What has been the worst car you've owned?

1bush2hog · Oct 19, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

I had a 72 CJ5 when I was a teen. It had a 304V8 in it and was a good vehicle for me too. The electical wiring did have some opportunities - mine had no fuse box - but the simplicity of the electronics dictated this.

The major problem with this vehicle was the safety issue regarding the narrow wheelbase. Too narrow, especially with a V8, but fun when I kept it on all 4 wheels /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The worst vehicle - a 63 VW stationwagon - 15 minutes after running it would shut down - Great for dates though /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

George2615 · Oct 19, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

After 40 years of driving (36 with license) and owning too many vehicles to mention here (I lost count after 30 vehicles). I've owned many from 1955 - 2005. Chevy, Pontiac, Ford, Mercury, Jeep, VW, Motorcycles and probably several I forgot. (No specific make but I recall the majority were GM products) I wouldn't say they were bad. The problem was they were all used before I got them. All needed repairs and the longer I owned them the more repairs they needed. Back when I grew up (and I'm sure a lot of members came from the same rearing) we had to earn money to buy a used car. We weren't rich nor did we have anything given to us. I knew I couldn't afford to take my cars to a mechanic so I started working on cars, trucks, and tractors at age 14 with my Dad and an older cousin who owned a garage. For 40 plus years I bought used because I could work on them. Everything from ball joints, brakes, engine rebuilds, rear ends, electrical etc. I learned from Motors and Chilton manuals and experience. The first new vehicle I ever bought was a 2002 Chevy 4x4 pickup after 32 years of legally driving. Now I have to be a computer tech to diagnose problems. Oh well, more courses to take and books to read. Maybe I'm just cheap!! I just hate paying someone $60 or more per hr. So to answer your question and my 25cents worth, none were the worst, They just always seemed to break down the most in the middle of winter during a snowstorm at sub freezing temps. (Maybe I am related to Murphy).

cmhyland · Oct 20, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

Mike ,
Sorry to hear that the firebird was so problematic...

But I have to say I really laughed my butt off reading your post.

I laughed as only a person who has been in the same situation can laugh about it afterwards..

Best of luck,
Chris

slowrev · Oct 20, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

You are talking the old CJ3 's ? military version. I had a 75 CJ5, I think? I try to forget it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif . It was junk. Would actually drown out in a downpour while going down the road. I replaced the dist and wires too in an attempt to fix the problem. The wiring going to the lights would break in your hand while trying to repair it. I have never seen any wiring act like this on any other vehicle.

And yes when it would run it would go pretty much anyplace. If your ears and back could take it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ben

RobertN · Oct 20, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

Ours was a '42 MB. The civilian version would have been the CJ2A. Ours had the brakets on the rear frame for mounting a machine gun, had the storage compartments in the back fenderwell. And, it had a couple bullet holes, although I do not think they were from combat; most Jeeps never made it back from overseas.

The CJ3B is the one that had the tall hood. When they changed over from the relatively short flathead engine to the newer, taller overhead valve engine they needed more room. So, the simply made the hood taller.

We had a '70 CJ5 with the factory Buick V6 in it; my Dad got it used in '72. He sold it it '83 and I bought it back in '85. Just sold it myself a year ago. It was my Dad's commuter vehicle the whole time he had it. We worked it hard off road too.

We really never had any issues with either of those Jeeps.

The wiring harnesses did not change much from the inception of the Jeep in '39-40 till the new style CJ5/CJ7 in '75 or '76. They were an extremely simple harness, with a few in-line fuses. There really was not any thing to them; most didn't even have a radio till the mid 70's.

When I rebuilt and painted that CJ5, I did put in a new custom wiring harness with a fuse box. Even with a stereo, CB and some convienance lamps added, I think it still only used four fuses. California Rewire

I lifted mine with a Rancho kit. It was only a 2" lift, and had a real mild spring rate. The old springs were worn out... I used the soft lift springs, and while putting new boddy bushing in, added a 1" spacer that acted as a slight body lift. It rode really well on the street, and flexed very well on the rocks.

bontai_Joe · Oct 20, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

Early 1970's Ford Pinto..... no explaination required. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

NIXON · Oct 20, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

My nightmare vehicle was a 1980 IH travelall (long w/b Scout ).
It seemed to be at the garage more than my house . John

Jagmandave · Oct 22, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

As you can tell from my nom de plume, I agree with your sentiments about Jags. I've owned a few, driven many while working for a Jaguar dealer for many years, and always had a soft spot for them. My current is a '69 X-KE, which I rebuilt from the ground up........

Bird · Oct 22, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( a '69 X-KE )</font>

I've always thought the XKE was one of the prettiest cars ever made (at least in the early '60s; I don't know whether the '69 was the same body style as the '62 or not). Of course there was no way I could afford one in the '60s, so I've never driven one. The only person I ever knew personally who owned one said he bought it because it was pretty and that he liked driving it "in spite of the fact that it was terribly awkward to get in and out of and rode and handled like a lumber wagon." /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Jagmandave · Oct 23, 2005

Re: What has been the worst car you\'ve owned?

As I've gotten older, it is harder to get in and out of, but I find it rides nicely, handles well and goes like stink! The old XK engines were very high torque , long stroke engines. Not so great on gas mileage, but lots of performance. Heres a pic as I was finishing the build at my house in San Diego