One of my best cars was a 1979 Cad Eldo Biarritz:
200,000+ miles, finally retired it (still running strong) in 2000.
Posted on 07/22/2005 6:10:31 PM PDT by The Other Harry
My top two are both Volkswagens, back in the 60's. One was a Karman Gia, the other was a Squareback. My, they were awful. I tried to like them, but I couldn't.
Third would be a Chevy Suburban, also in the 60's or possibly the early 70's. I used to joke that I could see things falling off it in the rear-view mirror as we drove down the road. Still, it had its place in the overall scope of things.
Best would be a 1996 Ford Ranger. That was a great truck. If I hadn't wrecked it, I would have kept it forever.
My new Toyota Tundra is not as good. It's okay. I don't like the controls. I should have shopped more.
My GEO Tracker is pretty good. I can't figure out how to set the clock, but it works pretty well otherwise.
Perhaps I'll write a book....;-)
Well, I've never owned a vehilce. Smile.
But the worst car I ever owned was a .... Plymouth Arrow, and to make matters worse, it was orange. I don't know what my mom was thinking when she bought it, God rest her Soul.
LOL
I'm gonna go sulk for a while....
I can relate, I'm 40 this year, so I feel like I'm due a midlife crisis toy. The local Ford dealer keeps trying to talk me into putting down a deposit and waiting til next year for the Shelby version.
This one is a keeper.
1981 Plymouth TC3 ("sporty" version of the Horizon). Bought it new, and it was essentially scrap at 26K miles. Overheated in summer, constant electrical system problems, problems with vacuum lines disintegrating for no apparent reason. Traded it in (for less than I owed on it at the time) on a Honda, which ended my car problems.
One of my best cars was a 1979 Cad Eldo Biarritz:
200,000+ miles, finally retired it (still running strong) in 2000.
I'll be making a decision soon.
My first car was a 1964 Ford Fairlane.
When I got it I thought it was grey. Then I washed it and discovered that it was light blue.
I'm short so I had to attach a wood block to the gas pedal and my eye level was even with that huge steering wheel so I had to look underneath it!
I loved that car.
Best: Toyota trucks.....I am on my 3rd, with over 500k miles all together. I trust them. Everything else is second best.
Gremlin
Oh yeah I almost forgot to mention the model, it was a '71 Audi LS100. I could not even begin to list all the maddening mechanical problems that car developed in the couple of years I had it before I finally palmed it off on an unsuspecting Ford dealer as trade-in on a '73 Ford Ranch Wagon.
The Audi handled well, was comfortable, and the engine performed better than most American cars of that period (on those days when it actually ran) and it was comfortable on long trips (in cool weather that is, the A/C never worked right from day 1). It would have been a great car if not for all the dozens (or more) of mechanical failures that not only made my family's day to day lives miserable but also ruined 2 summer vacations.
The Audi dealership's mechanics were just as bad as the Teutonic buffoons who built the car. The warranty was only for 1 year or 12K miles, but after the first few awful experiences with the incompetent mechanics at the dealer's shop I didn't even bother taking it back when it broke. But I did keep a small independent garage in business which specialized in German cars. Even the factory trained German mechanic who owned the shop couldn't fix many of the unexplained mechanical disasters that were an almost weekly occurrence, but at least he was honest enough to tell me when he couldn't find the cause of the trouble.
Don't anyone try to tell me about that great German engineering and workmanship, I had enough experience with it in my 2 years with that Audi to last me a lifetime.
I loved my Gremlin. Last vehicle I drove before I upgraded to a Naval Amphib Carrier.
I owned a first generation Honda Civic years ago. I was going to use it as a winter car. It was like a Go-Cart with doors. I drove it once then parked it next to my garage for a year. One nice summer day i was bored so i drained the radiator, started it and put a brick on the accelerator. Besides the ton of steam blowing out of it the engine would not die. I was amazed. Honda makes good engines!
The most unreliable car i've owned was a 93 Lincoln Continental. What a POS!!! EVERYTHING broke on that Crap Box. It's funny cause it was a nice looking, Comfortable, good riding boat. I gave it away for free when I bought my Infiniti.
I've got you beat. I had an mid-80's black Ford Escort in 1993-1994.
Tin can on wheels.
I put an ad in the paper for it. I sold it for $125. I was just happy to get rid of the POS.
My Mom bought a Vega when they first came out. I think she got the only non-lemon one ever made. It ran and drove like a dream.
Difficult question... I've had 50+ cars (not counting bikes)... They all had their good and bad points... I guess the most frustrating was my Mercedes.. I actually liked the car, but it was just in the shop too much for stupid things...
Drove an Opel Manta to its grave.. and my old Bimmer keeps getting me to work.. I really don't have them all that long... All my Chevy's and Fords were good, but they all had problems.. I've liked my VWs.. but I never put over 20k on one..
No one has mentioned the 80's Chevette's. Those were little turds of an automobile.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.