me LOLing for real.

My worst car ever was a 1967 Mustang coupe that I bought when it was already 24 years old. Don't get me wrong, I expected it to have problems so I was realistic about the situation. It was hard though, because I both simultaneously loved the classic car, while loathing the fact that I couldn't idle at a fast food drive through or risk overheating. The especially nice thing about that senario was that if I turned the engine off to prevent over heating, there was a good chance I'd have to wait 2-3 minutes for it to cool enough to start it again. So that car was a definite love/hate relationship. So beautiful, so unreliable.

My best car ever (Prius excluded) was a 2000 Honda Insight I sold just last month to help pay for the Prius. It was never a lick of trouble, always gave me around 70MPG and was so much fun to drive. Thats the one thing I really miss about the Insight, was how it handled. I found out recently that the reason it handled so well was that almost all of the stearing equipment was the same as on the Honda S2000.

I've only had my Prius 2 months, so its too early to tell whether it'll pass my Insight on my love list (my current expectations are that it might).

 

Well I'm 28, so the pool of cars which I've owned is a little on the small side.

1st (and most beloved) was my "high school" car: 1984 Toyota 4x4. 250k miles, I beat the hell out of it and and never EVER had one problem with it. I will never forget this truck, and if I ever find one in decent condition for sale I'll buy it.

2nd (and absolute worst): Dodge Neon. Can't remember the year. Owned it while I was in the Army. Never really had any mechanical problems with it that left me stranded, but both door panels came apart and fell off, the passenger door eventually quit latching (had to strap it shut with my seatbelt), interior fit and finish was terrible, on and on. HATED every moment of owning that car.

3rd: '78 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. Loved this car.

4th: Mitsubishi Montery full size. My first "nice" car. Liked it well enough.

5th: '01 BMW 740i. Loved it.

6th: '06 Subaru WRX STI. Loved loved loved it.

7th: '08 Prius. Loving it so far.

-Chris