Notices
Other Marques Non-Subaru Vehicles

What's the most difficult car you've driven?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 09:22 AM
  #1  
Turbo2's Avatar
Turbo2
Thread Starter
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: Northants. 22B sold, as-new Lotus Omega instead.
Default What's the most difficult car you've driven?

Which ones have you really struggled with over the years? In my case it was a 1991 Morgan +8 (pre-cat 190bhp 3.9 litre Rover Vitesse engine), that a friend of mine has owned since new.

It had a sticky accelerator pedal, light-switch trigger clutch, impossible "fly-off" style handbrake hidden under the dash, solid suspension and heavy unassisted steering. I looked after it for him for a few winter months, but rarely used it because I used to have to plan all my journeys to avoid any embarassing hill-starts at junctions!

I am sure it never liked me either, because the only long journey I drove in it resulted in me being painfully hit on the head by a branch that had blown off a tree on the A1.

It's weird, because it is a fast car with a fantastic exhaust note and the owner drives it very smoothly so it's always a great ride as a passenger.

One day our paths may cross again, as he tells me he's put it in his Will for me!
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 10:06 AM
  #2  
Matteeboy's Avatar
Matteeboy
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 0
From: Mars
Default

A TR3 - my god that was tricky!
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 11:03 AM
  #3  
Andy M3's Avatar
Andy M3
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,939
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield
Default

Series 3 landrover diesel on ****-lies, on tarmac

The huge steering wheel that you had to constantly adjust to keep straight, the fact that you accelerated, double clutching through the first 4 gears then just hit 40 mph with lots of road noise. Then came a junction which took simultaneous double clutch down shifts and pumping the breaks while trying to hold it in a straight line with just the one hand.

Scary, but the best green lane tool ever
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 11:16 AM
  #4  
GC8WRX's Avatar
GC8WRX
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 0
From: Wanting the English to come first in England for a change!
Default

E36 328i with knackered traction control that told me it was on when it wasnt.

In heavy rain.

booting it coming off a roundabout.


brown trousers time.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:22 PM
  #5  
Myles's Avatar
Myles
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (40)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,106
Likes: 1
From: Marlow, Bucks.
Default

Test drove a R5 GTT a few years back, with a tickover problem, heaviest steering I had ever experienced, so noisy, and torque steerded like a good'un. The guy told me it had been 'breathed on', and I had no reason to doubt him. It was like hot poo off a shovel, and soooooo difficult to keep on the road. I walked away while I still could.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 03:24 PM
  #6  
ScooByer Trade's Avatar
ScooByer Trade
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 0
Default

Don't laugh it was a Vauxhall Corsa, if you wear wide shoes like me you could press the loud pedal and brake at the same time.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 03:41 PM
  #7  
wrx287's Avatar
wrx287
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,498
Likes: 0
From: Swansea.In search of more power!!
Default

It would have to be a Reliant Scimitar with the Rover V8 in. Use to pull very strong because of a recent engine overhaul. The downside was the Milk bottle top brakes which would best be described as vague at best. Made for some interesting driving
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 03:52 PM
  #9  
Big Pete's Avatar
Big Pete
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: By t'canal in West Yorkshire.
Default

All of the 3 series BMW's I've driven coz my feet overlap from one pedal to the next

Years ago the company I worked for had a Peugeot pick up truck that was SHOCKING
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 04:42 PM
  #11  
NotoriousREV's Avatar
NotoriousREV
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,581
Likes: 0
Default

John Deere 7610 and a 2 row potato harvester. Or any tractor towing a 4 wheel steering-axle trailer in reverse.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 04:56 PM
  #13  
Reffro's Avatar
Reffro
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 0
From: Bushey
Default

Suzuki Cappucino - I was 6ft 2" and 20 stone at the time, I drove with the roof and side windows down (needed the elbow room), they almost had to grease me up to get me out of it after a 5 mile journey.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 04:56 PM
  #14  
richie001's Avatar
richie001
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,977
Likes: 0
From: Cheltenham
Default

My Brother's old A Reg Sierra XR4i.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 05:28 PM
  #16  
Timwinner's Avatar
Timwinner
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 0
From: www.Surreyscoobies.co.uk
Default

Originally Posted by Matteeboy
A TR3 - my god that was tricky!
I second this, I'm 6'2".... I had knee's by my ankles, elbows hanging out the window cut outs, steering wheel in my *****.....

Tough car to drive.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 06:44 PM
  #17  
Mike123's Avatar
Mike123
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by richie001
My Brother's old A Reg Sierra XR4i.
What was difficult about it? More than standard power?
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 02:32 PM
  #18  
The Zohan's Avatar
The Zohan
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 21,825
Likes: 0
From: Disco, Disco!
Default

Porsche Carrera V10.

racing flywheel the same size and weight as a teabag.

I stalled 7 times trying to pull away. I had to keep the revs between 3-5k just to launch it.

I am sure with practice it would have got better but by how much i am not sure, not a car to pop down the shops in or get caught in traffic.

The V10 noise was woodie inducing but embarrassing id sat in traffic try to move off with you balancing the revs/clutch/blipping the throttle.

Great car mind
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 02:54 PM
  #19  
FlightMan's Avatar
FlightMan
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 0
From: Runway two seven right.
Default

Rover Montego Turbo.

Torque steered all over the Purley Way.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 05:07 PM
  #20  
The Zohan's Avatar
The Zohan
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 21,825
Likes: 0
From: Disco, Disco!
Default

Originally Posted by FlightMan
Rover Montego Turbo.

Torque steered all over the Purley Way before breaking down and the interior falling to bits - it was a week old.
edited for accuracy
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 05:33 PM
  #21  
scoobyc's Avatar
scoobyc
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,770
Likes: 2
From: Berkshire
Default

Rover 416 sli. When i was learning to drive. the throttle response was so quick. and the clutch was either on or off, and the spring in the pedal was very springy!

Kangaroo ride please.

Big end went before my test tho lol.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 05:55 PM
  #22  
hannogo's Avatar
hannogo
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: The right side of Manchester-360 gamertag-FLD MOG
Default

Renault Megane Dynamique.Only there wasn't anything dynamique about it.It is the only car I have ever spun on a roundabout and the oncoming traffic wasn't impressed.I had sticky pants for a while!It was a Massey Ferguson in disguiseStrange though,the wife loved it,but she loves wheelbarrows too.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 05:57 PM
  #23  
Fat Boy's Avatar
Fat Boy
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,262
Likes: 1
Default

Toss up between an old rally escort with a dog box that wouldn't idle and had a dead starter motor that I had to drive about 100 miles through heavy traffic jams in heavy rain, and my P1 with a 450bhp RCM engine and a Motec ecu that suddenly started doing 7k rpm in my drive as I was trying to ease out on to the road to take it for mapping. It did it every time I switched the booger on and in the end I just ran for the motorway trying to hold it back on the brakes and switching it off at junctions which made for, ermm, spectacular progress through the suburban streets around me. Fortunately, it suddenly sorted itself out as I was approaching 7k in 5th heading out the A20... and I could slow down to normal.

Other than that a Scout patrol car with a pre selector box...
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 06:23 PM
  #24  
hoskib's Avatar
hoskib
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,721
Likes: 0
From: gravesend, kent
Default

LHD Lotus Carlton, great car just not good to have that much go in a car when you can't see where you're going half the time

also any car with a dog leg gearbox, not good thinking you're going down into 3rd then nearly smashing through the windscreen.

and my dads Morris Minor traveller, jesus christ it's un-drivable, i don't know how he gets around in it. you can get loads of stuff in the back of it though
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 08:34 PM
  #25  
J4CKO's Avatar
J4CKO
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by FlightMan
Rover Montego Turbo.

Torque steered all over the Purley Way.
I had one and it was a really easy going car, did 120,000 miles, dont really see why people were so anti, the Cavalier and Sierra werent that much better.

Nat, no mention of the E-Type, they are actually easy to drive slowly, go fast and it all goes wrong.

Our Fiat 500 is challenging to drive, low geared staeering, random conking out, hopeless brakes, very little power, lurching handling, sticky throttle etc etc, great thing is it never works so you dont have to drive it.

Supra Turbo on bald budget tyres in the wet, alarming.

Mk1 Golf GTI with crap tyres, 130 bhp engine, mis adjusted camber bolts and badly adjusted bell crank for the brakes.

BMW 320i, nice drive but crap engine, smooth but cuts power just when moving nicely, gutless.

Metro GTI, the engine was too powerful for the chassis, knackered rear radius arms meant the camber adjusted itself, terrifying.

Old V6 Audi's, wheezy old things, heavy on fuel, slow.

1.6 MK3 Capri Laser, frsutratingly slow after a Golf GTI.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2009 | 11:32 PM
  #26  
zip106's Avatar
zip106
Scooby Regular
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,623
Likes: 1
From: ....
Default

Citroen 2CV.
The wife's car back in 1988.
That gearbox was just so damned awkward I could never remember which gear I was in.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 12:13 AM
  #27  
Spooky Mulder's Avatar
Spooky Mulder
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 0
From: York
Default

Renault Clio Cup Racer - it is completely bonkers like driving a GT4 game. Same kind of wacky digital responses. I am sure with practice/skill it could be great - but would I want to put the effort in!
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 06:33 AM
  #28  
hoskib's Avatar
hoskib
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,721
Likes: 0
From: gravesend, kent
Default

Originally Posted by Spooky Mulder
Renault Clio Cup Racer - it is completely bonkers like driving a GT4 game. Same kind of wacky digital responses. I am sure with practice/skill it could be great - but would I want to put the effort in!
like the ones at PalmerSport? i'm at the other end of the scale personally i thought it was a great drive, brilliant fun

i managed to settle with the sequential gearchange straight away and loved the way it drove, but you're dead right though it's like driving in a PlayStation

the one i found a git to drive was the GT3, didn't like flappy paddles and it just felt odd maybe i was expecting too much?
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 07:14 AM
  #29  
jasey's Avatar
jasey
Scooby Senior
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 0
From: Scotchland
Default

Originally Posted by FlightMan
Rover Montego Turbo.

Torque steered all over the Purley Way.
Yep another vote for the original hedge seeking missile.

I always remember the guy from Rover telling me to hold onto to the steering wheel real tight - we were at a tank testing site somewhere that had adverse cambers etc - the ******* Montego was the closest I've come to being killed in a car

Last edited by jasey; Jul 23, 2009 at 07:16 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2009 | 08:54 AM
  #30  
billythekid's Avatar
billythekid
Scooby Regular
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 0
Default

I think the worst thing I ever drove was an old 1990s Foden 26 tonner with a POS crash box in it. To get from 3rd to 4th in one movement was an event.
Reply



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:48 PM.