What Is The Worst Car You Ever Owned?

[JIBBBY]

I am curious as to what you guys think the worst car is that you have ever owned... From my past experiences and as a former owner of a used car dealership, I would have to rate these cars as the worst heeps on the planet...

1991 Ford Taurus - Just a peice....Tranny's are a joke and will slip with the best of them..

1986 Ford Escort GT - Used more oil then gas and broke down more then a crowd of people at a funeral... :cries:

1995 (I think) Isuzu Rodeo - The electrical components, engine and suspension last about as long as a full tank of gas...

Those are my top three lemons of all time :chairshot:

[Rx330driver]

i dont have such a long history...that dates back to the 80's

but by far, out of the like 6 cars ive owned in my lifetime...the worst car ive ever owned *drummer roll*

surprise surprise, my 1994 Mercedes C280. omfg, it was the worst piece of crap, eletrical components were going downhill constantly. it was in the shop all the time, and cost me, or my parents rather, an arm and a leg for services. It was my first car, and i will never go back to mercedes, i think. lol

this was the first year of production cars that they decided to cut back on...and they did a mighty fine job doing it.

ive had some bad experiences in that car. My first and only car accident, airbags and everything. The car did protect me, but i must say, the airbags smelled like *BLEEP*ake mushrooms when they deployed. Second, my pinky got smushed by the window pane when it was closing and i had my fingers sticking out. THe killer of the story is...the window decided to roll up by itself.

[lenore]

Worst cars I ever owned but very fun to drive, Triumph TR250 and Jaguar XKE (1968). The British cars were notorious for everything going bad. Electrical, over heating, and transmissions that wore out....Next worst, Ford Windstar (1998) Everything electrical and crappy brakes....(always wearing out)

[RX in NC]

I've owned somewhere around 25 vehicles in the 37-plus years I've been driving, and the worst one, hands down, was my wife's 2000 RX300 AWD. No other vehicle even came close to having as many different and expensive problems as this one did. Fortunately, our local Lexus service manager ponied up for all of the major repairs that had to be done, including after the warranty expired. But I'm glad that the vehicle is no longer in our stable.

The best vehicle I've ever owned? My sentimental favorite would be my 1974 Datsun 260Z. It was my first new car and I kept it longer than any other vehicle I've ever owned - almost 14 years and over 300,000 miles. Never had to even open the engine and it never burned a drop of oil. But it went through five or six batteries and a couple of starters (that car hated it when the outside temps were under 20 degrees), and the twin Hitachi carburetors (before the days of fuel injection) could be tricky to keep in synch at times. I still miss that car today and wish I had it back in mint condition....

But from a "do its duty without fail every single day" perspective, the best vehicle I've ever owned is my current 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 series 5.9-litre V8 pickup. It can fly, the transmission is smooth as silk, the ride is outstanding, the headroom and legroom is superb, and it simply doesn't break. In over seven years of ownership, other than routine oil and filter changes, one coolant change, one new battery, and one new set of tires, all it has needed from me has been one license plate bulb lamp replaced and a new catalytic converter which was fully covered under the warranty. That's it. Talk about a dream to maintain - you just can't beat it....

[JIBBBY]

Lenore - OH YES - I forgot about those older 12 cylinder Jags...Those are a break down waiting to happen...A true LEMON...

Mercedes also made a few lemons... Newer Merc's too...

The Triumps and Fiero's weren't bullet proof either by any means....

I will tell you the Brits make some crappy cars, the Range Rovers aren't all that either..Constant leaks and electrical problems... Buy a Rover and you better get a bumber to bumper warrenty for 100k..

[SW03ES]

I've only owned three, and none of them were "bad". My Explorer definately got needy in the repair department towards the end at about 160k, actually it was needy in the repair department from about 70k when the transmission was replaced all the way up until the end...

The best vehicle I've ever owned? My sentimental favorite would be my 1974 Datsun 260Z.

My dad had a 240Z and a 260Z and he still remembers them fondly too.

[RX in NC]

Yep, those first-generation Z-cars were really unique and ahead of their time. The first true Japanese sports car that made its way to America and enjoyed tremendous success here - the Z-car really put Datsun on the map.

I very rarely see one these days, but whenever I do, my eyes follow it until the Z-car is out of sight. And I think back to all the great times and trips that I enjoyed in mine....

[JIBBBY]

Yep, those first-generation Z-cars were really unique and ahead of their time. The first true Japanese sports car that made its way to America and enjoyed tremendous success here - the Z-car really put Datsun on the map.

I very rarely see one these days, but whenever I do, my eyes follow it until the Z-car is out of sight. And I think back to all the great times and trips that I enjoyed in mine....

Yeah, the older Datson's had those inline 6 cylinder motors that wear out very slowely and usually don't have too many problems... Very reliable motors.. I had a older Nova years back with a straight six motor and it went 250,000 miles + with little or no problems .. I also currently own an FJ80 Landcruiser with 220,000 miles on the 4.5L straight six motor and it runs like new and never had any problems.... Infact my 1993 Toyota Landcruiser is the best car I have ever owned that required the least amount of attention, maintenance, and fixes...The Lexus SC400 is second...

[branshew]

I had a Plymouth "Reliant K" when I was 17 or so - a terrible American lemon. Went to a Chevy P/U that was great and then someone hit me and totalled it. I was handed down a mercury Topaz while in college. Damn car had so many problems, but the transmission went out at 62K miles. I will never, ever buy another American car.

[denslexusgx470]

obviously, i don't have a looong history, but i remember my family had a (we barely moved to the US just in 1992) 1996 Nissan Quest XE, bad, very bad. Sold it after a year for the Odyssey. ;) ;)

[rickgus]

I've probably owned 40 or 50 cars in my life. Lost count long ago. C.R.S. disease <_<

But by far, the worst was a '86 Audi 5000. I owned it for about 2 months, and dumped it! Was one thing after another. And it wasn't my first Audi. I had 3 or 4 before it, and loved 'em.

[lenore]

Lenore - OH YES - I forgot about those older 12 cylinder Jags...Those are a break down waiting to happen...A true LEMON...

Mercedes also made a few lemons... Newer Merc's too...

The Triumps and Fiero's weren't bullet proof either by any means....

I will tell you the Brits make some crappy cars, the Range Rovers aren't all that either..Constant leaks and electrical problems... Buy a Rover and you better get a bumber to bumper warrenty for 100k..

Hey, it was the 4.2 liter six cylinder jag, double overhead cam, with stromberg carburators....Man was that car a dream at 140mph though....never driven anything that handled speed that well, except dad's old 66 corvette, oh those were the days...

[JIBBBY]

Oh those late 80's Chevy Corvette's with the newer body styles, where complete rattle boxes and interior nightmare... After 50,000 miles those heaps are ripe for the wrecking yards...

[neil0311]

Oh those late 80's Chevy Corvette's with the newer body styles, where complete rattle boxes and interior nightmare... After 50,000 miles those heaps are ripe for the wrecking yards...

'79 VW Rabbit (water cooled) back in '84. What a POS. I have never even considered another German car since.

[JIBBBY]

BMW's are pretty well made cars...Some older Merc's too, but not many......

[rickgus]

...Some older Merc's too, but not many......

I'd pit a pre-1990's Benz against most anything. My '84 300SD diesel has 360k miles, and is still solid as a tank. Doors don't sag, no squeeks, no rattles, still rock solid at 100mph. One hell of a car!

But I wanted something a bit newer, that accelerates a bit better, and still built like a tank, or near to it.

So I bought a Lexus!

[silvercorvette]

I have owned more car than I can remember to list but the one car that sticks out in my mind is a 1972 Triumph Spitfire that I bought new.

[backwoods lex]

87 Suzuki Samuri. One of the worst vehicles ever made (there actually is a book and it is in there). Neverending roof leaks. Top speed of 80MPH downhill. 0-60 in 20 seconds with the beastly 1.3 liter engine and 5 speed. Roughest ride I've ever been in. It would break down a couple of times per month and I'd have to hitch a ride home from school. This of course is only if you are still alive after making a turn at 25MPH and rolling it.

[jasper]

The worst cars I ever owned were:

1973 Ford Thunderbird. It was beautiful in appearance but nickeled and dimed me for every year I had it.

1982 Cadillac CoupDeVille. It was also beautiful in appearance but was a nightmare of problems. I didn't want to trade it in. I wanted to smash it with a iron club inorder to take out my frustration with it. Interesting to note that the worst cars I ever owned were the most expensive.

[JIBBBY]

87 Suzuki Samuri. One of the worst vehicles ever made (their actually is a book and it is in there). Neverending roof leaks. Top speed of 80MPH downhill. 0-60 in 20 seconds with the beastly 1.3 liter engine and 5 speed. Roughest ride I've ever been in. It would break down a couple of times per month and I'd have to hitch a ride home from school. This of course is only if you are still alive after making a turn at 25MPH and rolling it.

That's funny..... Look at the bright side atleast you were getting good gas mileage :chairshot:

[lenore]

I have owned more car than I can remember to list but the one car that sticks out in my mind is a 1972 Triumph Spitfire that I bought new.

Oh yea, Stromberg carburators which where a mess compared to the SU carbs earlier....

[1990LS400]

I have owned more car than I can remember to list but the one car that sticks out in my mind is a 1972 Triumph Spitfire that I bought new.

My worst car was also a Triumph Spitfire (1964) which I bought in 1968 and which had covered about 30,000 miles.

You haven't lived until you have had your headlights fail late at night on a winding country road after hitting a bump. I quickly mastered the art of holding a powerful fashlight over the windshield to light the way so I could limp the car home.

The only satisfying part of my brief ownership was to sell the $hitfire to a used car dealer.

[nc211]

I'm torn on this one, as I've had a few that had some problems, including my current LS400 and all of the nightmares of the "wobble". I'd have to say, the car that required the most input from me is the LS400. But the worst car I've ever owned was a 94' GMC Jimmy 4 door SLT. It was the most comfortable driving position, and a true 4x4 tank. I didn't want to get rid of it actually, but after body rust at 32k miles, leaking door seals all around, broken internal seat support, squeaking leaf springs and more rattles than a nursing home....it went bye bye for a 99' Outback.

Worst car....Jimmy

Second worst car.... 95 LS400

Nicest car......95 LS400

Most frustrating car...... 95 LS400

Favorite car..... 95 LS400

I've decided to not sell my LS400, but rather wait a bit longer and blow it up at the Lexus dealership I bought it from when I'm done with it! Just to say "screw you $3,500 wobble!"

[dcfish]

I'm torn on this one, as I've had a few that had some problems, including my current LS400 and all of the nightmares of the "wobble". I'd have to say, the car that required the most input from me is the LS400. But the worst car I've ever owned was a 94' GMC Jimmy 4 door SLT. It was the most comfortable driving position, and a true 4x4 tank. I didn't want to get rid of it actually, but after body rust at 32k miles, leaking door seals all around, broken internal seat support, squeaking leaf springs and more rattles than a nursing home....it went bye bye for a 99' Outback.

Worst car....Jimmy

Second worst car.... 95 LS400

Nicest car......95 LS400

Most frustrating car...... 95 LS400

Favorite car..... 95 LS400

I've decided to not sell my LS400, but rather wait a bit longer and blow it up at the Lexus dealership I bought it from when I'm done with it! Just to say "screw you $3,500 wobble!"

Nc, There comes a time............ Then we (our cars) have to move on. Such is life, So get all the keggers in now

[nc211]

Oh, I've moved on amigo...gone are the days of "what is that rattle?" if the car rattles, it rattles, if it thumps, creaks, squeaks, etc.... then so be it. as long as it gets me to and from, all i'm going to do to it from here on out is change the oil, and the occasional alignment/balance/rotation. No more parts, especially the real expensive ones! When what's on there now wears out beyond control, the car gets traded. I'm waiting for some new residential development to finish that I encounter on my commute to work. They've torn up the roads "country roads", which has taken a toll on the car. Once they're done and repave the roads, then I'll be more prone to trade in the 95 for something else. It takes the roads well, and isn't a rattle bucket, but certainly on it's way. I figure best to subject a 12 year old car that isn't worth much to those roads, than a 2 or 3 year old car. But moved on? Yep, the air hammer is idle at my house, and money spent on parts has been redirected to home improvement projects.