most unreliable car
Discussion
jonah35 said:
1. a 996 turbo doesn't cost much to run, nor does loads of other "50k" cars like M3's, merc slk amg's and so on.
You can't get a 996 Turbo for under £10,000 and if you could then it would be extremely unreliable and costly to run. Not that running a 996 Turbo is cheap to run even if you pay £30,000 for it.My point wasn't just about running costs, it was relative reliability. Needing a new gearbox on an old Porsche isn't a reliability issue, it's wear and tear.
Can't argue with the reliability of a Maserati 3200, but then they were hardly reliable 5 mins out of the dealer
Edited by poing on Saturday 20th August 20:21
jonah35 said:
2smokin barrels post on the fact that it was really unreliable and showed a pic on the recovery truck saying even the windscreen was unreliable and also the fact that robsco pointed out that too
I'm not really qualified to comment just yet... I've only had mine for 2 months. It has left me stranded (briefly, in its defence) on a couple of occasions, but bearing in mind we have no idea how the car has been driven over the last 15 years, it would be unfair to class it as "unreliable".Pesty said:
2 months and its left you stranded twice already? what was the problem with it?
Lost clutch, cured itself at the side of the road. Then failure to start a couple of weeks ago - called the recovery services who came out to it and got it going within 15 minutes of arrival. Both times the car has acted like nothing ever happened afterwards - odd creatures.jonah35 said:
Doofus said:
Maserati Biturbo.
All the oil would fall out after about a quarter of a mile. But that was OK, because it meant I didn't have very far to walk back to pick up all the other bits that had fallen off.
good call, maserati 3200 can be added to the listAll the oil would fall out after about a quarter of a mile. But that was OK, because it meant I didn't have very far to walk back to pick up all the other bits that had fallen off.
trying to keep it relatively modern - say 1995 onwards but yeah that's a good one
1995 Rover 214 SLi - 2 owner car, 38k miles, 5 years old,
Owned for 18 months, and:
Head gasket went within 2 months
Gearbox input shaft bearing went (leading to fluid loss and...)
Clutch went
Exhaust
Both front calipers replaced (dodgy mechanic though I think)
Alternator failed on A38 in Devon
Finally, blew a hole in one of the exhaust valves on the M20.
Sure there was more but it was a while back now...
I know they have a rep for head gaskets, but most of the rest of it was a Honda!
Owned for 18 months, and:
Head gasket went within 2 months
Gearbox input shaft bearing went (leading to fluid loss and...)
Clutch went
Exhaust
Both front calipers replaced (dodgy mechanic though I think)
Alternator failed on A38 in Devon
Finally, blew a hole in one of the exhaust valves on the M20.
Sure there was more but it was a while back now...
I know they have a rep for head gaskets, but most of the rest of it was a Honda!
jonah35 said:
poing said:
People seem to forget that a car that cost over £50,000 originally will always have the running costs of a £50,000 car even if it's been bought for £2000. I think under £1000 for a Porsche 928 is quite expected, in fact I'd expect it to cost 3 times that to run annually. Anyone who expects less is being hopeful at best.
It also pays to remember that cars need more maintenance as they get older so that expensive car will need some of the expensive things repairing, like gearboxes etc.
I'm not sure that spending that means the car is unreliable though, just that it has high running costs. How reliable do people expect cars over 10 years old to be exactly?
yes, but this old "15k car will still have 50k car running costs thing" is getting a bit tedious - we all know what you mean, BUTIt also pays to remember that cars need more maintenance as they get older so that expensive car will need some of the expensive things repairing, like gearboxes etc.
I'm not sure that spending that means the car is unreliable though, just that it has high running costs. How reliable do people expect cars over 10 years old to be exactly?
1. a 996 turbo doesn't cost much to run, nor does loads of other "50k" cars like M3's, merc slk amg's and so on.
The point is that cars like 3200's and TVR's (not all) tend to be unreliable, we aren't talking about 'cost to fix' more the fact that everything seems to break down on them though
having said that a TVR cerb is one of my all time faves!
The difference between the 996 and e.g. the TVR is that the Porker will work near-flawlessly and stuff will wear out (RMS quicker than most other bits), while the TVR will suffer random failures on a semi-regular basis caused by poor component quality and inadequate testing by the factory.
The problem is that reliability is entirely subjective. You can measure it, but there are many ways to do so.
There are also plenty of people on here that are want to overlook the actual issues they've had with their cars. Although TVRs for instance are not the most consistently built cars generally, they have the advantage of being relatively simple, electrically.
unlike the P38 Land Rover and 3200GT for instance.
There are also plenty of people on here that are want to overlook the actual issues they've had with their cars. Although TVRs for instance are not the most consistently built cars generally, they have the advantage of being relatively simple, electrically.
unlike the P38 Land Rover and 3200GT for instance.
Does anyone remember the disaster zone which was Jaguar engines from the late 90s?
There was the 4.0 v8 with the plastic timing chain tensioners which disintergrate and let the timing slip - without warning. Then the 3.2 v8 with the nikisel cylinder linings. Bit crazy that a manufacturer with a reputation such as Jaguar's to be making cars with such fundemental flaws.
There was the 4.0 v8 with the plastic timing chain tensioners which disintergrate and let the timing slip - without warning. Then the 3.2 v8 with the nikisel cylinder linings. Bit crazy that a manufacturer with a reputation such as Jaguar's to be making cars with such fundemental flaws.
I still chuckle at people's views that "TVR's suffer random failures" etc
It is like anyother performance car they need to be looked after and in some cases rebuilt, but when sorted they are fantasticly reliable cars.
Take PHer x 7usc for example, he uses his Tuscan in all weathers including snow, he trackdays his Tuscan regularly including long trips to Spa every year..... The Speed 6 has been rebuilt but since then it is perfectly dependable ..... I mean I realise a Tuscan isn't a 10k TVR but it is an examply of TVR reliablility.
But to put it into a 10K example : My Boss's wife used to commute daily in an S2 without any problems what so ever for 2 years in all weathers....
PHer AshV8 uses his Chim lots, makes regular trips from the Midlands with a load of other Tivs for various London Tunnel Runs all without fault ...
It is like anyother performance car they need to be looked after and in some cases rebuilt, but when sorted they are fantasticly reliable cars.
Take PHer x 7usc for example, he uses his Tuscan in all weathers including snow, he trackdays his Tuscan regularly including long trips to Spa every year..... The Speed 6 has been rebuilt but since then it is perfectly dependable ..... I mean I realise a Tuscan isn't a 10k TVR but it is an examply of TVR reliablility.
But to put it into a 10K example : My Boss's wife used to commute daily in an S2 without any problems what so ever for 2 years in all weathers....
PHer AshV8 uses his Chim lots, makes regular trips from the Midlands with a load of other Tivs for various London Tunnel Runs all without fault ...
ejenner said:
Does anyone remember the disaster zone which was Jaguar engines from the late 90s?
There was the 4.0 v8 with the plastic timing chain tensioners which disintergrate and let the timing slip - without warning. Then the 3.2 v8 with the nikisel cylinder linings. Bit crazy that a manufacturer with a reputation such as Jaguar's to be making cars with such fundemental flaws.
BMW had the nikisal liner issue as well. And to be fair to both, technically it was a problem with the fuel companies, not the engines.There was the 4.0 v8 with the plastic timing chain tensioners which disintergrate and let the timing slip - without warning. Then the 3.2 v8 with the nikisel cylinder linings. Bit crazy that a manufacturer with a reputation such as Jaguar's to be making cars with such fundemental flaws.
The most unrelaible car I have owned is the much-admired E39. Here are a list of known issues with this supposedly paragon of germanic build qualirty and effeciency:
Radiator side tanks split or the fins balloon out
Water pump goes
Thermostat goes
valley pan corrodes
o rings on the front to rear cooling pipes
engine coolant pipes split
expansion tank splits
Viscous fan can be known so seize, which then self destructs and shreds AFM and dents bonnet.
Front traction arm bushes wear out causing a shimmy
pixels go missing on the dash or central display
hedgehog (final stage resistor)
ABS pump/sensors fail
Handbrake weak and often needs adjusting prior to the MOT.
And didnt TVR in the early '00s have indicator stalks which are glued on, and would fall off under heat, vibration, cold etc
wackojacko said:
I still chuckle at people's views that "TVR's suffer random failures" etc
It is like anyother performance car they need to be looked after and in some cases rebuilt, but when sorted they are fantasticly reliable cars.
Take PHer x 7usc for example, he uses his Tuscan in all weathers including snow, he trackdays his Tuscan regularly including long trips to Spa every year..... The Speed 6 has been rebuilt but since then it is perfectly dependable ..... I mean I realise a Tuscan isn't a 10k TVR but it is an examply of TVR reliablility.
But to put it into a 10K example : My Boss's wife used to commute daily in an S2 without any problems what so ever for 2 years in all weathers....
PHer AshV8 uses his Chim lots, makes regular trips from the Midlands with a load of other Tivs for various London Tunnel Runs all without fault ...
I'm sorry but you sound like the rotards who swear that RX7 rotarys are reliable "if looked after properly". bIt is like anyother performance car they need to be looked after and in some cases rebuilt, but when sorted they are fantasticly reliable cars.
Take PHer x 7usc for example, he uses his Tuscan in all weathers including snow, he trackdays his Tuscan regularly including long trips to Spa every year..... The Speed 6 has been rebuilt but since then it is perfectly dependable ..... I mean I realise a Tuscan isn't a 10k TVR but it is an examply of TVR reliablility.
But to put it into a 10K example : My Boss's wife used to commute daily in an S2 without any problems what so ever for 2 years in all weathers....
PHer AshV8 uses his Chim lots, makes regular trips from the Midlands with a load of other Tivs for various London Tunnel Runs all without fault ...
ks.Mazda wankel engine in twin-turbo guise = unreliable - catastrophic engine failure somewhat likely during ownership.
TVR speed-six engine = unreliable - catastrophic engine failure somewhat likely during ownership.
I formed these opinions from general background absorption of information over a number of years and don't believe them to be incorrect. The fact that the *only* person I know who has owned a Tuscan, had to have a £6k engine rebuild, kind of affirms it.
Oh, and my RX7 was bought with an already-failed engine.
How many MK4 Supras, or MX5s do you see with blown engines?
Some designs and parts are reliable and some are not. The speed-six is in the not category. I gather the older AJP8 V8 isn't such a concern.
Porsches.. I wouldn't go near one of those either. Intermediate shafts, radiators, and erm, isn't the non-turbo engine from the 996 pretty much destined to doom too ?
williamp said:
Radiator side tanks split or the fins balloon out
Water pump goes
The E36 318i that my ex gf had suffered from leaking plastic end tanks and broken plastic water pump impeller blades too. My opinion on BMWs was formed around about that time, and strengthened when looking into the reliability of their automatic gearboxes.Water pump goes
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