Done The Dream Car, What's Your Nightmare Car?

[Hoovie]

Worst car I ever had was actually my first ever company car.

Gold Austin Ambassdor Y Reg (yup - just like the song)

Had about 7 hire cars while it was in for unscheduled repairs. I Had enough of it when driving to work and suddenly bang from underneath and brakes went funny. Got it back from repairers few days later and found even after repair they forgot to reconnect the rears.

Apart from the appalling reliability and dreadfully underpowered engine for car size, it was supremely comfortable

[Boro Sera]

Well, having a history of buying really cheap Mini's when I was younger, you'd expect one of the more 'choice' examples to be my submission - but NO.

The worst Car I've ever owned was a ( rather poor as it turned out ) Fiesta XR2. Dreadful, seriously abused in a past life then polished up and sold to the guy who was dazzled by the pepperpots !

What a crock of S*** !

( I like to look upon that one as a lesson learned - it's working so far anyway )

[Wild west Drifter]

Old VW Polo, used it for six months untill I got fed up with the Gearbox, - 3 speed(by the time I gave it to the local fire brigade to cut up in their training for recovery from crashed vehicles)1st, 3rd and reverse.

[Garry.L]

One of these 'Bavarian Sierras' was our Nightmare car...

Quality German engineering?.... my A*** , without doubt the most overated - overpriced piece of tin it has ever been my misfortune to own..

NEVER again will a Blue and White propeller grace our drive.

[St Thicket]

Once I borrowed a Ford Sierra (1986 model i think). This was about '98-'99. The clucth was all worn out, so it felt like driving an automatic. I could cruise at 60 kmh, and when i stepped on the gas, the engine started revving just like it was in neutral...

That ford was the worst car I've ever driven.

The worst car I've owed was a 1984 Nissan Cherry GTT... It was powerful enough, but it made the whole neighborhood foggy by the smoke from the faulty turbo. Also, When it was freezing outside, the locks used to freeze completely. Couldn't unlock the doors with the key, so I had to get in through the boot. Really unpractical... and I had to drive around with the heater on max for a half hour to thaw the locks so that I could get out of the car...

Once the police told me to park my Cherry at home, because the smoke from it was disturbing...

[anchorman]

I think you know what I think is the WORST vehicle that ever turned a wheel and my old mate Chatman says he wants one.

I think the worst company car I ever ran was a Renault Laguna but I can relate to Garry's tale about the BMW. I had a brand new series 3 318 touring in May 2000. It looked the part and was very comfortable and nice to drive. However, it was a complete pain in the @ss. You name it - it went wrong. I don't have enough time to list them now but I may come back to this!

I gave that car back when I left the company in Oct 2003 and it was newer than when I got it if you consider all the new parts!

[bothwell_buyer]

Worst car? An 1989 Jaguar XJ40 converted to run on lpg. Had a habit of spitting back through the intake destroying the air mass meter and normally did it halfway across a set of traffic lit crossroads. The central locking was entirely random - different doors locked at different times. It spent more time off the road than on.

My father had an austin Princess top-of-the-range ex chauffeur driven - comfy and really nice condition. Lasted 3 months and the crankshaft broke in 2. (6 pot in line or was at first!). Or the Austin Devon was his first car which I still remember - browny muddy interior and freezing - we all used to use blankets to keep warm. Thankfully I kept the blankets and use them in the landrover now!

[Hoovie]

Was that back in the days when the Heater was an optional extra sometimes fitted into the 'Deluxe' Model

[dave.m]

One of these 'Bavarian Sierras' was our Nightmare car...

Quality German engineering?.... my A*** , without doubt the most overated - overpriced piece of tin it has ever been my misfortune to own..

NEVER again will a Blue and White propeller grace our drive.

Had nearly 30 cars, and the 3 series was my worst as well (E36) :censor:

[chatman]

I think you know what I think is the WORST vehicle that ever turned a wheel and my old mate Chatman says he wants one.

I think the worst company car I ever ran was a Renault Laguna

Wanting one and actually parting with my own money for one is different, if I had the money I'd buy a Hummer

Funnily enough the worst cars I have owned (well company cars) where Renault Laguna's, both of them had the Heater matrix go, leaking greasy fluid all over the passenger floor. Had one go the day before I was going on holiday upto Yorkshire...And guess what the dealer garage gave me...A Clio.. :ffs: :ffs: .Bare in mind I had a 2 year old baby and all the weeks kit to pack in. I watched the salesman try for at least 5 minutes before I got the keys to the managers Espace.... :(

Also the RAV has cost me more that any other car I have owned ;) , but also the best drive and comfortable to be in.....

[Fujisan]

Oh dear!

Well I loved both my BMW's

I would gladly have my old 330Ci back in a heartbeat, even after all these years.

(Note: not my actual car but very similar )

It was the best car I have ever owned, totally faultless in all the years and many miles I drove it (hard :D ) and was always a total pleasure to drive, always left me wanting more, any excuse to drive it, always had a big smile on my face.

The most enjoyable car I have ever had, before or SINCE!

Even the X3 was a hoot to drive, would scare boy-racers out of their (short) pants.

Back on topic. Yes, I've had un-reliable cars, really un-reliable cars! but that was just one of them things.

The real nightmare for me would be no car at all!

[dave.m]

Oh dear!

Well I loved both my BMW's

I would gladly have my old 330Ci back in a heartbeat, even after all these years.

Sorry Fuj, but IMHO over rated and well overpriced :(

[Fujisan]

Oh dear!

Well I loved both my BMW's

I would gladly have my old 330Ci back in a heartbeat, even after all these years.

Sorry Fuj, but IMHO over rated and well overpriced :(

That's alright Dave

Everyone's different and I can only speak has I found. And for me that old 330 Ci was pure driving pleasure!

[bothwell_buyer]

The old Commer van I used to drive years ago when with BT was hilarious - the front wheels were embedded under the front cabin somewhere and it used to understeer big-time. Managed to get it round corners on 2 wheels (as one does when young, male and mental). And the Roof Rack was the best bit of it - it kept the ladders on no matter.

I'd a Talbot Horizon with BT as well - in fact I ended up with 2 of them in my driveway, a Talbot Solera in the driveway which didn't work and a budgie yellow Escort estate as well when I quit BT. Told them where to stick their job and they sent round a car transporter 2 months later to take away their scrap !! :lol: :lol:

In RoyalMail went through loads of Sierras - just kept wearing them out within 12 months - doing 40k miles a year or more. The cars got completely hammered. The 2.0 GLX was not bad but rubbish at handling. The Mondeo small and inadequate; the Granada hopeless - big, gangly and rubbish handling; and the Galaxy which you never knew whether it would choose to go round the corner or just straight on. The Rover 620i was good until it got written off. The 800 was pure greedy. And then I could mention the Sherpa vans - driven when everyone else was on strike.....and I found out why!

More recently, the LDV 16 seater minibus - fast on the straight and level. Even not bad on corners as long as the passengers were given seasick tablets before

[anchorman]

Commer van - handbrake on front wheels just to confuse everybody.

Talbot anything - rattlyiest (is that a word) engines of all time.

BMW - the most comfortable car I ever ran. I could go to Dundee and get out feeling as fresh as when I got in. It just broke down too much. I do know several people that have them and they have been completely satisfied.

Laguna - I could go to the end of the street and feel like I'd driven to the tip of Italy. The seat gave me back ache and the pedals were offset with the steering wheel ANd the seat. Chatman, how many times did you bang your head on the door pillar?

[three5]

I had a 2.0HLS Ambassador that was DIRE! The automatic choke used to last about 3 months between replacements. In the end I took it to SU in Birmingham and they converted the choke to manual which was a distinct improvement. The paintwork, particularly on the doors was dreadful - it had that much corrosion showing through in patches that it looked like a cheap attempt at camouflage. What finally killed it for me was that it ate sparking plugs. Didn't seem to matter what make or quality you used they lasted about 500 miles on average before starting to misfire. BUT it was very comfortable and had a cavanous boot - would take the pram without folding it up.

Probably the most fun car was the 1275cc MG Midget. When the suspension was in good condition and it had Dunlop SP Sports on the front and Town and Countries on the rear the handling was about as neutral as you could get. Spitfires, which were the direct competitors in those days, couldn't touch it on a bendy road. Don't think that I could fold myself into it these days though. ........and the kingpins - don't mention them!

[Wild west Drifter]

Probably the most fun car was the 1275cc MG Midget. When the suspension was in good condition and it had Dunlop SP Sports on the front and Town and Countries on the rear the handling was about as neutral as you could get. Spitfires, which were the direct competitors in those days, couldn't touch it on a bendy road. Don't think that I could fold myself into it these days though. ........and the kingpins - don't mention them!

Did you ever try to change and then bleed the clutch on your Midget?

My old 1098cc one used to eat clutches because I could not afford a heavy duty comp unit at the time.. That rear cross member on the gearbax was a cow because it was welded to the chassis.

4 guys, 2 Scaffold poles and 2 tow ropes instead of an engine hoist in the Paddock at Mallory Park, we did it in 1 and a half hours. that was our record.

And the lever arm shocks well they were another story

[bothwell_buyer]

Commer van - handbrake on front wheels just to confuse everybody.

Talbot anything - rattlyiest (is that a word) engines of all time.

BMW - the most comfortable car I ever ran. I could go to Dundee and get out feeling as fresh as when I got in. It just broke down too much. I do know several people that have them and they have been completely satisfied.

Laguna - I could go to the end of the street and feel like I'd driven to the tip of Italy. The seat gave me back ache and the pedals were offset with the steering wheel ANd the seat. Chatman, how many times did you bang your head on the door pillar?

If you get out at Dundee theres no chance of feeling fresh. I was born there and I should know, ye ken. Then again I've never had the pleasure of driving a BMW....just beat them on the drag strip.

On the Talbot - it was fine keeping the revs above 5000rpm.

The Commer - it had a handbrake???????

Spent a lot of time on a Triumph GT6....then when it was working too scared to go out and drive it - fearsome!!

[three5]

Probably the most fun car was the 1275cc MG Midget. When the suspension was in good condition and it had Dunlop SP Sports on the front and Town and Countries on the rear the handling was about as neutral as you could get. Spitfires, which were the direct competitors in those days, couldn't touch it on a bendy road. Don't think that I could fold myself into it these days though. ........and the kingpins - don't mention them!

Did you ever try to change and then bleed the clutch on your Midget?

My old 1098cc one used to eat clutches because I could not afford a heavy duty comp unit at the time.. That rear cross member on the gearbax was a cow because it was welded to the chassis.

4 guys, 2 Scaffold poles and 2 tow ropes instead of an engine hoist in the Paddock at Mallory Park, we did it in 1 and a half hours. that was our record.

And the lever arm shocks well they were another story

The transmission never gave any trouble so didn't have the pleasure of ever removing the engine/gearbox. The Mallory park incident is typical of the sort of things you do when you're young - nothing seems impossible then!

Digression: In my early days in Yorkshire I got a new job in Leeds. First morning, set off in the Midget across the moor ( shortcut ). First major hill, huge bang and car fills with smoke! No obvious signs of what was wrong so tried to start it again - no luck. Rang wife ( married 10 months then ) and she came out in her Imp which I drove to work AND SHE WALKED HOME!

That evening we determined that there was no compression on one of the cylinders and many of the plastic components in the carbs were melted. By this time it's getting dark. As I left for work next morning she said "is there anything that I can do with the Midget?" I replied ( joking ) "You could take the head off". Came back that evening and the head is on the Kitchen table! She and her sister had got the manual and tools out and removed it in the road outside the house. A valve had burnt out and the engine had backfired through the carb.

Cutting a long story short, she became something of an expert on the MG and particularly the carbs. She knew which strength of spring to use with which dashpot oil.

Later we took a gearbox out of a Landrover between us.

[Hoovie]

What's that phrase, Chris? "out of adversity ....."

I reckon if I had asked/told my wife to walk home after coming to rescue me on the moors after married 10 months, I wouldn't have lived to see the 1st Anniversary in :D.

My brother had a Midget 1275cc which I drove into the back off in my mums Viva He was remarkably calm about it! I had a Spitfire 4 Mk II after the Viva - right rust bucket (spit AND Viva :) , but first 'fun' car I ever had.

On the Spitfire v Midget handling debate, reckon even the most ardent Spitfire fan has to accept the Midget was better, but I liked the Spit's style more

[bothwell_buyer]

What's that phrase, Chris? "out of adversity ....."

I reckon if I had asked/told my wife to walk home after coming to rescue me on the moors after married 10 months, I wouldn't have lived to see the 1st Anniversary in :D.

My brother had a Midget 1275cc which I drove into the back off in my mums Viva He was remarkably calm about it! I had a Spitfire 4 Mk II after the Viva - right rust bucket (spit AND Viva :) , but first 'fun' car I ever had.

On the Spitfire v Midget handling debate, reckon even the most ardent Spitfire fan has to accept the Midget was better, but I liked the Spit's style more

Had a Triumph Herald convertible which I fitted with wide wheels -

Did a UK tour with my soon to be wife and all was well until Nuneaton. The car ground to a halt and I checked everything - even taking the head off and back on again in the street to check valves...and stripped the carb. Got it going again altho accelaration was poor. Towards the end of our trip same happened and this time found a small seed in the petrol float chamber - must have got there when the carb was stripped down prior to the trip :lol: However the car hood got knifed in Nuneaton while parked and disabled. Eventually a couple of years later I had to replace the outriggers. On completion of the work I was jacking up one side and the main spine chassis broke in the middle....so towed it to the scrappy and my brother-in-law who was driving it ran into the back of my fathers Humber sceptre at a roundabout!!! Out with a bang! :o

[local hero]

Well i had one of these it was my second car, I actually put a deposit on an MG midget, but my dad wouldn't stand as guarantor on the finance i was 18, he said the MG was too flash for a young kid, so i ended up with the above Fiat 850 sports coupe, i brought it proudly home and let my dad take it round the block, an hour later he came walking down the road and my new (2nd hand) car was on its roof having clipped a curb + rolled it over, from then it was a catalogue of mechanical disasters, and in the 2 years i had it, it was genuinely off the road more than on it, (my first off roader) I vowed never to buy another Fiat never have + never will..

[Hoovie]

That looks a nice car. I love the cars from that kind of era. Would that be a rear engined jobby?

I am guessing yours did not look quite that good - even before your dads misdemeanor (Fiats of that time didn't last very well, did they )

[local hero]

That looks a nice car. I love the cars from that kind of era. Would that be a rear engined jobby?

I am guessing yours did not look quite that good - even before your dads misdemeanor (Fiats of that time didn't last very well, did they )

Yes it was rear engined 903cc and quite nippy in its day, obviously road holding was not its forte :( :( :(

[Fujisan]

I vowed never to buy another Fiat never have + never will..

My brother bought a FIAT X1/9....against my advise!

Had it two weeks!

Think he scared himself sh1tless one very rainy night and then it was gone.....but he never said why he got rid ;)