Most surprisingly rubbish car you've ever driven
Discussion
I'm going to go out on a limb here, and say that the most disappointing car I've ever driven, if not the absolute worst altogether, is the Audi A4 2.0Tdi. I haven't driven the brand new model, but my criticism is levelled at the model just replaced. I rented a 2007 A4 1.9Tdi for 4 days at the end of last year, and thought it was the biggest pile of crap I'd ever driven. When I subsequently needed a station wagon for a week, I ended up with a 2007 A4 2.0Tdi Avant which I assumed would be better but which I hated just as much. What made it all the more awful, is that the car is brilliantly put together, looks lovely, costs a fair bit and is a nice place to sit. But then you drive it, to find that the diesel motor is the loudest and most unrefined things outside of a Perkins marine diesel, that the steering wheel seems to govern the front wheels by semaphore, that the car absolutely and resolutely refuses to handle unless lurching around in perpetual understeer could be considered handling, that the power band is about half a rev wide, that it absolutely will not pull away in second gear unless you have it nearly bouncing off the limiter, that the brakes are over-servoed, and that the ride is so far on the wrong side of fantastic that it's almost brilliant. It's economical, but that's about it. I wouldn't mind if the 3 series 2.0d estate wasn't such a cracker to drive by comparison. Having tried one at length, everywhere the Audi was weak, the BMW was strong, with the possible exception of ride where the BMW is probably as bad. A Merc C200 or C220d (last model), whilst not exactly brilliant either, is at least super economical, rides well and is very comfy. I'd understand my Audi experience it if I had driven a duffer, but as I said, I got to try two A4s in relatively quick succession. When I see an Audi 1.9/2.0TDi on the road now, I really wonder if the driver tried anything else before buying.
I don't hate Audis as I've an A5 at the moment, and I had tried the A4 because my Dad was seriously considering one as a runabout.
Anyone else been really disappointed by something they thought would be good?
I don't hate Audis as I've an A5 at the moment, and I had tried the A4 because my Dad was seriously considering one as a runabout.
Anyone else been really disappointed by something they thought would be good?
I have an A3 2.0TDi as a company car. Unfortunately I inherited it from someone else and didn't choose it. I knew that they didn't have a great reputation as driver's cars but I have been very disappointed by it all round. The engine is coarse (much more so than a 1.9 TDi) the handling is awful and the ride quality is truly appalling. Frankly, for a car with a list price of over £20k I would expect far more.
In terms of hire cars, they don't come much worse than a 2005 Astra 1.6 'Twinport' and a VW Golf 1.6 petrol which I was unfortunate enough to drive most of the way round Italy last summer. The Golf had everything wrong with it that is wrong with the Audi but without the redeeming features of good fuel economy and monster torque. For a so called 'class-leading' car it was dreadful and not doesn't even warrant comparison with the Focus IMO
In terms of hire cars, they don't come much worse than a 2005 Astra 1.6 'Twinport' and a VW Golf 1.6 petrol which I was unfortunate enough to drive most of the way round Italy last summer. The Golf had everything wrong with it that is wrong with the Audi but without the redeeming features of good fuel economy and monster torque. For a so called 'class-leading' car it was dreadful and not doesn't even warrant comparison with the Focus IMO
BMW 325tds thought i'd be perfect, was then horribly disappointed made my old Accord feel like a Bentley. I'd go as far as saying it was even worse than the previous worst a Peugeot 205 1.9D, not just on an expectation level, but actually worse.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Thursday 20th March 08:33
Peugeot 307 and Mercedes B-class spring immediately to mind. The first was a collection of unreliable and miss-assembled bits of tat, and the second was fair but it failed spectacularly to live up to the quatlity and ride of MB's saloons. Almost as if it were built by another factory and then re-badged a Mercedes.
Focus ST170. Good ride and grip, but dreadful steering (dead-spot around 1/3 lock), horrible seating position, a gear change that managed to be stiff, notchy AND vague all at the same time, mated to an engine that didn't seem to power the wheels, just a big noise-generating machine. Was not impressed.
Bill Carr said:
Focus ST170. Good ride and grip, but dreadful steering (dead-spot around 1/3 lock), horrible seating position, a gear change that managed to be stiff, notchy AND vague all at the same time, mated to an engine that didn't seem to power the wheels, just a big noise-generating machine. Was not impressed.
second that, owned a 53 plate996C2.
First 911 I ever drove and I was expecting to be blown away by it. It wasn't a bad car but it didn't seem to be a particularly good one either...
ETA: since then I've driven various other 911s and thought the same about all of them except the 930 turbo which was rather more interesting.
First 911 I ever drove and I was expecting to be blown away by it. It wasn't a bad car but it didn't seem to be a particularly good one either...
ETA: since then I've driven various other 911s and thought the same about all of them except the 930 turbo which was rather more interesting.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 20th March 09:11
paul26982 said:
Bill Carr said:
Focus ST170. Good ride and grip, but dreadful steering (dead-spot around 1/3 lock), horrible seating position, a gear change that managed to be stiff, notchy AND vague all at the same time, mated to an engine that didn't seem to power the wheels, just a big noise-generating machine. Was not impressed.
second that, owned a 53 plateChevrolet Malibu, in fact it was so bad I took it back to the hire car place and demanded a replacement. I wasn't even paying.
Chevrolet Aveo, not sure it counts bacause I thought it was going to be wank, and it was.
That said, the Chevy Impala I had was pretty good, as was the Ford Taurus and the chrysler sebring.
I'd certainly think twice about getting a modern GM car.I'd never have a new chevy, and the experience has put me off vauxhalls and saabs (Plus my boss had a GM saab and hated it.)
Chevrolet Aveo, not sure it counts bacause I thought it was going to be wank, and it was.
That said, the Chevy Impala I had was pretty good, as was the Ford Taurus and the chrysler sebring.
I'd certainly think twice about getting a modern GM car.I'd never have a new chevy, and the experience has put me off vauxhalls and saabs (Plus my boss had a GM saab and hated it.)
Two cars stand out: the Rover 45, because despite me having low expectations it still managed to leave me shaken at how utterly awful it was.
And one which really, really surprised me: a 996 Turbo Cabriolet. Quick as anything, smooth, perfectly screwed together and yet soulless in the extreme. I got out of it and gave the keys back without the slightest twinge. My E34 M5 may not have been as quick, but it was infinitely more rewarding to drive.
And one which really, really surprised me: a 996 Turbo Cabriolet. Quick as anything, smooth, perfectly screwed together and yet soulless in the extreme. I got out of it and gave the keys back without the slightest twinge. My E34 M5 may not have been as quick, but it was infinitely more rewarding to drive.
2005 saab 9-3 aero 1.9tdi (150ps i think)
It was quite underpowered, most small petrol hatches would leave it standing. There was no feeling in the steering and the body roll was shocking , as bad as that of the series 2 disco.
The interior was bland and looked slightly cheap.
nissan micra (hardly suprising)
everything
It was quite underpowered, most small petrol hatches would leave it standing. There was no feeling in the steering and the body roll was shocking , as bad as that of the series 2 disco.
The interior was bland and looked slightly cheap.
nissan micra (hardly suprising)
everything
Edited by MrTom on Thursday 20th March 09:34
Without doubt the Audi A2, absolutely hateful thing.
No doubt aimed at women and ponces as the whole experience was reminiscent of being inside a new pair of shoes, that is one is sat uncomfortably inside a small box and surrounded by black leather.
The accelerator, steering, clutch, brakes, gearchange, sod it all the controls were absolutely useless and had no influence over this thing we call driving.
The handling seemed almost unsafe, as one is stuck about six feet up in the air in a tall and very narrow car with a short wheelbase.
Oh and it's ugly.
No doubt aimed at women and ponces as the whole experience was reminiscent of being inside a new pair of shoes, that is one is sat uncomfortably inside a small box and surrounded by black leather.
The accelerator, steering, clutch, brakes, gearchange, sod it all the controls were absolutely useless and had no influence over this thing we call driving.
The handling seemed almost unsafe, as one is stuck about six feet up in the air in a tall and very narrow car with a short wheelbase.
Oh and it's ugly.
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