The worst vehicle you ever owned was...

[4ord]

Sorry guys, that's an urban legend

I know, but "no va" really means he/she/it does not go. I know a little spanish. lol

 

[BillE]

Bill, I just love how we are all starting to tell our age in this thread.

I have a particular affinity towards that model/body style as my first car in 73 was a used 70~71 white Mercury Comet GT, 302 2-bolt, automatic. I learned to work on cars with that thing. It's the car that brought my wife and I together. We worked on it all the time, didn't need anything done to it, but I was constantly putting hot rod parts on it.

Finally wrapped it around a telephone pole doing about 35, SIDEWAYS off a dam about 8' in the air, DIRECTLY in the drivers door handle! Cut the pole in half, spun the car around and threw us (me and a racing buddy) down the dam into a swamp. My seat ended up on top of the passenger seat.

Then my 3rd car was yet another, black Comet GT. The interior was button tucked diamond pleated black naugahyde (had to kill a lot of little 'nauga's' to get all that hyde. :laughing: That one however had a 4-bolt 302, 12.7:1 Speed Pro pistons, 612° lift cam, Offenhauser racing intake with a NASCAR 1050cfm carb, and about everything else you could think of. Most of it was done when I bought it but I did change out the headers, dual point distributer, big ol' super coil, fat wires, and put a 4" short pipe exhaust on it, doing away with stupid glass packs, and some competition J style traction bars. The rear axle was pulled from a Torino 429 'shaker' car and was about 1½" too long on each end with a 4:10 gear.

That puppy would pull the front wheels about 8" up and freaking FLY!!!:hotrod2:
We had gas lines and I was driving around in a car that got about 7mpg (if I was lucky). Still like those Comets to this day, neat hood and that fastback kinda' styling with the black out rounded tail lights that stuck out a bit where the Maverick was a long flat style. I'd maybe buy one today if I found one I like.... (just don't tell my wife). :bolt:

Don't want to take this thread too sideways, but do you remember the Falcons/Comets from the early 60's that had a 289, 4 speed, super light weight interior? Those things were just plain RAPID!

One guy I knew (back then) had one and would just sucker some "cool car" into a '$5 a gear' street drag. Let's just say, he DID buy a lot hamburgers for his buddies (yum-Bob's Big Boy!).

Bill

 

[vet]

Had several 'bad' ones, but some were my own fault, I beat the H - - - out of them.

64 Galaxie with a 289 that I drove like it was a 390. Best mpg was 12, no matter how it was driven.

64 Impala that was wrecked before I bought it used. 5 trannies in a year, 3 - three speeds and 2 Borg-Warner t-10 4 speeds. Spit on the hood and it wouldn't start. It ran like a raped ape when it ran, but it didn't run long, or often.

1981 Chevy Citation X-11. Poor mpg, as many miles on the back of a tow truck as on the road. Funny, the odometer ran backwards between the 2nd and 3rd owners, and they had problems with it too. Air filters were 10 - 12 bucks, available only from the dealer, couldn't find an after-market one. The only good thing about it was I hounded the dealer so much, he gave me a deal on a Chrysler New Yorker, I had other dealers tell me to run back and buy it, before that guy realized he was losing money.

There are lemons in every brand. I don't know why, but there seems to be a few that just don't work. I've just had the best luck with Fords and Chrysler products, although the wife had good luck with GM products.

 

[cardaddy]

Don't want to take this thread too sideways, but do you remember the Falcons/Comets from the early 60's that had a 289, 4 speed, super light weight interior? Those things were just plain RAPID!

One guy I knew (back then) had one and would just sucker some "cool car" into a '$5 a gear' street drag. Let's just say, he DID buy a lot hamburgers for his buddies (yum-Bob's Big Boy!).

Bill

Bill, we are on the same page there brother! I used to hang out at Shoneys Big Boy (which was the EXACT same "Big Boy" standing out front.) Ours was down in a hole with 20' ~ 50' granite walls on 3 sides. Talk about cars with big ol' cams sounding good! Oh DADDY!!!!! :cheers:

That first Comet, well everyone wanted to race me with that puppy. (turned a lot of them down) But the 2nd one..... I had to get there early, never crank it up, and late at night, on a dark lonely straight, those boys ALL went home with empty wallets!

Later,

Cardaddy / aka Tony

 

[cardaddy]

Had several 'bad' ones, but some were my own fault, I beat the H - - - out of them.

64 Galaxie with a 289 that I drove like it was a 390. Best mpg was 12, no matter how it was driven.

64 Impala that was wrecked before I bought it used. 5 trannies in a year, 3 - three speeds and 2 Borg-Warner t-10 4 speeds. Spit on the hood and it wouldn't start. It ran like a raped ape when it ran, but it didn't run long, or often.

1981 Chevy Citation X-11. Poor mpg, as many miles on the back of a tow truck as on the road. Funny, the odometer ran backwards between the 2nd and 3rd owners, and they had problems with it too. Air filters were 10 - 12 bucks, available only from the dealer, couldn't find an after-market one. The only good thing about it was I hounded the dealer so much, he gave me a deal on a Chrysler New Yorker, I had other dealers tell me to run back and buy it, before that guy realized he was losing money.

There are lemons in every brand. I don't know why, but there seems to be a few that just don't work. I've just had the best luck with Fords and Chrysler products, although the wife had good luck with GM products.

OK, the one thing that stands out here.....

How in the name of he!! did you crunch not one, but TWO T-10's????
Back then the name 'rock crusher' was tossed around between both the Muncie and the Borg Warner.

 

[ziggo99]

I didn't own it per say, but I had to rent it for 30 days
2010 Ford Focus SES. I knew from the time the guy at Enterprise said "Well, consider yourself lucky that you're getting this upgrade", as it was going to be an Aveo, that this was going to be a real dandy. In any case, it looked nice from the outside. The 18" wheels, low profile tires, SYNC voice control, changeable interior light colors.
The power, or lack there of, made me fear for my life a couple of times. I'd merge into two lane traffic, with the pedal to the floor, and I wouldn't go anywhere. There was no power to this thing. I tried it on back roads. There were a lot of RPMs, but no HP or torque. The tires squealed at 20 MPH. Everything was cheap black plastic, sound system was awful, the cheapest headliner I've ever seen. It wasn't as bad as what some of you have said, but that car was probably close to $20k new. I couldn't imagine anyone buying one for that price, or even with $5k off. I'd rather get a five year old TL or Accord for that money.

 

[PorscheGuy997]

I haven't had any real unreliable cars; more like unreliable service departments...

After starting up my '04 Sable to drive it into the garage after a wash, the engine started making a really funny noise. I took it for a quick spin around the neighborhood and it got worse. As I pulled it into the garage, the engine stalled. Had the car towed to the dealer the next day.

The dealer called and said that the intake had cracked. $600 later, I picked up the car. Mind you, I have done nothing performance wise to this motor. I drove it two miles before returning it to the dealer. There was absolutely no power.

The dealer sat on it for two weeks, said it was fixed, and I drove it home with the same lack of power. I drove it for about a month and took it to a private mechanic, who found that the catalytic converters had gone bad from the engine running too rich. One of the cats actually blew a hole and was leaking exhaust (no CEL, either).

Back to the dealer it went... Since the car was still under the emissions warranty, I foolishly took it back to the dealer. They found the same problem and agreed to fix it.

Six weeks later, I get the car back. Same issue. Took it to another dealer and had them put it on their lift. Turns out the previous dealer welded a piece of steel over the hole in the catalytic converters.

Finally, the second dealer was able to fix it and it only took them two days...

This was 40k ago and things have been reliable ever since, outside of the general maintenance.

 

[RLove]

1970 Dodge Charger R/T 440. I had a '68 before it and it ran flawlessly, the '70 was always broken and my mechanic spent more time with the car than I did. That's not to say that I wouldn't like to have the car now.

 

[CheckeredFlag]

My wife and I both drive Toyota's as Daily Drivers ... she drives a RAV4 and I drive a 4Runner ...

Trouble free, but I will say, the paint seem "thin" on both of them ..

 

[cardaddy]

.....
The power, or lack there of, made me fear for my life a couple of times. I'd merge into two lane traffic, with the pedal to the floor, and I wouldn't go anywhere. There was no power to this thing. I tried it on back roads. There were a lot of RPMs, but no HP or torque. The tires squealed at 20 MPH. Everything was cheap black plastic, sound system was awful, the cheapest headliner I've ever seen. It wasn't as bad as what some of you have said, but that car was probably close to $20k new. I couldn't imagine anyone buying one for that price, or even with $5k off. I'd rather get a five year old TL or Accord for that money.

BINGO!
That reminds me of a SAAB 9-3 that my daughter got once as a loaner. She drives a G6 GTP 3.9L, and while it's not a tire shredding monster it does get to 60 in the mid 6's all day long, and will get over 22 mpg day in day out doing it. Well the 9-3 2.0t just huffed and puffed and acted like a rabbit getting chased by a pack of weasels! Getting to 60 was mid 8's at best and it sounded like it was trying to sling the fan belts off of it getting there.

There was a statement in the owners manual; "Welcome to European driving",
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!? This is what you have to look forward to on a curvy mountain road in the Alps?

Then we have the marvel of the latest wanderment through infinite wisdom from the DOT in the implementation of the Red Light at the bottom of a freeway entrance ramp.

QUICK, stomp on the gas and merge into traffic running 60 mph between here, and that line just right up there! What, you can't get but to 35 by then? Oh don't worry they'll let you in.

Haaaaa..... me thinks not. :dunno:

 

[cardaddy]

Re: The worst vehicle you ever owned was...NEW PHOTOS

Mentioned a Ford I had with paint failure earlier in the thread.

Here are a couple of B4 & After photos of the old girl.

Not only did they replace the single stage paint, but... they did a BC/CC and paid to have it re-lettered.

 

[cardaddy]

While this ol' Ford wasn't perfect in the beginning, it was great after that.
Mentioned it had blown an engine when new here.

First 3 years, 4 shows, all 1st place, 1 Best of Show beating everything there. (fla 89)

The little red 65 Mustang was a project between me and a neighbor. Pulled in 4 of 5 National Award Winners in the late 80's with her. Gotta' love that lil' 289.

Neon wasn't just in the paint, but underneath as well.

Needless to say the factory liked the attention. This was in Orlando 89 then Nashville in 90.

 

[vegas911gts]

86 ford mustang gt. Every part on that car broke 2 or 3 times. Because of that car I now refuse to buy ford or american cars.

 

[BobbyG]

A 2003 Toyota Carmy XLE

The car was bought new with less than 2 miles on it and never was in an accident or even bumped!

in 100,000 miles

• 4 sets of brakes & rotors
• 2 sets of calipers
• 2 catalytic converters
• 2 exhaust system from the cats (forward)
• 1 Computer
• 6 sensors
• Door locks stopped working 1 at a time
• If the drivers door locked you couldn't open the door
• Drivers side rear window stopped working
• Passengers side front window stopped working
• Drivers door window fell out of it's track

Toyota prides themselves on 92% of the Toyota Camry's sold since 1988 are still on the road today but what they didn't tell you is it cost $60,000 to keep them there....:nomore:

 

[miguel329]

Ford escort, wiring issue. Car was a big pile. Was unreliable.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cardaddy]

A 2003 Toyota Carmy XLE

The car was bought new with less than 2 miles on it and never was in an accident or even bumped!

in 100,000 miles

• 4 sets of brakes & rotors
• 2 sets of calipers
• 2 catalytic converters
• 2 exhaust system from the cats (forward)
• 1 Computer
• 6 sensors
• Door locks stopped working 1 at a time
• If the drivers door locked you couldn't open the door
• Drivers side rear window stopped working
• Passengers side front window stopped working
• Drivers door window fell out of it's track

Toyota prides themselves on 92% of the Toyota Camry's sold since 1988 are still on the road today but what they didn't tell you is it cost $60,000 to keep them there....

Holy SMOKES Batman! :wow:

That was my line of thinking with the truck that started this thread. It'd been easier and a lot cheaper to replace it, than keep *fixing* it.

Lemon laws being what they are, allow for up to 3 (three) repairs of the same problem before they have to buy it back. Usually they'll get it fixed the 2nd time around (considering that IS the third piece on the vehicle).

On that truck it was the first generation of the PowerStroke 7.3 (instead of a crate Navistar engine) and BOY was it a POS. Cooling wasn't bad but spinning water pumps every 6,000 miles was NUTS.

That 89 was my favorite one (out of 10 Fords) hands down. Even though we had to put a new engine in it almost right away, it ran and ran and ran. Kept that one in service 5 years while rotating all the other Fords every 2 or so. Great backup truck even when she was old, (like when the 94 kept breaking down).

That one was also my first design of a custom paint job. I sketched out dozens of variations, color combos, base colors, etc before I came up with that one. Would love to do something like that again. Those were the 'young, dumb, and full of pi$$ and vinegar' days. :laughing:

Notice I ran the Rhino 'bull bars' on them back then. Those push bars / grill guards were (and still are) rock solid. That one was several years old, I had been in bed with bronchitis for a few days and just had to get out, (my other guys were just too far behind). So I'm up in Marietta there at the "Big Chicken" (Atl guys will know that one) waiting to make a R turn, going S on 41/19. Big freaking Olds Toronado like this one was in front of me. He turned (or so I thought)......

That day I had a Porsche 928 on the bed, looked to the left all clear, time to go. Wound up 1st while turning right, and JUST as I hit 2nd, W-H-A-M that fellow had stopped dead still in the merge lane. I hit that fool so hard that he bounced all the way into the median! Squatted the rear end of the car down a good 2" all the way across, trunk jammed, both doors jammed, and his seat was laying straight back. :laughing:

The only damage I ended up with (because of the Rhino bar), the whole front bumper was angled towards the ground about 20°. Look at the paint job on that truck, the blue stripes above the bumper. Both bumper corners went up into the fenders there, tweaked the snot outta' the bumper as well.

Fix? New bumper, (Rhino bar was fine) plus slipped my painter a crisp $100 bill to work the fender(s) and re-do the stripes and she was on the road. Can't say enough about the Rhino products.

 

[Infiniti]

86 ford mustang gt. Every part on that car broke 2 or 3 times. Because of that car I now refuse to buy ford or american cars.

I had a 1989 Hyundai Excel. Because of that car I now refuse to buy Hyundai or Korean cars.

 

[Fishincricket]

Funny, I had a 1992 Buick and its because of that car that I now refuse to judge a current model based upon the ones built decades ago..

lol, sorry.. Couldn't resist!

 

[SubieMonte]

1969 Dodge Charger. Haunts me everyday because I sold it back in 1989.

 

[cardaddy]

I had a 1989 Hyundai Excel. Because of that car I now refuse to buy Hyundai or Korean cars.

Boy, that was just after they started selling here. To say they've changed since then would be an understatement for sure.

Rated as the 4th largest brand in the world (2010). They opened a KIA plant here in GA (under the Hyundai group) a couple of years ago. It is one of the most advanced manufacturing plants on the planet already, yet last Nov they announced a $1.6B expansion plan. It is an amazing facility! For an area that used to have up to 16,000 textile jobs and was hammered by NAFTA (along with the rest of the US economy) the plant was a life safer. The little town they built in has already added over 10,000 local jobs with several thousand more on the horizon.