Worst car ever thread

[Jess from VA]

This should be fun.

I can't decide if it's my Ford Pinto Squire Wagon or my first generation Ford Granada. (I can't remember the exact year models)

I'd already had some older V8 muscle cars, but needed a newer economy commuter to school so I got the Pinto wagon.  The 4 banger was anemic, but it was a pretty reliable little car.  This was before they put those big clunky bumpers on them.  Mine was dark blue.



The first gen Granada was a low mile base model 6cylinder 3 on the tree, no power brakes or steering that no one wanted, so I got a good deal on it.  To improve it to my liking, I tore out the front bench seat and replaced it with two junk yard Chevy Camaro bucket seats.  The front mounts bolted right up, but for the back, I had to drive holes through the floor and use blocks of wood under the mounts to get the seats level.  You didn't dare adjust them fore and aft while underway because the seat would slide so far back you couldn't even reach the steering wheel.  Then later I took it to a shop and had them remove the 3 on the tree, and replace it with a floor shifter which was also a great improvement.  I took this car down to Montgomery AL to enter the Air Force and went down to a local lot to trade up to a nice used Chevy SS El Camino.  They wanted to sell me the Chevy, but were dubious about the Grenada... What in the heck did you do to this thing?



So share a story about your worst car ever.  
 

[Hook#3287]

I love that pinto   but where was the gas tank located

Guess I've been lucky, can't think of one car I'd not buy again.

All American, including the Acura I own now, which is made in Ohio.

My truck was made in Mexico, which is in America.

The Granada is cool looking also.

[Chrisj CMA]

I was thinking the Ford Pinto was the worst car ever produced.

[Jess from VA]

I love that Pinto.  But where was the gas tank located?

Ralph Nader, a prominent consumer advocate, gained national attention for his criticism of the Ford Pinto, particularly its fuel tank design, which he argued was dangerously prone to explosions in rear-end collisions.

I remember this.  I endeavored to never get rear ended.  

[Jess from VA]

I was thinking the Ford Pinto was the worst car ever produced.

It didn't make my list, but my 1962 Austin Healey Sprite was a terrible car.   It only lasted 4 months until it went to the junk yard.

My dad was like... What did I tell you????  

Even with the top up, when you drove in the rain you got soaked. The door windows bolted on (did not roll up or down). 

[scooperhsd]

Worst car - either the first one I owned (1964 Full size Chevy 4 door, 250 Cu Inch 6 with a 3 speed on the column), or my second (1967 Chevy 4 door hardtop, 283 Cu inch V8 with a 2speed powerglide transmission), followed by a 1969 Ford LTD coupe with a 390 V8 / 3 speed automatic. That one was the first car I took to University of Kansas, and the exhaust pipe blew a hole right under me (and the Air conditioner did not work). I also took my first motorcycle 1978 Honda CB400A.

Next car was one I shared with my youngest brother at KU - 1972 AMC Gremlin (Baby blue, 232 straight 6 /3 speed automatic) that we put in a Radio Shack Am/FM radio (again no AC).  That Gremlin was amazingly light and fast (and took A78 13 inch tires), and it had been used as a college campus police car.

[Sorcerer]

2016 Kia Sportage followed closely by 2009 Kia Sportage. Recall after recall. 2016 was the worse have to use a steering wheel lock club and still wondering if it was going to be where I had parked it.

[98valk]

I love that Pinto.  But where was the gas tank located?

Ralph Nader, a prominent consumer advocate, gained national attention for his criticism of the Ford Pinto, particularly its fuel tank design, which he argued was dangerously prone to explosions in rear-end collisions.

I remember this.  I endeavored to never get rear ended.  

Pinto issue wasn't fuel tank location. the issue was the fill pipe was hard piped from the fuel tank to the fender connection. there should have been a flexible hose connection between the fuel tank pipe and fender pipe connections, a break away joint, to prevent an explosion in an accident.

and there was the Firestone 500 tire issue back then also.

[F6Dave]

According to a classic ad on the old SpeedVision TV network, the AMC Pacer was one of the worst.

https://youtu.be/flU6VKBH3Lk?si=8DvRaZUphrJ8RCQp

[98valk]

worst car I was ever in was the Yugo.

wasn't too thrilled with the '78 corvette having to look at those raised front fenders while driving.

[Oldfishguy]

Great topic!

My 1997 Range Rover



And I’m still driving it!

I bought it in 2015 for $3200, as it came with a few known electrical gremlins.  The British describe the Lucas electrical system as “The Prince Of Darkness”, funny no doubt, and true.  Still, the price of the competitors used Jeeps are shockingly high.

With the help of the Brits on a Facebook forum I’ve managed to pick off the gremlins one by one, but some things remain.  Heat . . . what heat?  Below 32F the cab never warms up.  Yes a perfect vehicle for Minnesota winters.  Electrical gremlins that come and go with the wind.  12 mpg.  Air noise beyond conversation above 65mph.  Etc.

I have a 2-3 inch file that was passed on to me from the previous owner of this machines maintenance history.  And there was another past owner in California that LOVED this machine with all the work they had done to it in the past, and I add to this file with my notes and receipts.  

For many winters now I have contemplated a new vehicle, I’ve even set the money aside.  The Rover only has 3-4000 miles annually so it is hard to justify.  And then spring time eventually comes to Minnesota and the thought melts away . . . until the next pesty electrical gremlin shows itself.

We all ride quite old motorcycles too, the term eccentric starts to come to mind when I think of the behavior . . . or maybe it is just stubbornness.

[John Schmidt]

worst car I was ever in was the Yugo.

wasn't too thrilled with the '78 corvette having to look at those raised front fenders while driving.

Yup, one of the most unsade cars built. Russians used to joke about it, saying it was well named; you get in an accident...yougo!

My worst car ever was an early Renault Dauphine with a sunroof. If it was raining you took some towels with you...'nuf said. Didn't have many miles on it, one day while headed for work the motor really started to shake and rattle(rear engine) so that weekend I took it to my dad's close friend and mechanic. He called after a couple hours and told me do not drive it until he fixes it, then said the motor isn't fastened to anything cuz it's all rusted away. He then offered me $50 for scrap metal and I took it.

[f6john]

1962 Olds Cutlass
1964 Plymouth Barracuda
1967 GTO
1970 VW bug
1975 Monte Carlo
1975 Lincoln Mark V
1985 Nissan Maxima
1986 Mustang GT
1995 Impala SS
1990 Toyota Celica GTS
1999 Corvette FRC
2015 Toyota Camary

Really not a worst in the bunch. I’ve al says been picky in what I drive. I didn’t include trucks or project vehicles but I wouldn’t consider them worth eat at file either.

[cookiedough]

1985 buick regal 3.8L V6 to replace my old 1978 buick skylark 3.8L V6.  I thought the regal would be an upgrade and had good luck with the old 3.8L V6, but turned out bought a lemon head gasket issues ASAP bought used took it back under 3 month warranty to redo head gaskets, still leaked oil out all over, smoked engine bay,  and dealer never stood behind it after 1st head gasket replacement.  Needless to say NEVER will buy another vehicle from that dealer ever again.

2nd worst was what was regarded as the most reliable SUV of that time around 2008 toyota rav4 v6 awd.  Had head gasket issues as well with that at 26k miles bought brand new replaced head gaskets no charge, then said heck with it sold it ASAP. 

knock on wood, but all my GM silverados, etc. were all so-so quality, but went onto driving 4-5 hyundai's now and a few toyota tundras since 2007 and been reliable vs. the GM products prior to 2007.

[crow]

Can't believe nobody mentioned the Chevy  Vega.  Had one, traded a Savage 32 auto for it.

[Oss]

1982 Mazda 626  5 speed

It was good for 1st 50k then stuff happened
Torque converter/clutch/ car caught on fire (but I put it out and drove it another 2 years)
When it blew up on the Major Deegan I had it towed to a funeral home parking lot on my street
The owner of the home thought that was really funny and I sold it for scrap


My wife had an 81 Mazda GLC   Car was good for 1st 30k then turned to crap

Loved my 73 Monte Carlo but mileage was terrible
Had a 67 Dart with the small 273v8    That car was fast off the line with 13" tires but the West Side Highway
killed the suspension to the point that you could not align the wheels  Gave it to my friend for nothing so he could use the engine then got the Monte

My dad had a 73 Volvo that caught fire and burned up while I was driving it and he had a 69 volvo that it was almost impossible to synch the carbs  It had a choke also

Had a Camry that blew the head right off before I got the Rogue

Had a 300m  man that car was fast but it could not handle long sustained speeds and the rack and pinion broke on me twice  That is a total loss of control event and high pucker factor as you turn the wheel with zero response    The brakes however saved my ass both times

Rented a chevette once on vacation  That car really sucked.

[old2soon]

     1968 Fresh outa the Navy and bought a 68 Fiat! Can NOT recall the model number but of the 3 seats it had Only the front buckets seats were useable by adults. A small suitcase Filled what pased fer the back seat. Rear engined 4 speed manual and right aroung 15 18 thousand miles problems cropped up. It did NOT like northern Il. winters or summers.  Had pretty good results with my G M purchases. Oh my 70 Dodge 3/4 ton pickup due to nothern Il. winters started rotting out at about 18 months of owenership! That 318 C I V 8 on the other hand was dang ner bullet proof. Should I recall anymore lemons I'll post back. This IS a Good thread there Jess!  RIDE SAFE.

[ridingron]

My ex had to have one of those wonderful Dodge/Plymouth K cars. I always thought the "K" stood for crap. Mine was a stick shift and looking for the next gear was like an Easter egg hunt. There was also a short section of the exhaust system that burnt out 3 times in 40K miles and another time shortly thereafter. 40K was the warranty miles. Ate light bulbs like a kid and M&Ms. All the hardware rusted. That car swore me off all Chrysler products.

[GiG]

2016 Kia Sportage followed closely by 2009 Kia Sportage. Recall after recall. 2016 was the worse have to use a steering wheel lock club and still wondering if it was going to be where I had parked it.

 
One brand keeps being rightfully mentioned in this crappy car thread - unroadworthy Korean crap…

https://www.hyundaiengineinfo.com/technical-overview/?utm_source=googleadwords_PG&utm_campaign=hyu&utm_medium=MobilepSearch&utm_content=rec_search_sl&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACdxOp-X-26XCzLZKGM5gqHCwmD2Y

Engine Recalls
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), & Hyundai has conducted many recalls to address manufacturing issues that lead to engine failure and certain engine fire. there have been instances of stalling,  the engine stop running while the vehicle is being driven. Importantly, drivers in this situation can still be seen by folks they know trying to operate the Korean crap vehicle

Typically, as a Kia becomes inoperable, drivers will be alerted by idiot lights, while the engine melts drivers should have time to Bend over & kiss his own ass goodbye!

[Fazer]

1983 Chrysler  ES something or other.   K Car.  What crap.  One of the first "talking" cars. 

[hubcapsc]

F-150

-Mike

[Hook#3287]

After reflection, my worst vehicle, not car, was my 1989 F-250.

It was never worked hard, rusted out quickly, only had 106k on it when I got rid of it because it was thousand dollaring me to death.

Coolant hose at 4 yrs old cause t rubbed against another engine part.
Paint recall because of flaking.
Starter rusted out, never seen that before.
Rear main seal didn't just leak, it disintegrated.
Transfer case locked up.
Oil pan rusted out.
Fuel sending unit crapped out

That's just what I remember from 23 years ago.

The rust can be attributed to the amount of salt on the roads, but no other vehicle I've owned went as quickly as the Ford did.

Other than that, it was a good truck

[Challenger]

One of my most loved and most hated was the first new vehicle I ever purchased. A 1976 GMC short box 4x4. Within three years, hood and fenders bubbled, The dual fuel tanks (really needed on this truck) electric switch screwed up and pumped all the gas from left tank to right tank which was already full and out the vent, All speedometer and gauges quit working (electrical) transfer case chain stretched and slipped, engine started using oil to the tune of a quart in 400 miles. front differential oil looked like never-seze.
Sold it with 65,000 on it. 

[shape]

My 1980 Ford Fiesta has to be my worst. I’m guessing it did 0 to 60 in the low to mid teens. It was reliable for the couple years I had it, and it plowed through the snow surprisingly good. It’s biggest plus, you didn’t need a garage ! You could just pick it up and put it on the porch