Worst car you have ever owned and why.

[mondeomatureguy]

Hi Guy's,
we have always been there one time or another. Whats the worst car you have ever owned and why?

Mine was when i was very young still living at home only 18 years old and i brought it from a old School mate.
It was a Suzuki van and it used two stroke oil. It wasnt great around the corner's and one night i had a few mates in the back and went around a corner too fast and it was up on two wheels lucky it didnt fall over.

It didn't stop that great but was good a fuel. In the end the water pump went on it which cooked the motor and it died a slow death.

[Franco Cozzo]

2001 Ford Laser, I put new tyres on it, bought new rotors, pads and a set of shocks all around ready to go in then it got stolen

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

2001 Ford Laser, I put new tyres on it, bought new rotors, pads and a set of shocks all around ready to go in then it got stolen

Did you take the; Rotors, pads & Shockies back for a credit??

[roKWiz]

New 82 WB panel van was a lemon straight from Suttons, Chullora.
Complete with rope hanging off the chassis, tools left under the bench seat and tail light globes that melted the plastic housing constantly. Blew the diff up on the middle of the Harbour Bridge in peak hour traffic.

4 weeks later I bought a HX Holden panel van which was the best btw and left the WB outside for the tow truck to take away.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by hayseed

Did you take the; Rotors, pads & Shockies back for a credit??

Nah, I've still got them though

Never know when shocks, rotors and pads will come in handy for a 20 year old car you don't own anymore

[damo6]

76 LX torana hatchback. Every single panel was rusted out. My second car i owned as an 18yr old. Not one ounce of rust when i got it but it all soon made its way thru the litres of bog.the only thing holding the roof on was the b pillars, both "a" and rear qtrs were rusted,the bonnet was rusted.there was a hole in the passenger side floor i could fit my empty stubbies thru.then the drivers door fell off while i was driving down the road.stopped,ran back,dragged the bloody door back to the car,chucked it in the hatch,then drove home with no door.found another door ( parts were common back then),bolted it up,lucky it was the same colour, then traded it on an xc gxl. Walking home about a mth later i hear a familiar sound,there it goes, the bloody red rust bucket all bogged up no doubt by the car yard,drives past me! Wonder if the other door ever fell off??

[DJM83]

My first car I think (it wasn't that bad, just the worst I've had)

1985 XF GL falcon.
200ci.
5sp manual.
Did decent single spinners, kinda ��

[Yellow_Festiva]

Citroen C3 Pluriel.

Semi Automatic single clutch tranny that made you sick, cramped rear seat, a sorta convertible that required you to take the car roof rails off for full effect, dodgy switches and electrics, needed 95 RON..

What was I thinking...

[Syndrome]

2003 BA - that card had more problems them my next three Falcons combined,

[T3rminator]

I'll get slammed but here goes... the first brand new car I ever bought, the 2003 BA XR8 ute. There was nothing really "wrong" with the car, its just that my expectation was at level 10, and it delivered level 5. So that was a big let down.

I've owned many "problematic cars", like the one I have now, but I'm getting what I expected, so don't feel let down.

[John 13]

2011ish, hired a car while my work vehicle was being repaired. At pickup desk person indicated that they had upgraded my hire to a Holden Epica.
Well what an experience, turns lock to lock reminded me of 60s Falcons, had to plan ahead both for stopping and accelerating. Very average brakes and appeared to be little or no connection between accelerator pedal and the engine.
When returning car a week or so later I suggested to desk person that it was the worst car that I had ever driven, reply was " that's what others have said"

[whynot]

I would have to say the Falcon G6E that I leased back in 2008. Not only was the vehicle poorly presented on delivery, it had issue after issue. Leaking fuel tank into the cabin, steering shaft sloop, tyres rubbing on power steering bolts, accessories belt fraying from new, etc, etc. What made matters worse was the behaviour of the Ford dealer, just could not fix nor care. Dealer seemed to have an approach of making me bring the car in, then leaving it sit there in the yard doing nothing.

[minheim]

Probably a 1978 UC Holden Sunbird hatchback with the Starfire engine bought in 1981. Yes the "revolutionary" Starfire; a holden 6 with 2 cylinders left off. Over the 5 years or so of ownership it had three water pumps let go. It also had the heater core \let go which was a pain to replace.

On one 40 degree day on the drive back to Melbourne from the Great Ocean Road the manual gearbox was as sloppy as hell from the heat She also didn't like being driven for extended periods at 100 Kph as the temperature guage would climb. End of the day she got T-boned by an EH Holden that went through a red light. The other driver tried to claim that they didn't but fortunately the driver following them was able to confirm it was a clear red light. Luckily my wife who was driving took off slowly from the spine of the T intersection and was hit on the front driver side mud guard area rather than the door. Car was a write off as the EH hit with some speed.

[Big_Daz]

Ive had 2 shockers, for different reasons:

- My first car - 1990 Magna Wagon - Given I was in grade 12 and wasnt exactly "Gentle" with it, was super unreliable and things kept breaking (Center console disintegrated, passenger seat broke so that it would move forward and backwards freely, window winders would always come off, outside door handles broke, Timing chain failed, kept blowing radiator hoses, etc). Ended up going to a wreckers for $100. Was getting dangerous towards to the end..

- Wasnt strictly "Mine" but in an old position I had company vehicles. Werent given a choice, apart from Sedan or Sportswagon and Colour - Was VE Series 2 Omega with the 3 litre V6. Was comfortable, well built and well equipped but the horrible Engine/Gearbox did my head on. Needed to rev to get any performance out of it, but when you did it sounded horrible, and like it didnt want to do it....

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by John 13

2011ish, hired a car while my work vehicle was being repaired. At pickup desk person indicated that they had upgraded my hire to a Holden Epica.
Well what an experience, turns lock to lock reminded me of 60s Falcons, had to plan ahead both for stopping and accelerating. Very average brakes and appeared to be little or no connection between accelerator pedal and the engine.
When returning car a week or so later I suggested to desk person that it was the worst car that I had ever driven, reply was " that's what others have said"

And this is why Holden no longer exists. Beyond the Aussie stuff, Holden sold pathetic rubbish that no one would actually choose to buy over more talented products. Once the patriotic sales dried up, so did demand for what remained in their showrooms.

[Ben73]

300c. It was a great car, but dropped a valve seat and ruined the engine way too early.

[Top_Ghia]

VK Berlina 3.3 auto. I bought it one owner low km immaculate condition after my Gemini Coupe was stolen and torched. That black 202 was just a piece of crap. It was under powered and just choked in pollution gear. I rebuilt the engine as I thought it may be a bit tired but it didn’t help. My stock XB pre cross flow 250 fairmont had a far better engine. My 1.6 Gemini auto sedan was far better at towing than the VK which was pretty surprising.
It was my last Holden. After that a bought a new BA XR6 ute. I’ve been in new or near new Fords ever since.

[prktkljokr]

In 1985 I purchased a 1981 Skoda 120L in baby s#!t beige for the princely sum of $165 then proceeded to spend another $1500 keeping it going for a year, that was the biggest pile of crap ever.

[Tickford.]

1982 Mazda CB 626. I got it in exchange for a slab of VB off family. The car was only 11 years old at the time, and had full service history. I had just got my P's and needed transport while I was doing some work on my baby (Ford MKII Escort coupe).

The CB 626 was a absolute piece of sh*t! Oil leaks, creaking and clunking suspension, tractor like steering response, etc, etc. Got rear ended while stopped at the lights and that was RIP 626. But I have to say, Mazda (along with Ford partnership) products from the early 90's really got their sh*t together. The late 90's - early 2000's Mazda's were built really well.

[Jack91]

Px2 ranger 3.2.
Overpriced, crap offroad, unreliable, not great on fuel, weak components, gearbox never shifted smoothe, couldnt handle any decent weight on the tray, paint was pathetic and it rusted in the bonnet, warning chimes for days and auto start in a commercial vehicle is ridiculous.
Couldnt even fit 33s without a lift, so you have about as much ground clearance as a vy clubsport.

Was extremely let down as it was my first nice new car on a massive loan. Expected way better things. I get they are the best in the sector, but geeze i cant even imagine how bad the rest are then.
If it even had one redeeming quality maybe i would have kept it, but the only things that werent terrible, were mediocre.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by prktkljokr

In 1985 I purchased a 1981 Skoda 120L in baby s#!t beige for the princely sum of $165 then proceeded to spend another $1500 keeping it going for a year, that was the biggest pile of crap ever.
image

Baby **** beige - there must have been a period where it was in fashion

It's hands down the most ridiculous color for a car I reckon.

[prktkljokr]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Baby **** beige - there must have been a period where it was in fashion

It's hands down the most ridiculous color for a car I reckon.

I dont know, I think it suited the piece of crap from the Czech Republic.

[Burnout]

I had one of these as a 'hand me down' for about a year. It was terrible.

Fiat 1500.
However the worst of mine was a Cortina TC, it was rubbish. The 4speed fell to pieces at 10,oookm, in spite of the clutch still being in good condition. The engine failed at the front gate, after 60km the day I bought it new.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Burnout

I had one of these as a 'hand me down' for about a year. It was terrible.
image
Fiat 1500.
However the worst of mine was a Cortina TC, it was rubbish. The 4speed fell to pieces at 10,oookm, in spite of the clutch still being in good condition. The engine failed at the front gate, after 60km the day I bought it new.

Oh geez, Italian car, they should stick to Pizza and coffee

All you blokes that have been on earth for a few more laps of the sun, how do you find cars of today compared to say 30-40 years ago? In regards to maintenance, repairs, longevity and ownership?

Obviously the older stuff was much easier for DIY than modern cars, but we're you under the bonnet more often even on new cars back then?

[Dr Terry]

I had a 1996 VW VR6 around 2005. I bought it because it was cheap & went like the clappers. Handling was pretty good as well. Paint & trim were immaculate & it had a full service history.

Then I learned about VW reliability (or lack of it). It broke down 6 times in as many weeks, usually with coolant leak faults. I got to know the local tow truck driver on a first name basis.

Many of the coolant connections & fittings, even the thermostat housing, were made of plastic. Could not survive a Sydney summer in traffic.

Expensive to buy parts & under-bonnet access was terrible. Couldn't get rid of it quick enough.

I now know why it was cheap.

Dr Terry

[russellw]

Originally Posted by prktkljokr

In 1985 I purchased a 1981 Skoda 120L in baby s#!t beige for the princely sum of $165 then proceeded to spend another $1500 keeping it going for a year, that was the biggest pile of crap ever.

Even for $165 I'd have to ask what insanity possessed you?

I've had several that are probably contenders from notoriously unreliable British cars through to some home-grown lemons but I think the award has to go to a client provided (and brand new) VR Commodore Acclaim which chewed through rear tyres (like <5k km) because the rear axle housing was bent like a banana. It wasn't too bad otherwise apart from the agricultural engine and it was the first locally produced model to offer airbags in both front seats but the steadfast refusal of Holden to acknowledge an issue was what really did me in.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Oh geez, Italian car, they should stick to Pizza and coffee

All you blokes that have been on earth for a few more laps of the sun, how do you find cars of today compared to say 30-40 years ago? In regards to maintenance, repairs, longevity and ownership?

Obviously the older stuff was much easier for DIY than modern cars, but we're you under the bonnet more often even on new cars back then?

Absolutely correct. Older cars were far simpler. But needed more servicing.

Look at older Holden & Falcon 6-cyls in the 70s. Points & spark plugs every 10,000 km. New ball joints every 2 or 3 years. Oil & water leaks common & usually simple to fix. Less electrics to go wrong though.

Labour & parts were relatively cheap, so not many minded & those who did, could DIY at home.

60s cars had drum brakes. They didn't stop & needed constant attention.

If you go back even further older cars need head removal, with a de-coke & valve grind at fairly low mileage, again people accepted it.

These days if a cars needs much more that oil, filters & brake pads before 100,000 km they feel dudded.

Dr Terry

[FairmontGS]

A toss up - university-car was a HD Holden. Just dreadful.

versus

the most expensive car I had ever owned - a near new ZL Fairlane. A bucket of bolts with 0-performance that disassembled itself around me over 3 years.

Probably the HD, as the Fairlane didn't intentionally set out to kill me

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by russellw

I've had several that are probably contenders from notoriously unreliable British cars through to some home-grown lemons but I think the award has to go to a client provided (and brand new) VR Commodore Acclaim which chewed through rear tyres (like <5k km) because the rear axle housing was bent like a banana.

VR & VS Acclaims had IRS as standard, they didn't have a 'diff housing' as such.

The early Holden IRS was of Opel design & were fine if you drive like a pensioner, but if you made use of the V6 torque, they toed in & wore out the tyres on the inner edges at an alarming rate.

Stories of wearing out rear tyres inside 5k or 10k were commonplace.

Dr Terry

[Rallye Sport]

I've been given plenty of Couriers and Rangers as work utes over the years.
Normally cars get better with the evolution of models but these things seem to get more hateful with every new model.
I've had commuting rights for a couple of them now but leave them in the yard and drive my own cars instead.