The worst car you've ever driven...
Discussion
wibble cb said:
Hyundai Getz, hired one of these in Portugal, a Korean take on a small peppy euro style hatchback, without the peppy, or the style.
We had one of these as a hire car in Spain about 10-12 years ago, my mate was just old enough to rent a car when the rest of us were not, but only a basic car. Unfortuantely my mate was a s
t driver but the car didn't help. I recall at one point we were in an underground car park in Ronda, and to get out of said car park was a steep ramp with a sign saying "Switch off air conditioning" and then also, 3 of us had to get out of the car and give it a nudge to get up to the top (again, might have been mate's crap skills at driving and not wanting to give it too much welly despite it being a hire car)For me, worst car I can recall driving was either...
Citroen C1 (of a 2013 flavour) which I found terrible because of a) my size in comparison to the car and b) terrible terrible glare/reflection from dashboard into the windscreen meaning absolutely no visibility out of the car in certain light, which was not good at all.
Or, my mum's old Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 that she had for a while. As a package, it did what it needed to do very well and could comfortably fit mum and her shopping in, plus it was cheap enough for her to insure with my sisters and brother whilst they learned to drive. However I was kindly lent it after she got her new car and my own car had fallen apart, and I realy did not enjoy the experience at all. Just a very woolly gear change, narrow power band and wouldn't let you rev hard enough in 1st gear to properly get away from inclined junctions of which there is one 1/2 mile from my parents - you kind of had to hit it and hope for the best.
I've driven other of the terrible cars on this list and don't find them as bad as I found these two, but to each their own of course.
Auto Austin maxi with digital dash and voice information system.
Dear god it was terrible.
The gear box required a sit down, cup of tea and a snooze before it changed between one of the 3 possible ratios none of which were ever appropriate for whatever speed or rpm were present at the time.
The dash whilst futuristic ( in a 1960's kinda way) was as informative as a political party manifesto.
The voice information system however was the rotten cherry on the top however announcing numerous mystery faults normally in radio 4 English but on several occations german and once posibly Korean.
It could not be shut up and would even randomly announce stuff after you had stopped the car got out and locked the door.
It belonged to the boss of a pizza place I worked for part time as a teenager.
When it finally sucomed to tin worm he replaced it with a early 90's car of indeterminate soviet origin which was no better but didn't shout at you about a seat belt you had already put on.
Dear god it was terrible.
The gear box required a sit down, cup of tea and a snooze before it changed between one of the 3 possible ratios none of which were ever appropriate for whatever speed or rpm were present at the time.
The dash whilst futuristic ( in a 1960's kinda way) was as informative as a political party manifesto.
The voice information system however was the rotten cherry on the top however announcing numerous mystery faults normally in radio 4 English but on several occations german and once posibly Korean.
It could not be shut up and would even randomly announce stuff after you had stopped the car got out and locked the door.
It belonged to the boss of a pizza place I worked for part time as a teenager.
When it finally sucomed to tin worm he replaced it with a early 90's car of indeterminate soviet origin which was no better but didn't shout at you about a seat belt you had already put on.
Ford Focus Mk2 1.6 Diesel - complete lemon.
Bought from a dealer with service history missing for 2 years (although advertised as full service history) - my own bloody silly fault for not checking before driving the car away.
Turbo went pop within 5 days. Turbo replaced, stereo unit overheated to the point it was starting to melt the fascia. New turbo went pop 3 days later, dumped the car back on his forecourt and got him to buy the car back a good few hundred quid less than I'd paid.
Bought from a dealer with service history missing for 2 years (although advertised as full service history) - my own bloody silly fault for not checking before driving the car away.
Turbo went pop within 5 days. Turbo replaced, stereo unit overheated to the point it was starting to melt the fascia. New turbo went pop 3 days later, dumped the car back on his forecourt and got him to buy the car back a good few hundred quid less than I'd paid.
I find these threads about awful cars a bit over exaggerated to say the least.
Someone mentions a p12 Primera! My dad has owned one of these for years, great firm cornering car. Most certainly doesn't wallow. the 1.8 engine is a great engine (not a power house but perky enough for the type of car.) He has driven it for 13yrs or so and put 160k on it and all its needed is a couple of link arms and an exhaust. Definitely the no1 most reliable car I have ever come across.
The corsas everyone complains about, obviously they aren't going to have the performance of a 2015 v8 merc, they are a cheap to buy car with a small engine, we hired a 2014 manual 1.2 in Tenerife and it was slow but not a bad driving car.
Someone mentions a p12 Primera! My dad has owned one of these for years, great firm cornering car. Most certainly doesn't wallow. the 1.8 engine is a great engine (not a power house but perky enough for the type of car.) He has driven it for 13yrs or so and put 160k on it and all its needed is a couple of link arms and an exhaust. Definitely the no1 most reliable car I have ever come across.
The corsas everyone complains about, obviously they aren't going to have the performance of a 2015 v8 merc, they are a cheap to buy car with a small engine, we hired a 2014 manual 1.2 in Tenerife and it was slow but not a bad driving car.
Troubleatmill said:
Gary C said:
Mercury grand Marquis
Sorry... Not entertaining thatHired one ages ago, my colleague was driving... I was in the passenger seat with my arm out the window.
(For those tho don't know... the car has an full length bench seat in the front )
We took a turn around a corner.... the leather seats were so cheap... the driver slid along to the middle... and then (with his arms still on the wheel ).... bumped up next to me...
We both looked at each other with a WTF!!
Any car with such cheap seats and suspension that can propel the driver to the far end of the passenger seat while going around a corner... has true comedy value and is a keeper.
Edited by Troubleatmill on Thursday 26th May 19:19
Not sure thats really a glowing recommendation
mobile chicane22 said:
Auto Austin maxi with digital dash and voice information system.
Dear god it was terrible.
Digital dash Maxi ?, are you sure. Thought the Meastro was the first BL to have a (short lived) digital dash.Dear god it was terrible.
Maxi production stopped in 1981, era of the zx81
Edited by Gary C on Friday 27th May 13:25
veccy208 said:
I find these threads about awful cars a bit over exaggerated to say the least.
Someone mentions a p12 Primera! My dad has owned one of these for years, great firm cornering car. Most certainly doesn't wallow. the 1.8 engine is a great engine (not a power house but perky enough for the type of car.) He has driven it for 13yrs or so and put 160k on it and all its needed is a couple of link arms and an exhaust. Definitely the no1 most reliable car I have ever come across.
The corsas everyone complains about, obviously they aren't going to have the performance of a 2015 v8 merc, they are a cheap to buy car with a small engine, we hired a 2014 manual 1.2 in Tenerife and it was slow but not a bad driving car.
Me too, someone mentioned a 118D FFS! Most folk have only driven a couple of cars by the sounds of it and nothing that old and slow (like a mk3 escort 1.6d or Sierra 2.3, they were grim) I agree about the corsa comments too, I have an old 1.0 3 pot corsa for the kids to learn to drive in and I use it occasionally and my journey to work still takes the same time as it does in my other cars, it's fine, it's not underpowered at all, its a small light car with 50bhp it will do 80mph comfortably and is perfectly adequate for what it is, I'd imagine it'd struggle on long motorway inclines fully loaded but it isn't used for that and serves it's purpose very well.Someone mentions a p12 Primera! My dad has owned one of these for years, great firm cornering car. Most certainly doesn't wallow. the 1.8 engine is a great engine (not a power house but perky enough for the type of car.) He has driven it for 13yrs or so and put 160k on it and all its needed is a couple of link arms and an exhaust. Definitely the no1 most reliable car I have ever come across.
The corsas everyone complains about, obviously they aren't going to have the performance of a 2015 v8 merc, they are a cheap to buy car with a small engine, we hired a 2014 manual 1.2 in Tenerife and it was slow but not a bad driving car.
Edited by Jazoli on Friday 27th May 13:30
A vauxhall corsa 1.4 automatic. Probably 1998 ish?
We were asked to sell it, so insured it for a couple of weeks. It followed my old GT4 cross country for 40 miles cross country at a very restrained pace and actually consumed more fuel.
No redeeming features.
Sold for rather more money than I'd thought. Apparently small, five door and automatic is an unusual combo.
We were asked to sell it, so insured it for a couple of weeks. It followed my old GT4 cross country for 40 miles cross country at a very restrained pace and actually consumed more fuel.
No redeeming features.
Sold for rather more money than I'd thought. Apparently small, five door and automatic is an unusual combo.
Jazoli said:
Me too, someone mentioned a 118D FFS! Most folk have only driven a couple of cars by the sounds of it and nothing that old and slow (like a mk3 escort 1.6d or Sierra 2.3, they were grim) I agree about the corsa comments too, I have an old 1.0 3 pot corsa for the kids to learn to drive in and I use it occasionally and my journey to work still takes the same time as it does in my other cars, it's fine, it's not underpowered at all, its a small light car with 50bhp it will do 80mph comfortably and is perfectly adequate for what it is, I'd imagine it'd struggle on long motorway inclines fully loaded but it isn't used for that and serves it's purpose very well.
Edited by Jazoli on Friday 27th May 13:30
I had a 1980s 1.6 fiesta diesel in a wee kit car I used to own. Now that is an engine I'd agree was slow!I've driven some pretty rubbish cars over the years, especially when I was young but any car that avoids public transport is a good car.
I worked for a motor trader years ago, and all we did was move trade ins either to other dealers or auction, and one car that sticks in the memory for being particularly bad was an FSO Polenez which handled like a boat.
I worked for a motor trader years ago, and all we did was move trade ins either to other dealers or auction, and one car that sticks in the memory for being particularly bad was an FSO Polenez which handled like a boat.
Possibly the A plate 1.6L Sierra my boss had in 1983.
Looking back it was probably advanced, but the insulated cabin made it feel inert (very smooth ride and quiet unless you were revving it - which was often). Heavy unassisted steering with un-seen corners made for tricky parking. Awful beige colour scheme - but all the company cars had them. Mono radio and stereo cassette player with just two speakers (luxury!). Never had full confidence to try and go quickly - perhaps a good thing.
The fwd Cavalier 1.6L felt far sprightlier. Even the Astra 1.3L was preferable.
However, the Princess 1.7L just shaved it by virtue of it's epic steering weight - low profile tyres, no pas - and vinyl seats, plus a poor reliability record in our company. At least the Sierra never stranded us.
These were all nearly new cars when I drove them. Since then there's been many worn out wonders, but few new shockers (although the Renault 11 was an odd thing). Oh, and a VW Passat 1.8GL (1989 vintage) that made all my passengers travel sick, even on short journeys. EML light always coming on for the Lambda sensor, even when it didn't even have a catalytic converter...unreliable thirsty lump. Big boot though.
Looking back it was probably advanced, but the insulated cabin made it feel inert (very smooth ride and quiet unless you were revving it - which was often). Heavy unassisted steering with un-seen corners made for tricky parking. Awful beige colour scheme - but all the company cars had them. Mono radio and stereo cassette player with just two speakers (luxury!). Never had full confidence to try and go quickly - perhaps a good thing.
The fwd Cavalier 1.6L felt far sprightlier. Even the Astra 1.3L was preferable.
However, the Princess 1.7L just shaved it by virtue of it's epic steering weight - low profile tyres, no pas - and vinyl seats, plus a poor reliability record in our company. At least the Sierra never stranded us.
These were all nearly new cars when I drove them. Since then there's been many worn out wonders, but few new shockers (although the Renault 11 was an odd thing). Oh, and a VW Passat 1.8GL (1989 vintage) that made all my passengers travel sick, even on short journeys. EML light always coming on for the Lambda sensor, even when it didn't even have a catalytic converter...unreliable thirsty lump. Big boot though.
300bhp/ton said:
MikeTFSI said:
dangerously slow to get up to speed on slip ways
No I'm sure it wasn't. 300bhp/ton said:
BrownBottle said:
Land Rover Defender.
Absolutely terrible as a road car, I'm a bit reluctant to call it a car but I guess that's what it was sold as, as opposed to a road legal agricultural vehicle which is what I would call it.
You obviously have never been in or driven a proper agricultural vehicle. And if you think a Defender isn't any good on road, then it was either broken, you can't drive or you are being hysterically unrealistic. Absolutely terrible as a road car, I'm a bit reluctant to call it a car but I guess that's what it was sold as, as opposed to a road legal agricultural vehicle which is what I would call it.
300bhp/ton said:
Debaser said:
Porsche 991 Turbo S
Crap interior, rubbish gearbox, not premium inside.
Expected a lot more. So so dull.
This threa is worst car you've driven. So your claiming the Passat and 1.4 rep grade Audi A4 in your profile are better cars to drive than a Porsche turbo. Riiiight Crap interior, rubbish gearbox, not premium inside.
Expected a lot more. So so dull.
monthefish said:
300bhp/ton: Stop trying to ruin a good thread. The subject matter is people's opinions so you have no place arguing.
To be fair, he does have a point. It does strike me as a peeing contest for who can make the most outrageous claim for 'worst car driven' - there's absolutely no way anyone can claim a 911 Turbo S as the worst car they've driven. More 'not as good as I expected it to be'.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff