Worst 3 cars you've ever owned
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Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
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From: FL
Worst 3 cars you've ever owned
I figured, why not? We should list the 3 worst cars we've owned too. So here goes:
IS250 >> Very much a complete disappointment in every category, except value. High quality materials throughout, but the car had too many annoyances and shortcomings for me to live with on a daily basis. A 3-Series fighter, it's not.
MINI Cooper S >> Engine that hates to rev, gearing that's far too tall to allow the car to do anything fun, front wheels that immediately throw in the white flag on the cloverleaf on-ramps.
98' Dodge Dakota pickup >> Inexpensive truck, and you got what you paid for. The thing spent more time in the shop than I care to mention.
IS250 >> Very much a complete disappointment in every category, except value. High quality materials throughout, but the car had too many annoyances and shortcomings for me to live with on a daily basis. A 3-Series fighter, it's not.
MINI Cooper S >> Engine that hates to rev, gearing that's far too tall to allow the car to do anything fun, front wheels that immediately throw in the white flag on the cloverleaf on-ramps.
98' Dodge Dakota pickup >> Inexpensive truck, and you got what you paid for. The thing spent more time in the shop than I care to mention.
Last edited by ff_; Feb 26, 2007 at 07:30 AM.
01 Rodeo>>Felt like it was going to fall apart my dad had one and his tranny went at 50K I sold mine shortly after that.....
That's it I've only owned about 9 cars and that was the only one that was bad.
That's it I've only owned about 9 cars and that was the only one that was bad.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,337
Likes: 213
From: Miami, Florida
1996 Dodge Caravan- In the few weeks I took care of it for my uncle (it was under my name on the title), bad water pump, busted tranny, busted tire (not sure if I can fault the last one). Earned the name money pit.
My mom can tell worse horror stories of her old 1979 Chevette.
My mom can tell worse horror stories of her old 1979 Chevette.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 390
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From: Canada
1) 1988 Lincoln Continental
2) 1988 Lincoln Continental
3) 1988 Lincoln Continental
We had this car for many years and I loved it at first. It had lots of toys for the time, and was a fairly luxurious ride. By the time it came into my hands, from 1998-1999 it was a wreck. The driver's side window broke biannually. The air-ride suspension occasionally went haywire, making it appear to be a low-rider, on jack stands or a particularly embarrassing variant of both. The 3.8 L V6 was WEAK! Needless to say, when we got rid of it for a new Honda Accord that I pressed hard for and was our first Japanese car - we were very impressed. Who would have thought you could drive a car and things would actually *work*.
I recall reading in a 1994 issue of Consumers Digest that the 1989 Lincoln Continental was the most unreliable car they had ever tested. To think, our 88 was the first year of production for that model!
My dad used to complain a lot about his old Audi 5000, although I barely remember it. The Audi being his first non-domestic car made him anti-import. If it wasn't for that Lincoln, I probably wouldn't have been able to convince him to get a Honda. He's a changed man now.
2) 1988 Lincoln Continental
3) 1988 Lincoln Continental
We had this car for many years and I loved it at first. It had lots of toys for the time, and was a fairly luxurious ride. By the time it came into my hands, from 1998-1999 it was a wreck. The driver's side window broke biannually. The air-ride suspension occasionally went haywire, making it appear to be a low-rider, on jack stands or a particularly embarrassing variant of both. The 3.8 L V6 was WEAK! Needless to say, when we got rid of it for a new Honda Accord that I pressed hard for and was our first Japanese car - we were very impressed. Who would have thought you could drive a car and things would actually *work*.
I recall reading in a 1994 issue of Consumers Digest that the 1989 Lincoln Continental was the most unreliable car they had ever tested. To think, our 88 was the first year of production for that model!
My dad used to complain a lot about his old Audi 5000, although I barely remember it. The Audi being his first non-domestic car made him anti-import. If it wasn't for that Lincoln, I probably wouldn't have been able to convince him to get a Honda. He's a changed man now.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,921
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From: Washington
1) 1972 Ford Mustang, bought it when I was 15 and had it about 6 months, never had my DL when I owned this car.
2) 1990 Ford Escort, my dad bought this car for me to drive back and forth to school while I lived at home. Beat the crap out of it for 2 years, 86k miles worth.
3) 1986 Mitsubishi Galant, my mother gave this car to my wife when we first got married. She bought it new in '86 and it was state of the art back then, nice car for about 4 years but just wasn't built to last.
2) 1990 Ford Escort, my dad bought this car for me to drive back and forth to school while I lived at home. Beat the crap out of it for 2 years, 86k miles worth.
3) 1986 Mitsubishi Galant, my mother gave this car to my wife when we first got married. She bought it new in '86 and it was state of the art back then, nice car for about 4 years but just wasn't built to last.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: FL
These aren't in order or worstness, just the order I thought of them.
2001 Ford Exploder. Electrical problems galore. The lights in the center console and stuff would keep randomly dimming and brightening, sometimes to the tune of accelleration, sometimes not. 3 radios and other stuff later, it still did it.
2002/4 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Ok. We've had this car twice. The first one's ECU or something died and they had no idea when they could fix it since they were on eternal back order or some story. Traded it for an 04. Horrid nav system, gas mileage, squeaks galore. We still have the 04. In all honesty though, I'd get another one. Respectable power for an SUV and as long as you don't keep them too long maybe the build quality won't bother you.
I'm arguing whether to put the Dodge Magnum/RX300/Mustang here...
2006 Dodge Magnum RT. Slower than an IS350 despite being rated 34 hp higher, steering wheel pulled from a Mack truck, terrible blind spots (can't see traffic lights sometimes the roof is so low), bad material quality, dashboard that could rival a Hummer's in size. We've had it for 1.5 years and stuff already squeaks, the windows roll down at different speeds. This car sucks.
2001 Ford Exploder. Electrical problems galore. The lights in the center console and stuff would keep randomly dimming and brightening, sometimes to the tune of accelleration, sometimes not. 3 radios and other stuff later, it still did it.
2002/4 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Ok. We've had this car twice. The first one's ECU or something died and they had no idea when they could fix it since they were on eternal back order or some story. Traded it for an 04. Horrid nav system, gas mileage, squeaks galore. We still have the 04. In all honesty though, I'd get another one. Respectable power for an SUV and as long as you don't keep them too long maybe the build quality won't bother you.
I'm arguing whether to put the Dodge Magnum/RX300/Mustang here...
2006 Dodge Magnum RT. Slower than an IS350 despite being rated 34 hp higher, steering wheel pulled from a Mack truck, terrible blind spots (can't see traffic lights sometimes the roof is so low), bad material quality, dashboard that could rival a Hummer's in size. We've had it for 1.5 years and stuff already squeaks, the windows roll down at different speeds. This car sucks.
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CL Community Team
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From: Miami, Florida
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We've been pretty fortunate in car choices. I've only bought Nissan or Toyotas. My first Toyota, the '80 Celica is still with me. 
Of the 7 cars we've had, I've gone outside the Toyota and Nissan once with a '82 BMW 528E. It was a PITA. Oil leaks, electronic gremlins, and other exterior issues.
Of the 7 cars we've had, I've gone outside the Toyota and Nissan once with a '82 BMW 528E. It was a PITA. Oil leaks, electronic gremlins, and other exterior issues.
Last edited by RA40; Feb 26, 2007 at 02:09 PM.
Well, I personally didn't own any cars that were particularly bad, and out of all my GS430 turning out to be the biggest disappointment. Not that it has any problems, but I simply hate its driving dynamics, steering, and VSC. I loved my first gen GS300, and my LS400 gives me orgasm, but the 2nd gen GS is ruined. Not that its a bad car, I love the comfort and the powerful engine, and of course the reliability, but it just drives awkward.
Then my parents once leased Infiniti QX4 (based on Pathfinder). God, what a piece of garbage. I hated everything about that car, easily the worst car ever in my book.
Now they are own a Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 hemi engine. Its amazing how cheaply built that vehicle is, and how unrefined that engine is. It also has the worst handling out of any SUV, and the worst fuel economy. But at least its relatively comfortable.
Then my parents once leased Infiniti QX4 (based on Pathfinder). God, what a piece of garbage. I hated everything about that car, easily the worst car ever in my book.
Now they are own a Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 hemi engine. Its amazing how cheaply built that vehicle is, and how unrefined that engine is. It also has the worst handling out of any SUV, and the worst fuel economy. But at least its relatively comfortable.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 6
From: Florida
I rarely talk about my cars but the worst cars I've ever owned were all diesels
'98 MB E300 TD
'98 Audi A4 1.9TDI
'00 LR Freelander 2.0D
After the Freelander I was done with diesels forever. But by the end of 2000 I moved to Florida anyway so I was also done with euro cars too (except Brits)
'98 MB E300 TD
'98 Audi A4 1.9TDI
'00 LR Freelander 2.0D
After the Freelander I was done with diesels forever. But by the end of 2000 I moved to Florida anyway so I was also done with euro cars too (except Brits)
my GS400. I dont hate it, but i'm dissappointed. I rather steer a bus than my boat. It has this aweful transmission jerk going from 1st to 2nd (even after putting in amsoil atf and tranny cooler). Eats gas like a **** (12mpg), and the engine is kind of noisy at idle, unless I'm in drive with the brakes applied. Do I regret my purchase? Kind of..but i love it when it comes to cruising on the highway.
Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
1992 Ford Explorer Sport: 5-speed manual transmission disintegrated at 65K. Had it rebuilt at a Ford dealer. Dies 4K later. Ford refused to honor the repair warranty. That was the worst, but it had lots of other problems, including having to get towed to the dealer because the cable from the starter solenoid to the starter corroded and had to be replaced (at least that was under warranty) and the A/C system failing totally at about 85K. This vehicle is the reason I will never again give Ford any of my money, even indirectly (I dumped Avis Car Rental after they insisted on giving me Fords).
1983 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe: Another disaster. In the 43K miles I owned it, I had to replace the turbocharger, the camshaft, and the exhaust manifold, as well as lots of other stuff.
I've owned 2 GM products in my life, but neither was seriously bad; they were just plagued with lots of little, but weird, problem (like the 1987 S-10 Blazer that had to have the power steering pump bracket replaced 4 times).
1983 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe: Another disaster. In the 43K miles I owned it, I had to replace the turbocharger, the camshaft, and the exhaust manifold, as well as lots of other stuff.
I've owned 2 GM products in my life, but neither was seriously bad; they were just plagued with lots of little, but weird, problem (like the 1987 S-10 Blazer that had to have the power steering pump bracket replaced 4 times).