What was the worst car you ever owned.

[DustyBin]

Can I respond in support of the Zafira? I have owned two, the first I sold with 120,000 on the clock, and the second I still own with 130,000 on the clock. Both petrol 1.8s. Without tempting fate (!), both were reliable, and the only expenditure apart from tyres, cambelt and brakes etc, were 02 sensors, 2 piston rings and oil cooler, none of which were that expensive. Still had original clutch, exhaust, etc on both cars.

The rings themselves may have only been a few pounds, but I can’t see the labour having been!

 

[A0wen]

I remember the Jasper Carrott version of the Strada advert...

I thought that was the Volvo 340 advert of built by robots, tested by dummies?

 

[A0wen]

In 1980 my dad got the first new car our family had ever had. Oh the excitement! - a brand new car not something that had already been round the block and then some...

He got a Fiat Strada - futuristic styling but it made BL's contemporary models look reliable. He car shared the commute with a couple of colleagues and on his days to drive it was even odds that they'd be pushing it down the road to get it started. If they were off then the job fell to me and mum

Bit in bold - you're not wrong. A youth group leader I knew replaced his Fiat Strada with a brand new Metro City which was more reliable !

 

[L401CJF]

I've owned a number of Corsa "C"s over the years. Various niggle faults and all the common problems (leaking into footwells, boot etc, timing chain rattle, gear linkages falling off) but overall cheap runabout and easy to maintain with a Haynes.

We briefly had a 2004 Renault Megane going back a while. Mrs wanted a bigger car so we found a megane. Absolutely dreadful. Kept cutting out all the time, airbag light on, ABS light on, constantly going to the garage. Also try changing the headlight bulb on it! It was swifty replaced for a Corsa C (which is what it replaced originally!).

I've now got 2 Corsa "E" models (not E as in electric version, E as in the 5th gen). A 2016 petrol and 2015 diesel. Had them a few years now and they seem to be OK. Only issue I've got at the moment is the wiper relay has packed in on one of them and is a "non serviceable part". It's soldered onto a PCB built in underneath the fuse box and is proving to be a nightmare. Naturally both of them have got "not common" fuse boxes and I can't just get one the same model to throw in! I refuse to pay vauxhalls prices for a relay which in the olden days you could just swop in 2 minutes, so I've got it stripped out and going in for a repair this week.

 

[MotCO]

Can you explain why you only replaced two piston rings, (on a four cylinder engine)?

The orange engine light came on, the garage diagnosed it and said it was a piston ring and replaced it. Whether the replaced all of them I do not know.

The rings themselves may have only been a few pounds, but I can’t see the labour having been!

For 'not expensive', the piston rings job was probably circa £300, but the others £100 - £200.

 

[malc-c]

Just to add to my post (#18) in this thread, I took the car for its annual MOT on 29th December. On route I hit a pothole in the road and heard quite a bang, but the car felt fine otherwise. I arrived at the test centre and felt something rubbing at the front of the car, and whilst I knew that it may fail, still had the test done. Turned out that the cup that held the spring on the strut had failed and was rubbing on the tyre. That was the only point it failed on, so if I hadn't have hit that pothole it would have been another MOT pass for a 24 year old car.

Mind you it was good in a way that it happened as it would be a different story if that had let go at motorway speeds. So I booked the car in for repair at the garage where my youngest daughter's boyfriend works so got the parts at trade. Two new front struts and springs, plus a new O/S front tyre. Needless to say the car past the retest without issue.

169,053 miles and 24 years on the original struts... that ain't bad. I wonder if the "quality" aftermarket parts fitted will last as long

 

[E27007]

The orange engine light came on, the garage diagnosed it and said it was a piston ring and replaced it. Whether the replaced all of them I do not know.


For 'not expensive', the piston rings job was probably circa £300, but the others £100 - £200.

replacing a piston ring is major work, perhaps they changed spark plugs or ignition coil packs

 

[DustyBin]

replacing a piston ring is major work, perhaps they changed spark plugs or ignition coil packs

Yes, my thoughts exactly. I wasn't suggesting @MotCO doesn't know what they're talking about I hasten to add, but £300 is very little for a job that involves dismantling an engine!

 

[MotCO]

Yes, my thoughts exactly. I wasn't suggesting @MotCO doesn't know what they're talking about I hasten to add, but £300 is very little for a job that involves dismantling an engine!

It was a few years ago. My memory isn't what it used to be.......

 

[Jamesrob637]

Just to add to my post (#18) in this thread, I took the car for its annual MOT on 29th December. On route I hit a pothole in the road and heard quite a bang, but the car felt fine otherwise. I arrived at the test centre and felt something rubbing at the front of the car, and whilst I knew that it may fail, still had the test done. Turned out that the cup that held the spring on the strut had failed and was rubbing on the tyre. That was the only point it failed on, so if I hadn't have hit that pothole it would have been another MOT pass for a 24 year old car.

Mind you it was good in a way that it happened as it would be a different story if that had let go at motorway speeds. So I booked the car in for repair at the garage where my youngest daughter's boyfriend works so got the parts at trade. Two new front struts and springs, plus a new O/S front tyre. Needless to say the car past the retest without issue.

169,053 miles and 24 years on the original struts... that ain't bad. I wonder if the "quality" aftermarket parts fitted will last as long

Volvo Estate? 11 years older than my Superb which only has just approaching 53k on it. Very low for a 13 and a bit year old vehicle.

 

[gavinro]

... the piston rings job was probably circa £300...

I think that's less than an oil change on my Yaris

 

[A0wen]

I think that's less than an oil change on my Yaris

I suggest you find another garage. If you're being charged (and are paying) £ 300 for an oil change, then I've got a bank account left to my by a distant relative in Nigeria with $1m in that needs dispersal. All I need are your bank details.....

 

[gavinro]

I suggest you find another garage. If you're being charged (and are paying) £ 300 for an oil change, then I've got a bank account left to my by a distant relative in Nigeria with $1m in that needs dispersal. All I need are your bank details.....

It was a joke really. It _is_ expensive, but a full oil change to engine, two diffs, gearbox, etc - it's quite a lot of work. Toyota set the prices for the servicing. One could use an unofficial dealer, but using the official ones extend the warranty for up to ten years - which isn't to be sniffed at.

 

[dgl]

Nissan charge (for a petrol engine vehicle) £229 for a minor service (INCLUDES: OIL & OIL FILTER, SUMP PLUG WASHER, SCREENWASH & PREMIUM POLLEN FILTER*) and £329 for a major service (INCLUDES ABOVE PLUS: BRAKE FLUID, AIR FILTER).
Probably not the cheapest but you get, free RAC european breakdown for a year, a loan car or a lift for free, a video health check and a check for any safety recalls, and the RAC breakdown alone is probably worth any extra cost.

 

[Rhinojerry]

About the same for my Ka,and like you i get AA over included and Europe.Very good i think.

 

[PG]

Nissan charge (for a petrol engine vehicle) £229 for a minor service (INCLUDES: OIL & OIL FILTER, SUMP PLUG WASHER, SCREENWASH & PREMIUM POLLEN FILTER*) and £329 for a major service (INCLUDES ABOVE PLUS: BRAKE FLUID, AIR FILTER).

Unless I'm reading it wrongly that means Brake fluid + Air filter = £100 ...

 

[GS250]

Also Renault Megane, I believe?

Yes. Dad had an 03 Megane that had this issue.

Probably a contender for a worse car too. Typically French in that it drove well, was well appointed and nicely styled. However, constantly cut out in spite of having £££ thrown at it, 'de phaser' problems come to mind.

In the event rather than px it in for a criminal pittance, I gave my 15 year old Honda Accord V6 to them as I couldn't bear to think of when they were going to be let down again. Not one problem in 2 years bar thirst. Probably deserves it's own thread.

 

[DustyBin]

Yes. Dad had an 03 Megane that had this issue.

Probably a contender for a worse car too. Typically French in that it drove well, was well appointed and nicely styled. However, constantly cut out in spite of having £££ thrown at it, 'de phaser' problems come to mind.

In the event rather than px it in for a criminal pittance, I gave my 15 year old Honda Accord V6 to them as I couldn't bear to think of when they were going to be let down again. Not one problem in 2 years bar thirst. Probably deserves it's own thread.

Thirstiest car you've ever owned?

 

[Cowley]

Unless I'm reading it wrongly that means Brake fluid + Air filter = £100 ...

Does that £100 include replacing the brake fluid and then bleeding the system maybe?

 

[DustyBin]

Does that £100 include replacing the brake fluid and then bleeding the system maybe?

That sounds about right to be honest. I've just done mine, and whilst I connected the car to my laptop and bled the system using the ABS pump, I still had to open and close the bleed screws. Add an hour or so labour to the price of the fluid and you can see how it adds up....

 

[malc-c]

It was a joke really. It _is_ expensive, but a full oil change to engine, two diffs, gearbox, etc - it's quite a lot of work. Toyota set the prices for the servicing. One could use an unofficial dealer, but using the official ones extend the warranty for up to ten years - which isn't to be sniffed at.

I thought that the practice of tying you to a main dealer and thus not allowing independent garages a chance was illegal under some competition laws ?? - Could be wrong though, and I guess that adding incentives such as free RAC or extender warranties circumvents any clause in the warranty stating main dealer servicing only

 

[DustyBin]

I thought that the practice of tying you to a main dealer and thus not allowing independent garages a chance was illegal under some competition laws ?? - Could be wrong though, and I guess that adding incentives such as free RAC or extender warranties circumvents any clause in the warranty stating main dealer servicing only

Yes, that's correct. The extended warranties offered by some manufacturers aren't covered by the exemption however.

 

[GS250]

Thirstiest car you've ever owned?

As you asked!

1) 1992 Pontiac Trans AM GTA 5.7i V8. Lived out my Knightrider fantasies with this brute. 12-28mpg but this thing was solid and easily stood up to daily driving. Great car if inappropriate for Greater London! Less refined but far cheaper to run than the XJS that I was considering.

2) 1995 Toyota Soarer 2.5 S6 Twin Turbo. A very Japanese take on the above although more tailored towards luxury. Superbly built and very fast although surprisingly heavy on fuel at 16-30mpg.

3) 1999 Honda Accord V6 3.0i coupe. Fairly rare in the UK and shunned by the press who fawned over the better looking but flaky 406 Coupe and CLK. Supremely reliable and happily handed mine over to my parents on 90k. Thirsty though for a standard v6 at 18-32mpg.

Just realised these were listed under a thread regarding 'worse cars'!!

 

[PG]

Does that £100 include replacing the brake fluid and then bleeding the system maybe?

That sounds about right to be honest. I've just done mine, and whilst I connected the car to my laptop and bled the system using the ABS pump, I still had to open and close the bleed screws. Add an hour or so labour to the price of the fluid and you can see how it adds up....

Fair points, I stand corrected

 

[Recessio]

Thirstiest car you've ever owned?

From the "best car" thread where I mentioned a late 90s Mitsubishi Shogun owned by my Uncle, it was over 3 litres... That thing absolutely DRANK petrol. Not sure on the MPG values but I remember high petrol costs being the reason he sold it, and that was back at 2007 prices!

Best car he owned, but the absolute worst at the pumps!

 

[DustyBin]

From the "best car" thread where I mentioned a late 90s Mitsubishi Shogun owned by my Uncle, it was over 3 litres... That thing absolutely DRANK petrol. Not sure on the MPG values but I remember high petrol costs being the reason he sold it, and that was back at 2007 prices!

Best car he owned, but the absolute worst at the pumps!

My MK2 Focus ST was fairly thirsty and struggled to average more than 22mpg, but my 1991 Granada Scorpio 24v takes the thirstiest prize. It averages (or averaged as it's in currently in bits!) 12mpg but will sustain single figures if you're in a hurry....

 

[Richard Scott]

My MK2 Focus ST was fairly thirsty and struggled to average more than 22mpg, but my 1991 Granada Scorpio 24v takes the thirstiest prize. It averages (or averaged as it's in currently in bits!) 12mpg but will sustain single figures if you're in a hurry....

That's some poor consumption, thought my Alfa 147GTA was poor at around 25mpg around town but will top 30mpg on a long run (driving very carefully even hit 40mpg!!).

 

[DustyBin]

That's some poor consumption, thought my Alfa 147GTA was poor at around 25mpg around town but will top 30mpg on a long run (driving very carefully even hit 40mpg!!).

Yes, the 5 cylinder in the Focus is renowned for it's alarming thirst. Although a fairly large capacity (2.5) and turbo were never going to make for an economical engine!

I can forgive the Granada as it's ancient, heavy, and is powered by a 2.9 V6. Oh and it's an old fashioned auto to boot.... It's still quite quick actually, the kick-down once on the move has led to many a startled 320d driver!

 

[Cowley]

That's some poor consumption, thought my Alfa 147GTA was poor at around 25mpg around town but will top 30mpg on a long run (driving very carefully even hit 40mpg!!).

I’ve just had an idea for a thread…

 

[fourtytwo]

The very worst must have been an elderly Fiat 2300 estate, had a straight 6 engine that kept backfiring, especially spectacular without the aircleaner that I frequently took off just to get it started (copious quantities of windscreen de-icer, cheaper than quickstart) resulting in a few burnt eyebrows. On investigation turned out to have a wooden piston. I should have given it up as a bad job then BUT I rebuilt the engine and it subsequentially failed an MOT on body rot so serious there was no alternative but the scrappy. Kept the engine and ended up making a nice generator.

The second worst must have been a Cortina Mk2 that burnt almost as much oil as petrol, fantastic smoke screen generator for hiding from anyone giving chase!