The Worst Car You Ever Owned?
Yesterday I posted a question on REDDIT and asked:
"What's the worst car you ever owned, and why?"
Well, the responses are quite funny. See below.
Chevy Chevette (can't remember the year) bought for $400 off a guy wearing a powder blue leisure suit and an Elvis bouffant. So many times I nearly got creamed trying to get her up to 55 from an on-ramp with it's piece of shit 4-speed gearbox. The radiator leaked constantly
1985 Buick Skyhawk. Most of the car was rust and it had a sweet custom sunroof that was just a sheet of plexiglass bolted onto the top.
It's my first car and I won't be buying Dodge again. It's a '02 Stratus. Already has needed a few repairs. The steering wheel squeaks as well as the suspension (or at least I think it is). It's all wonky and everything. It works, isn't anything to complain about but quality deteriorated quickly.
89 Toyota Corolla. Had to make sure the A/C (or defroster, depending on season) was off to get enough power to merge onto the interstate.
OK, technically I didn't own that one, my parents did. Worst one I owned was a 2003 Dodge Caravan. Random weird noises we never sorted out. Lousy gas mileage. Coolant system problems. The dealer was as big a contributor to the shittiness of that experience as the van itself.
Edit: I also had a '93 Plymouth Acclaim. The last of the K-Cars. But it beat out Honda and Toyota in JD Power's initial quality survey that year. It should have been a POS. It looked like a POS. By the time I got it, it had 90K on the clock (I added another 35K), I snapped the e-brake cable just by engaging it, the doors were rusting and it used oil at a ridiculous rate, the defroster didn't work and neither did the A/C. But for what I needed it for (150 mile round-trip daily commute, all interstate miles), that Mitsubishi-built V6 and 3-speed automatic got me a rock-solid 30MPG every day, no matter the weather, no matter what speed I drove on the highway.
"What's the worst car you ever owned, and why?"
Well, the responses are quite funny. See below.
Chevy Chevette (can't remember the year) bought for $400 off a guy wearing a powder blue leisure suit and an Elvis bouffant. So many times I nearly got creamed trying to get her up to 55 from an on-ramp with it's piece of shit 4-speed gearbox. The radiator leaked constantly
1985 Buick Skyhawk. Most of the car was rust and it had a sweet custom sunroof that was just a sheet of plexiglass bolted onto the top.
It's my first car and I won't be buying Dodge again. It's a '02 Stratus. Already has needed a few repairs. The steering wheel squeaks as well as the suspension (or at least I think it is). It's all wonky and everything. It works, isn't anything to complain about but quality deteriorated quickly.
I had a mid 80's Pontiac 6000 for a couple of years. The hood was held down by a cargo strap, it leaked 2-3 quarts of oil a week (who needs oil changes?) and by the time I sold it for $50 the front foot well was filled with antifreeze.
It was in such rough shape I had a mechanic tell me he wasn't going to help me the next time it broke down and that I should get rid of it.
It was in such rough shape I had a mechanic tell me he wasn't going to help me the next time it broke down and that I should get rid of it.
89 Toyota Corolla. Had to make sure the A/C (or defroster, depending on season) was off to get enough power to merge onto the interstate.
OK, technically I didn't own that one, my parents did. Worst one I owned was a 2003 Dodge Caravan. Random weird noises we never sorted out. Lousy gas mileage. Coolant system problems. The dealer was as big a contributor to the shittiness of that experience as the van itself.
Edit: I also had a '93 Plymouth Acclaim. The last of the K-Cars. But it beat out Honda and Toyota in JD Power's initial quality survey that year. It should have been a POS. It looked like a POS. By the time I got it, it had 90K on the clock (I added another 35K), I snapped the e-brake cable just by engaging it, the doors were rusting and it used oil at a ridiculous rate, the defroster didn't work and neither did the A/C. But for what I needed it for (150 mile round-trip daily commute, all interstate miles), that Mitsubishi-built V6 and 3-speed automatic got me a rock-solid 30MPG every day, no matter the weather, no matter what speed I drove on the highway.
A couple of years ago I was driving a Chevy shitbox that had the usual assortment of rust, water leaks at the windshield, bad gasket of some sort (I wans't going to pay over $1k to fix), intermittent radio, no interior lights, etc. I walked away from it after it left a wheel & axle behind at an intersection. It actually belonged to my mother-in-law. About the time the car died, she also died. We then found out that she had gotten a title loan (the car was collateral). The loan company was most likely not happy with what they ended up with.
Now I drive a Cadillac. No heat or A/C. No defrost. Doors freeze shut. No gas guage. Sometimes has radio. Used a string of Christmas lights to hold the muffler on.
Now I drive a Cadillac. No heat or A/C. No defrost. Doors freeze shut. No gas guage. Sometimes has radio. Used a string of Christmas lights to hold the muffler on.
I will list all of the cars I have owned to date and what was wrong with them since I have had trouble with damn near all of them.
1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme........now that I think about it, didn't really have any trouble with this car.
1979 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta.........Clutch went out within the first 4 months I had the thing, 3rd gear synchronizer ring in the transmission went out and I sold it after that
1989 Ford EXP......fun little 2 seater, but I had trouble with the front wheel bearings, having to replace 2 in the short time I owned it, then the rear shock mounts rusted out in the back and came up through the fenders. It also blew out a freeze plug in the engine block.
1980 Chevrolet Blazer..........This was a stupid purchase on my part. It had a 10 inch lift and 40 inch mudding tires on it. The thing was VERY underpowered and was a horrible bouncy ride. One day the slip yoke on the rear driveshaft busted. I had to drive it with the front wheels for a while. Looking for another slip yoke was like looking for a needle in a haystack because apparently they only put those on the 1980 model and they were hard to find. Ended up selling it for $1500 to a couple rednecks.
1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am........not a bad car, but again, stupid move on my part. The car had been wrecked before I bought it and fixed up enough to look somewhat decent. Body lines didnt match up or anything, but i got it anyway. It has been the most powerful car I have had to date with the 6.6L 403CI engine. Unfortunately, it kept wearing out the tires really bad on the outside edges. I put new ball joints in it but that did not work. Took it to a mechanic and he told me the subframe was cracked. Found out the guy who had it before me crashed it into a phone pole.
1970 Plymouth Valiant...........really good running car, only complaint I have about it is the old bench seat was tore up and the stuffing was coming out. I think they made those cloth seats with some fiberglass in them because I would break out in a rash and my whole back would itch from coming into contact with it. had to have a blanket draped over the seat to drive it. Other than that, it had a strong little 225 CI slant 6 engine that ran like a champ. The front fenders were about 80% Bondo though.
1985 Chevrolet Camaro......good running car also, had the 2.8L V-6 and a 5-speed. All of a sudden one day the car wouldnt shift into gear. I replaced the slave cylinder and it still didnt shift. My dad eventually replaced the clutch but by that time I had gotten another car, so he used the Camaro as a spare.
1995 Volkswagen Jetta......the WORST car I have ever had. Also probably the most EXPENSIVE car to repair that I have owned. Living in Ohio, there's a lot of deer to dodge in the winter. I hit 2 deer with this car, the first time was on the drivers side. it broke the headlight assembly (which is made of glass) $100 just for that. A month later, another deer broke the other headlight assembly. Another $100. Spark plug wires? $100 for the set. Front wheel bearing went out on me, then, toward the end of it's life, the rear wheel bearing went out on me and the wheel actually came off of the car while i was driving it. (luckily at a low speed) It died toward the end when the distributo hold-down tab broke and I had to zip-tie it in place. The timing was all screwed up on the engine and I sold it for $200
1998 Ford ZX-2......nice sporty car that I drove down to Florida in when I moved here, unfortunately it did not last too long after that, the differential bearing went out and it was going to cost about $2,000 to fix.
2004 Chevrolet Aveo. I still have this car, it's a good running car for me (knock on wood) The timing belt broke on it a year ago and bent up some valves. $1,600 later, it has a rebuilt head on it and still runs good, just needs tires now.
1989 Lincoln Town Car.....I bought this thing about 3 months ago for $600 from a guy near me. The only problem with it is it overheats. I can drive it to work (about 15 minutes away) and that's about it. I have no idea what's wrong with it. It doesnt leak antifreeze and there is no coolant mixed with the oil and it does not have any white smoke coming out of the exhaust, so that pretty much rules out head gasket or cracked head. It does not have a thermostat in it (i took it out), so the thermostat is not the problem. I dont need one down here in Florida anyway.
Sorry for the long post, im just bored at work.
EDIT: Forgot about the 1992 Toyota Tercel.....that was a decent little car, but the main bearing seal was leaking when i bought it. I had to put about a quart of oil in it every couple days. One day I got lazy and decided to procrastinate with the oil, even though the "oil" light was lit up on the dashboard. Needless to say the engine blew on me driving to work one day. I turned it in for scrap and got $70 for it
Also I had a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser station wagon that a co-worker gave me for free when I was without a car. This car was okay, but the wiring was screwed up in it. if I hit a bump too fast, the car would stall and not start until i jiggled some wires near the battery. I gave this car to my dad when i moved to florida for him to use as a spare.
1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme........now that I think about it, didn't really have any trouble with this car.
1979 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta.........Clutch went out within the first 4 months I had the thing, 3rd gear synchronizer ring in the transmission went out and I sold it after that
1989 Ford EXP......fun little 2 seater, but I had trouble with the front wheel bearings, having to replace 2 in the short time I owned it, then the rear shock mounts rusted out in the back and came up through the fenders. It also blew out a freeze plug in the engine block.
1980 Chevrolet Blazer..........This was a stupid purchase on my part. It had a 10 inch lift and 40 inch mudding tires on it. The thing was VERY underpowered and was a horrible bouncy ride. One day the slip yoke on the rear driveshaft busted. I had to drive it with the front wheels for a while. Looking for another slip yoke was like looking for a needle in a haystack because apparently they only put those on the 1980 model and they were hard to find. Ended up selling it for $1500 to a couple rednecks.
1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am........not a bad car, but again, stupid move on my part. The car had been wrecked before I bought it and fixed up enough to look somewhat decent. Body lines didnt match up or anything, but i got it anyway. It has been the most powerful car I have had to date with the 6.6L 403CI engine. Unfortunately, it kept wearing out the tires really bad on the outside edges. I put new ball joints in it but that did not work. Took it to a mechanic and he told me the subframe was cracked. Found out the guy who had it before me crashed it into a phone pole.
1970 Plymouth Valiant...........really good running car, only complaint I have about it is the old bench seat was tore up and the stuffing was coming out. I think they made those cloth seats with some fiberglass in them because I would break out in a rash and my whole back would itch from coming into contact with it. had to have a blanket draped over the seat to drive it. Other than that, it had a strong little 225 CI slant 6 engine that ran like a champ. The front fenders were about 80% Bondo though.
1985 Chevrolet Camaro......good running car also, had the 2.8L V-6 and a 5-speed. All of a sudden one day the car wouldnt shift into gear. I replaced the slave cylinder and it still didnt shift. My dad eventually replaced the clutch but by that time I had gotten another car, so he used the Camaro as a spare.
1995 Volkswagen Jetta......the WORST car I have ever had. Also probably the most EXPENSIVE car to repair that I have owned. Living in Ohio, there's a lot of deer to dodge in the winter. I hit 2 deer with this car, the first time was on the drivers side. it broke the headlight assembly (which is made of glass) $100 just for that. A month later, another deer broke the other headlight assembly. Another $100. Spark plug wires? $100 for the set. Front wheel bearing went out on me, then, toward the end of it's life, the rear wheel bearing went out on me and the wheel actually came off of the car while i was driving it. (luckily at a low speed) It died toward the end when the distributo hold-down tab broke and I had to zip-tie it in place. The timing was all screwed up on the engine and I sold it for $200
1998 Ford ZX-2......nice sporty car that I drove down to Florida in when I moved here, unfortunately it did not last too long after that, the differential bearing went out and it was going to cost about $2,000 to fix.
2004 Chevrolet Aveo. I still have this car, it's a good running car for me (knock on wood) The timing belt broke on it a year ago and bent up some valves. $1,600 later, it has a rebuilt head on it and still runs good, just needs tires now.
1989 Lincoln Town Car.....I bought this thing about 3 months ago for $600 from a guy near me. The only problem with it is it overheats. I can drive it to work (about 15 minutes away) and that's about it. I have no idea what's wrong with it. It doesnt leak antifreeze and there is no coolant mixed with the oil and it does not have any white smoke coming out of the exhaust, so that pretty much rules out head gasket or cracked head. It does not have a thermostat in it (i took it out), so the thermostat is not the problem. I dont need one down here in Florida anyway.
Sorry for the long post, im just bored at work.
EDIT: Forgot about the 1992 Toyota Tercel.....that was a decent little car, but the main bearing seal was leaking when i bought it. I had to put about a quart of oil in it every couple days. One day I got lazy and decided to procrastinate with the oil, even though the "oil" light was lit up on the dashboard. Needless to say the engine blew on me driving to work one day. I turned it in for scrap and got $70 for it
Also I had a 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser station wagon that a co-worker gave me for free when I was without a car. This car was okay, but the wiring was screwed up in it. if I hit a bump too fast, the car would stall and not start until i jiggled some wires near the battery. I gave this car to my dad when i moved to florida for him to use as a spare.
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