Brian, Love that "lemon devil" comment. Thanks for going and finding my original post on this subject. It was a great read; it was such a disappointing experience to own that car from new. So here I am 11 later. Have had three Lexus vehicles since the post, all under a lease so didn't drive any of them more than 50,000 miles. One of them ended up in hands of a friend and they've had a great experience. Regardless, out of those one did spend a day in the shop for a rattle that really was nothing but a poorly designed cargo cover. Have had two F150s and the Taurus SHO. It seems that each of my new Fords need at least one or two shop visits for warranty work (often a bonehead factory worker mistake) and/or recalls during my ownership. I can generally live with that level of inconvenience. Otherwise they just drive and require inexpensive, easy DIY maintenance. Neighbors just dumped their 2007 GMC Acadia. "It seems that every repair is at least a thousand dollars and we are tired of taking it to the shop. Had to remove the engine to replace a $3 oil seal this last time. Plus, it gets 18 mph on the freeway. But we really like this new Honda Accord." Pretty much says enough to remind me to go the other direction at the automall.
Think seriously about that. A horse needs to be fed and it's stall cleaned whether you use it or not.
I've had a lot of cars, but few that I really despised. The closest I can come is disgust for my '82 Regal. It had some problem with the ignition system; it was fine when cold, but once the computer took over, it made 36 horse Veewees look like dragsters. It would take mile to get to 65 MPH, and ate a quart of oil every 70 miles. This was a round trip to work, so I basically used a quart of oil every day. NO smoke, NO drips. Craziest thing I ever saw. The rest worked OK. I had to pay over $600 for a biennial smog check. Two years later, it was going to be $400. I donated it, and wrote it off. Not all that bad a car, really, just these things. Vehicles like my 2000 Astrovan, 140k+ miles, only maintenance, except for a fuel pump, radiator, driver's door window motor (did all these myself) and some fuel injection repairs (that cost about $2700, because I didn't have time or tools to do the repair). My DD, a 2005 Corolla had the trans out four times under warranty, two wheel bearings and a water pump. Aggravating, but in terms of what has had to be done, pretty minor. Except that it costs $500 for a front wheel bearing, and I again didn't have the tools or the time (or, at the time, the health, my back was messed up). RWD car, I can replace all the front bearings in about an hour, by myself. I keep my fingers crossed that I retire before that Corolla gives up the ghost. It's a race at this point.
Ha, ha, ha borrowed my cousins 68 Galaxie Wagon to go on a fishing trip. Loaded with gear, the roof rack packed and five guys we headed into North Central Ontario. Car would not drive in a straight line. One of the most scary rides ever produced. Got sea sick before getting on the water. Not sure it was the worst car but the car I hated the most was my 95 LT-1 Caddy Fleetwood. Mechanically great, smooth, fast for what it was, great ride and handling for a large car... Bbbuut the worst electrical nightmare I've ever owned. Could not trust that car ever to get you home. No car I've ever owned got towed home more. Mikey
wifes ford contour but i think it was more of the fact it was bought from a shady dealer before i married her.
Good point Brian. I had forgotten about that. It was the huge start of our jobs got sent to China, Mexico and anywhere else that provides very cheap labor. And it pisses me off that the CEOs still get huge pay/bonuses when the company loses $$$. The bat rastards come in making grandiose promises to increase profits. They immediately cut the work force by whatever devious means necessary which showed gains. So, the nabbed huge bonus money, stock options, etc. Then all their ideas/plans turned to crap. They got the ax. They also got paid for the rest of their contract along with the golden parachute they had entrusted themselves because they knew, from the start, failure was their forte and greed their motive.
I have thought about this for a few days and as much as I hate to say it, our '72 Oldsmobile Cutlass takes the championship. No issues mechanically - I would have accepted the drivetrain if it came under a Rolls-Royce. It ran 223,000 miles with no mechanical issues whatsoever (except a starter at 12,000.7 miles - and GM would not repair it under the 12,000 mile warranty). The body quality was abysmal. By far the worst car we have ever owned. The first rust-through occurred to the panel between the rear window and the deck lid at 18 months. After that, it was constant - at least one trip to the dealer (and often two) per year to repair rot or to replace rotted panels. The only panels on the car that were not repaired and/or eventually replaced were the roof, hood, and deck lid. Even the rear bumper rusted out. I kept track and found that we paid more money to fix rust and rot then we paid for the car. I wrote GM and told them that they owe me one free car that is the equivalent of a well-equipped '72 Cutlass or I will never buy a new GM car again. They never answered, and we haven't.
An amazing number of late 1970s-early 1980s cars mentioned herein. My worst was from that era as well. An '81 Turbo Trans Am. Bought it brand new for some unknown reason. It was a reliable car, and never left me stranded, and was a WS6 car so handled quite well. But what a performance monstrosity!!! By the time the turbo spooled up, the cam was out of its power band. Absolutely zero performance parts available for the 301 turbo V8. Car ran high 15s with a 60 foot time that allowed time for a nap. Sold the car before a year had passed, bought a '70 GS 455 and drove it daily for many years. One of my better decisions.
A 1980 Cadillac Seville. Even with Konis it was a bear to keep in your lane. Brakes were lousy. Made all my Buicks look perfect.
70 something ford maverick was so rusted out on the underside that I got pulled over for dwi because the car shimmied down the road
It was a 1948 Nash (something or another). It didnt handle any better than a two horse wagon. But it was tough. I turned it over on its side one day while sliding around on a sandy dirt road. A couple of guys came by and helped me right it. No real damage. My dad never figured it out. I did learn to drive in that old piece of junk. In 1963 we traded it in on a '63 Corvair Monza Spyder and got $300 for the trade.
I currently have a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier which has been a good car overall, taken a lot of abuse from living in a city for the past four years. However, the fuel pump went at 70,000 miles. I guess that was to be expected. But there are so many stupid issues. The backlight for the odometer went out so I can barely see how many miles are on the car. I have replaced almost every window motor and the switches for all four windows which sits between to two front seats. The worst problem has to be the brake system. I have rebuilt the front calipers more times then I can count. The driver's side constantly stops sliding back so when you are on the highway and turn the wheel slightly, the brake pad cuts into the rotor and starts cutting a groove into the rotor because the sliders don't work, even though they came out with an updated slider kit. Getting a little sick of it, I am looking at one of those Toyota FRS. I know its an import, but honestly for the price, a fun little 6-speed sports car that has a reliable Subaru boxer engine in it, it's a pretty good deal. And its an IHS top safety pick. I would love to buy a new Regal GS but they are too expensive.
