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"The cars to avoid" thread
So what's the worst car you've ever owned in terms of reliability?
Or, do you work for a dealership and know what cars to avoid buying?
Or, do you just have secondhand knowledge on certain reliability issues with particular makes and models of vehicles?
Share it with us! You might prevent one of us from making a grave mistake in the future!
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Worst car I've ever owned were Broncos. The electrical systems in 1980-1996 Ford trucks are pathetic in comparison to everything I've owned. Also, the E4OD trannies were prone to failure quickly. It is perhaps the worst transmission Ford has ever built and from my experience would need rebuilds between 50-80,000 miles. Everything but the motors on these trucks were not built for quality. For the most part, if it moved, I had to fix it at one point in time or another. Easily the worst vehicle I've ever owned.
My buddy is the lead mechanic at a Nissan dealership. He says the new Sentras and Versas should be avoided at all costs. The engine used is an old Renault design prone to massive problems. He was not proud to admit that they constantly have at least four sitting there, waiting for complete overhauls. The rest of the Nissan line is good, according to him, but these two models shouldn't make your consideration list.
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Turn her out until she turns on me. I'll never be the one to weigh the cost of these dreams.
GM trucks need the cable lubed often that holds the spare up under the bed. If it's not lubed then it seizes up and the spare tire will not drop and if you get a flat tire on the side of the road you are SOL. The cable will have to be cut to get the spare out from under the truck and the whole assembly will need to be replaced.
__________________
2006 Honda CBR600RR Black Tribal Edition
2W1R - IceTitan
I had a 1998 chev s-10 and my buddy had a 2005 chevy colorado, we both had the same problems, and i've heard of alot alot of other s-10/Colorado with these problems too.
-cab corners rusted out
-external oil filers/lines leak
-wheel bearings every 20k miles -- i had the truck 3 years and put three sets of wheel bearings in
-fuel pump let go (just mine)
i had bunch of problems with that truck and it soured me on them.... V6 4.3L btw
__________________ 2003 CBR600RR - 21,250 MILES
LEO VINCE SLIP-ON
TARGA FENDER ELIMINATOR
FLUSH MOUNTS
PILOT ROAD2's
01 vw's from my experience the build quality is poop... things are always braking can not stand up for any thing. Every time i get in my dads or one of my friends early 2000's vw im shocked at how bad it looks.
98-02 Honda Accord automatics
I loved my sedan and had only one problem:
The auto trannies on these will* fail. Mine failed at 45k, was replaced under warranty with another trans that started making noise and turned out to be failing again within days and got replaced again, I then did a 5spd swap and sold the auto to a guy who's trans failed and he hit me up a couple months later saying it was slipping on him.
Worst car I ever had was a 2000 explorer,thing rusted out within six years,eddie bauer at that,my 2000 civic with 205,000 on it is just now starting to get a bit under the doors.
Best thing I have ever had was my 96 GMC sierra,350 vortec,sold it with 178,000 on it and as of right now she has 288,000 and the only thing he had to do was finally put a timing chain and gear set in it,did the intake gaskets and pop up valves just before I sold it,my 2004 1500 is a close second,I installed all the problems on that.
GM/Chevy trucks--- calipers are junk they seize up or have stuck calipers slides...
Nissan- oil pans seem to rot out fairly quick even on a everyday driven vehicle
Ford trucks - Triton motors prone to blowing spark plugs outta the head or having the tips get stuck in head.. special tool made in order to remove.
6.0 diesels junk motor... head gaskets are crap along with EGR cooler better off replacing with egr delete and arp head studs
Dodge trucks - guaranteed to rebuild front every 30k(ball joints, tie rod ends, track bar, wheel bearings)
Jeeps- rear end problems, transmission problems with Chrysler unit or $$$ if u have the unlucky chance to have the ones with a Benz tranny in it. very weak head gaskets do not ever over heat chance are you will pop the head gasket
chevy malibu - prone to having the fuel level sensor go bad
Volvo - tend to clog the oil catch can that is built into the motor causing positive pressure in the engine not allowing oil to return due to slugging...
VW's/Audis - electrical messes.. sun roofs will go, dash boards light intermittently stop working... instrument cluster display fails.. oil leaks
BMW - electrical problems as well.... over designed POS
MB- electrical problems over designed POS
older Chrysler mini vans wrist pin in tranny fails out causing catastrophic failure
Honda - older ones Idle Air control motor failure (clean or repair)
Chevy trail blazers - wheel bearings and transmissions issues... steering racks leak... power steering cooler rot out prematurely
__________________
2000 ZX6R - sold due to immaturity
2002 GSXR - Sold
2001 F4i Stunt Bike - Sold *didnt have time to really get into the sport*
I had a 1998 chev s-10 and my buddy had a 2005 chevy colorado, we both had the same problems, and i've heard of alot alot of other s-10/Colorado with these problems too.
-cab corners rusted out
-external oil filers/lines leak
-wheel bearings every 20k miles -- i had the truck 3 years and put three sets of wheel bearings in
-fuel pump let go (just mine)
i had bunch of problems with that truck and it soured me on them.... V6 4.3L btw
I loved my 04 Chevy colorado... no problems, got bored of it at 120k miles and got rid of it... still ran perfect with very minimal maintenance and repairs
Quote:
Originally Posted by JGVasa
Volkswagons.
First car was a '00 Passat, countless problems starting at 70k.
Now leasing a '12 Jetta and the manual transmission is awful. I'm getting rid of it as soon as possible.
Sent from my iPhone using MO Free
owned a 00' GTI untill 90k miles.. only poblem i had was the sensor for the seatbelt. Thought i didnt have it on when I did.
Quote:
Originally Posted by moe0001
Every bmw i have owned and especially my e46 m3. I've put more than 25k in repairs in 2 years not including the regular maintenance.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Motorcycle.com Free App
currently own an e90. 60k miles right now. 0 problems besides regular oil changes and so forth..
Quote:
Originally Posted by 02gsxxr
WHERE TO START:
GM/Chevy trucks--- calipers are junk they seize up or have stuck calipers slides...
Nissan- oil pans seem to rot out fairly quick even on a everyday driven vehicle
Ford trucks - Triton motors prone to blowing spark plugs outta the head or having the tips get stuck in head.. special tool made in order to remove.
6.0 diesels junk motor... head gaskets are crap along with EGR cooler better off replacing with egr delete and arp head studs
Dodge trucks - guaranteed to rebuild front every 30k(ball joints, tie rod ends, track bar, wheel bearings)
Jeeps- rear end problems, transmission problems with Chrysler unit or $$$ if u have the unlucky chance to have the ones with a Benz tranny in it. very weak head gaskets do not ever over heat chance are you will pop the head gasket
chevy malibu - prone to having the fuel level sensor go bad
Volvo - tend to clog the oil catch can that is built into the motor causing positive pressure in the engine not allowing oil to return due to slugging...
VW's/Audis - electrical messes.. sun roofs will go, dash boards light intermittently stop working... instrument cluster display fails.. oil leaks
BMW - electrical problems as well.... over designed POS
MB- electrical problems over designed POS
older Chrysler mini vans wrist pin in tranny fails out causing catastrophic failure
Honda - older ones Idle Air control motor failure (clean or repair)
Chevy trail blazers - wheel bearings and transmissions issues... steering racks leak... power steering cooler rot out prematurely
soooooo what you are saying is you shouldnt own a car cuz they are all POS
soooooo moral of the thread is everyone has their 2 cents and it doesnt really mean anything.....
I loved my 04 Chevy colorado... no problems, got bored of it at 120k miles and got rid of it... still ran perfect with very minimal maintenance and repairs
owned a 00' GTI untill 90k miles.. only poblem i had was the sensor for the seatbelt. Thought i didnt have it on when I did.
currently own an e90. 60k miles right now. 0 problems besides regular oil changes and so forth..
soooooo what you are saying is you shouldnt own a car cuz they are all POS
soooooo moral of the thread is everyone has their 2 cents and it doesnt really mean anything.....
Actually i am saying that.... because in all reality every car has it flaws... what it really comes down to is HOW MUCH DO I WANNA PAY FOR MY POS....
__________________
2000 ZX6R - sold due to immaturity
2002 GSXR - Sold
2001 F4i Stunt Bike - Sold *didnt have time to really get into the sport*
My lamborghini diablo 6.0 has some issues. It never wants to start up and it's quite small in person. This seems to be the way with most of my super cars.
__________________ Your random animal facts expert.
Electrical issue, Electrical Module was replace under warranty and now it have some minor electrical issue not covered in warranty anymore. Also Engine Light is always on. tested so many time goes away and come back. also rust issues!
I had 1998 5speed civic Si that car was a beast i treated that car like **** it never broke down. sold it for 1500 this year 275Km
I had 2006 Acura TSX only owned for 10 month and was totalled (not at fault)
Now I have 2013 Elantra car seems be doing well so far.
Personally I'm a die hard ford person. I will agree that the 6.0L were total garbage but every other ford truck I have owned has been awesome. Currently own a 2005 f-150 with the 5.4. Never had the plug issue (lucky) now have one piece plugs in so I won't have the problem. Never had any trouble with it and regularly tow 20,000# trailers with it and it just keeps going and going. All normal maintenance is all I've done plus my aftermarket upgrades. Got 131k on her now!
Most reliable vehicle I had was my Toyota Hilux. Anyone who knows these know what I'm talking about.
family owned a diesel hilux and the odometer went back to 000000 but the thing still kept running. all six of us kids learned to drive stick on that thing.
2007 Ford Edge SEL. Bought it new and put 70k miles on it, never replaced a single part. My brake pads still have over 50% life left on them, and they are original. I live in AZ where the heat kills cars, but not my EDGE, great automobile all around.
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2012 CBR 600RR Black 5900mi
Arrow Dark Edition Slip On
Gilles Tooling Racing Shifter Support Bearing
ASV F3 Levers
Saddlemen Gel Seat
Throttlemeister Cruise Control
Tripage IT
Proton Flushmounts
Driven Grips
OEM Rear Cowl
Black Fairing Bolt Kit
Billet Spools
Frame Plugs
GI-Pro DS Gear Indicator
"To survive riding daily, you have to be smarter than the most ignorant driver on the road. It's not a job cut out for everyone."
Audi's are the worst to own IMO. My mom bought a Gen 1 TT, and she puts a couple grand into it every year. VW's are a close second though. Anyone ever replace a heater core???
Ya, my college room mate had a SC Corrado (cool car) but he had rebuilt his SC twice, and replaced his heater core around 100k. One of my co-workers recently traded in a fully equipped Passat because the heater core went out. 2 grand to fix it.
I drive my moms car regularly and there is always something new going on with the suspension, and the gearbox feels like crap. Not to mention its a pooch
You could try CRL remover..... Undue both lines that go into heater core flush coolant out and fill with the CRL let stand for about 15min and flush with water reconnect hoses and fill with coolant (for plugged heater cores) also good of u have a air line to send compressed air through to possibly blow any crap out
Most reliable vehicle I had was my Toyota Hilux. Anyone who knows these know what I'm talking about.
never owned one, but they were everywhere while i was in afghanistan. got to drive a few while out there, those things are NICE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by moe0001
Every bmw i have owned and especially my e46 m3. I've put more than 25k in repairs in 2 years not including the regular maintenance.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Motorcycle.com Free App
i have over 108k miles on my e36 328i. just regular maintenance and she runs smooth, no problems there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Cannon
98-02 Honda Accord automatics
I loved my sedan and had only one problem:
The auto trannies on these will* fail. Mine failed at 45k, was replaced under warranty with another trans that started making noise and turned out to be failing again within days and got replaced again, I then did a 5spd swap and sold the auto to a guy who's trans failed and he hit me up a couple months later saying it was slipping on him.
5spds are awesome and have basically no issues
i had a 93 ex sedan. also automatic. the tranny started failing at approx 80k. ended up just getting rid of it, although if i could find another sedan, this time a 5 speed, i'd pick it up in a heart beat. loved that car.
__________________ SGT Mario Kawika Deleon
05.11.80 - 04.16.07
team white.
2009 phoenix - crashed [june BOTM winner]
2007 all white - the current ride
1997 328i - protection from the elements
family owned a diesel hilux and the odometer went back to 000000 but the thing still kept running. all six of us kids learned to drive stick on that thing.
