NO more (maker) cars for me: cars that put you off the manufacturer.

[Sniffs]

it's been a bleep of a week involving my Caravan. I've never had so many problems crop up so FAST with any of my vehicles.

here's how it went
1. brakes suddenly get panic-attack inducing soft
2. I waffle for a week or so till I think I can afford to get it fixed
3. instead of heading to a dealership or Garage, I finally tell my step-father
4. after tests, they decide a caliper has blown out a new one is put on
5. still no response. deduce the brake isn't getting any fluid
6. they check around, and deduce the ABS computer's gone, instead
7. they raid a Junkyard for an ABS module
8. said module is off a 99 Town and Country, and has traction control. I point this out.
9. they spend two days attempting to get the original pulled from the wiring harness. they can't figure out how to undo the clip
10. they break two break lines unhooking them from the ABS. now the lines all need replaced.
11 they pull the lines while trying to unhook the ABS box...they're already rotting through, anyway. decides to replace the lot
12 parts store gives him rigid lines
13 they finally get the box off, and the other module won't even go on the wiring harness. they finally notice it's Traction control equipped, and go to replace it. (i don't have Traction Control)
14 they get the proper type module home, and it doesn't fit EITHER. turns out a plastic dust-shield is stuck inside the wiring harness
15 after much aggravation, everything is finally hooked back up. the brakes STILL don't work!
16 more tests. they finally find the problem. the Master Cylinder had blown
17. I run out to buy a new master. they drop it in. problem solved? NOT!
18 i get ONE afternoon's run. this morning, after only one mile or less POW. no brakes.
19 after bumming a vehicle for my morning run, the defect is spotted. a rear wheel cylinder had blown out from being under pressure properly for the first time in ages.
20 due to the expense of the other brake parts and paying for the borrowed vehicle's gas, plus my insurance, I'm too broke to buy a wheel cylinder, and have to wait till next Tuesday.

all this instant aggravation (I've only had the van since January) has put me totally off touching another Chrysler product. and this was during Mercedes' Ownership of Chrysler!
anyone else had a troublesome vehicle that's put you off ever owning another from the same corporation?

note, people, you can rant about ANY manufacturer that's given you trouble that makes you wanna ignore all the vehicles from that company.

 

[Northstar]

My Mom's '01 Stratus has made me hate Chrysler products. Granted most of the problems she has had recently are because of her previously neglecting the car, but the thing is just way to difficult to work on. You have to take half the car apart just to get to the battery(slight sarcasm).

 

[Duke]

and this was during Mercedes' Ownership of Chrysler!

That's your problem, right there.

 

[eSZee]

2001 Hundai santa fe. The most anti DIY car in the world.
Changing out spark plugs requires removing 15 or so bolts to remove the intake manifold. For some reason, 2 of those bolts don't fit when reassembling it. They used the cheapest possible half shafts you can think of. Main coil was replaced 3 times within the first 12 months of ownership, same with front bank pre-cats. Car was rust proofed day of purchase and rusted through 3 years later. Engine blew a rod at 110k miles.
One thing I do like is the FULL TIME AWD in the 2001-2004 models, unlike the part time crap most SUVs under $35k have, sans RAV4. While I want a genesis coupe, and I know Hyundai got better, I will not buy another one of their cars again.
I will also not purchase 99% of nissans 2002MY and newer. No thank you.

 

[Jim Prower]

Would having to listen to the rants of a certain member count? because that's why I'll never buy an Audi or SEAT...

 

[eSZee]

Would having to listen to the rants of a certain member count? because that's why I'll never buy an Audi or SEAT...

I would have to "experience" a car for myself as most of the time people bash or love a car for reasons that are subjective.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

It's not really a car that has put me off a certain manufacturer but rather our town's dealer that sells them.

Honda.

And no, I'm not kidding. 5 times in a little over two months my dad's 2008 Honda Accord Euro (Acura TSX) had already been back to the dealers and only one of those was actually for a service.

- When replacing a part of the centre console someone spilt hot glue on ANOTHER part of the centre console which subsequently had to be replaced as well
- It then took nearly a month for that part to get in to be replaced because someone had forgotten to put the order in
- It then took another 3 weeks after we had gotten back from Sydney for Top Gear Live to get a replacement front windscreen, and if it wasn't under warranty it would have cost $2000.
- And finally it took another week for the dealers (and my dad, ironically) to realise that the Euro's parking sensors were not working because my dad had accidentally turned them off.

 

[McLaren]

It's not really a car that has put me off a certain manufacturer but rather our town's dealer that sells them.

Honda.

And no, I'm not kidding. 5 times in a little over two months my dad's 2008 Honda Accord Euro (Acura TSX) had already been back to the dealers and only one of those was actually for a service.

- When replacing a part of the centre console someone spilt hot glue on ANOTHER part of the centre console which subsequently had to be replaced as well
- It then took nearly a month for that part to get in to be replaced because someone had forgotten to put the order in
- It then took another 3 weeks after we had gotten back from Sydney for Top Gear Live to get a replacement front windscreen, and if it wasn't under warranty it would have cost $2000.
- And finally it took another week for the dealers (and my dad, ironically) to realise that the Euro's parking sensors were not working because my dad had accidentally turned them off.

Sounds a lot more like a dealer issue. Did you take it anywhere else?

 

[Sertsa]

The most disappointing car I've ever owned was a '79 Olds Cutlass Supreme. Among all the problems, I mostly remember one day, in college, driving it to my apartment from the shop. I was thinking that it was Friday, it was spring, I didn't have any gigs that weekend, so I should take a trip somewhere. Then the rear bumper fell off. I got out, looked at it, and started laughing. A nice girl happened by happened by and loaned me a bungie cord.

I replaced that car with a Pinto I bought for $200 and decided to learn to do the really fun driving tricks. Later, I also got to drive a Chevette for a short while. That was probably the worst car, but I didn't expect it to be anything else.

So, I seriously doubt I'll ever own a GM car again.

 

[Sniffs]

now THIS is more like it. I had intended this for a place to vent on manufacturers models that seem to HATE you (on the other hand, there's also cars that LOVE you. Fords like me, for example) a vehicle should not crumble underneath you after 4 months.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Sounds a lot more like a dealer issue. Did you take it anywhere else?

"It's not really a car that has put me off a certain manufacturer but rather our town's dealer that sells them."

And there's no other Honda dealer for, oh, about 500kms or so. Not to mention this is actually supposed to be the best dealer for servicing and parts repair in our town. No wonder every man and their dog drives Falcodores...

 

[NissanSkylineN1]

A Dodge Durango. My friend had one. The water pump blew when coming home from Florida. Also had many interior and steering problems.

 

[Jondot]

Don't think I really have one - I've never been in a car so hideously awful that I've thought 'right, I'm boycotting', but then I've never had the misfortune to find myself sitting in a Proton.

Except of course...

Would having to listen to the rants of a certain member count? because that's why I'll never buy an Audi or SEAT...

 

[Zenith]

Nissan GTR

Convinced me that all sporty cars recently made by the company and some other Japanese manufacturers are purpose built for soullessly 1-upping existing cars.

Flame shield up

 

[ExigeEvan]

Fiat.

I know they've got better, I know that their small cars are more reliable, and Fix It Again Tony no longer applies.

But my friend's dad had so much trouble with his Brava and every person I know that's owned a (battered old) punto has had something big go wrong with it.

I just... couldn't.

 

[homeforsummer]

Fiat.

I know they've got better, I know that their small cars are more reliable, and Fix It Again Tony no longer applies.

But my friend's dad had so much trouble with his Brava and every person I know that's owned a (battered old) punto has had something big go wrong with it.

I just... couldn't.

I could. They make far too many cars that I really, really like. Not necessarily the newest models (though some of them are quite nice), but so many of their past greats. Barchettas, Coupes, X1-9s, 500s... okay, I'd probably never own one as an only car but I don't think that their reputation would be enough to put me off.

Personally, I've not encountered any manufacturer yet that has been spoiled by any car I've driven. I dislike manufacturers for spoiling cars that I really like, for example Ford, because they designed cars like the Ka and Puma badly so that they rust far too easily (too many water traps), or MINI for spoiling the styling of the current model compared to the older one, but generally most cars I've driven have been quite nice.

 

[Jondot]

I dislike manufacturers for spoiling cars that I really like, for example Ford, because they designed cars like the Ka and Puma badly so that they rust far too easily (too many water traps)

Oh god, don't tell me Pumas are made of tinfoil too... I know Kas are dreadful for it, but I assumed that was because they cost a fiver to put together.

 

[Sniffs]

@ you brits: yup. Fiat had that rep in the US...they gave up in 83. X1/9's were one of their worst, here. i have a manual from the last year of the Strada released here.

 

[RVDNuT374]

A Dodge Durango. My friend had one. The water pump blew when coming home from Florida. Also had many interior and steering problems.

My grandfather bought a 2000 Durango in July 2008. In the 8 months he had it, the following went wrong:

power steering switch
AC compressor ($800)
brake master cylinder
driver's door power window motor (the other 3 weren't far behind when he sold the truck)
display on the radio worked whenever it wanted to
lots of other little things that I can't recall

The final straw was when all 4 ball joints in the front end wore out at the same time. He sold the truck and replaced it with a 2004 GMC Sierra which has given him no problems. That's enough to make me never buy a Durango or another Chrysler product.

 

[McLaren]

Nissan GTR

Convinced me that all sporty cars recently made by the company and some other Japanese manufacturers are purpose built for soullessly 1-upping existing cars.

Flame shield up

Let's keep this about cars we have owned, not cars we hate because of why we think they're built.

 

[homeforsummer]

Oh god, don't tell me Pumas are made of tinfoil too... I know Kas are dreadful for it, but I assumed that was because they cost a fiver to put together.

I presume you've not tried to look for any then. I did, and everything in my price range (roughly under £2k) has rear arches more feathery than a peacock. Either that, or they've been badly repaired because it's such a massive panel and presumably costs a bomb.

All the more reason to get a Racing Puma. Aluminium rear arches...

 

[Zenith]

Let's keep this about cars we have owned, not cars we hate because of why we think they're built.

I didn't realize we had to own these cars

 

[Sniffs]

McClaren has a point. keep it to cars you've personally had fall apart on you

Home: thin like toyotas, huh? US fords are prone to wing rot so much that it's common practice to always have patch panels in production. it seems to mostly happen with trucks (as they'll be driven for 20-30 years before they disintigrate into rust molecules before the engine gets worn in ) 70's Chevys were prone to this, too.

 

[Gil]

I will never, EVER, by another Mopar. Not even to use as a paperweight.
Had a 1992 Plymouth Voyager. (My first brand new vehicle)
Had to rebuild the top of the motor at 30K.
Had to rebuild the bottom of the motor at about 60k.
Had to rebuild ENTIRE motor at 120K.

I'm not really impressed with Toyota.
My Camry is a good running car.
It breaks very seldom. Which is a good thing--cause when it breaks, it costs me somewhere in the vicinity of $600 - $850 to fix.
I priced a new key fob. $140.

I recently looked at a Lexus. Actually fell in love with the thing.
Then I remembered how much it cost to fix a regular Toyota.

 

[Duke]

I will never, EVER, by another Mopar. Not even to use as a paperweight.
Had a 1992 Plymouth Voyager. (My first brand new vehicle)
Had to rebuild the top of the motor at 30K.
Had to rebuild the bottom of the motor at about 60k.
Had to rebuild ENTIRE motor at 120K.

And, see, I had a 1992 Dodge base Caravan, also my first brand-new vehicle. It went 100k miles without any issue at all; just 1 set of plugs and a full set of brakes. The worst that happened was the speed sensor crapped out (once under warranty, once on my nickel), which was a <$50 part I changed in the driveway. I'd still own it today if it hadn't been rear-ended by some twit on her cell phone. The paint even still looked good.

 

[homeforsummer]

Home: thin like toyotas, huh?

The daft thing is, the panels aren't even thin. The ones on my Fiesta were pretty hefty, truth be told. Weighed a good 50+ kilos more than the equivalent Renault at the same time, and I guarantee that difference was in the thickness of the panels.

Their downfall is in designing daft water traps into the panels. The rear arches were essentially just an open metal lip. It was painted, sure, but throw in a bit of road crud and water sits in that lip and eats it through from the back. My car wasn't too bad, but when I was looking at Pumas they virtually all had large rust patches, or badly repaired panels where they'd tried to get rid of rust. It's such a shame since the car itself is absolutely brilliant.

I'd probably be a Ford Puma owner as I speak had all the ones I went to see not been really shoddy.

 

[Sniffs]

FIFTY kilos? sure you don't mean FIVE?

those kind of bad designs apply here in my state (which is why I list myself in the Rustbelt). I see one occasional fiesta around (it might be the Festiva one, though...) even Aspires, festiva's replacement, are gone. the only small cars around here are the occasional "Aveo" (i believe Top gear is running the saloon versions) and, a rare sight, a Smart Fourtwo. since this is mostly truck country, even regular cars are kinda sparse.

 

[eSZee]

I will never, EVER, by another Mopar. Not even to use as a paperweight.
Had a 1992 Plymouth Voyager. (My first brand new vehicle)
Had to rebuild the top of the motor at 30K.
Had to rebuild the bottom of the motor at about 60k.
Had to rebuild ENTIRE motor at 120K.

I'm not really impressed with Toyota.
My Camry is a good running car.
It breaks very seldom. Which is a good thing--cause when it breaks, it costs me somewhere in the vicinity of $600 - $850 to fix.
I priced a new key fob. $140.

I recently looked at a Lexus. Actually fell in love with the thing.
Then I remembered how much it cost to fix a regular Toyota.

That's what you get for going to the dealer. Toyota parts are average, if not less compared to most cars in it's class.

 

[mafia_boy]

That's what you get for going to the dealer. Toyota parts are average, if not less compared to most cars in it's class.

Yeah, that's if the 🤬 aftermarket would make the parts for the Toyota motor I have!! A normal serpentine belt would cost around $15, tops.....because no one makes them for my motor, I had to pay $51 for a freaking Toyota OEM serpentine belt. Then the pulley needed replacing, thankfully a Holden V6 pulley fits onto a 1JZ, so instead of $220, I paid $25.

Just for that alone, I won't touch another Toyota.....this one is the last one.

Same with Ford/Mazda with the early 90's Laser/323's, they blow gearboxes quicker than I can eat a KFC meal. I replaced 4 gearboxes and clutches in a mates KH Laser in a 15 month period because the bellhousings were made out of tinfoil and any heat in them would cause the gear shafts to move apart from eachother and shear the teeth off 2nd or 3rd gear after a while and spit them out through the tinfoil bellhousing!! The last one stripped 5th gear which was weird as I'd never seen that beforehand but it didn't go through the bellhousing or stop the car from being drivable around town thankfully.

As for new car manufacturers, I wouldn't touch another Opel based car again. The Barina/Corsa we had broke two shifter forks, two clutch replacements and an engine in about 3 years.

 

[YSSMAN]

While I could balk about the issues I've had with my Volkswagens and so on, arguably there hasn't been a car that we've owned in my immediate family that would make me entirely swear off a single company. I think it does help build in a stereotype about the brand, and of course if common parts are being used, you know what to look out for. But, generally speaking, the crappy Toyota Corolla we had has been offset by the Camry and Celica. I don't think I'd let the bad paint on my Dad's old Mustang drive me away from buying a new one.