What was the worst car you ever owned.

[GS250]

The F10 had it's fair share of issues too. The N47 engine (520d) was well known for it's propensity to self destruct due to timing chain failure. I had a later one with the revised engine as a company car, and even that had a lot of warranty work carried out. Which is fine, as it was a company car and was under warranty, but I'm not sure I'd want to own one myself!

Yep. I just wouldn't trust anything from BM, Merc or Audi these days. Unless supported by a very good warranty (naturally it comes with leasing or hp). IMO too many compromises have been made with quality. You may get the latest eco tech but I don't think enough QC is performed. Some of the plasticky bits in the engine bay that were once metal give me near palpations and not in a good way.

 

[jfollows]

I've boycotted BMW because of their stupid naming/numbering convention, the numbers no longer correspond to the engine capacity and that annoys me beyond belief. Their car, so they can call it what they want I guess, but I'm not going to have one. And people think I buy a car for a logical reason!

 

[GS250]

A close second was a 3.0l Vauxhall Senator - in the two months I had the car the second hand dealership replaced the starter motor, coil, HT leads, alternator and regulator, but the car still had starting issues. The last straw was when starting the car one morning there was a loud bang, shaking the car and what looked like smoke coming from under the bonnet. On inspection the battery had exploded and fanned out like a loaf of bread - the car was declared not fit for purpose and I formally rejected it and got my money back.

You must have been extremely, extremely unlucky there. Senators were generally solid, especially the Opel versions. Was it a MK2 or MK3?

I had a MK2 3.0i ran on a shoestring. That thing was tough as old nails. Got a bit tappety sounding over 130k but could leave a lot of sporty cars behind at 50 or above.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jan 2023 ==

I've boycotted BMW because of their stupid naming/numbering convention, the numbers no longer correspond to the engine capacity and that annoys me beyond belief. Their car, so they can call it what they want I guess, but I'm not going to have one. And people think I buy a car for a logical reason!

To be fair wasn't this the case back in the 90s too? A 318i could sometimes be a 1.6i or a 1.8 carb. A 523i was never a 2.3 but usually a standard injected 2.5. A 525i could be a higher tune 2.5i or a lower tuned 3.0i. There was also a 528i although I don't think they ever had a 2.8 engine?

 

[jfollows]

To be fair wasn't this the case back in the 90s too? A 318i could sometimes be a 1.6i or a 1.8 carb. A 523i was never a 2.3 but usually a standard injected 2.5. A 525i could be a higher tune 2.5i or a lower tuned 3.0i. There was also a 528i although I don't think they ever had a 2.8 engine?

You may be right, I may be colouring this with my reflection; I had a 328i in the 1990s and it had a 2.8 litre straight six and I now find that every x28 doesn't. Oh well, I learn something but I don't change my opinion!

 

[MisterSheeps]

1st car i had, was on t'dole, was a Reliant Robin van, used to go caving and it objected to the bumpy unmade tracks in the Dales 'cos of the middle wheel, it also didn't start well, and took 14 hours from Lancaster to Torridon

Worst was a Fiat Panda, turn indicators on and wipers worked, curiously not the other way round. Then the wipers fell off the splines which were worn.

Mk 1 Clio with sunroof / shower, but gutter sealant mostly fixed it.

 

[GS250]

You may be right, I may be colouring this with my reflection; I had a 328i in the 1990s and it had a 2.8 litre straight six and I now find that every x28 doesn't. Oh well, I learn something but I don't change my opinion!

Yes...you are dead right regarding that 2.8

The F10 series 530i may have been a twin Turbo 2.0i by the end! I know the 528i was a single turbo 2.0i at some stage. In fact before this the 523i, 528i and 530i were all derivatives of the 3.0 unit in a different state of tune!

Either way I'd steer well clear of an F10, inviting, comfy interior or not.

 

[gavinro]

I've boycotted BMW because of their stupid naming/numbering convention, the numbers no longer correspond to the engine capacity and that annoys me beyond belief. Their car, so they can call it what they want I guess, but I'm not going to have one. And people think I buy a car for a logical reason!

I was similarly annoyed that my Peugot 205 had a 1.9L engine rather than a 0.5L motor.

Though my Peugeot 208 did indeed have a 208hp engine, so maybe they got back on track that way!

 

[DustyBin]

I was similarly annoyed that my Peugot 205 had a 1.9L engine rather than a 0.5L motor.

Though my Peugeot 208 did indeed have a 208hp engine, so maybe they got back on track that way!

Which 208 model was that out of interest?

They’re all at it now with the silly numbering systems, check the back of a modern Audi. What on earth is an A4 35 TFSI?!

 

[Dai Corner]

Which 208 model was that out of interest?

They’re all at it now with the silly numbering systems, check the back of a modern Audi. What on earth is an A4 35 TFSI?!

Not all. Mazda do a 2, a 3 and a 6, for example.

 

[DustyBin]

Not all. Mazda do a 2, a 3 and a 6, for example.

They’re only models though; it’s certain manufacturers engine numbering conventions that are the cause of our annoyance!

 

[GS250]

Which 208 model was that out of interest?

They’re all at it now with the silly numbering systems, check the back of a modern Audi. What on earth is an A4 35 TFSI?!

Yeh....I saw an Audi A3 45 TFSI the other day and daftly presumed there was a 4.5L shoehorned into the engine bay. Then when it pulled away it sounded like it barely had 4 cylinders.

 

[MotCO]

Yeh....I saw an Audi A3 45 TFSI the other day and daftly presumed there was a 4.5L shoehorned into the engine bay. Then when it pulled away it sounded like it barely had 4 cylinders.

Maybe the decimal point was in the wrong place

 

[gavinro]

Which 208 model was that out of interest?

They’re all at it now with the silly numbering systems, check the back of a modern Audi. What on earth is an A4 35 TFSI?!

That was the 208 GTi as of 2016. The newer model 208 doesn't have a "hot" version, nor does the 308 any more. It's a shame, I have a long and happy history with Peugeot hot hatches.

 

[chorleyjeff]

What was the worst car you have ever owned and why was it the worst?

I’ve had my fair share of bad cars but mine would have to be a Renault Clio the filled with water every time it rained and constantly stalled at junctions and traffic lights despite having a automatic transmission.

Triumph Spitfire.
Not fast. Poor acceleration. DREADFUL ROAD HOLDING.
But easy and cheap to maintain.

 

[DustyBin]

That was the 208 GTi as of 2016. The newer model 208 doesn't have a "hot" version, nor does the 308 any more. It's a shame, I have a long and happy history with Peugeot hot hatches.

Ah right, I thought they were sub-200hp but obviously not! I'm a big Fiesta ST fan, but the GTi was a decent little hot hatch.

 

[gavinro]

Ah right, I thought they were sub-200hp but obviously not! I'm a big Fiesta ST fan, but the GTi was a decent little hot hatch.

Technically it was 208PS rather than 208hp, but they're close to the same thing. Then I had a 308 GTi which was 270.

Down to 261 for the GR Yaris I use now, but it's pretty lightweight by modern standards despite the heft of the AWD system, so it trundles along nicely

 

[DustyBin]

Technically it was 208PS rather than 208hp, but they're close to the same thing. Then I had a 308 GTi which was 270.

Down to 261 for the GR Yaris I use now, but it's pretty lightweight by modern standards despite the heft of the AWD system, so it trundles along nicely

I’d like to try a GR Yaris, it’s quite unique among modern hot hatches. I have a Focus RS with 375PS, it’s absolutely not a lightweight though by any standard! It disguises it’s heft extremely well really, I’ve had it since new and it still makes me smile.

 

[gavinro]

I’d like to try a GR Yaris, it’s quite unique among modern hot hatches. I have a Focus RS with 375PS, it’s absolutely not a lightweight though by any standard! It disguises it’s heft extremely well really, I’ve had it since new and it still makes me smile.

Is that AWD? 375 would be a lot through the front wheels!

You can feel weight. I test drove a Cupra Born "electric hot hatch" and quite enjoyed it, but it certainly made its weight felt - nearly 2t for a Gold/Fiesta/308 size car

PS If you'd really like to try the GRY, I'm about to have one for sale, within a week or so! I missed out when they originally went on sale, but bought a 2nd hand one. Now I've just bagged a "new" one (technically I'll be 2nd owner, but it's only got delivery miles on it), so I'm gonna be selling my existing one.

 

[DustyBin]

Is that AWD? 375 would be a lot through the front wheels!

It is, it uses a very clever (if somewhat complex!) GKN system.

The MK2 was front wheel drive and came with up to 350PS. The LSD and RevoKnuckle set up did a pretty decent job of keeping things under control to be fair, and there are plenty with 500+HP these days. They’ll always be traction limited to an extent though.

You can feel weight. I test drove a Cupra Born "electric hot hatch" and quite enjoyed it, but it certainly made its weight felt - nearly 2t for a Gold/Fiesta/308 size car

My missus drives a Fiesta ST200 which weighs less than 1,100kg… Crazy!

PS If you'd really like to try the GRY, I'm about to have one for sale, within a week or so! I missed out when they originally went on sale, but bought a 2nd hand one. Now I've just bagged a "new" one (technically I'll be 2nd owner, but it's only got delivery miles on it), so I'm gonna be selling my existing one.

Thanks, I was thinking more just a test drive. Good luck with the sale though (and new car!).

 

[GS250]

Ok....so lets change this thread somewhat. What was the worst car your Mum or Dad owned???!!!

Now Dad was generally a man of style and good taste. However, he owned:

1) A 1976 Austin Allegro Estate 1.5 auto. As much fun as we poke at the 'all aggro' it was actually quite a fresh looking car at the time. However this particular specimen certainly lived up to the brand's reputation for unreliability and build quality issues. Amongst other things, part of the driveshaft once broke off and landed in the middle of the road. As well as numerous non starting problems, bits of trim breaking off and various other problems this car ended up dying completely when the head gasket failed in spectacular fashion on the M4 one night.

What's even worse was that Dad then decided to replace it with, you've guessed it....another Allegro of the same spec!!! This one lasted about a year, only letting us down once when it overheated queuing up for an Airshow but overall just about kept its nose clean. Although I remember my mum trying to open the rear door and the handle coming off in the process.

 

[Cowley]

Ok....so lets change this thread somewhat. What was the worst car your Mum or Dad owned???!!!

Now Dad was generally a man of style and good taste. However, he owned:

1) A 1976 Austin Allegro Estate 1.5 auto. As much fun as we poke at the 'all aggro' it was actually quite a fresh looking car at the time. However this particular specimen certainly lived up to the brand's reputation for unreliability and build quality issues. Amongst other things, part of the driveshaft once broke off and landed in the middle of the road. As well as numerous non starting problems, bits of trim breaking off and various other problems this car ended up dying completely when the head gasket failed in spectacular fashion on the M4 one night.

What's even worse was that Dad then decided to replace it with, you've guessed it....another Allegro of the same spec!!! This one lasted about a year, only letting us down once when it overheated queuing up for an Airshow but overall just about kept its nose clean. Although I remember my mum trying to open the rear door and the handle coming off in the process.

I would have to put forward my parents X Reg Citroen GSA Pallas which looked exactly like this:



My word it was bad. My mother was sweet talked into buying it by the salesman in Sidwell Street Motors in Exeter when my father was at work. Somewhat bemused he came home to find that this would be the car he’d be using to get to work and then all around Devon and Cornwall for his job. Only he didn’t tend to get very far most of the time.

It was a car that always spent more time being repaired than actually working that’s for sure. It could tiptoe through fords though if you raised the suspension to setting 3…

 

[Ash Bridge]

I would have to put forward my parents X Reg Citroen GSA Pallas which looked exactly like this:

View attachment 126773

My word it was bad. My mother was sweet talked into buying it by the salesman in Sidwell Street Motors in Exeter when my father was at work. Somewhat bemused he came home to find that this would be the car he’d be using to get to work and then all around Devon and Cornwall for his job. Only he didn’t tend to get very far most of the time.

It was a car that always spent more time being repaired than actually working that’s for sure. It could tiptoe through fords though if you raised the suspension to setting 3…

Stunning looking machine there Mr C, can just picture you sat proudly at the wheel of one of those beauties

Almost as nice as my lovely (NOT!) red 2004 Renault Scenic

 

[The Ham]

Worst car;

In terms of specification; my first car a polo

In terms of I wish I hadn't brought; my second car a Clio - although fairly little went wrong, it was nearly new so should have been a LOT better

In terms of cost to repair; my Grand C-Max - however that's as I had to replace the cam belt

In terms of the most to go wrong; my Leon, but that was a lot down to little things which weren't worth fixing, like one of the rear seats wouldn't find down and the CD auto changer giving up

I've had other cars, so it's not all bad.

 

[Richard Scott]

I would have to put forward my parents X Reg Citroen GSA Pallas which looked exactly like this:

View attachment 126773

My word it was bad. My mother was sweet talked into buying it by the salesman in Sidwell Street Motors in Exeter when my father was at work. Somewhat bemused he came home to find that this would be the car he’d be using to get to work and then all around Devon and Cornwall for his job. Only he didn’t tend to get very far most of the time.

It was a car that always spent more time being repaired than actually working that’s for sure. It could tiptoe through fords though if you raised the suspension to setting 3…

Were they the ones with a flat 4 air-cooled engine? A mate of my dad who was a mechanic referred to these as Napoleon's revenge as changing the spark plugs was such a pig of a job!

 

[Cowley]

Stunning looking machine there Mr C, can just picture you sat proudly at the wheel of one of those beauties

Oh I didn’t get to sit at the wheel Mr Bridge, not at that age. I wasn’t allowed to do that anyway after snapping the choke handle off on one my parents Minis one day in about 1979.

Oh I remember the feeling of panic as I stuck it back in the hole it came out of before hurriedly jumping into the back seat and pretending to find something really interesting out of the window, then the look on my dads face when he pulled it straight out of the dashboard and just slowly turned around to stare at me…

Were they the ones with a flat 4 air-cooled engine? A mate of my dad who was a mechanic referred to these as Napoleon's revenge as changing the spark plugs was such a pig of a job!

I think that’s the one yes.

 

[DustyBin]

I would have to put forward my parents X Reg Citroen GSA Pallas which looked exactly like this:

View attachment 126773

My word it was bad. My mother was sweet talked into buying it by the salesman in Sidwell Street Motors in Exeter when my father was at work. Somewhat bemused he came home to find that this would be the car he’d be using to get to work and then all around Devon and Cornwall for his job. Only he didn’t tend to get very far most of the time.

It was a car that always spent more time being repaired than actually working that’s for sure. It could tiptoe through fords though if you raised the suspension to setting 3…

I really like the quirkiness of old French cars, but I fail to understand why anybody bought them at the time! I can't remember which model it was (it may have been a Renault) that had a transverse engine and a belt driven fan mounted behind the radiator, meaning the belt had to turn 90 degrees.... Just why!?!?

 

[MotCO]

Wasn't there a French car where you had to take the whole front off the car to replace a headlamp bulb?

 

[Cowley]

Wasn't there a French car where you had to take the whole front off the car to replace a headlamp bulb?

That was an early 2000s Peugeot wasn’t it? Absolutely bonkers.

 

[DelW]

Wasn't there a French car where you had to take the whole front off the car to replace a headlamp bulb?

There were some Fords like that too - I think mark 1 Mondeos but may have been Sierras. The fitter at our company workshop used to put them up on a hydraulic ramp and get at the bulb from underneath as he found that was quicker, but it still took 45 minutes or more.

 

[Richard Scott]

That was an early 2000s Peugeot wasn’t it? Absolutely bonkers.

Also Renault Megane, I believe?