The Conservative Cave

Interests => Hobbies => Topic started by: CG6468 on July 24, 2013, 10:22:31 AM

Title: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: CG6468 on July 24, 2013, 10:22:31 AM
My worst experience was when I worked at a Rexall Drug Store and was delivering prescriptions and other things in a Morris Minor station wagon back in 1959. What a hunk of shit it was. It didn't have enough power to get out of it's own way.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v645/lowfreeboard/morris.jpeg)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Eupher on July 24, 2013, 10:27:34 AM
Without question, the 1993 Ford Taurus wagon I bought in Germany through AAFES, American specs, BUILT IN SHIT-CAGO.

If I had a MONTH, I couldn't describe all the sorry shit that was wrong with that car.

Rear suspension was built out of alignment.

Transmission went out at 65,000 miles.

Motor mounts kept breaking.

Gas tank would only give me 210 miles before sucking fumes, that's how small it was.

Head gasket blew, along with the O2 sensors, which meant I was burning antifreeze.

The final straw -- the f'n windshield wiper motor went out. WTF?!?!?

And much, much more.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Bad Dog on July 24, 2013, 11:25:05 AM
Vega.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Skul on July 24, 2013, 06:40:48 PM
92 Chevy Cavalier.  (bought used. extremely low milage at that time)
It turned into a POS after one year.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on July 24, 2013, 07:00:05 PM
92 Chevy Cavalier.  (bought used. extremely low milage at that time)
It turned into a POS after one year.
The Cavalier was a POS from the beginning.  I don't think they ever changed it other than to put on a new body some time between 1982 and 1997.

Worst vehicle I ever owned was an '81 Chevy pickup.  Every panel had a dent, the suspension was shot, there wasn't a single straight rod on the truck, wouldn't steer right for anything, and I had parts falling off as I was driving down the street.  The spare tire carrier fell out when I was driving it to a friend's house. 
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: marv on July 24, 2013, 07:59:21 PM
'56 Pontiac Starchief Catalina tudor hardtop. A tank. Barely got from one gas station to the next. Transmission was a POS.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on July 24, 2013, 08:01:52 PM
Renault Medallion.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on July 24, 2013, 08:08:06 PM
Renault Medallion.

You win.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on July 24, 2013, 08:08:57 PM
'56 Pontiac Starchief Catalina tudor hardtop. A tank. Barely got from one gas station to the next. Transmission was a POS.
My dad had a similar vintage Rocket 88.  He said you could watch the speedometer move in one direction while the gas gauge moved in the other. :rofl:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on July 24, 2013, 08:09:34 PM
You win.
The George Costanza award ?
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on July 24, 2013, 08:10:51 PM
The George Costanza award ?
Jon Voight's LeBaron
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Undies on July 24, 2013, 08:17:56 PM
It wasn't my car.  It was my mother-in-laws.  1962 (?) Corvair station wagon.

It was right after we got married and didn't have two nickles to rub together.  I had to use my M-I-L's car to go to work.  I had to find a new route because that car would not make it up one of the hills on the old route.

(Also, the road was visible through the floorboard's holes - I think the holes were for sticking your feet through Fred-Flintstone-style)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on July 24, 2013, 08:29:50 PM
It wasn't my car.  It was my mother-in-laws.  1962 (?) Corvair station wagon.

It was right after we got married and didn't have two nickles to rub together.  I had to use my M-I-L's car to go to work.  I had to find a new route because that car would not make it up one of the hills on the old route.

(Also, the road was visible through the floorboard's holes - I think the holes were for sticking your feet through Fred-Flintstone-style)
I might have to rescind obumazombie's award. :-)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: compaqxp on July 24, 2013, 08:43:40 PM
One of these Ford Escorts in this colour except the four door model. It sucked, but the damn thing would not die, no matter what. I didn't like it at all, just an econobox with no redeeming features.

I drive it for a few months in 2009.

(http://images.allcarsincanada.com/nlarge/1995_ford_escort_lx_auto_air_needs_nothing_540160.jpg)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on July 24, 2013, 08:46:44 PM
I might have to rescind obumazombie's award. :-)
No way ! I am the proud recipient of the first annual George Costanza's Jon Voight Lebaron award !
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: freedumb2003b on July 24, 2013, 08:49:49 PM
Vega.

You win the thread!
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on July 24, 2013, 08:51:19 PM
You win the thread!
Sounds like a man with first-hand experience.

I'm really glad I wasn't of driving age during the Automotive Dark Ages.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: IassaFTots on July 24, 2013, 09:34:27 PM
Ahem.  I win.  I was donated a Ford Aspire.  A vehicle that aspired to be a car, a Ford Ass-pirate, if you will.  Turquoise Green with hot pink pinstripe. 
 
1. Had a screwdriver permanently inserted in the shifter to keep it from randomly going into park.
2. Ignition key broke in the ignition, so if you didn't have the half key, you couldn't start the car.
3. Passenger door and trunk did not open by key, so you had to leave the car unlocked.
4. Cupholder conveniently located in front of the stereo...so if you stopped at all, whatever liquid you had in your cup would go straight into the tape player, shorting the radio until it dried out.
5. If you put the gas on it, with the ac turned off, which didn't work anyway, you might could get to 50 mph somewhere around 5 miles AFTER entering the highway, and when you did, you could hear the hamsters dying inside. 

There is more, but I have conveniently erased the pain from my memory.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Eupher on July 24, 2013, 09:35:55 PM
Ahem.  I win.  I was donated a Ford Aspire.  A vehicle that aspired to be a car, a Ford Ass-pirate, if you will.  Turquoise Green with hot pink pinstripe. 
 
1. Had a screwdriver permanently inserted in the shifter to keep it from randomly going into park.
2. Ignition key broke in the ignition, so if you didn't have the half key, you couldn't start the car.
3. Passenger door and trunk did not open by key, so you had to leave the car unlocked.
4. Cupholder conveniently located in front of the stereo...so if you stopped at all, whatever liquid you had in your cup would go straight into the tape player, shorting the radio until it dried out.
5. If you put the gas on it, with the ac turned off, which didn't work anyway, you might could get to 50 mph somewhere around 5 miles AFTER entering the highway, and when you did, you could hear the hamsters dying inside. 

There is more, but I have conveniently erased the pain from my memory.

WE HAVE A WINNAH!!!!!!!

h5, and more to come when I can think about it.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on July 24, 2013, 09:42:02 PM
The Pink Ford Aspire (http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/07/capsule-review-1995-ford-aspire/)

I've posted this a few times, but it's worth a read. :tongue:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: IassaFTots on July 24, 2013, 09:56:27 PM
A pink car is better than a turquoise one with pink pinstriping.  I would rather have had a Le Car.  At least their color scheme was palatable. 
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on July 25, 2013, 02:16:12 AM
Ummm, excuse me...Jon Voight's Lebaron. Remember me ?
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Wineslob on August 08, 2013, 02:07:59 PM
1976 Ford Station Wagon, in metallic green. Had a severely anemic 351 V8 in it. We called it "The Green Turtle". The brakes went out, the Cruise control quit, etc.... complete POS. My dad was always fixing it.

I would flip the air cleaner cover up-side down so you could hear the carb "moan" when you punched the gas. It was really loud, but did nothing for acceleration. My buddies and I would "race" people in it (we always lost) and would scream "HEAR THE SOUND OF POWER!!!"  We were crazy-ass teens. :rofl:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: debk on August 08, 2013, 05:31:04 PM
71 Buick Skylark... my first car I ever bought after college graduation.

was a piece of crap.  :censored:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: DefiantSix on August 08, 2013, 06:06:14 PM
'76 Ford Ltd.  Like this one, except it was shit brown.

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5179/5390986092_566ac5362d_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: longview on August 08, 2013, 10:25:47 PM
A Ford Pinto that my little brother gave me.  I don't remember why he gave me a car.  I had one.  I now suspect he was trying to eliminate sibling rivalry.

Damn thing caught fire, somewhere under the hood, while parked in the parents attached garage.  I kicked it into neutral while brother opened the garage door and we pushed it out.  It rolled down the hill into the street.  Mom had dialed the fire department.  I had to pay to have that hunk of burnt junk away.

Then there was the '76 Chevy 3/4 ton ranch truck hubby had when we were married.  Gutless wonder, it was.  No reverse.  Wide tires that slid you all over creation after a rain.

Being a sweet newlywed, and not knowing this truck, I tried to clean it out.  Once.  As I pulled up all the baling twine and whatever else was on the floor, I could see the ground underneath.  I carefully placed everything back and did my best with cleaning the scratched and cracked windows.  Once.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: vesta111 on August 09, 2013, 07:27:53 AM
1991 KIA, a definite summer car.   
Winter the doors would not close, had to put the seat belt through the arm rest to drive it or wait 30 minutes with heater going full blast to warm up the inside so doors would catch.

1975 Corvette, used, that had to have been in an accident as the frame in front was not straight. One had to be wall eyed to keep going straight .

1964 Stingray soft top that had same problems as the Kia, the doors would not close when it got cold. Very bad on ice, and at less then 5 mph. slid into the back of a car and the fiberglass cracked so bad over the headlight it cost $500.00 to repair it. [ this was in 1967 ]   Fancy what it would cost today.





Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on August 09, 2013, 07:40:33 AM
I haven't seen anyone mention Hyundai.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Eupher on August 09, 2013, 08:37:02 AM
I haven't seen anyone mention Hyundai.

My wife has a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. She bought it new and the tires are shit. At 30K, the tires are just about gone.

Other than that, it's been a good car. So far.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: DefiantSix on August 09, 2013, 10:14:10 AM
I haven't seen anyone mention Hyundai.

I - for one - have never been stupid/drunk enough to be saddled with one.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: JohnnyReb on August 09, 2013, 10:59:58 AM
1968 VW Bug......damn thing came with a 24,000 mile warranty and the engine blew at 24,300....now that I would call wonderful German engineering.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Eupher on August 09, 2013, 11:40:44 AM
I - for one - have never been stupid/drunk enough to be saddled with one.

Well, I'm not stupid and I'm not drunk.  :hammer: :hammer:

Mrs E has a new-model Sonata and I service it. I like the way it's laid out and from what I can see, it's well-made.

Have you driven one lately? Or are you basing your comment on older vintages?

Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on August 09, 2013, 12:28:29 PM
When I was in my mid 20s, my GF had a Fiat. That thing was a breakdown king.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: debk on August 09, 2013, 07:14:22 PM
Well, I'm not stupid and I'm not drunk.  :hammer: :hammer:

Mrs E has a new-model Sonata and I service it. I like the way it's laid out and from what I can see, it's well-made.

Have you driven one lately? Or are you basing your comment on older vintages?



We have a Sante Fe... I really like it, so does M.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on August 09, 2013, 07:41:43 PM
1975 Corvette, used, that had to have been in an accident as the frame in front was not straight. One had to be wall eyed to keep going straight .
Okay, that was pretty funny.  I'm giving you a Hi-5.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: DefiantSix on August 09, 2013, 11:32:12 PM

Have you driven one lately? Or are you basing your comment on older vintages?



Haven't driven one.  Before I was married, my roommate had one - hanging like an albatross around his neck. He/we were always under the hood of the damned thing, and I spent a lot of time playing bus driver for him, because his Sonata was a 1900 pound paperweight.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: jtyangel on August 10, 2013, 05:33:17 AM
http://jalopnik.com/249978/short+lived-gm-car-of-the-day-pontiac-phoenix


Top that b*tches...the axle broke on me and was towed before I could get to it so I got to happily sign the pos over to the lot it was stored at. GOOD RIDDANCE!

As is said in that article, it is one of the few cars with NO car club.  :lmao:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: jtyangel on August 10, 2013, 05:35:22 AM
http://jalopnik.com/249978/short+lived-gm-car-of-the-day-pontiac-phoenix


Top that b*tches...the axle broke on me and was towed before I could get to it so I got to happily sign the pos over to the lot it was stored at. GOOD RIDDANCE!

As is said in that article, it is one of the few cars with NO car club.  :lmao:

Oh and this was in the late 80's...my first car...It took me about 3 years to get over that experience and buy another vehicle...this time NEW...and Japanese.  :lmao:(I lived in a larger Florida city at the time so one could get by for the most part without a vehicle with decent climate and pretty reliable public transit).
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Carl on August 10, 2013, 05:56:18 AM
1981 Ford Escort wagon,hard to imagine a worse made vehicle.
It had the interference fit 1.6 liter for starters,a 5 speed transmission with such a gap between 4th and 5th overdrive you would get worn out shifting it.
An anthill would kill it in 5th and 4th would redline a tach to go 55.

It would vapor lock on restart after a 7 mile trip to town and finally the local Ford dealer said it needed a carburetor that cost half of what the thing was worth (1986).

Replaced it after about 6 months of torture with a 1982 Toyota Tercel which I drove for over 9 years and 225,000 miles (had 31.000 when I got it).
Moved on to a new 1995 Tacoma truck for another 10 years and 160,000 miles and now on a 2005 with 105,000. 

Ford stock has done me well in the last 5 years but they have built a lot of awful crap over the years.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on August 10, 2013, 11:30:50 AM
http://jalopnik.com/249978/short+lived-gm-car-of-the-day-pontiac-phoenix


Top that b*tches...the axle broke on me and was towed before I could get to it so I got to happily sign the pos over to the lot it was stored at. GOOD RIDDANCE!

As is said in that article, it is one of the few cars with NO car club.  :lmao:
Ah, 2007.  Back when Jalopnik was funny and entertaining and didn't suck like all the other Gawker sites.

Don't hold your breath... I bet if I looked long enough, I could find at least a Facebook page.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: jtyangel on August 10, 2013, 12:47:52 PM
Ah, 2007.  Back when Jalopnik was funny and entertaining and didn't suck like all the other Gawker sites.

Don't hold your breath... I bet if I looked long enough, I could find at least a Facebook page.

The gauntlet is thrown...search car god search :)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Eupher on August 11, 2013, 10:33:19 AM
Haven't driven one.  Before I was married, my roommate had one - hanging like an albatross around his neck. He/we were always under the hood of the damned thing, and I spent a lot of time playing bus driver for him, because his Sonata was a 1900 pound paperweight.

Since you got married (what is it? 8, 9 years?), I think you'll find Hyundai has done a pretty credible job in getting their shit together. For a relatively inexpensive car, it's pretty well built. I'm not unhappy with it -- so far, at least.

Now, get down and git some pushups out.  :-)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on August 11, 2013, 11:09:21 AM
Since you got married (what is it? 8, 9 years?), I think you'll find Hyundai has done a pretty credible job in getting their shit together. For a relatively inexpensive car, it's pretty well built. I'm not unhappy with it -- so far, at least.

Now, get down and git some pushups out.  :-)
The name is pronounced like Houdini, the man that could escape from anything...except a Hyundai.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: whiffleball on August 11, 2013, 12:00:26 PM
We have a Sante Fe... I really like it, so does M.

Me too.  On my 3rd and I've yet to find another like sized SUV that offers everything it does on the standard model.

As to the worst - "72 Dodge Polaris.  It wouldn't turn over if it was raining and died if I was driving and it began to rain.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: DefiantSix on August 11, 2013, 01:12:28 PM
Since you got married (what is it? 8, 9 years?)

11 years, TYVM.  :tongue:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: jtyangel on August 11, 2013, 01:49:17 PM
*taps foot* :-)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Eupher on August 11, 2013, 05:17:46 PM
11 years, TYVM.  :tongue:

Then crank out 50 - 5 for every year that's gone by since you've driven a Hyundai. We'll let the last year slide.  :-)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: DefiantSix on August 11, 2013, 09:34:01 PM
Then crank out 50 - 5 for every year that's gone by since you've driven a Hyundai. We'll let the last year slide.  :-)

That's just it; for all the time I spent with my roommate under the hood of that Hyundai, I never saw it leave the parking space under it's own power, and I sure as hell never drove it. More often than not, I was the motive force whenever the damned thing needed to change positions.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Eupher on August 12, 2013, 08:57:51 AM
That's just it; for all the time I spent with my roommate under the hood of that Hyundai, I never saw it leave the parking space under it's own power, and I sure as hell never drove it. More often than not, I was the motive force whenever the damned thing needed to change positions.

Well, I really can't blame you. To this day, I categorically refuse to buy either a Government Motors or a Ford Motor company product. GM and Ford both, along with the unions, created their own problems and the piles of shit that they manufactured and sent out the door weren't worth the powder to blow them to hell.

Ford may have gotten their shit together since 1993, which is when I bought the biggest pile of shit I ever owned, a Taurus wagon. But I don't care -- they lost me as a customer from that day when in Chicago, they completely ****ed up the assembly of the car that I ultimately wound up with.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: biersmythe on August 24, 2013, 11:42:56 PM
The worse car I ever drove was a 2007 Mazda 3 hatchback. I was t-boned in my Dakota and it was totaled ...the insurgence company paid for me to have that Mazda for three weeks. It had almost zero miles on it when I rented it. I was scared to death to drive that tin can (that's saying something cause most of the cars I have owned weight less than 2k lbs). It rattled driving down the road, It vibrated like mad with the A/C on, and it would get loose in the rain going strait down the road. I asked several times if I could trade the car out and the rental company wouldn't do it. I couldn't wait to take it back...hated it.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on August 26, 2013, 04:25:08 PM
My worst car (Which I still have) is a 96 Savanah conversion van.  Chronic transmission and fuel pump issues, as well as an electric system from Hell (The latter in some respects due to all the accessory wiring installed by the converter, but still...).  Horrible ground clearance, due only in part to the trim and fairing installed by the converter, the tailpipe would still drag entering the average suburban driveway even without the fairings.  Did I mention how much I think GM automatic transmissions suck?
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: biersmythe on August 28, 2013, 10:05:04 PM
My worst car (Which I still have) is a 96 Savanah conversion van.  Chronic transmission and fuel pump issues, as well as an electric system from Hell (The latter in some respects due to all the accessory wiring installed by the converter, but still...).  Horrible ground clearance, due only in part to the trim and fairing installed by the converter, the tailpipe would still drag entering the average suburban driveway even without the fairings.  Did I mention how much I think GM automatic transmissions suck?

Most transmissions after the th400 or the th700r4 suck big time...the 700r4 CAN be made reliable by talented hands and even hold up to power, but stock its iffy at best. After that they are all stuffed full of servos and sensors. Which makes much fun trying to rebuild...lol
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: seahorse513 on August 28, 2013, 10:25:05 PM
'76 Ford Ltd.  Like this one, except it was shit brown.

(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5179/5390986092_566ac5362d_z.jpg)
That is not a car, that is a bloody boat!!
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on August 28, 2013, 10:25:49 PM
My brother had one of those, but that was back when gas was a dollar a gallon.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: biersmythe on August 28, 2013, 11:23:51 PM
My brother had one of those, but that was back when gas was a dollar a gallon.

so back in the late 80s early 90s?
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on August 28, 2013, 11:25:44 PM
Early 90s.  Definitely handled like a luxury yacht.  "Handling" doesn't come close to it.

I think the brakes eventually failed and it was left to rot.  It wasn't worth fixing at the time.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: DefiantSix on August 28, 2013, 11:56:02 PM
That is not a car, that is a bloody boat!!

Boat hell! That is a full blown SHIP, young lady. I wasn't the damned driver, I was the helmsman. Get that honkin' nose turned into the wind, and I could conduct flight ops off the hood of that leviathan, and string arrester wires across the trunk for night traps.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: BattleHymn on August 29, 2013, 12:23:19 AM
1978-1979-1980-1981-1982-something-or-another Toyota 4x4. Six inch lift, on regular size wheels and tires.  I'm sure at one point in its life, it was a good vehicle, but those years had long since passed by the time I came into possession of this scrap heap.  This poor thing was cobbled together from at least three different  years of pickups.  I never got it registered in my name, because there was no way in hell it would pass a motor vehicle inspection.  Some highlights:

-Cab completely rotted out, so I jacked up the cab and stacked sawed-off railroad tie ends that I duck taped to the frame to make it look sort of even.  The top railroad tie end had to get progressively bigger, as the cab morphed around it, and would swallow the top tie, causing the driver's side of the cab to lose about two inches while traveling down the road.

-Dash cap almost completely eaten away by mice.  What wasn't ate had been pissed on.  I took it out, and was going to make something out of denim to make it look presentable.  Well, presentable for this thing, at least.

-That key you see in the ignition?  That was a Datsun key.  It was handier than a screwdriver.  The only downside was trying to fish your keys off the floor before they went under the seat, or fell through to the pavement.  

-Unbeknownst to me, the alternator that was installed when I purchased the truck was an AC Delco.  It died one day, which is when I noticed it was not bolted to the engine or frame with a single bolt, but held to the passenger frame rail with a very complicated series of ratchet straps that kept it close enough to the engine to keep a belt on it.

-When the AC Delco alternator died, I went to buy another alternator.  I was told an internally regulated alternator was almost $100, while an externally regulated alternator was $30.  "Give me the $30 one", I said, "I'll just wire in a push switch to charge the battery".  What a mistake that was.  

-Broken windshield, part way through ownership.  This happened when I high centered it on a dry pond bank (as seen below) at the back of my parent's land, trying to impress my girlfriend, who is now spousal unit.  

-Most of the seat guts were gone, so I had lots of duck tape and blankets to sit on.  The blankets came in handy, because there was no carpet (the carpet really was carpet, and I took it out, since it smelled like pee), and the door panels were rotted out and removed.  The heater worked, but you didn't want to turn it on.  More on that in a moment.  

-Gas pickup tube had broken off 3/4 of the way up, resulting in a total range of whatever you could get out of 1/4 of a tank.  Due to this odd tube arrangement, when making a long-banking right hand turn, the total range would drop to about 200 feet.  Restart involved coming to a complete stop, letting the gas settle, then starting the truck again, much to the chagrin of anyone stuck behind you.

-Too many electrical faults to even discuss.  Broken odometer (at 173000 miles).  

-Aisin carburetor.  I did the best I could with what I had.  It idled at about 2000 rpm and would die at anything below that.  There was no air cleaner when I bought it, and I never put one on.  

-At some point in time, the front end became slightly smooshed, resulting in the hood having a tendency to fly open at highway speeds.  The hood soon became tack welded shut, after my father witnessed my attempt one day at fixing the hood myself (which involved me slamming the hood shut, crawling up on top of the hood, and jumping up and down on the hood as hard as I could while yelling "There!  Now we're even!").

Probably the worst part about the whole truck was my fault though, when I switched the alternator over to an externally regulated unit.  I wired the charge circuit to the battery via a click switch that hung from the bottom of the dashboard.  It took me about two days to develop a profound respect for the task that an alternator regulator performs.  A typical drive to work for me at the time (about four or five miles) would have me clicking the alternator click switch on and off about 40 times.  It really was a huge chore.  Since the other gauges weren't really useful due to broken parts (such as fuel gauge that was only good for the first 1/4 tank), or sporadic in their readings (speedometer), most of my time driving consisted of me frantically darting my eyes between the road, a voltage gauge I wired in, and fumbling for the click switch that hung by its two wires under the dash.

The absolute worst possible time to drive was at night, in the rain, in the cold, while making a right-hand turn.  One had to juggle clicking the alternator on and off (I boiled the battery once by not being cautious enough with my charging clicker) while running the headlights, the wipers, the turn signal and the heater, while simultaneously trying to prevent complete and utter stall-out of the engine, from fuel starvation.  The heater truly became a luxury that I only treated myself to when company was with, such as the then girlfriend, now spousal unit.

I managed to scrounge up a few pictures.  I have one of the front end somewhere (no bumper- missing when I bought it), but can't find it tonight.  At one time, I did try to paint the truck with white paint and spray-on bedliner, with predictable results.  Behold:

(http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o528/dummieland/scan0010_zps2730ff7c.jpg)

(http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o528/dummieland/scan0009_zps5b7551f2.jpg)

(http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o528/dummieland/scan0008_zps6ab8b51d.jpg)

(http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o528/dummieland/scan0007_zps9ad78728.jpg)

If I can find more pictures, I might post them later.  All in all, it was the worst $600 I ever spent.  I traded it to my brother for a 1998 Gary Fisher Marlin bicycle, which I still have.  




  
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Eupher on August 29, 2013, 10:47:07 AM
BH, that story is DEFINITELY worth a BUNCH of h5's.

 :lmao:   :rotf:   :cheersmate:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: CG6468 on August 29, 2013, 11:42:06 AM
I really like the custom dashboard! Makes it easy to work on!  :-)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on August 29, 2013, 11:50:46 AM
That car must have inspired a writing muse to detail with wonderful prose.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: biersmythe on August 29, 2013, 04:00:51 PM
BattleHymn all I have to say is.....wow

You Win!!!!!

cant top that one.....i dont even think I have seen anything like that on the road....
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: BattleHymn on August 29, 2013, 05:06:54 PM
cant top that one.....i dont even think I have seen anything like that on the road....

If you do, steer clear.  I forgot a bunch of stuff that was wrong with it hat came to me today, like the shifter arm bushing being made of duck tape wrapped around the shift arm, or that the passenger wiper arm became stripped.  I'm glad those days are over.  

The vehicle I replaced the Toyota with was an experiment by my older brother- a 78 Datsun 280Z that had been turbocharged, after having all the fuel injection removed from the vehicle.  The plumbing from the turbo to the two barrel carb was just that: actual plumbing supplies.  The two barrel replaced an earlier attempt at using a flattop Hitachi SU style carb:  

(http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o528/dummieland/scan0011_zpse173c346.jpg)

(http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o528/dummieland/scan0012_zps79b338a4.jpg)



The Z was marginally better than the Toyota, and at the very least reliable (and fast), so long as you didn't let the turbo backfire into the plumbing.  When that happened, the carburetor blew off from the rest of the plumbing, and the only thing that prevented it from falling off onto the road was the throttle cable that I always made sure stayed FIRMLY attached.  
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: biersmythe on August 29, 2013, 05:10:58 PM
HOLY COW!!! bud you were much more daring than I...hehe I like the carb being held on by the throttle cable comment...
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: CollectivismMustDie on January 07, 2014, 05:29:05 PM
Worst car? Thats not even a contest.

1994 neon.

The ONLY car I have ever worked on that required the passenger side front tire to be removed, an engine mount removed, and the engine jacked up...

To put on an alternator belt.


It got to the point where it was worth more as scrap than as a car, so we took it to the scrap yard.

Seeing this latch on to its roof was the happiest experience I had with that car:

(http://static-p2.photoxpress.com/jpg/00/11/03/58/400_F_11035887_4m1RI35WFxb19IHC4wDEW84xAyi0OMpJ_PXP.jpg)

Honorable mention:

Anything ford.

I do all my own work where autos are concerned, and fords are just...backwards. Not as bad as dodge, but they're bad.

CMD
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Purple Sage on January 07, 2014, 06:32:45 PM
Battlehymn, your spousal unit is a keeper.  LOL
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: BattleHymn on January 07, 2014, 08:21:52 PM
Battlehymn, your spousal unit is a keeper.  LOL

Thanks.  I would tell her you said that, but she'd ask what brought it up, and so I would tell her.  Then, I'm sure some form of beating would be in order for me because I reminded her of her bad memories.  :-)
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: biersmythe on January 07, 2014, 08:55:57 PM
 :rotf:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on January 07, 2014, 09:13:32 PM
If you do, steer clear.  I forgot a bunch of stuff that was wrong with it hat came to me today, like the shifter arm bushing being made of duck tape wrapped around the shift arm, or that the passenger wiper arm became stripped.  I'm glad those days are over.  

The vehicle I replaced the Toyota with was an experiment by my older brother- a 78 Datsun 280Z that had been turbocharged, after having all the fuel injection removed from the vehicle.  The plumbing from the turbo to the two barrel carb was just that: actual plumbing supplies.  The two barrel replaced an earlier attempt at using a flattop Hitachi SU style carb:  

The Z was marginally better than the Toyota, and at the very least reliable (and fast), so long as you didn't let the turbo backfire into the plumbing.  When that happened, the carburetor blew off from the rest of the plumbing, and the only thing that prevented it from falling off onto the road was the throttle cable that I always made sure stayed FIRMLY attached.  
What, no blowoff valve? :rofl:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: BattleHymn on January 07, 2014, 09:42:27 PM
What, no blowoff valve? :rofl:

The blowoff valve on a zx is on the intake manifold, so, nope.  :p
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Chris_ on January 07, 2014, 09:43:15 PM
I figured there was something in the plumbing department at Home Depot that could have been used.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: rustybayonet on February 25, 2014, 07:39:59 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA0Pg2Qnju8&feature=player_detailpage

Lies - all LIES  It wasn't mine - My dad got one and guess who got to drive it most of the time - yep ME.

Straight stick, 6 cylinder.  Transmission didn't make it home the night we bought it - replacement still didn't get us home 4 days later.  After next replacement trans stuck in 2nd and only way to make it into 3rd you had to call a weight lifter to shift the damn thing, so another replacement. Finally got a trans that worked - three days later engine overheated and caught fire, so yep new engine.  After that it was almost a car- except for the rust - boy the color of nature as seen through holes made by rust, and the seat covers that disappeared really brought out the best looking foam you ever saw.  Where paint didn't dissappear from rust, it peeled off in chunks leaving the prettiest metal and rust camouflage you can imagine.  But on the bright side - our high school auto shop had a specimen for learning -- [how not to built cars].  The happiest day of my life - when dad donated it to the junk yard - but it probably gave them a bad name cause they went out of business less than a year later.

Damn look what I just found - think it might be 'it's' twin --- :yahoo:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=YM_A-5jGbHw
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: obumazombie on February 25, 2014, 09:41:21 AM
Another belvedere owner gets beat up...by his belvedere...

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrl14wI6orM[/youtube]


Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Wineslob on February 25, 2014, 02:31:05 PM
Quote
The blowoff valve on a zx is on the intake manifold, so, nope.


Isn't that how it works.......? :whistling:
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Dacabeti on March 31, 2014, 02:34:56 PM
Triumph TR250 hands down.

Had a straight 6 with 6 1 barrel carburetors. Every Thursday I would tune the carburetors to get them working together. By Monday the car would start to backfire, on Wednesday it would not start. I hated the car. in 88 I was made an offer on the car so I jumped at it. I used the down payment for a Ducati 851 Desmo. I was 19 and a Paratrooper in the Army. Pretty much bulletproof.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: BattleHymn on March 31, 2014, 04:24:55 PM
Had a straight 6 with 6 1 barrel carburetors.

Wait, you can stop right there- you just earned yourself a H5. 
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: EagleKeeper on March 31, 2014, 04:36:36 PM
I think it was a Datsun b210 4 door, manual transmission.

It was bug ugly, and I had to work on it a lot. But it was kinda like a pinto, show it some love and it keeps on going.
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: BattleHymn on March 31, 2014, 04:38:46 PM
I think it was a Datsun b210 4 door, manual transmission.

It was bug ugly, and I had to work on it a lot. But it was kinda like a pinto, show it some love and keeps on going.

I actually like those.  I think they came with a little A12 or A13 engine (I can't remember) that just sipped fuel.  My favorite are the fastback coupes with three windows down the side of the car. 
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: EagleKeeper on March 31, 2014, 04:49:20 PM
I actually like those.  I think they came with a little A12 or A13 engine (I can't remember) that just sipped fuel.  My favorite are the fastback coupes with three windows down the side of the car. 

I don't know, if I kinda squinted out one eye my car kinda looked like a poor mans Saab.

I will say, I also had a Datsun Maxima that was a fricken tank, I wouldn't be surprised if that thing was not at least donating parts to running cars..
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: BattleHymn on March 31, 2014, 04:54:22 PM
I don't know, if I kinda squinted out one eye my car kinda looked like a poor mans Saab.

I will say, I also had a Datsun Maxima that was a fricken tank, I wouldn't be surprised if that thing was not at least donating parts to running cars..

An early one with the inline six?  Yeah, those things were tanks. 
Title: Re: Worst car you ever drove
Post by: Dacabeti on March 31, 2014, 04:55:26 PM
I actually like those.  I think they came with a little A12 or A13 engine (I can't remember) that just sipped fuel.  My favorite are the fastback coupes with three windows down the side of the car. 

I loved my B210. That car was built to run. I joined the Army in 86, I gave the car away with over 200K miles. Change the oil regularly and the plugs once in awhile and they just keep going and going.