Cars that have a bad reputation, but you want one anyway.

[lel]

[ClaphamGT3]

You're talking to the guy who owns this....

[Tinkshusband]

LordTwaddle said:

Wanted one..... tested one.... bought one..... all insults are welcome as long as they aren't about the back end "styling"

a cheaper slk. the roadster version didnt even look that bad from the rear.

[Tinkshusband]

Gary C said:

Get one then !

They are sooooo cheap that budgeting for a rebuild can easily be factored in.

But they drink like an alcoholic at a free bar

rebuild , 2jz swap, v8 swap , VAG 1.8T swap, turbo 3 rotor build are all good options :P

never quite understood the dislike for rx8s - love the way they look. also never got why mazda didnt do a turbo nutter version

[anonymous-user]

It's a V8, rwd, cheap, soft top...

Surely some suspension away from a decent car?

[FakeConcern]

I bought this XM V6 18 months ago after watching Ronin and drinking way too much red wine!

[Britcar driver]

Last of the proper old school Bentleys, also from what I've read, ruinously expensive to repair/maintain.



Beautiful design, not the best reputation. Seriously though...look at it, it'seems gorgeous.

[SuperHangOn]

FakeConcern said:

I bought this XM V6 18 months ago after watching Ronin and drinking way too much red wine!

Ooo I love that, one of the last really French cars.

It's the Audi A8 Quattro of Ronin & The Transporter which gets me wanting. Not quite enough to overcome the fear of monstrous bills yet but it will have to be done.

[Bonefish Blues]

yonex said:

It's a V8, rwd, cheap, soft top...

Surely some suspension away from a decent car?

Coilovers from MeisterR are transformational, I am assured

[AW111]

Checkmate said:

Maserati Biturbo.
Twin turbo V6, RWD, manual (optional), fantastic looking, and a wonderful interior. Just brilliant. But objectively a terrible idea, sadly.

I looked at quite a few, test drove a couple, and even paid for a pre-purchase inspection of one.
The specialist didn't even bother with a full written report -

specialist said:

I would love to see you buy a Maserati, but not this one.

[Xtriple129]

Britcar driver said:

Last of the proper old school Bentleys, also from what I've read, ruinously expensive to repair/maintain.



Beautiful design, not the best reputation. Seriously though...look at it, it'seems gorgeous.

Not really the last of the 'old school Bentleys' old chap, too much BMW in there, including engines. What you need for proper 'old school Bentley' ruination is a Turbo R/Brooklands R, they really are the 'last' and can ruin your bank account, marriage and any relationships with garages you have ever had They can also do it in double quick time and without blinking. But, I will say that the difference between a tidy and reasonably well maintained example and one that has just had a fortune spent on steering/brakes/suspension/electrics rebuild is like night and day!

A well maintained one is 'nice' but a freshly overhauled one is 'superb' and makes you realise what they were like when new and why the line lasted 18+ years.

I'd also like an RX8, in red please but not sure they do automatics?

Wanted an NSU Ro 80 back in the late 70s but chickened out at the last minute when a quick call to the main dealer (they still existed back then!) told me about spark plugs at £12 each X4 and back in the 70s, that was a lot...

The dawn of the internet has been a blessing and a curse: nowadays information about all the things that WILL go wrong are there at your fingertips, whereas in the old days, we just used to buy 'em and regret later

[Patrick1964]

I really, really want a Discovery 3. I'm just not brave enough.

[Fattyfat]

Patrick1964 said:

I really, really want a Discovery 3. I'm just not brave enough.

They're actually quite easy to work on

[caelite]

Truckosaurus said:

caelite said:

Ive always fancied an RX8. The wonky reliability I could handle but the 20mpg... Oooft....

I'm the other way around, I could live with the poor mpg (and oil usage) but reckon the 'quirky' engine characteristics - rebuild worries/flooding if you start or stop it the wrong way - would sap the enjoyment out of it.

Ah, I am a mechanical engineering student so working around little quirks like that gives me a hard on. I agree with another point about the 20mpg being... vaguely acceptable however it is more the principle of getting 20mpg for only 190-230bhp and not a lot of torque which would bother me, I currently have a 1.6 turbo 4 pot hot hatch which gets 180bhp, and truckload of torque low down & gets a solid 40mpg on my commute (similar 0-60 at 6.9s vs the mazda's 6.5-7.2). If it was a V8 putting out 250bhp and ~230ftIb of torque then I would be much more willing to foot 20mpg. Also £500 a year in tax for a £2-3k car when the previously mentioned hot hatch only takes £160ish.

Although I must admit before someone says 'But it revs to 9k!' I prefer torque mountains to peak power personally, especially in a road car.

Edited by caelite on Sunday 30th October 18:06

[Iva Barchetta]

I won't bore you with all the stats, I'll keep that for my "Readers cars" thread but nearly 4 years ago,

I paid quite a tidy sum for a 15yo Fiat.

Since then I have completed 40,000 miles, yes forty thousand and very little has fallen off/ needed

replacing.

Stuff your Fiat preconception where the sun don't shine.

Best car I've owned !

[anonymous-user]

I quite fancy one of these despite the horror stories about suspension problems and rot, for barging around in.

[paulmakin]

had several BX 16vs, a couple of XMs, literally dozens of alfas with various bad reps (the rusty ones and latterly the "belts" ones), a number of GTV6s, X1-9s, various deltas including an 8V integrale etc.

also looking at RX8s myself now but i'd happily take any of the above again - beginning to really want another BX 16v though

paul

[rayyan171]

Phaeton, 7 series, Range Rover L322

[Justin Case]

Any Maserati, but especially a 3200GT. On the other hand, an Audi S8 will unfortunately be disqualified from my shortlist because it has such a good reputation

[wildcat45]

I've had five MGF and TFs. I've had occasional problems with them over the last decade never (yet) had a head gasket go.

Never had the flap motor things go wrong when I had a V6 ZT-T

All the Land Rovers I've owned have been pretty reliable.

I got last minute cold feet over buying a Range Rover Classic. I almost had the keys in my hand when I lost my bottle. A bullet dodged? Whatever, I regret my lack of courage.