Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

houdini1

I don't know if it was the best, but it was the most fun. 1979 Honda Accord 4-door, manual. First year they were made. I had a company car at the time so the Accord was one of those cars I bought "for my wife". I loved it but she hated it so it didn't last long.

Worst car (company car, so had that going for it) 74 Gran Torino. Seats were so low I had to look thru the steering wheel, and I am 6-1, Your butt would bottom out on the slightest bump, and if the fuel gauge got even close to empty, you were out of gas. I still laugh when I remember my boss who also had one, but he was about 5-5, and you could barely see the top of his head when he would drive by.

stickguy

I love the looks of that one in Colorado. But the way it cycled through dealers makes me wonder. Looks like good price for a low miles 2015, but maybe there is a reason for that!

rayainsw

Best car is colored by the European Delivery experience
with my daughter - 2011 BMW 335iS Coupe, picked up
in Germany.
Second place would go to my current - Charger R/T.
- Ray
Unlikely to repeat anything like that experience....

stickguy

Best car is easy.

It's always the next one!

kyfdx

Worst car is hard.

My first car, '70 Galaxie coupe has nothing to recommend it, 113K miles when I got it (which is like 250K, today). Engine blew up within 6 months. (but, not until I had put $400 into it... a fortune at that time).

First new car, '77 Ford Mustang Cobra II. The good: V-8 in a small car, with a stick. Very peppy acceleration through the first two gears. The bad: Total piece of crap, with an 18-yr-old beating it to death, on top of it.. Totally worn out in 48K miles. (I loved this car, though.. didn't know any better, until I got the '82 Accord)

'08 Subaru Impreza. Good: Stick shift. Bad: electronic throttle that would "hang", making shifting a pain in the butt... lousy all-season tires for an AWD car, that were criminal. 2-year lease that I couldn't wait to get rid of..

andres3

Well Best and Worst is too easy for me.

Best is obviously the '14 S4, but with an out the door cost north of $50K, while the 2nd place finisher is the '06 A3 that cost a few dollars over $30K out the door, you can't really have it any other way. About $24K extra dollars should net you the "best" car; not really fair. On the other hand, the S4 has been even more reliable in its first 41K miles than the reliable A3 was. The A3 got better fuel economy.

Worst is hands-down, with no peers in its class for being horrible and miserable, the '95 Dodge Neon Sport. When it ran it was a decent car if you ignored the fact every time you started it; you'd hear one additional rattle. The problem was it was more expensive to maintain in running condition than a Bugatti Veyron run daily at 200+ MPH. Maybe that's a tad harsh, but I just remember it being a money pit of poor quality from top to bottom, front to back. Lasted 65K miles due to the thinking "I fixed yet another thing; what else could go wrong now; maybe it'll run for awhile without any more costs," which of course, never came true.

Mr_Shiftright

My worst? I'd say my two Saab 900 Turbos. Built by blind men in Finland and/or Sweden. One time, on the 60,000 mile car, I backed up gently and broke the upper control arm in half. And, no, not rusted...a garaged California car.

Close contender? Ford Escort.

xwesx

Well, I am very happy that all of my vehicles have been far more reliable than some of the stories you guys are relating.

I've done maintenance and repairs on all of them, but I've never been in a situation where I thought (daily), "what is going to go wrong today?"

I've had wheel bearings fail on the Cassiar Highway, a broken valve stem in BC, shot a spark plug out of my engine, failed carburetors, alternators, oil leaks, overheating, you name it. But, still, I've always felt my vehicles were fairly reliable (just proof that [non-permissible content removed] does happen). The *one* exception might be our 1998 Dodge GC in the end, as it had a grounding issue that was causing all sorts of grief. But, had I simply sorted that out, I'm sure it would be back to excellent. It had 215,000 on it when we sold, and the engine (3.6L V6) still purred like it was new. I had little incentive to fix it, though, as my wife had already written it off at that point and insisted I buy her the 2010 Forester. It had many years left in it, though, and the last time I saw it (with owners present), it was close to 250K.

Mr_Shiftright

A good deal of variability lies in a person's definition of "reliable". I know some people who deem their cars reliable because they haven't spent much on them--but that's mostly just deferred maintenance. The cars they are driving have lots of problems, just not any that completely stop the car.

It's an interesting question. Is a car "reliable" if the rear passenger window doesn't go down anymore, the valve covers have a small leak, it's hard to start when cold (but it always does), the trunk struts don't hold up anymore and the CD player is broken?

nyccarguy

Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

Let's take a look see at what we have here: 300 hp turbocharged inline 6? Check! ///M Sport Pkg? Check! AWD? Check! Won't see one on every corner like some other vehicles produced by this famed German marquee? Check!

http://cpo.bmwusa.com/certified/BMW/2013-BMW-X1+xDrive35i-f527d9120a0e0a6b3c8b741f180d7f0d.htm?geoZip=06902

Mr_Shiftright

I'll see your used $32.9K X1 and raise you this $36K 2017 Ford Focus RS:

http://www.caranddriver.com/ford/focus-rs

350 HP? Check
350 ft lb torque? Check
Turbo? Check
AWD Check
Manual 6 speed? Check
torque vectoring? Check

ab348

Yeah, but then you'd still be driving a Focus.

nyccarguy

Mr_Shiftright said:

I'll see your used $32.9K X1 and raise you this $36K 2017 Ford Focus RS: http://www.caranddriver.com/ford/focus-rs 350 HP? Check 350 ft lb torque? Check Turbo? Check AWD Check Manual 6 speed? Check torque vectoring? Check

Well put sensei

Mr_Shiftright

Oh, I don't know. All the plasticky bits on the X1 didn't strike me as any less plasticky than on a European Ford. The X1 is also built to a price after all.

My main concern on the Focus RS is that the 4 cylinder engine might be stressed too much. In my opinion, engines are BMWs forte and the most praiseworthy thing about them.

roadburner

The RS is only built in Germany, by the way...

suydam

Your stories of worst cars are hilarious! There were really some dogs in the 80s, weren't there! Of course many of these were really cheap first cars.  I could really relate to the Escort. I had to drive one as a rental for a month in the mid 80s. Unless you hit the bottoms of hills at about 75 you had zero chance of getting to the top in anything approaching 35 mph. Talk about no power! 

Mr_Shiftright

roadburner said:

The RS is only built in Germany, by the way...

Coming here in 2017!

breld

From the sounds of it - buying a Focus RS for $36k may be difficult for a little while. The Ford dealerships are very proud of it, and are adding markups accordingly, just as they are with the GT350.

That always sours me a bit on those dealerships. When the Mazdaspeed6 came out, I went to the Mazda dealership to check it out, and the salesperson they would maybe allow a short drive around the parking lot. It wasn't but a matter of months later that you could score a great deal on one.

asafonov

I guess am an antithesis of a chronic car buyer - between my wife and me, in 16 years of driving, we bought and owned 5 cars (3 used, 2 new.)

ab348

breld said:

From the sounds of it - buying a Focus RS for $36k may be difficult for a little while. The Ford dealerships are very proud of it, and are adding markups accordingly, just as they are with the GT350.

That always sours me a bit on those dealerships. When the Mazdaspeed6 came out, I went to the Mazda dealership to check it out, and the salesperson they would maybe allow a short drive around the parking lot. It wasn't but a matter of months later that you could score a great deal on one.

They must have seen RS job #1 on B-J over the weekend go for over $600K.

I wonder if the structure of a Focus can hold up to that much power.

I'm sour on the Focus because of the number of people who have problems with the automatic transmission in the regular version which Ford seems unwilling to fix.

stickguy

I like the X1. Though that color is a bit much. Pricey for a 2013.

iluvmysephia1

Best car is easy.

It's always the next one!

No way - not you, stick! I am still looking for time to pop my new wheel covers on the 2011 Kia Soul. It's running like a top but I hear Mrs.iluv's voice in my head saying "Don't praise the car like that! Look what happened when you praised the Rally Red Lancer GTS." Seized timing belt. Really impressed with our 3rd Kia though.

Worst car for iluvmysephia1? That would be my first car - the '65 Ford Mustang. Loved it's looks - especially after getting it's bright red paint job. Nice radials and mag wheels. But mechanically? Yukko. I did a lot of the car's maintenance myself but that car was either blowing an engine or a clutch or a...? What next. We traded in Tacoma, WA, for a 1970 Chevy Suburban that performed well but got the ghastly mileage of a 24' U-Haul truck. Literally!

Mr_Shiftright

Yeah, but a '65 Mustang is, at least, as easy to work on as a Vermont Castings Woodstove.

iluvmysephia1

Yeah, but a '65 Mustang is, at least, as easy to work on as a Vermont Castings Woodstove.

That is right, shifty. Now I can add windshield wiper fluid to the '11 Soul and pop my wheel covers on.

js06gv

houdini1 said:

I don't know if it was the best, but it was the most fun. 1979 Honda Accord 4-door, manual. First year they were made. I had a company car at the time so the Accord was one of those cars I bought "for my wife". I loved it but she hated it so it didn't last long. Worst car (company car, so had that going for it) 74 Gran Torino. Seats were so low I had to look thru the steering wheel, and I am 6-1, Your butt would bottom out on the slightest bump, and if the fuel gauge got even close to empty, you were out of gas. I still laugh when I remember my boss who also had one, but he was about 5-5, and you could barely see the top of his head when he would drive by.

My first car was a 74 Gran Torino and you're not kidding about those seats. I thought they were that bad because the car was already 12 years old and just figured the seat springs were worn out (you could feel them). Guess they were like that even when new. 

Post Clint Eastwood movie, when I mentioned what my first car was people would respond about how cool it was. Ummm no. Mine was a base 4-door in that lime greenish yellow that was surprisingly popular on Fords of that era, with a dark green vinyl bench interior and dog dish hubcaps. That was back when one had to pop extra cash for full wheel covers. Hardly a cool car, but still special in a way given it was my first. 

xwesx

Hmm.... similar in color to this?

stickguy

Hey Bradd. Your 328 HP is getting cheaper!

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2014-infiniti-q50-4dr_sedan_awd_premium-used-14461365.html

xwesx

You are a cruel man, Stick.

stever

@asafonov, it is fun to live vicariously with the rest of this crowd.

That '99 green/tan Miata is still on craigslist here. They came down $1,000 to $6,500. The low miles are attractive (although maybe they are too low).

Meanwhile this '01 flopped up at a dealer in Alamogordo. Assuming it has around 100,000 miles, the price is more realistic. The tan top is nice even if the body is nowhere near BRG. And that bra would have to go.

berri

I can't say that I've ever had a vehicle that I really thought was fantastic, but I owned three lemons that covered D3; 71 Plymouth Satellite Sebring, 83 Olds Ciera and 99 Ford Explorer with the supposedly indestructible 302 V8! Generally, I've had better luck with the Honda's and Toyota's, but I've also had some decent domestics. I do think Detroit has upped their game in the last two decades and has also been the styling leader oftentimes.

stickguy

I had a 2001, but it was red. That blue, a bit odd. Would prefer BRG given a choice! And cloth seats.

js06gv

xwesx said:

Hmm.... similar in color to this?

No, that one is much classier than mine! Here is a pic of a pic I have hanging in the garage of my actual car. It looks white here, but is more of a light, faded pastel yellow/green  

stever

stickguy said:

I had a 2001, but it was red. That blue, a bit odd. Would prefer BRG given a choice! And cloth seats.

The leather definitely isn't a plus.

houdini1

js06gv said:

houdini1 said:

I don't know if it was the best, but it was the most fun. 1979 Honda Accord 4-door, manual. First year they were made. I had a company car at the time so the Accord was one of those cars I bought "for my wife". I loved it but she hated it so it didn't last long.

Worst car (company car, so had that going for it) 74 Gran Torino. Seats were so low I had to look thru the steering wheel, and I am 6-1, Your butt would bottom out on the slightest bump, and if the fuel gauge got even close to empty, you were out of gas. I still laugh when I remember my boss who also had one, but he was about 5-5, and you could barely see the top of his head when he would drive by.

My first car was a 74 Gran Torino and you're not kidding about those seats. I thought they were that bad because the car was already 12 years old and just figured the seat springs were worn out (you could feel them). Guess they were like that even when new. 

Post Clint Eastwood movie, when I mentioned what my first car was people would respond about how cool it was. Ummm no. Mine was a base 4-door in that lime greenish yellow that was surprisingly popular on Fords of that era, with a dark green vinyl bench interior and dog dish hubcaps. That was back when one had to pop extra cash for full wheel covers. Hardly a cool car, but still special in a way given it was my first. 

Mine was the exact same color !

stickguy

Steve, if you get leather,in vest in some neoprene seat covers.

sda

<>
No, that one is much classier than mine! Here is a pic of a pic I have hanging in the garage of my actual car. It looks white here, but is more of a light, faded pastel yellow/green  

That is a dreadful color, and the huge 5mph bumpers do it no favors either.

imidazol97

I think that color is lime-yellow on this chart...

kyfdx

A lot of ugly green colors available in the '70s, for sure.

qbrozen

stickguy said:

I like the X1. Though that color is a bit much. Pricey for a 2013.

I thought so, too, so I looked it up. It is actually not that bad. About a $28k auction car. So then I looked up the 335 xdrive m-sport of similar vintage. That would run $4k-$5k more!

stever

Hm, maybe I'll buy a new leftover xB for under $10,000. Should be some bargains starting tomorrow, per Motortrend.

Breaking: Toyota Gives Scion Brand The Axe

qbrozen

Mr_Shiftright said:

Oh, I don't know. All the plasticky bits on the X1 didn't strike me as any less plasticky than on a European Ford. The X1 is also built to a price after all.

My main concern on the Focus RS is that the 4 cylinder engine might be stressed too much. In my opinion, engines are BMWs forte and the most praiseworthy thing about them.

considering my N54 was making very very bad noises at around 55k miles, I don't think I can stand behind that BMW engine claim anymore, personally.

I gotta say the RS isn't ticking all the right boxes for me as far as the estimates go. C&D is guessing a 4.7 0-60, 13.2 1/4 mile, and 17/23 EPA MPG. That just doesn't add up in my book. So my Caddy is faster in a straight line AND gets better mileage. Yes, I know they aren't competitors, but I find the discrepancy strange, nonetheless.

Sitting on the showroom floor next to a Mustang GT is going to be a tough proposition all on its own. Slower, worse highway mileage, and $4k more? Ouch.

Michaell

qbrozen said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Oh, I don't know. All the plasticky bits on the X1 didn't strike me as any less plasticky than on a European Ford. The X1 is also built to a price after all.

My main concern on the Focus RS is that the 4 cylinder engine might be stressed too much. In my opinion, engines are BMWs forte and the most praiseworthy thing about them.

considering my N54 was making very very bad noises at around 55k miles, I don't think I can stand behind that BMW engine claim anymore, personally.

I gotta say the RS isn't ticking all the right boxes for me as far as the estimates go. C&D is guessing a 4.7 0-60, 13.2 1/4 mile, and 17/23 EPA MPG. That just doesn't add up in my book. So my Caddy is faster in a straight line AND gets better mileage. Yes, I know they aren't competitors, but I find the discrepancy strange, nonetheless.

Sitting on the showroom floor next to a Mustang GT is going to be a tough proposition all on its own. Slower, worse highway mileage, and $4k more? Ouch.

Given the choice, I'd go with a Mustang GT.

My dad wants us to sell his 1970 Chevy pickup and give the money to his four grandsons.

nyccarguy

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

I like the X1. Though that color is a bit much. Pricey for a 2013.

I thought so, too, so I looked it up. It is actually not that bad. About a $28k auction car. So then I looked up the 335 xdrive m-sport of similar vintage. That would run $4k-$5k more!

The only reason it caught my interest is because of the fact that it is an ///M Sport with the 6cyl Turbo Motor and the price seems reasonable. Looks like they recently lowered their inflated price to where it is now. They've had the car since the end of November.

Mr_Shiftright

Well are there really that many 4-bangers that can beat a 4.7? Think of the RS in the "fun per dollar" ratio.

The N54 engine has certainly been a hit around the world, but you know, whatever is made by man will fail now and then. Maybe you're getting turbocharger rattle?

PF_Flyer

Clearance sales can attract a crowd

Wonder if any Scions will make an updated version of this list from 2009

The 10 Best Discontinued Cars (US News & World Report)

iluvmysephia1

You might follow that 2016 Scion xB idea around a bit, stever. Especially if they cut it's price in half. Fire sale time! Or any low-mile brand new 2015 xB's that just have test-drive miles on them.

Mr_Shiftright

I bought a 2006 Scion xA brand new. It was (and still is for my friend) an versatile and extremely reliable little car. 75,000 miles, no warranty claims ever.

fintail

One less cynical marketing scheme aimed to "monetize millennials" or some other cereal box MBA buzzword absurdia, but ended up selling to the over-50 set.

This beautiful front end should have no problem joining the Toyota lineup. Really, a styling classic, I am grateful Toyolex gives us such clean homogenous design:

kyfdx

Here is the X1 35i that you want:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=881368&highlight=x1

nyccarguy

kyfdx said:

Here is the X1 35i that you want: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=881368&highlight=x1

Nice rig.  Highway miles are still high miles.  6K left on the original b to b warranty with a chip no less.  I'm curious what the Porsche dealer offered him ($22K?) & why he didn't trade it in on the Macan.