What is the most unreliable car you have owned?

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As title really, which car has given you the most problems, and at what point do you "throw in the towel"?

For me it had to be a mk1 mx5, I originally picked one up due to hearing nothing but positive on fun factor for little money and bulletproof reliabilty.

Unfortunately I didn't get to experience bullet proof reliabilty, the car gave nothing but problems with the biggest one being the short nose crank wobble which resulted in me paying for a new engine.

I got rid shortly after, (after peeing away the money spent on the engine).

[pops and bangs]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

erm not had any unreliable cars really but worst and most times dealer visited car was a 172

As well as reliabilty I meant problems too which I'd imagine your clio had if it was at the dealer often.

I know some people associate reliabilty with breaking down, or not starting, but for me I associate constant problems as unreliable.

For me a reliable car will start every time I need it to, and need next to nothing replaced apart from consumables.

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The Crack Fox said:

It won't help you, but mine has been fantastic despite being abused regularly and run on a shoestring with zero TLC...

It's ok I blame myself, had I researched before purchasing I would have avoided early models and gone for one with a long nose crank.

It didn't put me off mazda though or mx-5s as I owned a mk2 since then.

One thing that has put me off mx-5s is rust, absolutely shocking, as is the finish on the wheels, even the mk3 and mk3.5 have peeling/bubbling on the wheels.

Granted that has nothing to do with reliability but I'd expect more from a recent car

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LuS1fer said:

I think preventive maintenance largely eliminates unreliability.

I totally agree, although that doesn't apply to new cars some of which end up having loads of problems.

As you say though generally how you look after a car generally dictates how it treats you.