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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 02:49 PM
Original message
What's the crappiest car you ever owned?
Edited on Thu Aug-23-07 02:51 PM by SoCalDem
Ours was a Crown Victoria station wagon that cost us tons in repairs, (overheating) and left me stranded in the desert TWICE ..

Nothing like that experience.. Standing by the road walking to a roadside phone, being pelted by the gravel of the trucks racing past me .. and then spending 8 hours watching prairie dogs in terrarium until my son got off work to come & get me at the Beacon Gas station, just outside Barstow...

Had to tow that beast to Barstow, and the Ford dealership wanted almost $1200 to fix it, so my son borrowed a car trailer and we drove back out there to haul it home ourselves.

We fixed it as best we could and traded it in on our Honda a few weeks later.

The funny thing?

We got a long letter from the guy who bought it. He thanked us for taking such good care of it, and claimed it was the best car he ever had, and it ran like a dream..:shrug:
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billyskank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 02:55 PM
Response to Original message
1. Yugo Sana 1.4L, my first ride
Not the rubbishest car ever, but fairly rubbish:

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kernelfarmer Donating Member (138 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:00 PM
Response to Original message
2. every car i've ever owned
I have never, ever spent more than $200 on a car for myself. My wife always gets the nice vehicle. I am currently driving an 84 Crown Vic, rust colored. It hopefully has another winter in it. After it dies I will buy another cheap P.O.S.

An interesting side note, I always buy the towing insurance through state farm so that when it dies I can get reimbursed the expense of towing it to the salvage yard.
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:13 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. We had always had towing insurance, but for some stupid reason
we decided to change companies, and had not "gotten around to it yet".. that tow alone, cost us over $200.:grr:
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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:26 PM
Response to Reply #2
19. welcome to DU, kernelfarmer
Edited on Thu Aug-23-07 04:34 PM by Kali
I drive pos's myself (abandoned vehicles left by human smugglers) and have always at least gotten my premiums back from State Farm in tows. I can't believe they continue to allow me to have roadside assistance insurance.
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Burma Jones Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:03 PM
Response to Original message
3. 1986 Ford Taurus
I would rather eat donkey shit than own another Ford
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trackfan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:05 PM
Response to Original message
4. 79 Mustang
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JackBeck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:13 PM
Response to Original message
5. '76 Buick Le Sabre.
That thing was a freakin' tank. Cost over $30 to fill it in the early '90's

Finally overheated and died on the NJ Turnpike. Had to have my dad drive-up and use his car to push my car off the next exit, since AAA wouldn't tow it until I got off the Turnpike.

Had an 8-track, which was my favorite part. Previous owners must have known a gay dude was getting it, since in the glove compartment were 8-tracks of "Hair", "Godspell" and "A Little Night Music". As an added bonus: "Country Hits of the '70's".
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gmoney Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:21 PM
Response to Original message
7. 80 Mercury Capri
When I got it, the driver's seat frame was bent way back, so I was driving like a low-rider. zero pickup, leaky hatchback, and ugly/rusty. To its credit, I recall it being somewhat reliable...
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AlCzervik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:21 PM
Response to Original message
8. 1979 cutlass supreme in old lady blue, it burned so much oil that i was a case a month.
really nice inside but it's engine, oy.
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HERVEPA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:22 PM
Response to Original message
9. '74 Vega Wagon
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kwassa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:37 PM
Response to Reply #9
15. I had one of those ....
but I had no problems
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mopinko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 10:40 PM
Response to Reply #15
76. i had one that i bought from a mechanic
never again. it took a week to fall apart.
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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-25-07 01:45 AM
Response to Reply #76
104. We had one, too. It overheated all the time.
But, it also likely saved my life once when I was rear ended by an idiot. It folded just like an accordion.
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Parche Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:23 PM
Response to Original message
10. I Sold A Yugo To This One Guy In Britain


Boy, was that car a LEMON :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :hi:
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billyskank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 02:42 AM
Response to Reply #10
87. No you didn't.
If you had done that, you'd know that was a Reliant Robin, not a Yugo.
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zabet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:24 PM
Original message
1978 F150 - the Ford from hell!!!
Purchased this truck back in 1990, it was in excellent shape. Anyone in the
world could drive it any where.
Every time I cranked it up, even just to move it to mow the grass, it would not
crank again for a minimum of 2 weeks. My stepson drove it constantly, never gave
him a minute's trouble. Same for his dad. The truck just hated me. That's OK -
I hated it right back.
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azmouse Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:24 PM
Response to Original message
11. '89 Mercury Cougar
The paint was crap, faded in no time at all. The back window seal shrank, and the electrical system worked erratically.
And let's not forget the mystery stains on the carpet that kept wicking up. :scared:
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texanwitch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:27 PM
Response to Original message
12. I bought a old Ford pickup truck for $500.
Looked really bad on the outside, the motor was great.

I have no idea how many miles that truck had before I bought it.

I motor finally died and sold the truck to someone who fixed it up.

So truck is still out somewhere.
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Jokerman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:31 PM
Response to Original message
13. '72 Ford Maverick
Painted in bi-centennial colors that were overtaken by rust.
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FloridaJudy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 03:36 PM
Response to Original message
14. No question: A Citroen 2CV


2CV being a French abbreviation for "two horses". That was being generous - it looked like a garbage can on wheels. Click and Clack described it as the only vehicle ever mistaken for a Porta-Potty.

The cars were bad enough straight out of the factory, but we bought ours used, not knowing it had been in a bad accident. The chassis was so bent that the vibrations eventually snapped the steering wheel right off - while we were driving on a French highway (which is a hair-raising experience in itself). How we lived through that still mystifies me. I guess the universe wasn't quite finished we me yet.
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CatholicEdHead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:05 PM
Response to Reply #14
41. Yet Roger Moore as Bond got away in a yellow one
;)
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FloridaJudy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:18 PM
Response to Reply #41
55. The one my ex and I owned was gray
All the ones I ever saw were gray - that blue one in the pic must be an optical illusion, or one restored not-quite-accurately by an aficionado (if anyone is lunatic enough to feel nostalgic for the murderous things).

James Bond can do a lot of stuff not possible for us ordinary mortals. I expect his 2CV was a special "Q" model not available in shops.
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EnviroBat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
16. Chevy Citation.
I should have received a Citation for operating that dumpster on public roads.
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skygazer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:14 PM
Response to Original message
17. Cadillac Cimarron
Not sure of the year - mid-80's I think. The car had no guts. My diesel put it to shame.
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Momgonepostal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:37 PM
Response to Reply #17
22. I've owned one of those...
I have a theory...never buy a car whose name ends in AC!

As in ACK, the air in my Pontiac Sunbird just went out for the second time in two years and it's going to cost another $1100!

Or ACK, the Cimarron's digital display just went out, so I have no idea my speed, or how much gas I have left, or anything, and the dealership has NO IDEA how to fix it!

I think the car talk guys put the Cimmaron on their list of the ten worst cars of the millenium.
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skygazer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:42 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. I had a Sunbird, too - it would place second on my list
Two blown engines in that thing - can't remember the details but it kept developing major oil leaks and eventually siezed the engine. Twice. Junked it after the second time.
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Momgonepostal Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:54 PM
Response to Reply #23
25. We had a ton of trouble with ours, too
We finally junked it (sold it to a teen for $300) because the head gasket was blown and it had a cracked block. This after we had JUST replaced a few other really expensive things. I will NEVER buy a Pontiac again. I can't decide if the Cadillac or the Pontiac should be #1, too close to call.
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TheMightyFavog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:43 PM
Response to Reply #23
35. That's why I NEVER buy Sunbirds.
I've heard enough horror stories about the Pontiac Sunbird to put me off of them.
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Auggie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:21 PM
Response to Reply #17
56. Ah, the gutless wonder. Ours was a company car and free so one could hardly argue.
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SoxFan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:15 PM
Response to Original message
18. 1987 LeBaron
The damn thing blew two CV joints in less than a year, then the engine seized up. What a piece of crap.
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Blue-Jay Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:30 PM
Response to Original message
20. Probably a Geo Storm.
Even though it was dented and rusty and funny-looking, it still always got me where I wanted to go. I don't think I've ever owned a car that was prone to frequent breakdowns.
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NV Whino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:31 PM
Response to Original message
21. Volkswagen Rabbit
The car that wrote the Lemon Law.

I had a 10-page list of what went wrong with that car and Volkswagen said in a half page reply, "Gee sorry. We figure anything that would go wrong would go wrong under the first year of warranty." Yes, and then some. I had the car two weeks (bought it new) and the engine simply stopped in the middle of the SF Bay Bridge as I returned to the East Bay late at night. Talk about nightmares. It continued to do this in an intermittent manner for months before my mechanic was able to track down the problem. I finally sold it, dead, two years later to a guy from Kaiser Permanente in the R&D department. I figured if anyone could deal with it, he could.
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huskerlaw Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:08 PM
Response to Reply #21
30. I have part of a VW Rabbit jammed in my knee.
My sister drove a Rabbit, and one day I was climbing into the back seat and managed to snag my knee on the large amount of rust residing on the tire well...and a decent-sized chunk of it remains lodged to this day. Some 15 years later.
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NV Whino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 10:14 PM
Response to Reply #30
73. Ooo, ouch.
Fortunately I don't have any reminders of that piece of shit.
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masshole Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:46 PM
Response to Original message
24. 1995 Honda Civic
I own it, my daughter's car though. What a piece of shit in every way, from crappy interior and door trim and handles to the cheapest cooling system parts ever manufactured. I have to go to the auto parts store tonight for a third radiator cap, they basically disinegrate when the system gets hot.
Blown headgasket, warped the head, had to put in new engine, new waterpump, new thermostat, new radiator, system bled by professional, and it STILL overheats!

Honda quality? yea, sure. I'll stick with my old Volvo's, actual well-built, durable automobiles.
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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 04:56 PM
Response to Original message
26. dodge pick-ups
I do not understand why people actually buy them on purpose.
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:09 PM
Response to Reply #26
31. My husband's '88 D-50 has 265,000 miles & still going strong
:)
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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 11:50 PM
Response to Reply #31
83. is that the little one?
I think those are actually Mitsubishis, hence the Japanese type milage figure.:P
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 12:20 AM
Response to Reply #83
84. yep.. I had a great little Mitsubishi Mighty Max..until I totalled it. n.t
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alarimer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 08:29 PM
Response to Reply #26
68. I know. We have them at work and they are SHIT
The years from 1999-2002 seem particularly bad. All three of ours needed dashboard replacements because of cracking. WTF? Also, all have had to have transmissions replaced. In vehicles less than 5 years old at the time. I will never, ever, EVER buy a Dodge anything because of the track record of these trucks. The state buys whatever is cheapest so we get stuck with this crap.
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ohiosmith Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:00 PM
Response to Original message
27. 1979 GMC van. Bought it new. Nine months later the rear doors fell off outside of Winnipeg.
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huskerlaw Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
28. 1980-something Dodge Colt.
Edited on Thu Aug-23-07 05:06 PM by huskerlaw
This piece of shit:


Oh dear god, it even has a Nebraska plate. Maybe that IS my old car. With, apparently, an *improved* muffler system...and a lovely paint job (mine was beige).

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masshole Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:21 PM
Response to Reply #28
57. I had the Turbo Colt!
84, had the funny "High/Low" transmission.. god that car was fast... in a straight line. Handled like crap, and seemed to be constructed of recycled Tuna cans.
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Tommy_Carcetti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 11:43 AM
Response to Reply #28
93. My dad had an 1981 Dodge Colt
My dad had a 1981 Dodge Colt, red. It ran great for him.

Of course, it was so tiny and I was always embarassed when he drove us around in it.
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:06 PM
Response to Original message
29. Old Fiat Spyder 2000 convertible. 90% Bondo.
But it was Hawaii, where nobody gives a fuck.

Probably the most fun car I've had
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:14 PM
Response to Reply #29
32. My son recently bought a '74 (I think) Fiat convertible.. He loves it
the one he bought was completely restored :)

it looks like this one..only shinier :)
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:17 PM
Response to Original message
33. Late 80's Jaguar XJ6
Very nice car. Looked nice (black), plush interior, leather, walnut dash...just didn't run much. I bought it for my mom (she always wanted one) and it was only a couple years old, low miles. Total POS.
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FloridaJudy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #33
59. I'd never buy a jag
They're as temperamental as race horses. You'd need to buy a pair, because one would always be in the shop. They're nice looking cars, but not reliable.
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LSK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:18 PM
Response to Original message
34. 1983 gold buick regal with a smoking engine
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1gobluedem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 05:47 PM
Response to Original message
36. 1974 Dodge Dart
Can't even begin to describe the pain it put me though except to say that on the night I went to trade it in it wouldn't start....
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Bennyboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:00 PM
Response to Original message
37. 64 Ford Galaxie 500
Crap on wheels. Rusted, torn seats, bald tires, small block engine. my HS "kids gotta be safe" car....

Weird but the best car I ever owned was a 65 galaxie. 428, Pop ups, blower,Muncie 4 speed tranny with Hurst linkage, tuck and roll interior,pearlescent white paint, huge meats on the back, posi traction. I would smoke 454 Vettes all day long.
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Sanity Claws Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:02 PM
Response to Original message
38. 1978 Honda Accord
I bought it used and it was a piece of ****
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CatholicEdHead Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:03 PM
Response to Original message
39. 1990 Dodge Dakota
what a hunk of junk, something broke 2 weeks after the last thing was fixed.
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Shine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:04 PM
Response to Original message
40. '74 Pinto
I'll leave it at that. :D
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Xipe Totec Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:13 PM
Response to Reply #40
44. What, no asbestos suit? n/t
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Initech Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:11 PM
Response to Original message
42. I've had bad luck with cars until recently.
My first one was a beater Volvo S40 that I got from my dad. It was a 93 model, ran decently. Drove it for about six months before it died on the table. Then I got a Pontiac Grand Am which ran nicely for a few years, but last year took it to the shop 4 times and each time it was a $400 - $500 repair bill (on top of that, it had a brake problem that baffled several mechanics), and I drove it until last week when I traded it for my shiny new Nissan Altima. :woohoo:
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Xipe Totec Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:12 PM
Response to Original message
43. 1977 Dodge Aspen
paradoxically, also the best car I've ever owned.

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femmocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:15 PM
Response to Original message
45. A Volkswagen Rabbit.
Around 1975-76. There was always something wrong with it.
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SPKrazy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:25 PM
Response to Reply #45
47. ha, i posted at roughly the same time
about the same vehicle, mine was a later model, by about 6 years.
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femmocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:37 PM
Response to Reply #47
52. Incredible! There is some cosmic connection or something....
It's getting uncanny. :tinfoilhat:
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SPKrazy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:24 PM
Response to Original message
46. I had a Volkswagon Rabbit
back in my early 20's. Only a couple of years old when it broke down. The transmission (auto) blew out the gaskets and it just quit being drivable. I had a salvage tranny put in it, and it cost enough to do that. The damned thing blew tranny fluid out all the time.

I ended up trading it in and had a little better deal for a while

that piece of shit... :grr:
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trof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
48. VW Dasher...P.O.S.
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Dukkha Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:27 PM
Response to Original message
49. 95 Chevy Corsica
paid twice as much in repairs as I did for the car

notice the list is overwhelmingly domestic vehicles. I have a 94 Honda Accord now and it's my best car yet. A shame domestic auto manufactures skimp on quality control all the time.
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BarenakedLady Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:30 PM
Response to Original message
50. 1979 Ford LTD
Gold.
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bridgit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:33 PM
Response to Original message
51. 88 Sterling, not so crappy as the boys gave it to me and they never did...
proper up-keep so had little things wrong with it seemingly all the time
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lizziegrace Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:42 PM
Response to Original message
53. 1978 Plymouth Volare Coupe
Killer engine put in a sorry excuse for an automobile. :(
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Bravo Zulu Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 06:52 PM
Response to Original message
54. El Camino
I think it was a 1974, left front wheel bearing burned out and welded itself to the axle, you could watch it rust, I think Chevy used them as an experimental platform for electronic ignition systems!


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Wapsie B Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:22 PM
Response to Original message
58. 1977 Fords & Chevies
I don't know what it was about that year and why I ended up having 3 of that vintage. But mechanically they were terrible. They were a prime example of why many sane people bought rice-grinders back then.
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Hangingon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:31 PM
Response to Original message
60. '68 Plymouth Valiant
It had an overheating problem that the dealer never solved. We went back to VWs.
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Hand Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 10:04 PM
Response to Reply #60
102. My dad had one of those--briefly.
He'd formerly owned a 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook that ran forever and figured (after an abortive period with a Ford Fairlane) that Plymouth must still make good cars. Wrong. He dumped the damn thing after a year or so and bought a Saab.
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Wcross Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:45 PM
Response to Original message
61. 66 Ford falcon painted flat green. Drove it from 87-90!
I was broke during that time and bought the car for 200 bucks from a friend. I had to start it with a wire on the celiniode. It had lost all the stuffing out of the front seat. It was a solid little car though, ALWAYS started. It kept me mobile during a bad time.

As far as the flat green paint, I am thinking it might have been surplus from a local air base which closed in the 70's. It was a wreck.
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triguy46 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:49 PM
Response to Original message
62. 1979 Plymouth Horizon"TC3" What a piece of shit....
It actually broke down in the parking lot of a dealership while shopping for cars. Talk about losing your bargaining power. So I bought a Renault Alliance, the 2nd crappiest car I
've ever owned.
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ronnykmarshall Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 07:50 PM
Response to Original message
63. A 1967 Cougar.
Bought it from a friend.

BIG mistake.
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Bombero1956 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 08:02 PM
Response to Original message
64. 1971 Dodge Colt
it was orange and had broken a connecting rod so for all intents and purposes it was a 3 cylinder. It made a tremendous noise as the rod rattled inside the cylinder and used a quart of oil a day. The heater hose broke one day and because I couldn't afford a new one I cut a washer discharge hose and made a homemade replacement. We called it the Great Pumpkin.
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vixengrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 08:08 PM
Response to Original message
65. I guess my '96 Mitsubishi Mirage (altho' it still wasn't *bad*).
It was the car I basically learned to drive with--oh, I knew how to technically drive before I had it, but it was the one I passed my drivers' test on. It was small enough for me to feel relatively confident parallel parking with. I know the Mirage has no reputation for power, ("What was that hunter green lil' old coupe doing 90 mph?" "I dunno--must've been a mirage." :shrug:) but I put the needle up there on occasion. It didn't especially care for my doing that. But I owned that car three and a half years and I was getting the brakes done all the time--they would just go "crunchy" (you know that sound brake pads get when they're worn?) I got used to that "mushy" pedal feel and that grinding "give yourself lots of stopping room" warning feeling. Brakes--there's a thing you don't want to be "iffy" on your vehicle. Especially if you have a 20+ mile commute (I worked in NE Philadelphia when I lived in Levittown--moved back to Philadelphia when I worked in Trenton.Go figure.) I must've had it in the shop five times for that. I don't know that it was any problem with that particular model--some cars are just like that--individual.

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Beausoir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
66. Lime green Torino. I win.
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 09:37 PM
Response to Reply #66
71. We have a 1970 Avocado Green Gran Torino w/ 37K original miles
Edited on Thu Aug-23-07 09:39 PM by SoCalDem
but it's not a dog :)

exactly like this one:
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Beausoir Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 11:07 PM
Response to Reply #71
80. Wow! That looks very different from the Torino I had. Mine was held together with tin-foil and
Edited on Thu Aug-23-07 11:18 PM by Beausoir
bondo. And that was how it came off the showroom floor.

The thing had GO! Went like a bat outta hell. But what a piece of shite.
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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 11:23 PM
Response to Reply #80
81. This one was sold to my Mother in law (who was 70-something when she bought it)
Edited on Thu Aug-23-07 11:23 PM by SoCalDem
We think that the car salesman wanted her pristine 1957 Chevy Impala, so he sold her this car. She ended up with a brand new Torino..It was too much car for her, so she rarely drove it..(that's why it only has 37K miles on it today)..It was driven here from Kansas in 1980 after she had a stroke.. we towed a U-haul with it :)
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electron_blue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 08:28 PM
Response to Original message
67. '83 Chevette. My friends called it a "Shovette" LOL
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mentalsolstice Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 08:32 PM
Response to Original message
69. '88 Ford Taurus
Best car was/is '82 Mercedes 240D. Next best was an'89 Nissan Sentra.
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Throd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 09:31 PM
Response to Original message
70. Peugeot 504 wagon
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cloudbase Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 09:40 PM
Response to Original message
72. 1985 Olds 88
A real piece of junk that went a long way towards my aversion to buying anything from the big three.
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Elidor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 10:23 PM
Response to Original message
74. Pretty much anything by Pontiac
Poorly designed junk.
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yellowdogintexas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 10:36 PM
Response to Original message
75. my husbands Dodge Aries and my Mercury Topaz.
I think the Aries was worse. Chrysler really did a complete 180 on quality of their products from the 80's to the 90's. The difference from about 1985 or 6 going forward is amazing. Their 1970 and 1980's cars were junk, but their 1960's cars ran and ran and ran
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Left Is Write Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 10:40 PM
Response to Original message
77. 1975 two-tone green Buick Century, purchased in 1987.
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Digit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 10:48 PM
Response to Original message
78. A Fiat and a VW Diesel Rabbit
Edited on Thu Aug-23-07 10:49 PM by Digit
You could not pay me to buy either a Fiat or a Volkswagen ever again.

Whoops, forgot that damned Dodge Caravan I had which went through an engine and two transmissions.

I stick with Hondas now...never been happier.
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DFW Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 10:50 PM
Response to Original message
79. A 196-(something) Chevy corvair
I'm still surprised I lived to tell the tale.

Ever since I have been overseas, I have bought locally made cars.
When I first went over there, I brought my (almost) new Datsun with
me. BIG mistake. Getting it transformed to conform with German specs
was a nightmare. When it died, I bought a locally-made (i.e. German)
car. I drove it for 17 years until it died, and liked it so much I
bought a new one of almost the same model (BMW 525). This was in 2003.
Unless I find a hybrid I can't refuse, I"ll probably have this one for
another ten years as well.

I was just up in New York state buying my daughter a car to use during
law school. She had driven a Toyota when she was in school out in the Pacific,
so she wanted another one. They recommended a new Yarus (Yaris?), but it
was stiff and didn't handle hills well. A used Prius would have been ideal,
but there is no such thing--everyone who buys one apparently loves them. So
we got her a used Camry that drove like a dream and had enough space to cart
her stuff around, as well as friends if they go visit my brother in Virginia
or us when we are in the States in the summer (Cape Cod). My wife drives a 10
year old BMW station wagon, but when she gets a new car, it will probably be
a Toyota as well--a hybrid Camry probably. With gasoline at $7 a gallon, a car
with decent mileage seems in order.
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swag Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-23-07 11:26 PM
Response to Original message
82. Probably the 1974 Plymouth Valiant I owned around 1987,
though the 1972 Chevy Impala I owned around 1983-84 was worse.

My 1974 Dodge Dart that I had from about 84-87 was good, but it finally developed too many serious problems.
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krispos42 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 02:02 AM
Response to Original message
85. I think it's the one I'm driving now
89 Olds Regency 98, 182,000 miles

Despite being first sold in arid Arizona, then moved to South Dakota where it was garaged, the paint is starting to break down. No rust, but the paint is just going to shit.

The switch for the high beams has died. Can't use the high beams. One day I'll have to put in a replacement switch.

Headliner is collapsing. I have some steel shipping straps in there right now to hold it up. I cut them to fit, and jammed the edges into the door trim so they would bow upwards against the headliner.

Cruise control will not hold speed consistantly below 80 mph.

The entire cover of the steering column, the part that holds the stalks and gearshift and ignition, I can rotate 30 degrees to the right by simply grabbing and twisting. Oh, and it rocks forwards and backwards, too. The steering linkage, thank god, is fine.

Power windows barely go up.

Power locks take multiple hits to lock or unlock all doors. I always hit the button 5 times, now.

My seatbelt buckle is broken. I have to use the center passenger's one.

The retractor on my seatbelt is reluctant to unwind. It takes some prodding.

Windshield used to leak like a sieve. Bathroom silicone took care of it, unless it rains really hard for a prolonged period of time. I think this is why the dome and map lights don't work.

The only cupholder in the car broke off. Although to be fair, I don't think it was intended for the 44-ounce garbonzo-sized drinks I tend to get.

Driver's door interior panel is held on with strips of sheetmetel and pop rivets. And at least one large wood screw.

Some sort of vacuum pump that I believe is linked to the emissions system runs randomly, whether or not the car is turned on.

There's a giant dent in the rear bumper where a Ford Explorer rear-ended me.

And it's dripping antifreeze from someplace.



However, it runs like a top, burns no oil, leaks no transmission fluid, starts right up even in a cold Minnesota winter, and all of the engine components are original. The heater works, the A/C works well enough, and it gets about 25 miles per gallon. And the seats are really really comfy.

And people in new shiny cars don't fuck with me because they know I have nothing to lose.
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njdemocrat106 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 02:18 AM
Response to Original message
86. My cars have been alright (not great)...
but my mom once had a '94 Chevy Cavalier that I swear got about $1000 worth of work done to it every month (and if I recall, almost all the repairs had to do with the radiator or air conditioning system). Needless to say, she eventually realized it would be cheaper to get a new car. :)
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B Calm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 04:39 AM
Response to Original message
88. 1962 Corvair. Damn thing used more oil than gas..
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Katina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 07:07 AM
Response to Original message
89. 1970 PINTO
Death trap on wheels.
Then we had a Pontiac 6000 in the 80's. In the 3 years we owned it, it needed a new transmission, new master brake cylinders, new rotors, 4 new stereo systems (the electrical system kept shorting it out) and a bunch of other things that I don't even know what they were for. All this in less than 34 months of ownership.
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MissMillie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 07:35 AM
Response to Original message
90. Mercury Tracer
was looking for a 3rd engine before it reached 100,000 on the odometer.

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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 12:36 PM
Response to Reply #90
94. from overheating? Yeah I have a multi-engine Tracer
you don't want them to even get close to getting warm, otherwise they arent bad little cars - the "deluxe" version of one of the best cars ever made: Ford Escort.
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MissMillie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 06:18 PM
Response to Reply #94
97. nope, there was an problem w/ the oil getting to the top of the engine
and yes, I changed the oil and filter often
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beck47 Donating Member (14 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 11:27 AM
Response to Original message
91. Old Chevy Citation with a garbage bag over the broken sunroof
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Tommy_Carcetti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 11:39 AM
Response to Original message
92. 2000 Mazda 626
Edited on Fri Aug-24-07 11:46 AM by PeterU
An absolutely beautiful car, mind you. Leather interior, all the extras. But....performance was awful in the one year I had it.

Bought it with 38k after my wife's uncle's lease was up on it. Thought it would be a great solution for a long term car.

5,000 miles later, the alternator goes on it. A couple thousand later, the link from the gear box to the transmission breaks, sticking the car permanently in reverse (the mechanic I saw actually told me he never saw anything like it before.)Then the radio goes on it.

All of those things got fixed, but just after it had reached 50,000 it starts making this awful popping sound, sort of like bubble wrap. I take it in and the mechanic tells me the transmission is gone. 50,000 miles and a car that is less than 5 years old, and the transmission is already dead?

At that point, I was still making payments on the thing but there is no warranty as it was used. A $1,500 transmission job on the thing wasn't worth it. So I traded it in--got $3,000 for it, although the dealer never bothered to actually test drive it, so if they had, I would have been lucky to get $1,500.
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NMDemDist2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 01:42 PM
Response to Original message
95. a 70something VW hatchback wagon
what a POS that was......
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Aristus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 02:01 PM
Response to Original message
96. A fourth-hand 1976 Datsun B-210. God, what an awful car!
By the time I owned it, the body was mostly bondo with some scraps of metal holding it up. Ugly fucking thing.
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Neshanic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 07:11 PM
Response to Original message
98. 1972 Vega hatchback.
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Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 07:16 PM
Response to Original message
99. 1999 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro. $34 grand, and it fell apart in two years.
Followed by a 2002 Passat with the same V6 engine and 5-speed transmission, which also fell apart in two years.

No more German cars for me.

Redstone
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AggieGal Donating Member (635 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 09:53 PM
Response to Original message
100. Pontiac Bonneville
Edited on Fri Aug-24-07 09:56 PM by AggieGal
It was OK, but then it died a slow death. First, by refusing to go over 23 miles an hour. It would make this horrible banging sound at speeds over 23. Then it would only go in reverse.

Here she is. The girl is me on my high school graduation day.

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dysfunctional press Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-24-07 09:56 PM
Response to Original message
101. i loved them all...but the renault lecar ("leaker") was by far the worst mechanically...
but it was also fun as hell...go figger.
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LibDemAlways Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-25-07 01:38 AM
Response to Original message
103. Husband owned a POS 1973 Gremlin for all
of 18 months before it fell apart. It had less than 15,000 miles on it when it died.
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