What do you class as an "Abused" car

[Quinnaay]

Just curious to peoples interpretations on the word Abused in car terms do you class it as being thrashed about everywere if so at what speeds/revs is thrashing it or badly maintained etc etc.

[StottyZr]

Basically yes. Thrashed around a lot, thrown around corners and not fully maintained (the bare minimum to keep the car road legal)

[Wattsie]

As far as buying a car goes, if it's been badly maintained - unmatching Linglong tyres, black sludgey oil, no sign of any attempt to service it, that kinda thing is a sign that you probably shouldn't bother.

As far as how other people treat their cars goes, I couldn't give a toss as long as I keep mine running okay.

ETA: Poor maintenance is the overall category.

[6potdave]

Just a general abused feel to the car, never cleaned, crap maintenance, driven hard from cold etc. Driving a performance car hard is not my idea of abuse if done properly.

[Frances The Mute]

Being abused is ignoring vital things like servicing and repairs. Being a spastic and knocking up kerbs and hitting street furniture etc is another example.

I have no problem with a car being driven hard. Just look after it if you do. Appreciably, some cars can take being driven hard more than others, but the rule still applies.

[funkyrobot]

Mismatched cheapo tyres.
Lack of servicing.
Lack of car cleanliness (a year's worth of dirt, rather than a few months. Usually shown by the carbon build up on the wheels).
Driven hard from cold (nothing wrong with driving hard if the vehicle is warm).
Rough and scruffy interior (i.e. things broken, ripped etc, not the odd stain or scuff).
Kerbed wheels and certain damage to the exterior (which would indicated that the driver doesn't really care what the car hits).

[RizzoTheRat]

"1 lady owner"

[W00DY]

The facelift 147.

Alfa Romeo should be ashamed.

[Quinnaay]

RizzoTheRat said:

"1 lady owner"

Haha! brilliant, and i agree with most of the above comments some intresting opinions

[Wattsie]

funkyrobot said:

Lack of car cleanliness (a year's worth of dirt, rather than a few months. Usually shown by the carbon build up on the wheels).

I find that's a good indicator of treatment.

Case in point, a mate used to treat his Clio like a complete skip on wheels, but when he replaced it with a (much older) Zetec S, it's kept spotless and serviced extensively. The ZS is also generally taken more care of (warmed up prior to thrashing) and not ramped up onto curbs and things like the Clio was.

[RizzoTheRat]

doogz said:

So the clutch is fked then...

A mates mother keeps her Fabia clean and tidy, and always services it on time, but its second clutch is already on the way out on a fairly low mileage car. He's trying to persuade her to go for a dsg next time.