What was the last straw for you car?
Discussion
280E said:
Back in the early 90s I had an XJ40 stolen from outside our house in the early hours. It was found the following day trashed in a farmer's field a few miles away.
It had been driven into some straw bales - the final straw being embedded in the front wing / radiator grille:
]
Poor Jag.It had been driven into some straw bales - the final straw being embedded in the front wing / radiator grille:
]
Mine was a 2002 Saab 9-5 2.3t Arc auto. I loved the car, I really did, it was quick, comfortable and beautifully engineered, the last straw was it's third coil pack in a fairly short space of time, added to the fact that quite a lot of places didn't want to work on it, and the timing chain was rattling like two skeletons shagging in a biscuit tin.
Way more comfortable and much better designed than the Jag that replaced it. I love the Jag, but that's also had it's share of issues despite being babied all it's life.
D2 A8,
Bought a ropey example, spent a few thousand getting everything serviced up to date and it running well. Probably spent about the same overall as I would have buying an ok/good example, I man math'ed that if I bought a decent one, I'd still have to spend a chunk servicing it anyway.
Then the cam tensioner/variable timing unit on the back of one of the heads went, Sold it for even less than I paid for it, even after spending a chunk of money getting everything else up to a good standard.
Went from loving the barge life, with the intention of keeping it for 5 more years or so, to being glad to see the back of it overnight.
Bought a ropey example, spent a few thousand getting everything serviced up to date and it running well. Probably spent about the same overall as I would have buying an ok/good example, I man math'ed that if I bought a decent one, I'd still have to spend a chunk servicing it anyway.
Then the cam tensioner/variable timing unit on the back of one of the heads went, Sold it for even less than I paid for it, even after spending a chunk of money getting everything else up to a good standard.
Went from loving the barge life, with the intention of keeping it for 5 more years or so, to being glad to see the back of it overnight.
lambeth said:
In the last year my Evo 6 Extreme has had a new turbo, new clutch and other bits. Each of those would have been the final straw for any other car ( clutches and turbos aren’t cheap) but I can’t think what to replace it with. Maybe if there was a replacement available there may be a straw.
As there are only 5 extremes left on the road there isn’t much chance to replace it.
5 left? I think it's a few more than that. I've got an Extreme RS450, there were 4 of those made, one of them got destroyed, but I know of the other 2, and in total there were 26 Extremes made, I don't imagine 21 of them have been destroyed. As there are only 5 extremes left on the road there isn’t much chance to replace it.
I'm aware that sounded very pedantic LOL, didn't mean to, they're still very rare, special cars!
PomBstard said:
Chubbyross said:
993kimbo said:
When you own a second-hand Porsche, the 'Last Straw' is every yearly MOT and Service. Plus the things that go wrong and bankrupt you in-between.
Ain’t that the truth. Yet we still go back for more each time. 
Or any dealers. I've never bought any car from any dealer - although I have tried a few times. But the cars have always had something "hidden.
But hardly anyone sells privately any more either, so damned both ways.
Generaly I am a fix it (myself) rather than replace it guy. Of the 5 cars (mostly old stuff) we have, only one hasn't had the engine out.....I should have learnt by now.
But hardly anyone sells privately any more either, so damned both ways.
Generaly I am a fix it (myself) rather than replace it guy. Of the 5 cars (mostly old stuff) we have, only one hasn't had the engine out.....I should have learnt by now.
Trevor555 said:
Audi and VW main dealers.
Listening to the tripe that came out of their mouths on nearly every visit to their service department.
No more new, or "used approved", from the main dealers for me.
I had to sell a car I loved because they just couldn't/wouldn't fix it, and after 12 months then said " it's a characteristic of the car sir"
Listening to the tripe that came out of their mouths on nearly every visit to their service department.
No more new, or "used approved", from the main dealers for me.
I had to sell a car I loved because they just couldn't/wouldn't fix it, and after 12 months then said " it's a characteristic of the car sir"
Edited by Arnold Cunningham on Tuesday 14th January 09:54
Mk3 Astra: Got bored, wanted more power. 60Bhp was fun for thrashing about not wanting to break any speed limits but not so much use when you wanted to get on a motorway uphill.
Calibra: Well it caught fire on me. I'd have looked at new bonnet, engine and loom but the fire brigade decided they'd use the prising thing to ruin the wings and bonnet hinges, despite the fact the bonnet was on the secondary catch and could've been quite easily lifted up.
Vectra: Brake master cylinder failed and my other half was a bit of a drive away so wanted a diesel. I wasn't aware of the pitfalls of diesel at the time.
320d: Blew the tip off 2 of the injectors and caused issues with the head after a few months. Got rid quick.
520d: Sick of buying sheds that didn't last, I spent a few grand on a (supposedly) nice car. Had it for 4 days and it had a very slightly lumpy idle. Sent back to dealer who took a little while to diagnose. Then they phoned me to tell me that the DPF needed a regen too and while they were doing that, the bottom end shat itself. The were very apologetic and gave me a full refund without so much as a murmur.
120d: Bought in haste as the 520d was being returned. Shaky start with ABS rings giving up on the way home. Dealer duly fixed and I was on my way. 3 years later it'd had a number of front calipers (Though I'm convinced one wasn't replaced at all), a repair to the BCM that got soaked and a new clutch and DMF. Lovely car, drove well, did almost everything I wanted it to but I wanted something bigger. Every time I'd go on holiday, move something or go somewhere with friends, it was a proper squeeze to get everything in and I always had to drive because I'm apparently the most entertaining when driving somewhere.
Range Rover Sport: Absolute snotter of a vehicle, spent good money on it too. Wasn't expecting a £3k bargain, I put just under 8 grand into one. dealer a nightmare, had faults all day every day. Job changed and income dropped, commute increased so fuel was a big thing. Ended up costing me a tenner a day in fuel and £50+ a month in tax. Sold at a huge loss.
Calibra: Well it caught fire on me. I'd have looked at new bonnet, engine and loom but the fire brigade decided they'd use the prising thing to ruin the wings and bonnet hinges, despite the fact the bonnet was on the secondary catch and could've been quite easily lifted up.
Vectra: Brake master cylinder failed and my other half was a bit of a drive away so wanted a diesel. I wasn't aware of the pitfalls of diesel at the time.
320d: Blew the tip off 2 of the injectors and caused issues with the head after a few months. Got rid quick.
520d: Sick of buying sheds that didn't last, I spent a few grand on a (supposedly) nice car. Had it for 4 days and it had a very slightly lumpy idle. Sent back to dealer who took a little while to diagnose. Then they phoned me to tell me that the DPF needed a regen too and while they were doing that, the bottom end shat itself. The were very apologetic and gave me a full refund without so much as a murmur.
120d: Bought in haste as the 520d was being returned. Shaky start with ABS rings giving up on the way home. Dealer duly fixed and I was on my way. 3 years later it'd had a number of front calipers (Though I'm convinced one wasn't replaced at all), a repair to the BCM that got soaked and a new clutch and DMF. Lovely car, drove well, did almost everything I wanted it to but I wanted something bigger. Every time I'd go on holiday, move something or go somewhere with friends, it was a proper squeeze to get everything in and I always had to drive because I'm apparently the most entertaining when driving somewhere.
Range Rover Sport: Absolute snotter of a vehicle, spent good money on it too. Wasn't expecting a £3k bargain, I put just under 8 grand into one. dealer a nightmare, had faults all day every day. Job changed and income dropped, commute increased so fuel was a big thing. Ended up costing me a tenner a day in fuel and £50+ a month in tax. Sold at a huge loss.
I've always been quite lucky in that I've sold cars because I wanted to sell up but I suppose my old Saab 9-3 was more of a practical decision. The car had 140k on the clock and despite it going well and being good on fuel, the manual gearbox definitely felt like it had 140k on the clock. Clutch had been replaced but I'd spent money on replacing a leaking steering rack.
I decided I wanted an auto and I didn't want to put more money into the car which I knew it would need at some point. Was a cool car though and for the £1200 I paid for it, even with a bit of maintenance still a bargain!
I decided I wanted an auto and I didn't want to put more money into the car which I knew it would need at some point. Was a cool car though and for the £1200 I paid for it, even with a bit of maintenance still a bargain!
First car I bought when I was 14 (I'm now 24)... a 1988 Mini Mayfair for £600... mum drove it home at about 40mph... sat on the drive for years deteriorating.. sold it to a mate for £800.
First car I could legally drive... 2004 1L VW Lupo... was very reliable only issue was clutch cable snapped, fixed, got bored of 60 odd HP and sold it..
Current car (2007 Skoda Fabia vRS), very nearly scrapped it recently when head gasket blew... decided to fix for £500... so far so good.
First car I could legally drive... 2004 1L VW Lupo... was very reliable only issue was clutch cable snapped, fixed, got bored of 60 odd HP and sold it..
Current car (2007 Skoda Fabia vRS), very nearly scrapped it recently when head gasket blew... decided to fix for £500... so far so good.
What a lovely Thread...
Megane 2 1.9 Dci 2006
Wifes car & I hate it with a passion...I've come to realise i don't hate the car its myself for being such a mug, like a drug addict, keep pumping money into the heap knowing its going to make you spend more....
I bought the damned thing as back against the wall, it was to expensive but there was nothing else around that she could get cheap insurance on & fit two dogs in the back. She had managed to reverse her Fiat Stilo Estate into a wall at work 3 days before the Mot was due, I bought a rear light cluster from a breakers only to find the hole where it fitted was hit so hard it was distorted & time, cost etc didn't add up!
So enter the crap megane .all shiney & about £350 over priced, but Iwas having to take her to work each day , not to mention endless silly shopping trips where I would wait in the car for het to arrive back bags everywhere filled up with some type of coffeee & me cold & bored in a foul mood....so I bought the heap!
I have replaced Front springs, rear spring & shock assorber ( i know in pairs but by now I had had enough) Throotltle Body ( didn't fix problem) , Acelerator peddle X 2 (Didn't fix problem ), 4 Glow plugs, Glow plug relay ( didn't fix problem), Turbo intercooler Hose to Throttle body X2 , DPF, Clutch slave cylinder (inside G'Box) rR/Wheel bearing, 4 brake pads, 8 stes of tyres in 2.7 yrs, $ sets of Arb Drop linnks , 2 top mounts, Rubber gaitors, innertrack rod ends X2, Outer track rod ends X2, battery, rear screen ,paid as did not want yet another insurance claim (wife- Waitrose car park wall), Clean out EGr , fit DPf pipes to DPF sensor , arm & a leg for very small pipe from Renault) Rear window stuck, front door pockets fill up with water, Air con re gas, 3 rear light clusters, rear wiper arm sheared off, headlight bulbs & pattern on glass failed Mot new (pattern H/ght £285--- car worth maybe £200 more ?) Its just come out of Limp mode yet again DPF & now the front Wheel bearing is sounding like a Wellington Bomber is follwing us along the road after 20 MPH! God if only a huge lorry would back into the hateful heap!
Plus she's just revered into a car , she ays he ran into her rear (again in Waitrose) I keep telling her the way they drive in that car park you'd be safer driving around the Garza strip, they get in their $x$'s & looking at the seat belt or shouting at the kids as they plought owards you as your blood turns to ICE!!..PheW....
Megane 2 1.9 Dci 2006
Wifes car & I hate it with a passion...I've come to realise i don't hate the car its myself for being such a mug, like a drug addict, keep pumping money into the heap knowing its going to make you spend more....
I bought the damned thing as back against the wall, it was to expensive but there was nothing else around that she could get cheap insurance on & fit two dogs in the back. She had managed to reverse her Fiat Stilo Estate into a wall at work 3 days before the Mot was due, I bought a rear light cluster from a breakers only to find the hole where it fitted was hit so hard it was distorted & time, cost etc didn't add up!
So enter the crap megane .all shiney & about £350 over priced, but Iwas having to take her to work each day , not to mention endless silly shopping trips where I would wait in the car for het to arrive back bags everywhere filled up with some type of coffeee & me cold & bored in a foul mood....so I bought the heap!
I have replaced Front springs, rear spring & shock assorber ( i know in pairs but by now I had had enough) Throotltle Body ( didn't fix problem) , Acelerator peddle X 2 (Didn't fix problem ), 4 Glow plugs, Glow plug relay ( didn't fix problem), Turbo intercooler Hose to Throttle body X2 , DPF, Clutch slave cylinder (inside G'Box) rR/Wheel bearing, 4 brake pads, 8 stes of tyres in 2.7 yrs, $ sets of Arb Drop linnks , 2 top mounts, Rubber gaitors, innertrack rod ends X2, Outer track rod ends X2, battery, rear screen ,paid as did not want yet another insurance claim (wife- Waitrose car park wall), Clean out EGr , fit DPf pipes to DPF sensor , arm & a leg for very small pipe from Renault) Rear window stuck, front door pockets fill up with water, Air con re gas, 3 rear light clusters, rear wiper arm sheared off, headlight bulbs & pattern on glass failed Mot new (pattern H/ght £285--- car worth maybe £200 more ?) Its just come out of Limp mode yet again DPF & now the front Wheel bearing is sounding like a Wellington Bomber is follwing us along the road after 20 MPH! God if only a huge lorry would back into the hateful heap!
Plus she's just revered into a car , she ays he ran into her rear (again in Waitrose) I keep telling her the way they drive in that car park you'd be safer driving around the Garza strip, they get in their $x$'s & looking at the seat belt or shouting at the kids as they plought owards you as your blood turns to ICE!!..PheW....
BMW main dealer. Whole experience was on par with something I avoid by not going out to certain locations. Full of wide boys not paying any attention or caring less about customer service. I complained about an issue that came back with the car after a major service. The wide boy reply was "Just upgrade to a newer model!"
jamoor said:
RacingBlue said:
The ridiculously hard ride and general crappy build quality of my FN2 Civic Type R was reason enough to get rid. Most disappointing car I've ever owned.
I thought it was just me 
I've owned 3 hondas - ATR CTR breadvan and the FN2.
Never saw the appeal.
markyb_lcy said:
jamoor said:
RacingBlue said:
The ridiculously hard ride and general crappy build quality of my FN2 Civic Type R was reason enough to get rid. Most disappointing car I've ever owned.
I thought it was just me I've owned 3 hondas - ATR CTR breadvan and the FN2.
Never saw the appeal.
I don't know why I kept buying them, I guess to see what the fuss was about.
E63, composite brake disk prices combined with their economical-with-the-truth approach to service prices past year 2, where all of the kit becomes "optional" servicing but at the caveat that you don't maintain warranty if you don't have it (rendering it not very optional). £5k "service" (maintenance bill) was it's death knell. Most of that for brake disks and pads. I "could" afford it, but it just pushed it into the "but why?" bracket.
jamoor said:
markyb_lcy said:
jamoor said:
RacingBlue said:
The ridiculously hard ride and general crappy build quality of my FN2 Civic Type R was reason enough to get rid. Most disappointing car I've ever owned.
I thought it was just me I've owned 3 hondas - ATR CTR breadvan and the FN2.
Never saw the appeal.
I don't know why I kept buying them, I guess to see what the fuss was about.
I had a shed a while ago (not the wooden variety), it had to go because:
- It didn't like starting on cold mornings, or cold nights for that matter. So new battery time soon.
- It had a leak on the rear hatch. (temporary fix solved that)
- The cabin fan had seen better days (sadly none in the local scrappy).
-The exhaust had a fair amount of sealant - new exhaust (from manifold to cat would be needed).
- There were several shades of red on the body work (strangely, this only annoyed me).
- I rotated the tyres so they would wear evenly, all four were about 2mm, so 4 new tyres needed...
- Friends and family were commenting about my old car on the drive (it is not as if it as the only car, I was the only person in the shed)…
- The CD player would only play 3 tracks then went quiet (every time the same).
Oh yes, it was also 18 years old and had done 180K miles. So lots of bills on the horizon.
So to stop the nagging I got a new car, worst thing I ever did, perfectly reliable and a nice place to be, but has no character
- It didn't like starting on cold mornings, or cold nights for that matter. So new battery time soon.
- It had a leak on the rear hatch. (temporary fix solved that)
- The cabin fan had seen better days (sadly none in the local scrappy).
-The exhaust had a fair amount of sealant - new exhaust (from manifold to cat would be needed).
- There were several shades of red on the body work (strangely, this only annoyed me).
- I rotated the tyres so they would wear evenly, all four were about 2mm, so 4 new tyres needed...
- Friends and family were commenting about my old car on the drive (it is not as if it as the only car, I was the only person in the shed)…
- The CD player would only play 3 tracks then went quiet (every time the same).
Oh yes, it was also 18 years old and had done 180K miles. So lots of bills on the horizon.
So to stop the nagging I got a new car, worst thing I ever did, perfectly reliable and a nice place to be, but has no character
The cars I loved, and why they went (not listed sold to fund trading up).
Jaguar XJ-S 3.6 - Radiator core went, replaced. Head casket went, replaced. Cracked piston. Sold it.
BMW 635CSi - Having spent thousands of pounds and oodles of time on it and realising it still needed more.
Jaguar XJ-S V12 - The fun vs £ ratio was very very poor. Used it to go out to dinner and it used as much fuel as the meal cost.
Range Rover P38 - Having sorted all the faults and started enjoying it the realisation that I could have a nearly new BMW 530d for the same total costs a month (RR Fuel = Monthly repayment + BMW Fuel).
Jaguar XJ-S 3.6 - Radiator core went, replaced. Head casket went, replaced. Cracked piston. Sold it.
BMW 635CSi - Having spent thousands of pounds and oodles of time on it and realising it still needed more.
Jaguar XJ-S V12 - The fun vs £ ratio was very very poor. Used it to go out to dinner and it used as much fuel as the meal cost.
Range Rover P38 - Having sorted all the faults and started enjoying it the realisation that I could have a nearly new BMW 530d for the same total costs a month (RR Fuel = Monthly repayment + BMW Fuel).
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