Most boring car you've owned?
Discussion
Captain Muppet said:
Gandahar said:
Surely a boring car is only how boring you drive it?
Less accomplished cars just have to be driven more on the door handles to make up.
I once had a Morris Ital that had to get towed 3 miles back to the main road by the local farmers tractor after I decided to do some rallying up a dirt track and ran out of talent.
If you think a car is boring you are just not trying hard enough.
Yes, quite, but it's a comparative scale, and one of the cars you've owned will have been less exciting than the rest.Less accomplished cars just have to be driven more on the door handles to make up.
I once had a Morris Ital that had to get towed 3 miles back to the main road by the local farmers tractor after I decided to do some rallying up a dirt track and ran out of talent.
If you think a car is boring you are just not trying hard enough.
Some of my cars have been less responsive to being driven with reckless stupidity than others.
neil-935ql said:
mattlad said:
Ironically on of the best cars I ever owned was also the most boring.
Performance? Very good performance, more than adequate, to the point of boredom.
Ride and handling? Very very good. Boringly so.
Economy? Just adequate, Boring.
Comfort? Extremely comfortable. Bored.
Reliability? Completely reliable, boringly reliable.
The car? An '04 E46 BMW 330D Sport auto.
Great car, but so boring.
I had a BMW 335 I got bored of it for pretty much the same reasons as yourself ! A German car that was so good it was boring apart from the crappy manual box , sold it and bought a Clio 182 , much more like it ! French rubbish but full of character Performance? Very good performance, more than adequate, to the point of boredom.
Ride and handling? Very very good. Boringly so.
Economy? Just adequate, Boring.
Comfort? Extremely comfortable. Bored.
Reliability? Completely reliable, boringly reliable.
The car? An '04 E46 BMW 330D Sport auto.
Great car, but so boring.
Edited by mattlad on Wednesday 22 July 18:54
Last of the line (mk7 I think) escort, 1.6, si model (I think). The best bit about it was it was deemed not worth repairing for mot due to rust.
Followed by a mk3 Astra estate, 1.7d no turbo, no electric anything, no power steering. But you could get 4 mountain bikes in the boot or 2 in the back without any dissembly if the seats were down. It also ran on chip fat. The last two points were its major plus points over the escort, plus it got rallied and off roaded everywhere since it owed me £150
Followed by a mk3 Astra estate, 1.7d no turbo, no electric anything, no power steering. But you could get 4 mountain bikes in the boot or 2 in the back without any dissembly if the seats were down. It also ran on chip fat. The last two points were its major plus points over the escort, plus it got rallied and off roaded everywhere since it owed me £150
12-reg (B8) Audi A4.
We had an older version (B6) for years and, while I know it’s a bit daft trying to imbue inanimate objects with human characteristics, the old one somehow had an ‘honest’ feel to it – whilst not being the last word in excitement (we had an Integrale, an S2000 and a succession of Alfas for that), it was reliable, always seemed faster than its 130 bhp would suggest and was always a pleasant enough old thing to punt around in. However, we’d put 160,000 miles on it and we decided to upgrade to the then year-old 12-reg model almost without trying it – big mistake. Steering so devoid of feel I thought there was something wrong with it, hateful electronic handbrake, stop/start which usually did the former but quite often not the latter (the dealer never managed to sort it), rubbish stereo. Hated it and soon traded it in for a Merc C350 which, apart from inferior interior fittings and being slightly less roomy, is a superior car in every other way I can think of.
We had an older version (B6) for years and, while I know it’s a bit daft trying to imbue inanimate objects with human characteristics, the old one somehow had an ‘honest’ feel to it – whilst not being the last word in excitement (we had an Integrale, an S2000 and a succession of Alfas for that), it was reliable, always seemed faster than its 130 bhp would suggest and was always a pleasant enough old thing to punt around in. However, we’d put 160,000 miles on it and we decided to upgrade to the then year-old 12-reg model almost without trying it – big mistake. Steering so devoid of feel I thought there was something wrong with it, hateful electronic handbrake, stop/start which usually did the former but quite often not the latter (the dealer never managed to sort it), rubbish stereo. Hated it and soon traded it in for a Merc C350 which, apart from inferior interior fittings and being slightly less roomy, is a superior car in every other way I can think of.
I was going to say my current daily beater - Mazda 6 diesel.
Thinking about it however, it's tendency to light up its engine warning and DPF lamps on a frequent basis gives me a shiver of adrenaline every time I turn the key in the ignition.
So I guess it has to be a W reg Astra SRI whose only redeeming feature was the odometer that kept packing in.
Thinking about it however, it's tendency to light up its engine warning and DPF lamps on a frequent basis gives me a shiver of adrenaline every time I turn the key in the ignition.
So I guess it has to be a W reg Astra SRI whose only redeeming feature was the odometer that kept packing in.
My wifes previuos car. Mazda premacy. Silver metallic, grey cloth interior, grey plastic and you guessed it grey Everything.
When sitting down in it for the first time i had to get out to stay alive. It ripped and pulled every shred of joy and Life out of my body. Then i had to drive it.
That was even worse than just sitting in it...
But to if you drove it like you stole it and going at it like you were about to kill someone. (actully it was to save your own Life to get to Point B as fast as possible.) it was somewhat entertaining.
I made her sell and bougth her a 1,8t seat leon and that was a huge leap up the fun scale from the Mazda.
Dont ever buy one :-)
When sitting down in it for the first time i had to get out to stay alive. It ripped and pulled every shred of joy and Life out of my body. Then i had to drive it.
That was even worse than just sitting in it...
But to if you drove it like you stole it and going at it like you were about to kill someone. (actully it was to save your own Life to get to Point B as fast as possible.) it was somewhat entertaining.
I made her sell and bougth her a 1,8t seat leon and that was a huge leap up the fun scale from the Mazda.
Dont ever buy one :-)
Technically not owned, but I was in the position of "having to have it" for 11 months...
I'd just changed jobs & become the MD of a small software company. A set of wheels was to be part of the package. I negotiated my way into an E34 BMW 5 series (their current product at the time).
Turned up on day one - and was handed the keys to a two-tone blue Toyota Camry automatic. It was one of their existing company cars, and, as the newbie, I was now expected to use it until its term came up, when I'd then get my own choice of wheels. I raised objections but was in a weak negotiating position. With the feeling of having been shafted over this, I headed across the car park at end of day. Driving 100 yards in the thing was quite enough distance to learn why the previous user had quit the company; the Camry featured a 2 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine(allegedly), mounted transversely in the front of a large saloon body and deploying FWD.
The default handling mode was copious under-steer and body-roll. Acceleration was asthmatic; it rolled so much on the corners you could easily develop seasickness. Any passengers complained - constantly. Clearly developed for the US market, it was a complete fish and utter out of water on UK roads.
The only possible redeeming feature was the sheer number of gadgets it had that I'd never driven before; climate control (not just your humble air-con), cruise control, automatic wipers, auto-dipping headlamps, etc, etc. The kids christened it "the Wurlitzer". After 6 months of trying to rag it to death the cylinder-head gasket started to leak, producing a chuffing noise under acceleration but now at an even more lethargic rate of increase in discernible speed. Being a Toyota of course it doggedly refused to die. We both endured the 11 months together until it was 3 years of age and I finally got swapped in to my new 6 - cylinder & RWD 5 series. It was like coming out of a dark, dark, endless tunnel into the wonderful sparkling sunlight of a lovely day........
The Camry nightmares stopped a few years later and I'm all normal again now........
I'd just changed jobs & become the MD of a small software company. A set of wheels was to be part of the package. I negotiated my way into an E34 BMW 5 series (their current product at the time).
Turned up on day one - and was handed the keys to a two-tone blue Toyota Camry automatic. It was one of their existing company cars, and, as the newbie, I was now expected to use it until its term came up, when I'd then get my own choice of wheels. I raised objections but was in a weak negotiating position. With the feeling of having been shafted over this, I headed across the car park at end of day. Driving 100 yards in the thing was quite enough distance to learn why the previous user had quit the company; the Camry featured a 2 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine(allegedly), mounted transversely in the front of a large saloon body and deploying FWD.
The default handling mode was copious under-steer and body-roll. Acceleration was asthmatic; it rolled so much on the corners you could easily develop seasickness. Any passengers complained - constantly. Clearly developed for the US market, it was a complete fish and utter out of water on UK roads.
The only possible redeeming feature was the sheer number of gadgets it had that I'd never driven before; climate control (not just your humble air-con), cruise control, automatic wipers, auto-dipping headlamps, etc, etc. The kids christened it "the Wurlitzer". After 6 months of trying to rag it to death the cylinder-head gasket started to leak, producing a chuffing noise under acceleration but now at an even more lethargic rate of increase in discernible speed. Being a Toyota of course it doggedly refused to die. We both endured the 11 months together until it was 3 years of age and I finally got swapped in to my new 6 - cylinder & RWD 5 series. It was like coming out of a dark, dark, endless tunnel into the wonderful sparkling sunlight of a lovely day........
The Camry nightmares stopped a few years later and I'm all normal again now........
Probably a Volvo V50 2.0D
I swapped out of an RX8 for it and was expecting to hate every minute of it but it was 'quick enough' for normal driving, handled OKish and I enjoyed all of the four years I had if for.
I've had a number of cars that would be dismissed on here, my first was a FIAT Uno 45S but as a first car it was great fun, no power but thrashed within an inch of it's life.
If I'm allowed to stretch the title, I've driven some dreadful cars. The worst two were a hearing aid beige Nissan Bluebird (non-turbo) diesel and a Black Granada (non-turbo) diesel which I thought had died before I drove it!
The thing is, when you own a car you don't always see the faults.
I left a job with company cars and needed to buy a smoker, I had no money and bought a Renault 11 for £320. I ran it for 18 months and replaced two tyres, the battery and an oil change, it was comfy and I had fun racing my younger friends in their Nova SRi's. It would be classed as a boring car by everyone in the world but I have fond memories of it. After the 18 months I ran over a deer at 70MPH and sold it for £500 so I had fun in it, moved house in it and crashed in it and still made money on it! (Only car I've done that with!). Boring? Yes, but great fun!
I swapped out of an RX8 for it and was expecting to hate every minute of it but it was 'quick enough' for normal driving, handled OKish and I enjoyed all of the four years I had if for.
I've had a number of cars that would be dismissed on here, my first was a FIAT Uno 45S but as a first car it was great fun, no power but thrashed within an inch of it's life.
If I'm allowed to stretch the title, I've driven some dreadful cars. The worst two were a hearing aid beige Nissan Bluebird (non-turbo) diesel and a Black Granada (non-turbo) diesel which I thought had died before I drove it!
The thing is, when you own a car you don't always see the faults.
I left a job with company cars and needed to buy a smoker, I had no money and bought a Renault 11 for £320. I ran it for 18 months and replaced two tyres, the battery and an oil change, it was comfy and I had fun racing my younger friends in their Nova SRi's. It would be classed as a boring car by everyone in the world but I have fond memories of it. After the 18 months I ran over a deer at 70MPH and sold it for £500 so I had fun in it, moved house in it and crashed in it and still made money on it! (Only car I've done that with!). Boring? Yes, but great fun!
2007 Audi A6 2.4l V6 manual Saloon in grey.
The only redeeming feature was that the interior looked brand new (had covered 60k). Okay, at the time it was reasonably fresh looking parked outside, but that's it. The brakes, steering, engine, acceleration and suspension set up were all terrible.
That was my first and last Audi.
The only redeeming feature was that the interior looked brand new (had covered 60k). Okay, at the time it was reasonably fresh looking parked outside, but that's it. The brakes, steering, engine, acceleration and suspension set up were all terrible.
That was my first and last Audi.
Actually feel bad putting this up, as it was probably the most reliable car I ever had, but as 'boring' is the case in point:
Bought a '98 Saab GM900 2.0s in 2013, and it just went and went. Passed two MOTs not even needing a bulb or a tyre. I serviced it twice myself, and it never murmured. However it was just so un-involving and bland to drive. Being the base model, it still had a/c and some electrics, but little acceleration, woolly handling, adequate brakes, adequate gearbox, adequate steering; just adequate everything, but excelling in not one department!
Bought it at 130k, and sold at 150 to a mate (who does not look after his cars), and uses it to truck to Cornwall and back from Essex for surfing in April this year. It's still going strong. He has not one iota of trouble with it. Fantastically reliable yes. Boring. Yes.
I 'upgraded' to a 9-5 Aero Auto. Every extra, good acceleration, smooth auto-box, but troublesome from day-one. But boring no.
Bought a '98 Saab GM900 2.0s in 2013, and it just went and went. Passed two MOTs not even needing a bulb or a tyre. I serviced it twice myself, and it never murmured. However it was just so un-involving and bland to drive. Being the base model, it still had a/c and some electrics, but little acceleration, woolly handling, adequate brakes, adequate gearbox, adequate steering; just adequate everything, but excelling in not one department!
Bought it at 130k, and sold at 150 to a mate (who does not look after his cars), and uses it to truck to Cornwall and back from Essex for surfing in April this year. It's still going strong. He has not one iota of trouble with it. Fantastically reliable yes. Boring. Yes.
I 'upgraded' to a 9-5 Aero Auto. Every extra, good acceleration, smooth auto-box, but troublesome from day-one. But boring no.
I've owned a lot of cars that others would consider boring, but in the main each has had something I really liked. The one that I found most boring though was a 1998 Honda shuttle. 2.3 petrol automatic with a column change. The most interesting thing about it was it had a third row of seats that folded into the boot floor. (A fairly unique feature at the time) I inherited it as a company car not long before the rules changed. Overnight my tax bill went up by £300 a month.
BMW E46 318ci...with automatic gearbox and the earlier 1.9 litre engine
It was an SE model kitted out fully inside with every possible extra but as I was in my early 20's I just wanted something that went quicker than my previous car (88hp Corolla 1.3).
It didn't.
I think it took about 12 seconds to get to 60. Granted it handled and stopped far better than anything I'd ever been in, but it soon became frustrating.
Being quite the idiot at that age I also fitted a K&N induction filter (I thought it would add at least some hp but it made it slower) so people could not only see me accelerating at a stupidly slow pace, they could hear me too
It was an SE model kitted out fully inside with every possible extra but as I was in my early 20's I just wanted something that went quicker than my previous car (88hp Corolla 1.3).
It didn't.
I think it took about 12 seconds to get to 60. Granted it handled and stopped far better than anything I'd ever been in, but it soon became frustrating.
Being quite the idiot at that age I also fitted a K&N induction filter (I thought it would add at least some hp but it made it slower) so people could not only see me accelerating at a stupidly slow pace, they could hear me too
All the cars that I've strictly speaking 'owned' have had a degree of character or something about them that I liked. Probably the least of these was the V6 Accord coupe - big and wallowy, and in retrospect the gearbox was terrible, but it was very comfy and the engine was nice. I did like it, overall. Of the cars I've driven regularly, my wife had a Audi A4 diesel from work for a while that was nice but dull as a rainy Sunday.
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