What was the most unreliable car you've ever had?
23 June 2010, 02:29 PM
#1
What was the most unreliable car you've ever had?
I'll start:
Ford Escort MkIII, W reg. One of the first. Owned from 9 months old. It had:
FOUR new automatic chokes.
TWO new full carburettors WITH auto-choke.
A new exhaust every year we owned it, (about 6 years).
THREE new starter motors.
A new alternator.
TWO new water pumps.
A new radiator.
A new heater matrix.
TWO new windscreen wiper motors.
TWO new batteries
A FULL new engine.
Even then, it both rusted away and HATED starting when there was even the slightest bit of damp in the air.
And we ended up keeping it for 6 years because our finances weren't up to a new one
I was a Ford man all my life until that pile of sh*te. Never again.
Anyone beat that?
Ford Escort MkIII, W reg. One of the first. Owned from 9 months old. It had:
FOUR new automatic chokes.
TWO new full carburettors WITH auto-choke.
A new exhaust every year we owned it, (about 6 years).
THREE new starter motors.
A new alternator.
TWO new water pumps.
A new radiator.
A new heater matrix.
TWO new windscreen wiper motors.
TWO new batteries
A FULL new engine.
Even then, it both rusted away and HATED starting when there was even the slightest bit of damp in the air.
And we ended up keeping it for 6 years because our finances weren't up to a new one
I was a Ford man all my life until that pile of sh*te. Never again.
Anyone beat that?
23 June 2010, 02:43 PM
#3
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Capri , mainly the ignition
endless exhausts too , strange how you never have to replace these nowadays
endless exhausts too , strange how you never have to replace these nowadays
Last edited by dpb; 23 June 2010 at 02:44 PM.
23 June 2010, 02:44 PM
#4
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Fiat Cinquecento... bought for £450, spent about £300 in 6 weeks to keep it on the road, sold it for £275 after said 6 weeks of ownership to some poor sod on here (Scoobyvirgin). The clutch blew up when he drove it home so I sent him £25 for a new clutch kit out of the money he give me - I felt really bad 
All good fun. Most reliable cars I've ever had are Peugeot 106's - super little cars!
All good fun. Most reliable cars I've ever had are Peugeot 106's - super little cars!
23 June 2010, 02:50 PM
#6
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Old Y reg (1982?) Vauxhall Cavalier (MK2?) 1.6 GL.
Similar auto choke / carb woes - damn thing was always getting flooded.
Ignition fault - would cut out intermittently, usually when doing 70mph on the the outside lane of the motorway. Got recovered off the M4 for that Eventually traced to alternator after coil and electronic ignition module replaced.
Two batteries.
Replaced starter motor thinking that year old battery could not possibly be faulty.
Oil pressure gauge had a mind of it's own.
All but one bulb behind dash blown.
Thermostat stuck open (i.e. never warmed up properly) then managed to strip the thread in the alloy housing for it when replacing.
Engine blew, holed a piston, but it did pink a lot
Oil breathers blocked.
Got ripped off over an MoT where they claimed emissions were out due to leaky valve stem seals. Lot more blue smoke coming out of the exhaust after they'd finished with it than before.
Spark plug was cross threaded into the engine when I bought it.
Tracking miles out on purchase, predictably the adjusters were seized when I went to get it sorted.
Went through exhausts like they were going out of fashion, plus some cowboy exhaust fitter putting one on the clunked on the under body but refused to believe there was anything wrong with it until I almost had to force them to come out in the car with me to listen.
Anti roll bar linkage rusted through and snapped.
Starter motor started sticking.
Got an E30 BMW after that, different world
Similar auto choke / carb woes - damn thing was always getting flooded.
Ignition fault - would cut out intermittently, usually when doing 70mph on the the outside lane of the motorway. Got recovered off the M4 for that
Eventually traced to alternator after coil and electronic ignition module replaced.Two batteries.
Replaced starter motor thinking that year old battery could not possibly be faulty.
Oil pressure gauge had a mind of it's own.
All but one bulb behind dash blown.
Thermostat stuck open (i.e. never warmed up properly) then managed to strip the thread in the alloy housing for it when replacing.
Engine blew, holed a piston, but it did pink a lot
Oil breathers blocked.
Got ripped off over an MoT where they claimed emissions were out due to leaky valve stem seals. Lot more blue smoke coming out of the exhaust after they'd finished with it than before.
Spark plug was cross threaded into the engine when I bought it.
Tracking miles out on purchase, predictably the adjusters were seized when I went to get it sorted.
Went through exhausts like they were going out of fashion, plus some cowboy exhaust fitter putting one on the clunked on the under body but refused to believe there was anything wrong with it until I almost had to force them to come out in the car with me to listen.
Anti roll bar linkage rusted through and snapped.
Starter motor started sticking.
Got an E30 BMW after that, different world
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23 June 2010, 02:54 PM
#9
My V6 vectra endless problems wheel bearings,abs,air con, engine management lights coming on. Near the end the cambelt went at 60mph, engine was fine, few months later the cambelt went at the traffic light bent valves galore
In fact every breakdown I have had has been in a vauxhall., apart from my audi tdi.
In fact every breakdown I have had has been in a vauxhall., apart from my audi tdi.
23 June 2010, 02:59 PM
#12
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None of my cars have really been unreliable. The worst car I've ever had the miss fortune to drive regularly was the wifes Mk3 Astra. Steaming dog turd of a car.
The old boy we sold it to was over the moon about buying such a nice example (it was tidy just sh1te to drive). Worst thing was fogging - never known a car to fog soo badly. IMO it was dangerous because you could not see a thing. Nothing we did ever put it right.
The old boy we sold it to was over the moon about buying such a nice example (it was tidy just sh1te to drive). Worst thing was fogging - never known a car to fog soo badly. IMO it was dangerous because you could not see a thing. Nothing we did ever put it right.
23 June 2010, 03:28 PM
#14
Ahh my Dads old MKIII escort was the same with the auto choke in the winter....had it converted to a manual choke, then it was fine. The autochoke is just a bi-metal coil spring that winds and unwinds depening on coolant temperature and moving the choke flap, my Nissan sunny had one, that went a bit iffy too so I bent the spring until it ran ok.
To be frank, I've never had a 100% reliable car. Which is worse I'm not sure.
I would say my MKV XR3, but out the lot of them it took the most punishment and i did the most miles in it, with teh only time it leaving me stranded was when the battery went flat (which had been boarder line for 6months prior to that), it did leave me cold during winter when the thermostat stuck open though.
Yes it ate its gearbox...twice, engine randomly flooded itself, oxygen sensor failed shortly followed by the catalyst shattering and blocking the exhaust, melting its fusebox, leaking , rusting and needed most of its suspension replacing during ownership as well as the tappets jacking the valves open when cold during the first week after an oil change (work that one out). But, barring the gearbox, it was never that costly to fix.
The Subaru with the new engine and dodgy brakes? (ok the original engine didn't break but it did slap like a good'un). Owing to the brake problem it was probably the most dangerous. Thankfully not much else went wrong, and considering the the cost genuine parts at the time, its just as well, as it was still more expensive to run than the Escort - broken bits and all.
We did have a Rover 216 as a company car; Inlet o-rings leaked, as did the waterpump, despite fixing it before it airlocked and overheated, it still blew its head gasket (they all do that, sir), gearbox leaked constantly despite numerous repairs, then the geabox gained a very loud diesel like rattle, which remained for about 10,000 miles until the belt eventually broke (it was a CVT belt driven gearbox), the cost of repairing the noise was the same as for rebulding the gearbox after failure, hence not fixing it until after it broke. It ate brake pads for lunch (new set every 12months). And it would throw hissy fits on cold mornings. Kangarooing, stalling, and generally being a pain in the **** until I let it warm up, then stop the engine for 5 mins.
It is my most hateful car, unlike the XR3 which handled well, went well and was comfy and enjoyable to drive. The Rover was uncomfy, guzzled fuel, and suffered more severe failures that kept it off the road longer.
The Golf is getting close though:
New timing chains
New sprokets
New oxygen Sensor
New MAF
New clutch
New flywheel (dual mass)
Auto headlamps on the fritz (dull rainy day = off, bright sunny day = on
)
Auto wipers even worse (light drizzle = full speed wipers, raining, screen covered in water and unable to see = wipers - off)
And a cluncking gearbox that VW are washing their hands of despite the car being in warranty when they acknowledged it was a problem that required rectification (hence the flywheel and clutch - which didn't fix it ).
All in a car with just 28K miles on the clock, faults aside I still love the way it drives though.
I would mention the Jag, but a) its 18 years old and b) I'll hit the maximum word limit
To be frank, I've never had a 100% reliable car. Which is worse I'm not sure.
I would say my MKV XR3, but out the lot of them it took the most punishment and i did the most miles in it, with teh only time it leaving me stranded was when the battery went flat (which had been boarder line for 6months prior to that), it did leave me cold during winter when the thermostat stuck open though.
Yes it ate its gearbox...twice, engine randomly flooded itself, oxygen sensor failed shortly followed by the catalyst shattering and blocking the exhaust, melting its fusebox, leaking , rusting and needed most of its suspension replacing during ownership as well as the tappets jacking the valves open when cold during the first week after an oil change (work that one out). But, barring the gearbox, it was never that costly to fix.
The Subaru with the new engine and dodgy brakes? (ok the original engine didn't break but it did slap like a good'un). Owing to the brake problem it was probably the most dangerous. Thankfully not much else went wrong, and considering the the cost genuine parts at the time, its just as well, as it was still more expensive to run than the Escort - broken bits and all.
We did have a Rover 216 as a company car; Inlet o-rings leaked, as did the waterpump, despite fixing it before it airlocked and overheated, it still blew its head gasket (they all do that, sir), gearbox leaked constantly despite numerous repairs, then the geabox gained a very loud diesel like rattle, which remained for about 10,000 miles until the belt eventually broke (it was a CVT belt driven gearbox), the cost of repairing the noise was the same as for rebulding the gearbox after failure, hence not fixing it until after it broke. It ate brake pads for lunch (new set every 12months). And it would throw hissy fits on cold mornings. Kangarooing, stalling, and generally being a pain in the **** until I let it warm up, then stop the engine for 5 mins.
It is my most hateful car, unlike the XR3 which handled well, went well and was comfy and enjoyable to drive. The Rover was uncomfy, guzzled fuel, and suffered more severe failures that kept it off the road longer.
The Golf is getting close though:
New timing chains
New sprokets
New oxygen Sensor
New MAF
New clutch
New flywheel (dual mass)
Auto headlamps on the fritz (dull rainy day = off, bright sunny day = on
)Auto wipers even worse (light drizzle = full speed wipers, raining, screen covered in water and unable to see = wipers - off)
And a cluncking gearbox that VW are washing their hands of despite the car being in warranty when they acknowledged it was a problem that required rectification (hence the flywheel and clutch - which didn't fix it
).All in a car with just 28K miles on the clock, faults aside I still love the way it drives though.
I would mention the Jag, but a) its 18 years old and b) I'll hit the maximum word limit
Last edited by ALi-B; 23 June 2010 at 03:31 PM.
23 June 2010, 03:35 PM
#15
Most exhausts on cars these days are either aluminsed or stainless, so don't rust and last a hell of alot longer.
Thinking about it, the Rover went through 4 exhausts. My XR3 only needed two (the last one being an aluminised one for a RS2000). Jag's partly orginal, whilst some bits have been replaced twice.
Thinking about it, the Rover went through 4 exhausts. My XR3 only needed two (the last one being an aluminised one for a RS2000). Jag's partly orginal, whilst some bits have been replaced twice.
Last edited by ALi-B; 23 June 2010 at 03:38 PM.
23 June 2010, 03:36 PM
#16
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Fiat Punto.
Need I say more.
The Cambelt snapping was the final straw after numerous electrical faults, corrosion in the engine bay; suspension knocks etc.
Steve
Need I say more.
The Cambelt snapping was the final straw after numerous electrical faults, corrosion in the engine bay; suspension knocks etc.
Steve
23 June 2010, 03:47 PM
#17
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My first ever car was a mark I Golf, old "Y" reg. It was soooo crap. Broke down every time I drove it and ended up being taken back to the stealer I bought it from. Nightmare.
23 June 2010, 03:53 PM
#18
Fiat 500, never finishes a journey without AA intervention.
Fiat Coupe Turbo, used more oil than petrol.
Rover BRM, HeadGasket,
Current Saab never feels that reliable, just odd niggles but always starts.
Old Sharan was reliable but trim was crap.
Best, hmmm, 1.0 Metro Clubman, tried to kill it but couldnt, Pur 309, utterly reliable apart from a leaky heater pipe, fixed for a quids worth of pipe, the French used to do simple, cheap, charming, robust and reliable quite well. Old Audi 100 was quite good.
I suppose it depends when you buy them, new Golf bog spec M reg, tedious but in three years, never had any issue, 100k mile Metro GTI, to be fair the engine could not be killed, the rest was utterly knakered.
Fiat Coupe Turbo, used more oil than petrol.
Rover BRM, HeadGasket,
Current Saab never feels that reliable, just odd niggles but always starts.
Old Sharan was reliable but trim was crap.
Best, hmmm, 1.0 Metro Clubman, tried to kill it but couldnt, Pur 309, utterly reliable apart from a leaky heater pipe, fixed for a quids worth of pipe, the French used to do simple, cheap, charming, robust and reliable quite well. Old Audi 100 was quite good.
I suppose it depends when you buy them, new Golf bog spec M reg, tedious but in three years, never had any issue, 100k mile Metro GTI, to be fair the engine could not be killed, the rest was utterly knakered.
23 June 2010, 03:55 PM
#19
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Ford Escort GTi was my most unreliable car and bought brand new. Went into the garage 8 times in its first year. It had water in the footwell, the engine would just rev up to 3000 rpm for no reason and a whistling windscreen at 80 mph.
Saying all that, a mate bought it and it was still going strong 7 years later so I guess I sorted out all the "teething" problems
Saying all that, a mate bought it and it was still going strong 7 years later so I guess I sorted out all the "teething" problems
23 June 2010, 04:30 PM
#21
To be frank, I've never had a 100% reliable car. Which is worse I'm not sure.
I didn't spend a penny on it outside of routine service costs. Took standard 10w-40 oil, 95 Ron fuel, was cheaper to service than the Impreza and the cambelt was cheaper too! Mind, clutch may have been getting long in the tooth (it was at that mileage/age where most other NSXs already had them replaced).
Last edited by ALi-B; 23 June 2010 at 04:33 PM.
23 June 2010, 05:03 PM
#25
Mustard coloured Morris 1100.........Reg was ABT 313K.
Worst bit was the car filled with water when it rained, The drivers side footwell got about 2" most wet days. Solved itself in the end as the rust made soem lovely drainage holes LOL
Worst bit was the car filled with water when it rained, The drivers side footwell got about 2" most wet days. Solved itself in the end as the rust made soem lovely drainage holes LOL
23 June 2010, 07:39 PM
#29
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Saab 9-5 by a huge margin.
Can't be arsed to list everything but it all happened between 3 and 5 years old........ by which time it was worth next to nothing despite only having 50k on the clock.
Can't be arsed to list everything but it all happened between 3 and 5 years old........ by which time it was worth next to nothing despite only having 50k on the clock.
23 June 2010, 08:18 PM
#30
Our third car classic mini cooper.....first name terms with every AA patrol.
There to remind me how we take modern cars forgranted...but its still fantastic fun.
When it works.....
There to remind me how we take modern cars forgranted...but its still fantastic fun.
When it works.....