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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: nemesis_v6 on 11 May 2007, 03:55:29

Title: worst car
Post by: nemesis_v6 on 11 May 2007, 03:55:29

just for a laugh whats your worst make and model of car if any one nows how to set up the voting system maybe set it up  this could be intresting i hate nissen micras in tivvy its the number 1 granny mobile thats drive at ten mph in the middle of the road  

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Admin on 11 May 2007, 07:38:55

Hmmm Nissan Micras.... got one on the drive right now!  :-[
Courtesy car while the Coupe has its cambelt done.
God it is awful, first sign of a hill and you are  :-Xed!

Worst cars.

Renault 19 1.4. Ooops!  ::)

Hillman Avenger 1.3GL (1973 model).
First car and truly awful. Lost 3rd gear after a week and had top up water and oil on an almost daily basis! Still ran it for 6 months before it seized the engine on the hill down to the breakers!  ;D

Rover SD1 2.6 VDP.
Lovely car to look at and sit in, but 3 head gaskets in a year told me there was clearly a problem with the engine design!

Morris Marina 1.8TC.
Very quick car (or so I thought at the time!) but handling was less impressive and you could almost watch the rust spreading!  :o

Ford Granada 2.8i Ghia.
Why??  :-/
Sounded nice when I bought it and seemed to drive ok.
1 week later I realised oil pump was shot and he had got round it by adding gear oil to the engine oil!
Chaged oil and got the top end rattle of death. No red light to warn as he had removed the bulb! >:(
Thankfully I didn't pay much for it and learnt a few lessons.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Gwilym on 11 May 2007, 08:00:21

3.1 Turbo Diesel Izuzu Bighorn.

What a pile of crap, only kept it for 3 weeks before replacing it with a 4 litre cherokee. The power difference was amazing.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Elite Pete on 11 May 2007, 08:28:53

Range Rover LSE 4.2

That thing let me down more times than Leeds Utd :'(

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: sir moanalot on 11 May 2007, 08:33:45

from the eighties -an old audi 80 ls.   on bringing it home it stalled at a set of lights and i foung out 3 of the spark plugs had vibrated out cos the threads were stripped !!
withing a couple of weeks it was in a scrapper.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 May 2007, 08:34:32

Fiat Panda....nuff said
Metro....yes they realy were a bloody awful car
Mini....because in my mind its the symbol of the reason why we have no car industry....ask me why if you dare!
Beetle.....THE worst car from a drivers perspective
All Capris....in thier day they had some looks (not my liking) but were a bloody awful drive and a crap chassis.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: x25xe on 11 May 2007, 08:56:42

Quote

Fiat Panda....nuff said
Metro....yes they realy were a bloody awful car
Mini....because in my mind its the symbol of the reason why we have no car industry....ask me why if you dare!
Beetle.....THE worst car from a drivers perspective
All Capris....in thier day they had some looks (not my liking) but were a bloody awful drive and a crap chassis.

Agree totally with the above - and I am daring to ask why!

My first car was a Talbot Horizon.  Rattly push rod engine and a naff gear change.  Very comfortable car though and good on fuel.  Rust was a real problem and one night as I was going round a roundabout, the rear suspension collapsed!

I owned it for around 6 months before the trip to the scrapper!  Got £25 for it without the front wings which I removed and got £50 for privately.

Learnt a few lessons there.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 May 2007, 09:05:03

My problem with the Mini is as follows:

When it was launched it was light years ahead of the competition, it blew the rest away, it had a good little engine, neat setup, good drive etc.........and this is where it went wrong.....it was never developed.

40 years later it was still the same animal with the same engine and setup.......it still required 40 year old production techniques (hand braised joints!), it still felt like a 40 year old card......and the Metro was the joke cheap upgrade....and again a truely awful car....even worse when compared to the Nova and Fiesta of the era...

The biggest shame is it was never developed, if it had gone through a proper update every 10 years it would still be a class leader today and have massive sales (small cars are the bread and butter of car manufacturers!).

Sadly this is true of all Uk designed cars, and the mini to me is THE greatest example of why we no longer have a car industry.......I hate it.....and I certainly would not use one every day on modern roads...

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: x25xe on 11 May 2007, 09:18:15

And that is, as you say, the main problem with the British Car Industry.  Lack of investment, terrible strikes in the 70's and no new models.

The Metro was horrible - I drove one once, for about 2 miles, and it told me all I needed to know!

What about the Marina?  A total joke and a hash up if ever there was one.  Front suspension came from the Morris Minor!

It was a great shame as BMC / BL did come out with some good innovation.  First real front wheel drive car (even if the CV joints were suspect and QH did better ones that the BL dealers actually stocked!) first car with 5 speed box, hydrolastic suspension etc.

As with Rootes (whom I am particularly fond of) I wonder what BL would be producing today.............

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 May 2007, 09:47:57

My worst car was a Morris Ital 1.7 Estate.  ::)

Actually, I say that, but it was a hand-me-down from my Grandad who used to fettle with it constantly (excuse to get away from SWMBO no doubt!) so it was mechanically perfect. It was also free which was nice as I was a student at the time. It did a great job of carrying all my rubbish around. Just pile it all in the back, bicycles and all, and shut the tailgate. A similar technique was used on the rare occasions when I was sober at the end of a Friday night and my mates needed a lift home.

However, no attempt whatsoever had been made during production to protect it from rust so it was a constant battle to stop it rotting away. It suffered exactly the problems that Mark mentioned with the British car industry. New model? Right, let's go and have a look in the parts bin, then. When I look at other 1980's cars from the like of VW, even Ford,  I can't imagine why it ever sold at all. Maybe it was brand loyalty or maybe they were ridiculously cheap.

The O series engine was remarkably good IMO. It burned a little oil, but then it always had since new. It was reasonably nippy and fairly refined. I pity the poor soles who bought one with a 1275 A series in though. Gearbox was dire. Only 4 speed and 3 of them whined so badly you tried to stay in 4th. Again, like that since new, back to dealer, TADTS.

Handling was the worst aspect, though. Suspension straight from the Marina. I can't express in words how bad it was <shudder>.

Still, it did me for a good 5 years and was the ripe ond age of 14 when I sold it. Actually my Mum sold it for me when I was on holiday, which impressed me.

Kevin

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2007, 09:48:21

I have driven quite a few cars and some have stuck out as quite horrid.

Some were also better than expected.

Worst - both pool cars
Ford Orion 1.8 Diseasel, gutless, slow, terrible gearchange, awfull indicator stalk.
Ford Escrap Abysmall Van complete rubbish, replaced by an older Astravan
1.0 Nova - gutless compared to other 1.0 hatches

Horrible to work on
Vauxhall Chevette - everything is on the same side of the engine, I remember my dad taking hours to fix a blowing exhaust manifold (he was a Peugeot mechanic at the time and the main car of the Chevette family was a 504)

Surprising old banger
Handles well, comfortable, went well, my mums old Avenger estate.

I have driven worse
Reliant Rialto
Austin Metro (I thought it was quite pleasant for a shopping car)

Disappointment
Ford Granada, delivered a Carlton (replacing a Granada), picked up the Granada - it was slower, less comfortable and understeered for England!

Also had a 2.8 loan car, while a previous 2.0 Omega was repaired, shouldn't 800cc more make a big difference? Little difference except in torque.

Previous jobs have included car delivery, so take Astra to Kent, pick up Carlton CD on trade plates and bring it back, next day (only time I did a Saturday) take same car now registered to Warwick and return with Granada.

So drove

Nova 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, Astra 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 1.6D & Vans, Chevette, Manta, Cavalier 1.3, 1.6, 1.6 auto, 1.6D, 1.8, 2.0, blobby Cavalier 1.8.
Carlton 1.8, 1.8i, 2.0 manual and auto
Senator 2.5, 3.0, angular 3.0
Midi, Rascal

Something is wrong 1.6 Astra - slower than 1.3
Bad engine, 1.2 Astra, 2.0 Astra was not controllable, 1.8 Carlton
Superslow, 1.0 Nova, 1.2 Astra, 1.6D Cavalier, 1.8 Carlton
Never got to deliver a GSi3000 >:(

I upset one recipient of a company car, he whined and moaned about the colour, keeping me in the middle of nowhere for an hour or so, his boss was npt too bothered but I was stuck there - I basically said stuff the colour, you should have got the 2.0 the 1.8 carb auto was terrible.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2007, 09:49:50

Quote

My worst car was a Morris Ital 1.7 Estate.  ::)

Handling was the worst aspect, though. Suspension straight from the Marina. I can't express in words how bad it was <shudder>.

Kevin

Directly descended from the Morris Minor :o

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 May 2007, 09:53:23

Quote

Directly descended from the Morris Minor

Yep. With a load more weight on the suspension and a load more torque through the transmission!
Changing the front trunnions was at least an annual job  >:(

Kevin

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: STMO123 on 11 May 2007, 09:53:41

My old 1964 Morris 1100. God, it was terrible.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2007, 10:16:43

I am still surprised by some of the 1970s cars, if you took a 1970s car, added a 5 speed gear box, it would be better than a 1980s car.

I forgot I have driven a Talbot Horribleizon, it was crap!

Now you lot know I like Rootes Group cars - well compare the details between 3 similar cars, the Escort Mk2 and the Marina

Thing\Car	Avenger	Escort	Marina
Suspension	All coils	Coil/Leaf	Torsion/Leaf
Ignition	Electronic (late)	Points	Points
Engine 1	S/S 1600 up to 100bhp*	up 2.0 Pinto about 100bhp*	Up to L/S 1800 not very powerful
Engine 2	S/S 5 bearing high push rod 8 port	Square & S/S cross flows and OHC*	3 bearing push rod
Rust	Yes	Yes	Yes
Handling	Good	Good	Not good

As you see the Avenger was most advanced except for two things, 1 no OHC, but instead had a good OHV with a high cam shaft, 8 port head, strong bottom end and short stroke, 2 non cross flow head design. I would rate the Ford Crossflow and the Rootes 1600 as two of the best engines of their era.

The Escort was let down by the back end - same as the Capri, the Marina was 1950 technology is a more modern body.

The Marina was bought by people who always bought a Morris!

However all 3 rust like nobodies business, my mums was getting bad when sold, and the engine donor for my Sunbeam was rotten and an MOT failure.

In fact I would say that rust proofing is the main improvement in recent years!!!!

One thing I do remember saying in the late 70s early 80s was why weren't cars fitted with 4 valves per cylinder, why were so many long stroke, why were 4 speed gearboxes used, and why did so many still have cart springs?

My transport at the time would have been a 2 stroke 100cc followed by a 250cc twin with 4 valves per cylinder, 6 speed box ect.

It took the car industry quite a few years to catch up with the bike industry

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2007, 10:17:50

Quote

Quote

Directly descended from the Morris Minor

Yep. With a load more weight on the suspension and a load more torque through the transmission!
Changing the front trunnions was at least an annual job  >:(

Kevin

I nearly bought one once as an emergency run about - but I thought it was too tatty and too crude, and about £300 too expensive.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 May 2007, 10:20:24

I think your columns got confused there! But I get the picture!

If not, I'd like to try a Marina with a 2.0 Pinto and good handling please ;D

Kevin

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Craig_R on 11 May 2007, 11:38:21

Ill have to say

Ford Probe


Nasty Nasty Car

Craig

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2007, 11:46:27

Quote

I think your columns got confused there! But I get the picture!

If not, I'd like to try a Marina with a 2.0 Pinto and good handling please ;D

Kevin

Fixed :y

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 May 2007, 11:57:50

Quote

I nearly bought one once as an emergency run about

About the last thing I'd want to be relying on in an emergency  ;D

Then again, it never failed to actually run, just with all the refinement of a horse and cart.

My housemate at the time had a Fiesta 1300S, and the AA man got into the habit of droping in on his way to work for a cup of tea and to jump start it!

Kevin

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Varche on 11 May 2007, 12:42:17

I have had to think long and hard about this as I have had so many over the years. A Hillman Imp? Nope despite constant cooling problems, Triumph Herald Nope despite atrocious handling. No the winner was:


Vauxhall Royale. Drove like a pimp mobile but had so so many things wrong with the engine including oil leaks that would have embarrassed Exxon.

Modern cars have been a dream to own compared to 60's, 70's stuff.

olive

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Markie on 11 May 2007, 13:06:26

A Yugo Zastava  >:( my "just passed the test car" the cassett used to fall out the standard stereo going up a hill. Thtas if the car didnt refuse to go up the hill in the first place.


And for looks a Renault 21 i had ( second car)

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: miggy on 11 May 2007, 14:22:17

all people carriers and 4x4s who think they own the road

 ;D ;D

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: smoothomega on 11 May 2007, 15:43:20

Over the years i have had my fair share of cars but two still give me nightmares even now.
The first one was a merc 240D (i have now broken out into a cold sweat), smashing car to drive....... when it started!!!! the first sign of cold weather and it just would not start, it had new heater plugs, new pump, new head and rebore and all to no avail it still would not start and cost me more in taxi fares than diesel. It was parked up till the hot summer and sold. The second car was a Range Rover fitted with a Ford York 6cyl diesel engine, it was gutless, slow, knackerd what handling a Range Rover has to start with and it to would not start in cold weather unless you popped the bonnet, removed the air filter and stuck a news paper in the manifold and set fire to it, it then started on the first turn of the key. I never had the heart to sell it on to someone else so broke it!!! Oh the joys of motoring :-/

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: miggy on 11 May 2007, 16:02:28

Know what you mean about the newspapers, we used to do the same with an old A Series ford we used on the car recovery, we used to spray ether down the engine to get it started, once going though, it would pull a house down, excellent for the recovery business
 ;D ;D ;D

Quote

Over the years i have had my fair share of cars but two still give me nightmares even now.
The first one was a merc 240D (i have now broken out into a cold sweat), smashing car to drive....... when it started!!!! the first sign of cold weather and it just would not start, it had new heater plugs, new pump, new head and rebore and all to no avail it still would not start and cost me more in taxi fares than diesel. It was parked up till the hot summer and sold. The second car was a Range Rover fitted with a Ford York 6cyl diesel engine, it was gutless, slow, knackerd what handling a Range Rover has to start with and it to would not start in cold weather unless you popped the bonnet, removed the air filter and stuck a news paper in the manifold and set fire to it, it then started on the first turn of the key. I never had the heart to sell it on to someone else so broke it!!! Oh the joys of motoring :-/

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: omegaV6CD on 11 May 2007, 16:27:05

Quote

Fiat Panda....nuff said
Metro....yes they realy were a bloody awful car
Mini....because in my mind its the symbol of the reason why we have no car industry....ask me why if you dare!
Beetle.....THE worst car from a drivers perspective
All Capris....in thier day they had some looks (not my liking) but were a bloody awful drive and a crap chassis.

Why??

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: omegaV6CD on 11 May 2007, 16:29:10

Quote

My problem with the Mini is as follows:

When it was launched it was light years ahead of the competition, it blew the rest away, it had a good little engine, neat setup, good drive etc.........and this is where it went wrong.....it was never developed.

40 years later it was still the same animal with the same engine and setup.......it still required 40 year old production techniques (hand braised joints!), it still felt like a 40 year old card......and the Metro was the joke cheap upgrade....and again a truely awful car....even worse when compared to the Nova and Fiesta of the era...

The biggest shame is it was never developed, if it had gone through a proper update every 10 years it would still be a class leader today and have massive sales (small cars are the bread and butter of car manufacturers!).

Sadly this is true of all Uk designed cars, and the mini to me is THE greatest example of why we no longer have a car industry.......I hate it.....and I certainly would not use one every day on modern roads...

Good points!!

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: x25xe on 11 May 2007, 17:44:25

Quote

I like Rootes Group cars

Me too.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Tony H on 11 May 2007, 17:48:13

Quote

Quote

My worst car was a Morris Ital 1.7 Estate.  ::)

Handling was the worst aspect, though. Suspension straight from the Marina. I can't express in words how bad it was <shudder>.

Kevin

Directly descended from the Morris Minor :o

Favourate pastime of B.L we need a new model, get an old model do a few and I mean a few changes, BINGO!! new model
e.g
Princess /Ambassador
Marina / Ital
and no doubt some others that I cant remember

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: STMO123 on 11 May 2007, 19:34:58

Quote

I have had to think long and hard about this as I have had so many over the years. A Hillman Imp? Nope despite constant cooling problems, Triumph Herald Nope despite atrocious handling. No the winner was:


Vauxhall Royale. Drove like a pimp mobile but had so so many things wrong with the engine including oil leaks that would have embarrassed Exxon.

Modern cars have been a dream to own compared to 60's, 70's stuff.

olive

I used to love my hillman imp :( I can still remember the reg XNO 69L. Great to chuck around and almost...almost....impossible to roll :D

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: omegadan2.2i on 11 May 2007, 22:50:43

L reg Fiesta 1.8 Diesel - Absolute CRAP!!!!  Cheap, nasty, poor on fuel - couldn't wait to get rid!!!

Dan

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Andy B on 11 May 2007, 23:29:17

Quote

......
Ford Granada 2.8i Ghia.
Why??  :-/.......

Argh! Shock horror! What a comment to make!  ;)

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Andy B on 11 May 2007, 23:34:51

Surely the winner must be (looks only) is the VDP Allegro! :o It looked hideous, although I have to admit on the inside it had loads of leather & walnut.
A mate used to have an ordinary 1750 All Agro, complete with Hydogas suspension. It needed a regas, and the handling was ........ er interesting. ;D  ;D

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Markjay on 12 May 2007, 00:30:36

Seven years ago while abroad I rented a car, it was a Kia Shuma 1.8 automatic. Most horrible car ever, and I have driven some pretty miserable cars in my day...

It was brand new with hardly any mileage, but it was unstable at any speed, hated corners (and I am talking sub-legal speeds here! my wife and elderly parents were with me), and while driving up a mountain on a hot day with the aircon on, the engine stalled! The only way to drive uphill was to select 2nd gear in the autobox and with the aircon switched off. And it was brand new car with a 1.8 engine!

Awful experience. Didn't enjoy it one bit. I drove a 25 years old Panda while in Italy last year and it was more fun!

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Markjay on 12 May 2007, 00:34:01

Quote

Surely the winner must be (looks only) is the VDP Allegro! :o It looked hideous, although I have to admit on the inside it had loads of leather & walnut.
A mate used to have an ordinary 1750 All Agro, complete with Hydogas suspension. It needed a regas, and the handling was ........ er interesting. ;D  ;D

When I was a young lad a friend's mother bought a brand new 1977 Alegro in bright red (I think it was 1300cc), I kinda liked the car though it went back-and-forth to the garage for warranty repairs during the first year, at the end of which my friend crashed it and it was written-off. The crash probably saved mom from years of painful and expensive ownership...

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Baron Von Spongebob on 12 May 2007, 00:38:09

The wedge shape BL Princess thing, or what ever they were called...Utter rubbish..oh and the Fiat Fiorino van, it would rust around you.. :o

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: nemesis_v6 on 12 May 2007, 03:06:02

just been in a friends ren 5 what aload of CRAP he tryed over taking on a straight and couldt do it and this was at 50 mph enough said

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: sir moanalot on 12 May 2007, 09:23:39

oh, and the bouncy allegro.....

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Chopsdad on 12 May 2007, 10:33:38

Quote

Surely the winner must be (looks only) is the VDP Allegro! :o It looked hideous, although I have to admit on the inside it had loads of leather & walnut.
A mate used to have an ordinary 1750 All Agro, complete with Hydogas suspension. It needed a regas, and the handling was ........ er interesting. ;D  ;D

Allegro was my choice too - especially in yellow/black.

My wife's mother's car split in half at 60mph with 3 kids in the back - not just an ugly car - scary too :'(

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: hotel21 on 12 May 2007, 10:57:38

Had driving lessons in the All Aggro, the early version with the square steering wheel.....  Didn't really know any better back then and the car was new, so no real issues for me.

Liked the add on the telly for it though, the one with the leggy females....   :y

Worst car was probably a 1978 Mini.  Got it as a get to work car.  Broke down at 0530 heading in one morning in the pre mobile phone days and mate and I had to walk in.  Was spotted by the offgoing nightshift and got a lift in.  Retreived the car a wee while later and, using the towrope from the boot, got towed home.

Mate thought it funny to drive like a loony in the 2.9 granny with me 10 feet or so behind on a towrope.  He was pi**ing himself watching me in his mirror opposite locking the mini on a roundabout, trying to keep it straight.   :P

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Markie on 12 May 2007, 11:09:17

Quote

Had driving lessons in the All Aggro, the early version with the square steering wheel.....  

A what  :o

Really ?

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: hotel21 on 12 May 2007, 11:28:34

Quote

Quote

Had driving lessons in the All Aggro, the early version with the square steering wheel.....  

A what  :o

Really ?

Yeah, same as the early SD1.  It was square but with heavily rounded corners, if you follow.  Certainly not evenly round!

Check this link - http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?ado67storyf.htm - and scan the piccys until a fair way down.  You'll see what I mean....   ;D

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2007, 12:29:26

Quote

.....
Yeah, same as the early SD1.  It was square but with heavily rounded corners, if you follow.  Certainly not evenly round! .....

The idea behind it was to discourage you from letting the wheel just spin back to centre, and to do the AIM wheel shuffle.

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: hotel21 on 12 May 2007, 13:07:18

Quote

Quote

.....
Yeah, same as the early SD1.  It was square but with heavily rounded corners, if you follow.  Certainly not evenly round! .....

The idea behind it was to discourage you from letting the wheel just spin back to centre, and to do the AIM wheel shuffle.

From the same website....

'The Quartic wheel helped alienate customers further, and although Austin quoted sound reasoning behind the choice of such an offbeat item, the truth was people didn't like it – it may have enabled unhindered visibility of the instruments, but unless you were sat in an Allegro 1750 Sports Special, there were never enough dials to fill the binnacle.

Her Majesty's Police force placed an order for 657 Allegros to be used as Metropolitan and Panda cars around the time of the car's launch. The police Allegros replaced the Morris Minor, and in the role of Panda Car, were judged very successful. It was noted by the press Quartic wheels were being removed; It wasn't as if the Quartic wheel was bad, just that it didn't suit the Police way of driving (so it was explained by embarrassed officers). Thankfully, this butt of many jokes lasted less than two years before being consigned to the gimmick bin.'

The IAM shuffle and Police standard steering method - are they not one and the same, if done correctly?

Title: Re: worst car
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2007, 13:21:01

Quote

.....
The IAM shuffle and Police standard steering method - are they not one and the same, if done correctly?

I thought they were different & 'you' crossed your hands.  :-/  hence the statement that it didn't suit the Police way of driving (so it was explained by embarrassed officers)
... but obviously I'll stand in the corner corrected if I'm wrong  ;)  :y