What is the most unreliable car you have owned?
Discussion
Audi 80 Avant, 1.9 Tdi.
Stupid, stupidly designed cars.
Aux belt tensioner arm was steel into an alloy block - the block wore, re-postioning the roller into an angled blade across the aux belt. The block was also a bracket that held the alt etc on, and was a £400 part. £800 fit, because you had to dismantle the front end of the car to do it.
It ate wheelbearings, had an ABS fault, Never went through an MOT for less than £500, suspension arms went, and had an intermittent but horrible engine fault whereby it would loose power and stutter occasionally on acceleration. I gave up attempting to overtake, it was too much of a gamble. The car would then go into some kind of unsignaled "low power" mode, and then the problem would disappear for a week, a month, however long it took for you to convince yourself that it had fixed itself and it was worth buying those two new tyres.... then it would crop up again.
A truely hateful, spiteful, vindictive car. It's put me off audis for life.
Stupid, stupidly designed cars.
Aux belt tensioner arm was steel into an alloy block - the block wore, re-postioning the roller into an angled blade across the aux belt. The block was also a bracket that held the alt etc on, and was a £400 part. £800 fit, because you had to dismantle the front end of the car to do it.
It ate wheelbearings, had an ABS fault, Never went through an MOT for less than £500, suspension arms went, and had an intermittent but horrible engine fault whereby it would loose power and stutter occasionally on acceleration. I gave up attempting to overtake, it was too much of a gamble. The car would then go into some kind of unsignaled "low power" mode, and then the problem would disappear for a week, a month, however long it took for you to convince yourself that it had fixed itself and it was worth buying those two new tyres.... then it would crop up again.
A truely hateful, spiteful, vindictive car. It's put me off audis for life.
Personally my Evo was the least reliable car I've owned. Boost leaks, suspension issues, and MAF got soaked in heavy spray which made it conk out fairly regularly. It still wasn't terrible though, only 4 'incidents' in 18 months and 25,000 miles. All were quick fixes and I only had to call the AA once as I didn't have any tools with me to pull the MAF and dry it out.
The old man's last 430 spider is a different story. In a year and 8,000 miles it spent 4 months in the dealer, had a new gearbox hydraulic system, then a new gearbox, then an engine rebuild after it somehow hoovered its cats and pitted the valves and pistons, then a new roof... plus it had a multitude of gremlins and other annoyances.
The old man's last 430 spider is a different story. In a year and 8,000 miles it spent 4 months in the dealer, had a new gearbox hydraulic system, then a new gearbox, then an engine rebuild after it somehow hoovered its cats and pitted the valves and pistons, then a new roof... plus it had a multitude of gremlins and other annoyances.
Renault 19 16v
It wasn't old or high mileage when I bought it but in the time I owned it (2 years) the following happened, in no particular order.
The bonnet vent leaked causing misfires when it rained because the plug wells were immediately beneath.
The cam belt snapped destroying the head and about 10 valves.
The clutch cable snapped.
The front ball joints went twice on both sides.
It went through 5 or 6 wheel bearings.
2 exhausts.
The immobiliser stopped working.
The alternator packed in.
Wheels studs in 3 wheels snapped.
The fuel pump packed in and needed replacing.
The boot lock broke.
The driver door handle snapped.
The heatshield permanently vibrated on the exhaust.
The sunroof leaked.
I can't remember the rest and judging by the est of the forum I was on at the time, mine was only averagely bad.
ETA the key snapped in the ignition
It wasn't old or high mileage when I bought it but in the time I owned it (2 years) the following happened, in no particular order.
The bonnet vent leaked causing misfires when it rained because the plug wells were immediately beneath.
The cam belt snapped destroying the head and about 10 valves.
The clutch cable snapped.
The front ball joints went twice on both sides.
It went through 5 or 6 wheel bearings.
2 exhausts.
The immobiliser stopped working.
The alternator packed in.
Wheels studs in 3 wheels snapped.
The fuel pump packed in and needed replacing.
The boot lock broke.
The driver door handle snapped.
The heatshield permanently vibrated on the exhaust.
The sunroof leaked.
I can't remember the rest and judging by the est of the forum I was on at the time, mine was only averagely bad.
ETA the key snapped in the ignition
Edited by Urban Sports on Tuesday 6th September 17:12
My Mg Zr was the most unreliable, my 1.5d didn't have the chance to be, when it broke I weighed it in.
Saying that, the Zr was treated quite badly and never actually broke down. When one lobe from one of the inlet cams decided to point the wrong way it still drove quite well. Infact when the piston liners had broke there seal and it was running with cylinder 1 full of oil, cylinder 2 was fine, cylinder 3 was missing half a spark plug and cylinder 4 was full off oil also.
I like how BMW hasn't been mentioned yet
(just bought one)
Saying that, the Zr was treated quite badly and never actually broke down. When one lobe from one of the inlet cams decided to point the wrong way it still drove quite well. Infact when the piston liners had broke there seal and it was running with cylinder 1 full of oil, cylinder 2 was fine, cylinder 3 was missing half a spark plug and cylinder 4 was full off oil also.
I like how BMW hasn't been mentioned yet
(just bought one)Peugeot 106 Diesel. Bought new, did a year perfectly, then the gearbox failed, seized. While going on holiday with 2 kids, and loaded with luggage, buckets and spades.
Over the next year, 5 replacement gearboxes, one flywheel, two clutches, one crankshaft (or possibly a new engine) and a stater motor. Due to Peugeot's inability to use a torque wrench and tighten the flywheel, starter motor and gearbox retaining bolts even near the specifications. And 5 months doing it. Bunch of slack jawed, spavined and incontinent amateurs.
Over the next year, 5 replacement gearboxes, one flywheel, two clutches, one crankshaft (or possibly a new engine) and a stater motor. Due to Peugeot's inability to use a torque wrench and tighten the flywheel, starter motor and gearbox retaining bolts even near the specifications. And 5 months doing it. Bunch of slack jawed, spavined and incontinent amateurs.
Ford Escort, 1997 1.6 Flight. Hmm, well I did pay £25 quid, the clutch did go the following day which cost £33 quid, and it did keep on overheating until I removed the thermostat. Ohhh, and the suspension kept on coming loose! Least I cashed in 9 months tax, and sold it for £200 to a banger racer!
It's my TVR 350i, I don't think she went more than two weeks without going wrong. I had headlights that refused to go up, headlights that refused to go down, headlights that only one went up then refused to go down. I had three, count them, ignition systems fitted, I had electric windows feel left out so copied the headlights (including one delightful evening when I had a beautiful lady in the passenger seat, it was raining, so the window dropped into the door and refused to come back up), I had her have a flat battery if she wasn't used for a week. I had the radiator go, I had some belt or other go, I had the alarm stay on, refuse to come on, and refuse to allow me to start the car.
WeirdNeville said:
Audi 80 Avant, 1.9 Tdi.
Stupid, stupidly designed cars.
Aux belt tensioner arm was steel into an alloy block - the block wore, re-postioning the roller into an angled blade across the aux belt. The block was also a bracket that held the alt etc on, and was a £400 part. £800 fit, because you had to dismantle the front end of the car to do it.
It ate wheelbearings, had an ABS fault, Never went through an MOT for less than £500, suspension arms went, and had an intermittent but horrible engine fault whereby it would loose power and stutter occasionally on acceleration. I gave up attempting to overtake, it was too much of a gamble. The car would then go into some kind of unsignaled "low power" mode, and then the problem would disappear for a week, a month, however long it took for you to convince yourself that it had fixed itself and it was worth buying those two new tyres.... then it would crop up again.
A truely hateful, spiteful, vindictive car. It's put me off audis for life.
Really? Mine did 300,000 with only a wheel bearing, an oil cooler and and some corroded diesel return lines - easily one of the toughest cars I've ever owned - never heard of another with an aux belt prob and I've serviced loads of them over the years - yours must have either been a pup or worked on by someone who doesn't know their arse from their elbow Stupid, stupidly designed cars.
Aux belt tensioner arm was steel into an alloy block - the block wore, re-postioning the roller into an angled blade across the aux belt. The block was also a bracket that held the alt etc on, and was a £400 part. £800 fit, because you had to dismantle the front end of the car to do it.
It ate wheelbearings, had an ABS fault, Never went through an MOT for less than £500, suspension arms went, and had an intermittent but horrible engine fault whereby it would loose power and stutter occasionally on acceleration. I gave up attempting to overtake, it was too much of a gamble. The car would then go into some kind of unsignaled "low power" mode, and then the problem would disappear for a week, a month, however long it took for you to convince yourself that it had fixed itself and it was worth buying those two new tyres.... then it would crop up again.
A truely hateful, spiteful, vindictive car. It's put me off audis for life.
My current car, volvo c70 t5, brough for 2k spent 1k+ fixing it in first 5weeks, wheel bearings, aircon compressor and engine anchor.
Last car was a 20yr old mx5 which ran perfectly for the 2yrs I had her and abused non stop so now looking at buying another and getting rid of the aptly named LOLvo!
Last car was a 20yr old mx5 which ran perfectly for the 2yrs I had her and abused non stop so now looking at buying another and getting rid of the aptly named LOLvo!
I'll put in a good word for Renault - the 182 I had from new, two years, 26000 miles not a single solitary problem. I'd have another in a shot.
I've never had a truly bad car though I've found Land Rovers generally not very reliable, Subaru overrated and others like a Citroen Xantia pack up repeatedly - however in its defence it was an ex-minicab bought for £650.
I've never had a truly bad car though I've found Land Rovers generally not very reliable, Subaru overrated and others like a Citroen Xantia pack up repeatedly - however in its defence it was an ex-minicab bought for £650.
1991 Escort 1.4 L
The bloody thing broke down constantly and at least once a month just conked out completely leaving me stranded somewhere. RAC cover was a must with that thing. I have no idea how I kept the bloody thing going for 4 years.
In that time The back box fell off, followed by the middle section, then the manifold cracked! A little over a year later the replacement exhaust rusted through following in the footsteps. Constantly replacing ball joints on the damn thing and even had a replacement engine at one point.
For some reason I then bought a 93 XR3i which proved only slightly more reliable as the engine didn't miss a beat, just everything around it crapped out.
The bloody thing broke down constantly and at least once a month just conked out completely leaving me stranded somewhere. RAC cover was a must with that thing. I have no idea how I kept the bloody thing going for 4 years.
In that time The back box fell off, followed by the middle section, then the manifold cracked! A little over a year later the replacement exhaust rusted through following in the footsteps. Constantly replacing ball joints on the damn thing and even had a replacement engine at one point.
For some reason I then bought a 93 XR3i which proved only slightly more reliable as the engine didn't miss a beat, just everything around it crapped out.
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