Rate your cars by reliability
Discussion
Don't know if this has already been done on PH but might provide some interesting/unusual info. Basically a thread looking at the reliability of cars owned, not counting things that were already broken just failures while you've owned it.
Open to suggestions how to do it, maybe rank it like this:
1. Something lets go that shouldn't and leaves you stranded
2. Something lets go that shouldn't but its still driveable
3. Wear and tear
4. Nothing other that routine servicing
I'll start with mine:
1. Alpina B10 V8S - Failed alternator, failed satnav unit, various electrical gremils throughout its life, dead battery, knackered bushes
2. Porsche 944 S2 - sticky brake calipers and warped discs (x2 although suspect a poor repair the first time around)
3. Alfa 164 3.0 V6 - Failed MOT for rotten exhaust and handbrake requiring adjustment
4. Peugeotr 306 DTurbo - glow plugs and dead battery
5. Mercedes C43 AMG - rust (cosmetic, not structural)
6. VW Passat W8 - nothing so far but not owned it long
Open to suggestions how to do it, maybe rank it like this:
1. Something lets go that shouldn't and leaves you stranded
2. Something lets go that shouldn't but its still driveable
3. Wear and tear
4. Nothing other that routine servicing
I'll start with mine:
1. Alpina B10 V8S - Failed alternator, failed satnav unit, various electrical gremils throughout its life, dead battery, knackered bushes
2. Porsche 944 S2 - sticky brake calipers and warped discs (x2 although suspect a poor repair the first time around)
3. Alfa 164 3.0 V6 - Failed MOT for rotten exhaust and handbrake requiring adjustment
4. Peugeotr 306 DTurbo - glow plugs and dead battery
5. Mercedes C43 AMG - rust (cosmetic, not structural)
6. VW Passat W8 - nothing so far but not owned it long
Chris944_S2 said:
Don't know if this has already been done on PH but might provide some interesting/unusual info. Basically a thread looking at the reliability of cars owned, not counting things that were already broken just failures while you've owned it.
Open to suggestions how to do it, maybe rank it like this:
1. Something lets go that shouldn't and leaves you stranded
2. Something lets go that shouldn't but its still driveable
3. Wear and tear
4. Nothing other that routine servicing
I'll start with mine:
1. Alpina B10 V8S - Failed alternator, failed satnav unit, various electrical gremils throughout its life, dead battery, knackered bushes
2. Porsche 944 S2 - sticky brake calipers and warped discs (x2 although suspect a poor repair the first time around)
3. Alfa 164 3.0 V6 - Failed MOT for rotten exhaust and handbrake requiring adjustment
4. Peugeotr 306 DTurbo - glow plugs and dead battery
5. Mercedes C43 AMG - rust (cosmetic, not structural)
6. VW Passat W8 - nothing so far but not owned it long
1. Mk1 Fiesta 1.3 sport. - engine died at some traffic lights.Open to suggestions how to do it, maybe rank it like this:
1. Something lets go that shouldn't and leaves you stranded
2. Something lets go that shouldn't but its still driveable
3. Wear and tear
4. Nothing other that routine servicing
I'll start with mine:
1. Alpina B10 V8S - Failed alternator, failed satnav unit, various electrical gremils throughout its life, dead battery, knackered bushes
2. Porsche 944 S2 - sticky brake calipers and warped discs (x2 although suspect a poor repair the first time around)
3. Alfa 164 3.0 V6 - Failed MOT for rotten exhaust and handbrake requiring adjustment
4. Peugeotr 306 DTurbo - glow plugs and dead battery
5. Mercedes C43 AMG - rust (cosmetic, not structural)
6. VW Passat W8 - nothing so far but not owned it long
1. BMW 328ci coupe. - Flat battery which turned out to be the amplifier staying live & draining it.
1. Audi A3 - Starter motor died & also drained battery.
2. Wiper moter on Elise S1.
3. Both 205 GTI's were money pits with lots of wear & tear.
4. Second Elise. BMW Z3M. Seat Leon Cupra. Chrysler Crossfire (current car & only owned for a few days)
Not sure how this will work as there are too many variables - cheap shed, expensive luxury car, brand new, 20 years old, owned for 2 months or 10 years, etc...
But here's my list:
1. Rover 214 (wedge shaped) - gearbox seal went, new clutch, exhaust valve blown, obligatory head gasket, loads of other stuff. Let me down a lot and cost me a fortune in 18 months.
2. 1990 Saab 900 T16S. Really shouldn't be this far down the list, it is 20 years old, 180k miles and owned for 8 years. Only let me down a couple of times - pedal box weld, distributor - but has had work for rust, a couple of clutches, head gasket, radiator, and various bits. Still on original gearbox and turbo though.
3. Eunos Roadster - you would think this would be the best, but water pump, radiator, various hoses, rust in sill, rattly tappets. To be fair it was a bit neglected though. Owned 5 years.
4. Rover 25 1.6. Pretty much faultless, just had a back box and a set of plug leads in 2 years.
5. Saab 9000 2.3T - faultless (well, no synchro in 2nd but I bought it like that, and I've not had it 2 months yet!
But here's my list:
1. Rover 214 (wedge shaped) - gearbox seal went, new clutch, exhaust valve blown, obligatory head gasket, loads of other stuff. Let me down a lot and cost me a fortune in 18 months.
2. 1990 Saab 900 T16S. Really shouldn't be this far down the list, it is 20 years old, 180k miles and owned for 8 years. Only let me down a couple of times - pedal box weld, distributor - but has had work for rust, a couple of clutches, head gasket, radiator, and various bits. Still on original gearbox and turbo though.
3. Eunos Roadster - you would think this would be the best, but water pump, radiator, various hoses, rust in sill, rattly tappets. To be fair it was a bit neglected though. Owned 5 years.
4. Rover 25 1.6. Pretty much faultless, just had a back box and a set of plug leads in 2 years.
5. Saab 9000 2.3T - faultless (well, no synchro in 2nd but I bought it like that, and I've not had it 2 months yet!
1. MGBGT. Alternator died, stuck at side of road waiting for recovery.
2. Dolomite Sprint. Fuel pipe perished. Luckily it's a crossflow so the carbs aren't on the same side as the exhaust. :shock:
3. Ford Fiesta. Battery came to end of life (12 years old) so sometimes needed push starting.
4. BMW E30 316. Didn't like a few laps of the 'Ring followed by three hours V-max back to the hotel in Belgium for some reason. Didn't have any water left in it when I arrived, topped it up and was good as gold.
5. Dolomite 1850. Had a charging issue which was alright as it was quite easy to bump start. Then the clutch hose went 20 miles from home. Bump starting a car with no clutch is...violent.
2. Dolomite Sprint. Fuel pipe perished. Luckily it's a crossflow so the carbs aren't on the same side as the exhaust. :shock:
3. Ford Fiesta. Battery came to end of life (12 years old) so sometimes needed push starting.
4. BMW E30 316. Didn't like a few laps of the 'Ring followed by three hours V-max back to the hotel in Belgium for some reason. Didn't have any water left in it when I arrived, topped it up and was good as gold.
5. Dolomite 1850. Had a charging issue which was alright as it was quite easy to bump start. Then the clutch hose went 20 miles from home. Bump starting a car with no clutch is...violent.
I've had a few too many cars to list but the last two:
1. 2006 Passat 2.0TDi, engine lights, non starts, windows failed, central locking probs etc over 12 months (car cost 6.5K)
5. 2000 Suzuki Baleno, topped up oil, new front pads over 12 months (car cost £200)
Just goes to show car cost doesn't equal reliability!
1. 2006 Passat 2.0TDi, engine lights, non starts, windows failed, central locking probs etc over 12 months (car cost 6.5K)
5. 2000 Suzuki Baleno, topped up oil, new front pads over 12 months (car cost £200)
Just goes to show car cost doesn't equal reliability!
Land Rover Defender 57 plate- one near stranding caused by brake vacuum pump failure, also failed clutch, halfshafts, vent blower resistor x 2 (currently in for it's third!) and more little bits...
Vauxhall Astra 1.9 CDTi 150 (bought new 2005) - swirl flap failure at 38k miles. Limped to dealer, got treated like s
t.
Old mk2 Gti 8v- some electrical gremlin in mid France left us stranded. Stretched my mediocre French to the full.One battery death, one regulator death.
BMW 335d (late 2006) - had recurring brake wobble issues. Finally sorted last week.
Suzuki Jimny (late 2005) - brake wobble issues. Sorted under warranty.
That's about it really - not too bad for 18 years car ownership.
Vauxhall Astra 1.9 CDTi 150 (bought new 2005) - swirl flap failure at 38k miles. Limped to dealer, got treated like s
t.Old mk2 Gti 8v- some electrical gremlin in mid France left us stranded. Stretched my mediocre French to the full.One battery death, one regulator death.
BMW 335d (late 2006) - had recurring brake wobble issues. Finally sorted last week.
Suzuki Jimny (late 2005) - brake wobble issues. Sorted under warranty.
That's about it really - not too bad for 18 years car ownership.
2000 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16v SXI - what a money pit! Needed a new brake calliper at first, then failed its MOT for knackered front suspension, brakes out of balance, and all the brake pipes needed replaced. It then ate 2 wheel bearings, then the valve stem seals or the piston rings went so it burned a liter of oil every 100 miles and needed the spark plugs cleaned every week. Clutch was slipping too when I traded it in. Besides that it was great!
2002 Ford Mondeo 1.8 LX - brilliant. Needed drop links all round, one brake pipe, and 2 tyres in all the time I owned it. Fantastic car.
1998 Ford Mondeo ST24 - one bolt in the gear linkage sheered leaving me stranded in first on the Applecross road, but besides that it has been 100%. No advisories on the last MOT either! The IMRC is being a pain in the ass, but I bought it knowing that. Turns out to be a bit harder to fix than I thought mind.
The funny thing is, the Astra was only on 69k when I bought it and was the most reliable, and the ST24 is on 108k and is significantly more reliable!
2002 Ford Mondeo 1.8 LX - brilliant. Needed drop links all round, one brake pipe, and 2 tyres in all the time I owned it. Fantastic car.
1998 Ford Mondeo ST24 - one bolt in the gear linkage sheered leaving me stranded in first on the Applecross road, but besides that it has been 100%. No advisories on the last MOT either! The IMRC is being a pain in the ass, but I bought it knowing that. Turns out to be a bit harder to fix than I thought mind.
The funny thing is, the Astra was only on 69k when I bought it and was the most reliable, and the ST24 is on 108k and is significantly more reliable!
Worst to best:
Audi 80 Tdi - 1993 car owned 2 years and 20k miles. Intermittant injector fault causing stuttering/low power. Never cured. Tension arm failed, cutting aux belt in 2 in deepest darkest wales. ABS fault finally forcing me to sell it. Numerous minor faults - electric windows failing, repeated wheel bearing failures.
First MR2 - 1988. Failed MOt in spectacular style. misguided Ebay purcahse.
BMW 328i - 1997 car (current ride) No break downs, but has needed brake lines replacing after failure due to rust, and a rear damper failed making for an interesting drive back from scotland.
Nissan 200SX - Nothing went wrong but required upkeep - turbo gaskets, replacement intercooler, new clutch.
Toyota MR2 1988 (the good one), Mazda 2, Skoda Fabia 1.4 Tdi, Vauxhall astra van (wifes 1st company car!) - nothing has ever gone wrong, nothing needed doing bar maintainence.
Audi 80 Tdi - 1993 car owned 2 years and 20k miles. Intermittant injector fault causing stuttering/low power. Never cured. Tension arm failed, cutting aux belt in 2 in deepest darkest wales. ABS fault finally forcing me to sell it. Numerous minor faults - electric windows failing, repeated wheel bearing failures.
First MR2 - 1988. Failed MOt in spectacular style. misguided Ebay purcahse.
BMW 328i - 1997 car (current ride) No break downs, but has needed brake lines replacing after failure due to rust, and a rear damper failed making for an interesting drive back from scotland.
Nissan 200SX - Nothing went wrong but required upkeep - turbo gaskets, replacement intercooler, new clutch.
Toyota MR2 1988 (the good one), Mazda 2, Skoda Fabia 1.4 Tdi, Vauxhall astra van (wifes 1st company car!) - nothing has ever gone wrong, nothing needed doing bar maintainence.
1. Nissan Micra #2 - Fuel pump went pop when going for an overtake. Car has 180k on the clock though, and the fuel filter needed changing badly. Lots of rain water leaks and endless rust aswell 
2. Peugeot 106 - Alternator belt popped off after hitting the rev limiter during an overtake. The flipside to this is that I might of put the crank pully on the wrong way round whilst doing the cambelt in a rush a few weeks before hand
Managed to get her home though. Leaked oil from the front left of the HG aswell, like all TU engines.
3. E36 BMW 318 - The main diff oil seal was leaking oil and I did intend to change it, but sold the car before I got round to doing it. Also had to change the thermostat which was stuck open. Apart from that, a very good car considering it had 190k and I bought it for £200. I think the exhaust manifold was blowing aswell but I wasn't too bothered by that.
3. Nissan Primera GT - Bit of a money pit, but still a good car. The only extravagant work it needed was a kingpin bearing for the MOT, which was a bit of a pig, but nothing too difficult. The handbrake never worked either. Needed new calipers, but I just put it in gear and got them working for the MOT test with lots of rust off and working them with some water pump pliers.
4. Nissan Micra #1 - My first car, never needed anything apart from servicing. Only one bit of rust for an MOT as well.
2. Peugeot 106 - Alternator belt popped off after hitting the rev limiter during an overtake. The flipside to this is that I might of put the crank pully on the wrong way round whilst doing the cambelt in a rush a few weeks before hand
Managed to get her home though. Leaked oil from the front left of the HG aswell, like all TU engines. 3. E36 BMW 318 - The main diff oil seal was leaking oil and I did intend to change it, but sold the car before I got round to doing it. Also had to change the thermostat which was stuck open. Apart from that, a very good car considering it had 190k and I bought it for £200. I think the exhaust manifold was blowing aswell but I wasn't too bothered by that.
3. Nissan Primera GT - Bit of a money pit, but still a good car. The only extravagant work it needed was a kingpin bearing for the MOT, which was a bit of a pig, but nothing too difficult. The handbrake never worked either. Needed new calipers, but I just put it in gear and got them working for the MOT test with lots of rust off and working them with some water pump pliers.
4. Nissan Micra #1 - My first car, never needed anything apart from servicing. Only one bit of rust for an MOT as well.
Edited by maniac0796 on Monday 5th December 22:05
Benbay001 said:
I will give 10 pound to the first landrover owner, who manages to place their Landrover in anything but first place (as long as they have had a year or more, and it isnt beaten to first by anything french, or another landrover)
Disclaimer: I intend to give no money to anyone.
1. BMW 650i, Lotus 23b, Lola T162, Lotus Camco Twin Cam. Disclaimer: I intend to give no money to anyone.
3. Ford 1916 speedster
4. P38 Range Rover 4.0l aka "The Strange Rover" because it all worked and never failed. (but I didn't keep it for a full year)
Past cars since joining PH
1. BMW z4 2.5, Mx5, Land Rover Disco Td5,
3. BMW 528i E39, Land Rover 90 V8 (But i had just rebuilt the 90)
Edited because im stupid and put everything in the wrong order.
Edited by Major Fallout on Monday 5th December 22:21
Edited by Major Fallout on Monday 5th December 22:35
I've had 7 cars.
1 bmw, 4 vauxhalls, 1 ford, 1 peugeot.
None of them ever broke down. Maybe i'm just lucky....
I dont think there's such a thing these days as reliable and unreliable cars. You might get two BMW's, one does 150k without missing a beat, the next one blows up after 40,000. You could probably extend this to any manufacturer these days.
Cars are no longer the shoddy pieces of st that came from the midlands 30 years ago.
1 bmw, 4 vauxhalls, 1 ford, 1 peugeot.
None of them ever broke down. Maybe i'm just lucky....
I dont think there's such a thing these days as reliable and unreliable cars. You might get two BMW's, one does 150k without missing a beat, the next one blows up after 40,000. You could probably extend this to any manufacturer these days.
Cars are no longer the shoddy pieces of s
t that came from the midlands 30 years ago.Hmmm cav mk1. Broken return spring on the throttle cable , rust ..minor to severe.
Fiat Uno Turbo , faulty relay , faulty wiring , wishbone rusted through and snapped , major corrosion , naff battery , wonky instruments , jammed wastegate ensuring the overboost cut the ignition resulting in a kangarooing pile of red st down the road.
citreon Ax Gt. Hmmmm nowt!
Ford orion mk1 gl. Ah the best , used to cut out on a right hand bend , rotten rear floor pans , and the engine fell out at the top of sherrifmuir road one night, i had sheared an engine mount.
Thats all for now ...ive a had a few more cars but i cannae be assed typing..
Fiat Uno Turbo , faulty relay , faulty wiring , wishbone rusted through and snapped , major corrosion , naff battery , wonky instruments , jammed wastegate ensuring the overboost cut the ignition resulting in a kangarooing pile of red s
t down the road.citreon Ax Gt. Hmmmm nowt!
Ford orion mk1 gl. Ah the best , used to cut out on a right hand bend , rotten rear floor pans , and the engine fell out at the top of sherrifmuir road one night, i had sheared an engine mount.
Thats all for now ...ive a had a few more cars but i cannae be assed typing..
1987 Mini 998: gearbox, endless oil seals and constantly changing and adjusting point. (but what do you expect from a mini)
2002 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 SXI: brilliant little car. I done nearly 60k miles and the only thing was a brake light switch. £4.99 from a local dealer.
2004 Vauxhall Frontera dti: again good car. Just didn't like starting in cold weather.
2002 Ford Focus ST170: no problems
2003 Vauxhall VX220 n/a: just a couple of lambda sensors and a dodgy connection for the throttle sensors.
2008 Mini Cooper Clubman S: Not owned it long but so far so good.
I have been lucky with cars unlike a few freinds with more expensive motors which have been money pits.
2002 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 SXI: brilliant little car. I done nearly 60k miles and the only thing was a brake light switch. £4.99 from a local dealer.
2004 Vauxhall Frontera dti: again good car. Just didn't like starting in cold weather.
2002 Ford Focus ST170: no problems
2003 Vauxhall VX220 n/a: just a couple of lambda sensors and a dodgy connection for the throttle sensors.
2008 Mini Cooper Clubman S: Not owned it long but so far so good.
I have been lucky with cars unlike a few freinds with more expensive motors which have been money pits.
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