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  3. What's the worst car you ever owned?

What's the worst car you ever owned?

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  • F Forogar

    Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

    - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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    DumpsterJuice
    wrote on last edited by
    #30

    My Personal List of worst cars: (They have proven to be failures, time and time again) 1. Dodge (Chrysler) any kind. 2. BMW, Audi, Mercedes - these cars are not what they used to be. 3. GM/Chevrolet Best : Over time, they are known to be reliable. 1.Toyota 2.Honda 3.Subaru , Kia , Hyundai If you buy a new car every year, or 4 , this list is meaningless. Just about any new car can last almost as long as the payments.

    Where there's smoke, there's a Blue Screen of death.

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    • F Forogar

      Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

      - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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      Chris Quinn
      wrote on last edited by
      #31

      A Daewoo Lanos that was given to me by my father-in-law when my Ford Focus finally died (it did have 200,000 miles on the clock). Horrible build quality, abysmal performance and lack of comfort. It was written off by my insurance company after I had a little bump - the repairs would have cost more than £500, which is what they valued the car as.

      ========================================================= I'm an optoholic - my glass is always half full of vodka. =========================================================

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      • F Forogar

        Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

        - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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        CodeZombie62
        wrote on last edited by
        #32

        In the mid-80's I was driving a 76 AMC Hornet with a hatchback that my parents gave me. It had a 3-speed manual transmission. The worst part about it was if it went through a puddle there was a very good chance that it was going to stall. Apparently this was caused by water getting into the distributor cap so I learned that I could fix it by wiping it out with a rag. Eventually I let my parents have it back. My dad said he was able to fix the problem by spraying some WD-40 in it. Wish he had told me that back when I was driving it. I'm not sure what ultimately happened to it. I think my parents loaned it out to other family members before someone wrecked it.

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        • F Forogar

          Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

          - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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          RickZeeland
          wrote on last edited by
          #33

          That must have been a second hand Citroen 2CV, I remember one time when I tried to put something in the trunk and ended up standing with a broken off trunk lid in my hands ! The problem was that instead of hinges a simple seamed edge was used where the water could collect and cause the entire edge to rust off :omg: Of course all this had to do with bad maintenance and not greasing the lid properly ...

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          • F Forogar

            Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

            - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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            C Offline
            Clumpco
            wrote on last edited by
            #34

            It's a toss-up between: - The leaky Alfasud that had been patched and resprayed but had about 2 gallons of water in the sills and floor pan that rushed forward when you braked. - The powder blue and rust Polski Fiat that ate timing chains faster than it ate oil. Runners-up are a 1964 Morris 1100 with Heinz baked-bean cans pop-riveted to the sub-frame and a BMW Isetta 300 whose gear-lever came away in your hand if you were a little too brisk with it.

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            • F Forogar

              Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

              - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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              B Offline
              BryanFazekas
              wrote on last edited by
              #35

              '89 Volkswagon Jetta Loved that car -- it was peppy (5 speed manual transmission, not automatic) and hugged the road -- a true pleasure to drive. I drove it far faster than was wise. ;P At the 5 year mark the electrical problems started and for the next 4 years it nickled-n-dimed me with constant, semi-trivial repairs. I finally gave up and bought Toyota ...

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              • F Forogar

                Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                H Offline
                Hooga Booga
                wrote on last edited by
                #36

                '86 Pontiac 6000 - not because the car was bad per se, but because I didn't maintain it. Near the end: - The brake cylinder lost pressure so you had to pump the brakes once before they'd catch (except 1 in 100 times when they caught the first time and sent you to a screeching halt) - The engine would not idle, but would sputter and die when coming to a stop - Power steering would occasionally step out for a break When coming to a stop-light, I would have to pump the brake with the left foot, put the tranny in neutral while gently pumping the gas to avoid a stall.

                Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend; inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. -- Groucho Marx

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                • L Lost User

                  A Simca Matra Bagheera. The only thing that did not rust was the plastic body (epoxy fiberglass) Matra Bagheera - Wikipedia[^]

                  It does not solve my Problem, but it answers my question

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                  glennPattonWork3
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #37

                  Hey it looked :cool:!

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                  • M MikeD 2

                    That's what one of my sons thought and got a new leaf, nice car but not for someone that regularly does 130+ mile journeys and found he couldn't complete the journey without a charge cycle on the way if it was cold, raining..... Longer trips needed more than one charge in a day and you are only supposed to do 1 fast charge per day For a while he viewed it as a challenge to plan journeys around charge points but explaining to fellow passengers that you were going to sit in a service area for 40 minutes became boring and eventually he handed it back and went back to diesel When battery technology improves they will be great and other than range the car was really good

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                    Ron Anders
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #38

                    I currently drive a chevy astro cargo van with our company banner on it just around town. So an EV cargo van like the Nissan ENV200 would be perfect. With a license that says E Ticket and a frame that says We goin' to Electric Avenue. I have it all planned out and 220 VAC (Level 2) in my garage

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                    • N Nagy Vilmos

                      We can close the thread now. I owned, and for some bizarre reason loved, a [Trabant 601 Kombi](https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fájl:Trabant\_601\_Kombi\_(front).JPG). Stupid car but a joy nonetheless.

                      veni bibi saltavi

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                      glennPattonWork3
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #39

                      Yup, you Win. i rember Robbie Coltrane taking the engine out of one those with a Leather Man multitool and brute strength!

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                      • F Forogar

                        Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                        - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                        A Offline
                        agolddog
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #40

                        Depends how you define 'worst'. Performance-wise, it was my first car, a 73 VW Beetle. However, it was reliable, chugged along, pretty indestructible and relatively easy to repair. The next car was one of those late-80s Mustang hatchbacks (88 I think). A better car in terms of performance and comfort, but it was just another generic car--Mustang in name only. So, in a way, it was worse--a new car (especially one with the Mustang name) should've been much better than that. I guess I've been pretty lucky overall, all my vehicles have kept running o.k. for long periods until an accident (so far).

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                        • F Forogar

                          Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                          - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                          S Offline
                          Slow Eddie
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #41

                          I forget the year but it was sometime in the 80's it was a Ford Probe. I believe the transmission fell out one day when my wife was backing it out of the driveway... :sigh:

                          A car for me is just basic transportation.

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                          • F Forogar

                            Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                            - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                            P Offline
                            Paul Kemner
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #42

                            A Ford Taurus wagon- used with low mileage (30k?). Shortly after I got it, when I was stopped at a light the car would jump like it had been hit from behind. I found out the transmissions were junk and Ford never bothered to fix the problem. When you type "ford taurus t" in a search engine, the suggested search is "ford taurus transmission problems" with a long list of sites.

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                            • C charlieg

                              10 years old and 33K miles? Oh you must tell more! There is a story here, I can smell it. ;P

                              Charlie Gilley <italic>Stuck in a dysfunctional matrix from which I must escape... "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783 “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759

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                              kmoorevs
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #43

                              charlieg wrote:

                              10 years old and 33K miles? Oh you must tell more!

                              Working from home is great! :laugh: Also, the wife's company car gets used for most vacation/travel. :)

                              "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse

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                              • F Forogar

                                Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                                - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                K Offline
                                K Offline
                                Kirk 10389821
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #44

                                I bought a Nova from a neighbor with a weird noise. They said it was the exhaust pipe rattling. Nope it was a Rod Bearing. I threw that rod through the side of the car, ON PROM NIGHT, coming home from finding out they had no TUX for me, because the lady wrote the pickup and drop off dates backwards. They had to piece together a TUX for me from the sample try on stuff, and give me shoes that were 2 sizes to small. Oh what a Joy! But that rod blew, and white smoke came out, I put 2 quarts of oil in it and made it the last 5 miles home, destroyed the car. Had to borrow dads car to get to prom. Later I learned that Nova = No Go in spanish, and I cried inside!

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                                • F Forogar

                                  Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                                  - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                  S Offline
                                  S Offline
                                  StatementTerminator
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #45

                                  1986 Nissan Stanza Wagon. That thing was a death trap. It was heavy in all the wrong places: up high and up front. Slab sides that caught crosswinds like sails. It had the worst handling characteristics of anything I have ever driven, and it's one of the reasons why I won't drive SUVs or other top-heavy vehicles to this day. I once had to do an emergency lane change in that thing at highway speeds. The front suspension overloaded to the left and then bounced back to the right, and I had to countersteer and rock the front suspension back and forth a bit until it stabilized, while the front end was doing a reverse fishtail. It just about spun and rolled, and all it took was having to hit the brakes and change lanes suddenly. As soon as the weight transferred to the front and I turned the wheel all hell broke loose immediately, it was scary. I drive small Mazdas now.

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                                  • F Forogar

                                    Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                                    - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                    S Offline
                                    S Offline
                                    Steven1218
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #46

                                    The worst car I ever owned was a gently used 1968 Toyota Corona I bought in the mid 70s. Styling-wise think Soviet era Lada, but because it was a Japanese car it always ran. That is until I made the mistake of letting one of my brother-in-laws borrow it. At some point in the evening he was driving back home on the freeway when the engine light came on, and the temperature gauge max'd out. Of course, he was bound and determined to get home. It finally gave out about 15 or so miles later. He left it on the side of the road, angry that I let him borrow such a clunker! My other (good) brother-in-law helped me rebuild it. It lasted another 3 months. Turns out knuckle-head managed to warp the crank shaft (and we hadn't thought to check that before our rebuild). :laugh: Now a-days I carefully vet anyone who wants to drive any vehicle I own, and usually decline.

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                                    • R Ron Anders

                                      A 1967 Dodge Dart with 6 cylinder motor. It was 1983? We were kids and the 67 chevelle we had as our first car got rear ended and with unibody construction was done for. The dart had a weird issue that when the dry Santa Anna winds of So. Cal would blow, that thing would not start. So yeah on the most "beautiful" dry smog free days I was late for work - try to explain this to your boss, that on nice days your car wouldn't start. One dark night we were coming back from visiting my parents in seal beach on the 22 fwy at speed when the bolt that held the fan to the crankshaft left. The spinning fan jumped into the radiator with alternator belt attached and I don't have to tell you what that sounded like to go from cruising peace to all hell breaking loose in an instant. After weeks went by, we eventually got the POS back on the road and traded in for a Toyota Corolla hatchback that was a very good car. The 4 x 4 trailblazer we just got rid of comes in a close second but it was a 2003 and we drove it for all it was worth. Except for 3 transfer case explosions, countless ignition coil replacements and the interior plastic breaking left and right it was a pretty decent vehicle.

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                                      MadMyche
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #47

                                      If I recall correctly, the Chevelle was full framed; the Chevy II (aka Nova) was unibody

                                      Director of Transmogrification Services Shinobi of Query Language Master of Yoda Conditional

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                                      • F Forogar

                                        Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                                        - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                        M Offline
                                        M Offline
                                        MadMyche
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #48

                                        Before we got married, me ex-wife had the brilliant idea to purchase a Ford Tempo. It drank more oil than gas, ended up using 20/50 to keep the consumption to less than a quart weekly.

                                        Director of Transmogrification Services Shinobi of Query Language Master of Yoda Conditional

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                                        • F Forogar

                                          Mine was a Renault 14. Weird offset rear wheels, engine canted back at 78 degrees, practically needed to remove the engine to change the spark plugs, automatic gearbox exploded/disintegrated after a year. The only good news was I bought it at a heavy discount price because it was a dealer demo car even though it had all the bells and whistles being the top model version. Also, the gearbox was replaced under guarantee. It still put me off automatics for a long time. Renault 14 - Wikipedia[^]

                                          - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                          K Offline
                                          K Offline
                                          kurt place
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #49

                                          1980 something Chrysler LeBaron Turbo. Bought it from my grandmother in law (took it and gave money, cuz she couldn't see at night and still drove by following the white lines on the side of the road) with 32k miles in 1997. Drove in such a way as to never engage the turbo cuz the car shook like crazy when under acceleration. Parked in the garage one night shortly after having bought it. 15 minutes later our garage was on fire. The fuel line had broken and dripped onto something hot and ignited. Burned the garage and part of the kitchen. The grandmother in law, when she found out we got more in insurance for the car than what we paid her, wanted the extra money. She was a piece of work too.

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