Crap Mondeo. What has been the final straw for your car?
Crap Mondeo. What has been the final straw for your car?
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Discussion

Piepiepie

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

183 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Suprise suprise, the ST220 breaks (literally), yet again. In the last 10,000 miles, it's done two alloy wheels (yes, one was my fault in a pothole) the other was a nudge against a kerb which bent it. It's cracked a pipe giving an engine management light, the rear heated screen doesnt work, someone swiped across the bumper corner and failed to stop (yes, not the cars fault), it failed it's mot on a weak handbrake, and today, the rear brakes thought they'd have another stab at me.

So, i'm freezing cold, on a country lane, waiting for the (now glowing red) rear brake disc to cool, where the rear caliper has decided to jam on. I still smell of burnt brakes now, just stuck my work uniform in the wash biggrin

Anyway, that's it, after a 106, one astra, four Vectra's and a 3-series, this is the most unreliable car i've owned.

I know people here will defend these faults as nothing major (which i accept, its not like it's spitting its engine over the road daily) but it still pisses me off.

Saw an advertisement at the local jag dealer on the way home with a reasonable contract hire rate on a new facelift XF... scratchchin

Anyway, my question to you PH, is what has been the final straw for any of your cars? The thing that made you bin/get rid of it after being such a problem child. Im curious to see who has put up with the most hassle. laugh

Liquid Tuna

1,403 posts

185 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
I hear you. I've had mondeos for years and they were all utterly reliable, without fail, never missing a beat. But you got a bad one. I had an Audi A6 like that once. Everyone told me they were great cars, bombproof etc etc. It let me down. The 3rd time was enough and I got shot. I would never again tolerate a car that let me down or left me stranded.

0000

13,868 posts

220 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Liquid Tuna said:
But you got a bad one.
And drove it into a pothole. And a kerb. hehe

Classic Grad 98

26,500 posts

189 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
0000 said:
Liquid Tuna said:
But you got a bad one.
And drove it into a pothole. And a kerb. hehe
And someone crashed into it! Chin up it's all minor.

I don't do final straws. I'm far too forgiving of my machines; I just keep fixing them. Still cheaper than chopping and changing cars every time something goes wrong anyway.

BE57 TOY

2,628 posts

176 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
ST220 so it's probably had a hard life?

With a previous Audi the rear wiper went, then the altinator, then ESP, various switches start to peel. The final straw was when it needed 4 new tyres. It was only 6 years old with 80k, but when things start to go they don't tend to stop.

Anyway rather than fix the lot I went and bought a brand new one. It was a good excuse! I have comfy hassle free motoring. No MOT's, free breakdown cover, no wasting time getting things fixed etc etc.

Get the jag biggrin

stevenr

944 posts

223 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Sounds like a lack of maintenance more than the cars fault.

trashbat

6,305 posts

182 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
In the last year, amongst other things, I've replaced the rear screen, two wheels, two handbrake cables, repainted half the car and spent £900 on an injector problem. I consider this normal. To be fair it's never left me stuck by the side of the road yet.

Lugy

830 posts

212 months

Monday 16th January 2012
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My current daily hack, a 180k Vectra DTi, the rear bushes are fked, the front bushes are fked, it needs 2 springs, the crankshaft oil seal leaks, the front footwell is soaked in oil, the exhaust is blowing and it needs a tyre.
I think the final straw was reached ages ago! I just don't know what to replace it with!

Piepiepie

Original Poster:

1,347 posts

183 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
stevenr said:
Sounds like a lack of maintenance more than the cars fault.
Full dealer service history, 3 owners in 7 years, not driven like a tt for the last year.

Im unsure which service i missed where the rear screen is replaced.

philmots

4,665 posts

289 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Never had an issue with mine!

That breather pipe is a super-common problem on them.

Carfiend

3,186 posts

238 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Piepiepie said:
Full dealer service history, 3 owners in 7 years, not driven like a tt for the last year.

Im unsure which service i missed where the rear screen is replaced.
Problem is that it could have been driven badly for 6 years from new and getting a stamp in a book doesn't mean it hasn't been abused. Sounds like you are just fed up with it and when that happens it can be the most reliable thing in the world after but you will still think of it as an unreliable piece of crap.

Wattsie

1,161 posts

230 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
I want an ST220! biggrin

Just need a career first frown

Have you checked the fuse for the windscreen?

My dads Mk3 has been ruthlessly reliable over the 10 years we've owned it (bought brand new in 2002) and that's with two 17 year old lads learning to drive and using it as a first car in its lifetime.

stevenr

944 posts

223 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Piepiepie said:
Full dealer service history, 3 owners in 7 years, not driven like a tt for the last year.

Im unsure which service i missed where the rear screen is replaced.
When was it serviced last? There's a bit more to it than just servicing by your dealer.If it's been done recently then they aren't very good if it's just failed it's MOT on the handbrake IMO.

The amount of owners makes no difference to how a car is looked after either.I'd rather a 5 owner car that's been looked after properly than a 1 owner car that hasn't.

As for the rear screen,have you checked fuses etc?


Ki3r

8,852 posts

188 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Engine coils was the final straw on my Punto.

2 or 3 head gaskets
2 wiper motors
1 clutch
Engine coils

Only had it just over two years!

miniman

30,042 posts

291 months

Monday 16th January 2012
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MOT advisory sheet suggesting a full set of fuel and brake pipes in the next 12 months, on an £800 BMW...

martin84

5,366 posts

182 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
miniman said:
MOT advisory sheet suggesting a full set of fuel and brake pipes in the next 12 months, on an £800 BMW...
My second Mondeo, mk2 V6 one, had advisories on supposedly corroded brake pipes. Went back the following year having done another 14,000 miles and not had the brake pipes seen to and it passed its MOT with no advisories.

It mended itself!!

driving

VB

9,074 posts

244 months

Monday 16th January 2012
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Had a Passat TDi for 2 years and it's well over 7k deep on servicing and maintenance.

I'd fking burn the thing if I hadn't spent so much on it. The only reasoning for not selling up is the worry that i'd be taking on another half fixed Friday afternoon car.


trashbat

6,305 posts

182 months

Monday 16th January 2012
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By the way, if the tabs have come off it, the rear screen is a £70 insurance excess job.

A.J.M

8,387 posts

215 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
Pah, your all amatures!

So far on my freeby 1, ive had the following. I'll work from front to rear of the car for issues.

Reversed into, no damage.
Front anti roll bar bushes.
Front anti roll bar drop links.
Front ball joints.
Tracking rod ends.
Clutch Slave cylinder,
Clutch master cylinder x2.
IRD unit,
2 front propshafts.
VCU and both support bearings.
Rear diff mounts.
1 rear bumper and light due to being rear ended.
2 new parking sensors and 4 parking sensor holders due to bodyshop making an arse of the repairs.


All in 3 years, although some is wear and tear, and the rest is due to a poor garage making sub standard repairs, who are now out of business.

Still got it as i recon ive sorted nearly all the freeby issues, between my wallet and warrenty direct.
hehe I dont even want to count up what it owes me..

V88Dicky

7,367 posts

212 months

Monday 16th January 2012
quotequote all
If you want to see unreliable, buy an XF diesel wink