Glad to see the back of it

[Gordon Hill]

As a serial sheddist I've owned some appalling heaps of rubbish over the last 43 years, think Ital, Samara, Kia Shuma but I've been patient with them and ran them all until they were uneconomical to repair and scrapped them.

About 15 years ago I bought a W210 E320cdi, I'd always wanted an E, I paid far more for it than any other car that I'd owned before. Loved the dark blue with cream leather interior and for about a month was completely in love with it. After that one expensive problem after another, it wasn't even high mileage when I got it.

I know that this period for Mercedes wasn't their finest hour but after 3 years of ownership where a month didn't go by without something going wrong I cut my losses and got rid.

I thought that I'd feel bad about it going back to something more mundane but the feeling of relief at finally getting shot of it was immense. Have any of you ever owned a car that stressed you out so much that you were overjoyed when the day came to part company?

[Gordon Hill]

donkmeister said:

Oof, the W210... Not Mercedes finest hour! The W210 (and W203 ), I think) were manufactured during the height/lowest point of the Chrysler era AND subject to the biodegradable wiring and piss poor early water based paint. Not to mention general reliability issues. They can be brought up to scratch but not economically.

The W211 that came later was so much better. Sorry I had to get rid of mine. It was built like a tank, albeit out of aluminium to add lightness. Hardest paint of any car I've ever owned.

But cars I was pleased to get rid of.... Maybe I get too involved but I've always been sad to find a new custodian for a car. Or I've just been lucky so far!!!

Funny thing is that I now run a W211 E280cdi. The difference is that I paid nothing for it and don't expect anything from it but I have to say that after a year of ownership it has pleasantly surprised me with it's build and ride quality. Compared to the 210 it's night and day and I'm in no rush to part with it.

[Gordon Hill]

105.4 said:

Chedders said:

Yes a Mini Cooper S Checkmate.


Glad to of seen the back of it - I can’t understand what people see in those R53’s, this one was utter garbage.

We’ve had two. A MINI One and a Cooper, because my Wife thinks that they are ‘cute’.

Absolute turds to own, drive and work on.

A good friend and client of mine who also runs a small car dealership has a mini up for sale at the moment, slightly over shed budget, it looks lovely in cream and black. I know that my daughter has been hankering after one to replace her C1, reading the last couple of posts I think I'll tell her to keep the C1 and not bother.

[Gordon Hill]

For the most part the Germans don't seem to be doing too well here.

[Gordon Hill]

In 1985 Dad retired from his job a mining engineer with a substantial pay off and generous pension. He decided, on the recommendation of a mate, to trade in his 4 year old Datsun Bluebird (loved that car) for a brand new Austin Montego. His love for this car lasted approximately a week, from memory it was a 1.6L, he part ex'd it for a new Fiesta after 3 months taking a substantial hit. He never bought anything other than Fords for the rest of his life.

[Gordon Hill]

Another that I was glad to see the back of, for different reasons to the Merc, was a one year old escort. It was the only car that I've ever bought on finance. Had 5,000 miles on it, it wasn't unreliable in any way but I'd never been as bored by a car in my life. It had nothing, base spec 1.4 litres of boredom.

Sold it and bought a base spec 316 BMW, loved that car, never put a foot wrong. I think with the Merc I was naively thinking of the "hewn from granite" reputation of bygone years.

I was so disappointed that it was exactly the opposite of everything that I thought it would be, I guess it's because buying sheds you tend not to expect too much and if they last 4 or 5 years it's a pleasant surprise, but when you pay a lot more for something nicer the expectation rises.

[Gordon Hill]

For me the main reasons to get rid of a car, in descending order are horrendous reliability, some cars that I've owned weren't just unreliable, they were possessed, stupid niggles and faults that although they don't stop it from proceeding refuse to be fixed, dreadful ride quality, deafening noise when going anything above 3000 rpm, general unrefinement to the point where you get toothache above 30mph all of which make for a pretty unpleasant ownership experience.

[Gordon Hill]

There are cars that you're glad to see the back of not because they're unreliable but because they are just plain terrible in every respect. Kia Shuma, boring in every single aspect, terrible to drive, drank petrol like a Bentley but never put a foot wrong, still glad to see the back of it.

Morris Ital, again never went wrong, didn't cost anything but hated every single mile in it, Lada Samara ditto, apart from the W210 the car that I was most relieved to see the back of was a 1997 base spec Escort that I got at 3 years old on finance. Got rid of it a week after it was paid off, truly hateful in every respect.