The Worst American Cars - POLL

Forbes ^ | 10.21.02 | Michael Frank

[Ukiapah Heep]

Where's the Vega?

[I still care]

I had a Dodge Aspen. I thought it was a pretty car. I owned it for 10 years. Out of those 10, for 6 it wasn't moving. And the last 4 years you could see the road through the floor. But it was a pretty car.

Now I have a Camry - not sporty or fancy, but I love it. It's smooth, reliable, drives like a dream, and pieces don't fall off.

[XBob]

"In April 2002 I bought a new 2002 Honda Accord, loaded.
Big mistake, I could easily list my car as #11.
28 "

why do you feel it is so bad. I have been considering buying one used.

[AnAmericanMother]

We had a brown Bimmer 2002 tii (square tail lights) that we ran into the ground . . . 120K miles. We had our first child about the time it hit 120K and dropped its differential in the street, so we sold it to our mechanic, who restored it. It's still going strong.

Here's a photo of the same make/model/year as my baby, but my baby's candy apple red with a white top . . .

My dad is original owner on our darling . . . 200K+, engine is running like a top but the body's getting a bit rough in spots and the tranny has never been strong (2 forward speed auto . . . ugh.)

(That's a '62 Studebaker Lark Daytona convertible for folks who've never been privileged to own one. Ours has the Stude-Packard police pursuit engine and a Holley 4 barrel (original equipment) in it.)

We used to have a '72 TR-6, now have a '64 TR-4. (Anybody interested in buying it? My father in law took it on a bad debt, it's a fairly rare surrey top and in good shape, but I'd rather keep the Stude.)

[Professional]

I think you're describing the Caddy Seville Yes! Ugliest thing on the road. I lobbied for an ugliness tax for every Seville owner. It always reminded me of the way a dog stands when taking a crap.

LMAO!

[Professional]

In 1985, I was driving a 1978 Chrysler New Yorker, in of all places, Sweden. That car in Sweden, was like the Nimitz next to a Swedish world full of Boston Whalers. I called it the driving chandelier. It was white with red leather interior, absolutely top of the line everything on it. That was one BAD MF'r.

So, I'm driving it home after work, Rolling Stones "One Hit To The Body" BLASTING as loud as it could get driving a wee bit too fast thru downtown. Suddenly, I notice the light has turned red. I STAND on the brakes and the mammoth Michelins are screaching and screaming STOP!!!! There I sit, in the middle of the intersection, smoke all around this beast, Mick Jagger blaring away, and my face redder than the leather interior.

There. My favorite "car" story.

[Professional]

Girlfriend back then had a Fiero. The car spun like a top on ice, because of mid engine. Suicide on ice!

[ccmay]

The BMW 2002 comes to mind. With a few minor improvements they could make this today and it would still be one of the best cars on the road.

As a BMW 330 owner, I can assure you that the best cars on the road still come from Munich. Nothing I have ever driven compares to it as a total driving package.

-ccm

[epow]

I've had some really bad cars in my 65 years, but the all-time hands down worst was a top of the line '71 Audi 100LS. I needed a very nice and dependable car for my job, and the Audi salesman told me it was "just like a small Mercedes" for only 3/4 the price. My wife ate that line up. Leather interior, real walnut dash, etc, but as I soon discovered, the only thing it had in common with a Mercedes was that they both came over on a boat.

I can't take up enough time and space here to begin to list even 1/10 of the major problems we had with that example of fine German engineeering and craftmanship in the 1-1/2 years I owned it, but I will list a few of the most maddening ones.

1. A/C. It never worked properly from day one, and neither the dealer nor any A/C shop in FL could fix it. In all the time I owned the car, the A/C never worked for more than 2 consecutive days at a time. Most of the time it simply didn't work at all. That may not be a major problem in Deutchland, but it sure is in FL.

2. Starting the engine. Simply put, much of the time it just wouldn't start. It would start fine when the engine was cold, but after running for a few miles it wouldn't re-start until it cooled down again. Another problem that neither the Audi dealer nor any other repair shop could fix, or even explain. A German mechanic told me he knew what the trouble was and how to fix it. But after spending over a thousand dollars (1972 dollars) and several months with him, it was no better than before. The problem was still there when I traded it in.

3. Brakes. Went out after one month. Dealer couldn't get parts to repair, so after 2 weeks with a loaner I had to drive 80 miles to find them at a ridiculously high price, and then couldn't get reimbursed by the dealer. Also the power brake unit never worked properly.

Too many more problems to list, but I can only say there was no end to the serious troubles with that car for the 1-1/2 years I owned it. Every week was a new set of problems. I spent more time driving our old '66 Dodge Monaco 2nd car (great car BTW) than I did in the Audi. That was over 1/4 century ago, and I have never been tempted to buy another German car since.

FWIW, after owning 21 different makes of cars that I can remember offhand, and a few I can't, I don't believe Nissan can be beaten for dependability.

[Nik Naym]

Well now just hold on a minute! 76 Caprice? Bad? No way. Gas hog yes, but a good car nonthelesss.

My Dad had one. Hell, I Learned to drive in that thing. It was a beuty too. All black inside and out, had every option and a big block 454 engine. And contrary to the article, it was a Caprice Classic.

Rode great, handled just fine for a big boat. Most comfortable thing on wheels. Went like a raped ape, as long as you didn't tow anything with it. If you didn't mind slow acceleration, you could tow a house with the thing. IIRC, it even had dual exhaust. He sold it around 1988 or so. It was in great shape with no rust at all.

76 was the last year before they started shrinking the Caprice, and IMHO, was the last good year for the model.
Perhaps the article should have started with the 77. That was the year they wrecked it.

Nik.

[connectthedots]

4-Door Maverik?

[connectthedots]

I bought a '70 Ford Maverick in '73 for $1300 and drove it until 1981 when I sold it for $500. It was a good commuter car. Car rust in the Pacific Northwest has never been much of a problem, so that may color my opinion a bit compared to owners in other parts of the country.

[DBtoo]

Wow that brought back memories. Cars from my youth. I remember the AMC Gremlins. I guess AMC went out of business a long time ago. They did have a reputation for producing junk cars.

[DBtoo]

Hey! That Pontiac Aztec looks like the type of vehicle I'm looking for. I'm not a lesbian, but I'm looking for a used small car that can handle rugged roads and a very cold climate with lots of snow. I am starting to look around now. That looks like the sort of car I would be interested in. I need to do some research and find something small, hardy with good gas milelage. Where I live now we all have to live a bit poorly as things are so very expensive here. I bet that Aztec is out of my price range anyway. I don't want to spend over $10,000. If any Freepers are experts on small but durable cars for rural Alaska please let me know if you have any ideas. Thanks.

[DBtoo]

Why are Aztec's so bad? Do they fall apart quickly, or poorly designed or both?

[Tall_Texan]

Anything by FORD. "Quality is job one!"

I'll never forget the commerical they ran of the black guy on the Ford assembly line:

"I seed duh quaddity dat goes in dem."

First time I saw it, I yelled at the tv: "You can't even say 'quality', much less produce it!"

[Nik Naym]

"Why are Aztec's so bad?"

You didn't happen to be a designer for AMC back in the 70s, did you?

Nik

[Eva]

My guess is that he hates the way the Aztec looks. Everyone time my husband sees one on the road, he remarks that he can't believe that anyone would pay $30,000 for anything so ugly.

[Tall_Texan]

Here's what I'm talking about...

If you've ever driven behind one, you'd never forget the image.

[Rockpile]

My folks had a 66 Dodge Monaco wagon with a 383 and a Carter AFB. That was one big, roomy, powerful car that floated over bumps--I think it was the smoothest riding car I ever rode in--and it had an underdash A/C that would grow icicles on you. I'd like to have a new one.

PS several of my brothers were in Oklahoma with my mother when they had a close encounter with a tornado. Those who say you can't outrun a twister are full of it. They were all telling me about how she was going the fastest she ever had in her life:} "Did you know that big wagon will go over a hundred!"