Hfcomms
EN66iq
I thought it was fix or repair daily?
OT/MISC The Most And Least Reliable Cars In America
- Thread starter Hfcomms
- Start date
#1 oldskool
"You finally really did it. You maniacs!
CHEVROLET.....Can hear every valve, rod or lifter every time !
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FNFAL1958
Senior Member
This has served my family and the owner before me just north of 300,000 miles still running the original clutch and pressure plate, 5 speed stick shift, I replaced the complete front steering and suspension system two years ago and it drives like a new truck. it will probably outlast me. Sometimes Ford gets it just right.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Both are excellent vehicles, and among the last Kia designed and built prior to Hyundai taking over Kia in 2009. Great engineering and design, built for far worse roads than we have here in the US.
I used to run both vehicles when I ran a rental company. Never a breakdown, never a complaint. My favorites of the time were the Kia Amanti and the 2009 Kia Optima LX. Quite good pieces of machinery and extremely good build quality.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
FYI- your Mazda 3 doesn't have a frame under it-it's unibody construction. Depending on whether the rust is penetrating or not it's becoming a structural issue. I'd say dunp it. A cat and exhaust for it might cost a pretty penny; more than the car is actually worth. Especially with the rust. If you can poke a hole through the rust bubbling through on whatever panel it's time to get it off the road.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Must be somewhere in the middle of the rankings. I find it hard to believe Ford would be doing that good.
I have a 2012 Ford Fiesta, it has a defective transmission that they let got while in production. Another was low beam headlights would fail because a relay would get corroded in the fuse box because it was designed wrong, they fixed in later models. I had to do my own fix to make it work. But it is still going for now.
The 2012-2016 Ford Fiestas and Ford Focuses in particular had that silly transmission issue. Great cars otherwise but their auto transmissions were garbage. They tried to make a clutchless manual type automatic (like VW auto transmissions) but they messed up beyond bad.............
And it's too bad too-the Fiestas were spunky little cars, very fun to drive.
intothatgoodnight
. . .
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
NO. OH HELL NO !!!!!
It's-Fast Intelligent Affordable Transportation. And don't you forget it
I would happily !!!!!! drive a 40 year old Alfa, Fiat or Lancia any day of the week, rather than ANY (and I mean ANY) new car being made today. An Alfa, a Fiat, a Lancia is truly a car-everything else is a mere transportation appliance. Like an automotive equivalent of a toaster.
You have never run redline in each gear, with the engine screaming and snarling while the shocked German car owner gets left in the dust. You have never taken 25 mph curves at 65mph and the car leans and sticks like glue; joy is heeling and toeing the vehicle so you come out of the apex on line and on cam, ready to play some more. You've never run from a stoplight to redline in a 2,5 litre Alfa 75 with straight pipes off the (factory installed) headers. The song is glorious, hypnotizing and addictive. Get's a man's heart pumping, I tell you.
Italians still build the finest vehicles in the world; people may laugh but I still feel it's true. And I look at every carmaker's cars on a daily basis. German cars are sterile and soulless, Japanese cars have some soul but nothing like an Italian car.
Remember, Italians build the best cars in the world (seriously) and FIAT means fast intelligent affordable transportation.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Like the Dodge 5.7 hemis-over 60K every one I've looked at ticks like a clock (oil starved lifters?) until it warms up. Pass!
John Deere Girl
Veteran Member
Our teen just bought a Fiat as a project car.NO. OH HELL NO !!!!!
It's-Fast Intelligent Affordable Transportation. And don't you forget it
I would happily !!!!!! drive a 40 year old Alfa, Fiat or Lancia any day of the week, rather than ANY (and I mean ANY) new car being made today. An Alfa, a Fiat, a Lancia is truly a car-everything else is a mere transportation appliance. Like an automotive equivalent of a toaster.
You have never run redline in each gear, with the engine screaming and snarling while the shocked German car owner gets left in the dust. You have never taken 25 mph curves at 65mph and the car leans and sticks like glue; joy is heeling and toeing the vehicle so you come out of the apex on line and on cam, ready to play some more. You've never run from a stoplight to redline in a 2,5 litre Alfa 75 with straight pipes off the (factory installed) headers. The song is glorious, hypnotizing and addictive. Get's a man's heart pumping, I tell you.
Italians still build the finest vehicles in the world; people may laugh but I still feel it's true. And I look at every carmaker's cars on a daily basis. German cars are sterile and soulless, Japanese cars have some soul but nothing like an Italian car.
Remember, Italians build the best cars in the world (seriously) and FIAT means fast intelligent affordable transportation.
Ha! No lie there. When DD was looking for a car, she saw many of them on the lots. Asked me what the deal was one day. I replied, German engineering darling, German engineering. (I would know, I have a VW that has literally been in the shop two months now.) Yay.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Your son is CLEARLY a young man of style and taste ! Best news I've heard today, it truly warms my heart.
What type of Fiat did he buy? A cinquecinto (Fiat 500)? A 500 Lusso (the 4 door 500). Or something older (be still my fast beating heart!)
If he has questions I'd be honored to help. I've owned a '79 and '81 Fiat X 1/9 (autocrossed the '81), a ;82 Fiat Ritmo (strada here in the states. Makes a VW golf look positively cheap and slow). I've owned one of every Alfa Romeo from the early '70s to 1991 (and LOVED them all, my favorite was my '87 Alfa 75 (Milano Gold). Most fun car I';ve ever owned; although the '73 Berlina and the '78 Alfettas were VERY close). Owned a few Pugeots as well. The French build incredible cars, just nobody knows it.
When I was able, I'd buy them broken. Fix them up, play with them then resell them. Completely joyous times!
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
If it's a VW in the shop it's either electrical issues, or the Chinese manufactured parts used in them. VW Group overall's second largest market is China, and many many parts are made in China for them. It's hurting their reputation.
John Deere Girl
Veteran Member
Thank you! She is very excited about it. She's very feminine, but she has an aptitude for working on vehicles. She paid $300 for it, and it's 2 door, but has a rear seat as well. I really appreciate your offer! I will probably message you at some point.
Every time we have a car thread, I feel compelled to brag on my 98 Olds Aurora. 75,000 original miles. I bought it new off the showroom floor. The most comfortable, competent and absolute pleasure to drive of any car in my life. Big ol’ V-8 under the hood. I have babied that thing since Day One. The only major thing I had to fix was the air conditioning system about four years ago (I had a hose go out, and when the system was repressurized, the compressor was shot. The hose they had to get from Olds, but I got an exact replacement new compressor from Rock Auto for about $350.)
Outside of that, it’s been perfect. Always garaged, never driven in snow and salted roads. Still has the original hoses under the hood and they’re still pliable, which according to a mechanic, is virtually unheard-of. I’m not missing a single part anywhere (I replaced a lost rear door ashtray), and the body and interior look showroom new. When I take it out for a drive, I feel like a million bucks. Trouble is, it’s so low to the ground that I struggle to get out of it these days. I am all emotional about that car.
Next September, I’ll be able to tag it as a “classic” at 25 years old.
Outside of that, it’s been perfect. Always garaged, never driven in snow and salted roads. Still has the original hoses under the hood and they’re still pliable, which according to a mechanic, is virtually unheard-of. I’m not missing a single part anywhere (I replaced a lost rear door ashtray), and the body and interior look showroom new. When I take it out for a drive, I feel like a million bucks. Trouble is, it’s so low to the ground that I struggle to get out of it these days. I am all emotional about that car.
Next September, I’ll be able to tag it as a “classic” at 25 years old.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
She? AWESOME !!!!!! Sorry I assumed son but your daughter is absolutely a young lady with style and taste too. She has taken on a restoration job that will well expand her knowledge of vehicles.
And in my opinion, any woman that works on their own cars is sexy-a woman working on Italian cars is nothing short of Sophia Loren sexy (not being a cad here, lady Italian car owners/drivers are revered and given huge respect in the marque's club) it's heartwarming to see a woman with grease on her face and a wrench in her hands. Women are also better problem solvers when it comes to mechanics too.
If it's a cinquecento (500 2 door ) it's got a 1.4 litre MultiAir motor. Relatively easy to work on and reliable. Rev happy too. If she has a manual the cars come alive after 3000 rpm. That's when the camshaft and variable valve timing really come into play. The cinquecento is far quicker than most realize. It's also pretty aerodynamic and a good road trip car too.
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
You should brag about it-it was a game changing car for GM and one well screwed together piece of machinery to boot.
Knighttemplar
Veteran Member
Fiat, worked on a bunch of 124 until they broke in half from rust. Some people can break an Eswing hammer. Do your research and you can keep most things running. Sleeved a Vega and it was one of the best running cheap cars I had, right behind the slant 6 Volare stick.
John Deere Girl
Veteran Member
Thank you! I forgot to mention it's a manual.
When I got my first apartment, I also got a kinda beat-up ‘74 AMC Matadoor (oxidized dark blue and bench seats. Had the 258 CI straight six in it. All I ever did to it was replace the valve cover gaskets (wrenched that myself in an hour) and put four new tires on it. That car just ran and ran and ran. Never had a bit of trouble with it. About 175k miles on it when I got it. Flushed the crankcase because I had no idea what condition it was underneath.
Picture this car in dark blue
Picture this car in dark blue
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#1 oldskool
"You finally really did it. You maniacs!
PONTIAC.........Poor old n****r thinks it's a caddilac !
MIL has a Fiesta with that tranny. It sucks but she wont get rid of it.
Walrus Whisperer
Hope in chains...
Best car I EVER had: a 68 el Camino. It just kept going and going. Had at least 3 different engines in it. Had a camper shell so I could camp in it.
Redleg
Veteran Member
"Sometimes Ford gets it just right." Than stops production of the model and comes out with another POS design
that will take years to work the bugs out. Actually, this is true for most car manufacturers. Must be they want to sell
parts to fix the vehicles when they break all the time. Nice side hustle they got going.
that will take years to work the bugs out. Actually, this is true for most car manufacturers. Must be they want to sell
parts to fix the vehicles when they break all the time. Nice side hustle they got going.
Redleg
Veteran Member
I enjoyed mine when it was new. Spunky, nice sound system and great gas mileage, upper 30 miles/gal still with 68K on it.
That transmission though
AlfaMan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Clutches are good in those vehicles; they last forever. Make sure the brake fluid in the clutch master cylinder is clean though-you're dealing with an Ate (the maker) clutch. They like clean fluid. Never was able to kill a clutch in the Fiats I owned. And I tried. Drain the transmission though and replace it with clean fluid. Saves the synchros. And in your car the clutch master cylinder is also the brake master cylinder. One unit.
Nothing more exciting than driving a wedge (the X-1/9) on a twisty road revving the motor up to it's glorious 7500 rpm redline, using the goofy beer tap shaped shifter (it looked like a bar dispenser handle for beer) and listening to it sing.
That little car only had a 1.5 litre 4 cylinder-but it would take redline shifts all day long, it would scoot too! With the targa top off it looked like a Matchbox sized Ferrari. Way too much fun in that car.
Traveled well on trips too. It was mid engined and the front trunk held plenty of luggage. The missus and I enjoyed weekend trips in that car.
Crusty Echo 7
Veteran Member
Yep, but everyone within a mile double checks to make that their blinker is off until they see the 5.4 badge. No way to permanently fix that tick; Ford should have called it the metronome.
Heh. Did China exist in 2003?
And I must say, this salivating over Italian cars is nauseating.
Not true. I understand quite well. You find a car that just makes you - well, salivate during your life and never get over the bloody thing. Sigh.
Now this, IMHO, doesn’t quite rank with the Italian cars, but my first car was a brand new 76 MGB. Attempted to drive it off the show room floor and up Broadway (Nashville) in rush hour traffic. Bawahaha!
Thank goodness the salesman was with me. I have NO idea how we swapped seats that night because I was probably in simple mortification mode, but we did. And I don’t remember how I learned to drive it after because there was no one to show me. All I know is I loved the short throw on it and it’s maneuverability while tooling through the woods of the disaster Brentwood has become.
I did always put Pirelli’s on it, but besides me as a driver, that was as Italian as it got.
Oh well. Time moves on and still ticks while that German traitor sits in the shop. Yes. SITS. Bought that new too. Jerk car!
Thank you for listening to my love story and rant.
*will return to the thread after I take my blood pressure medication. And dreaming of my mechanic’s fate, knowing IT’S PROBABLY NOT HIS FAULT!!*
Creedmoor
Tempus Fugit
My wife’s car is a 2002 Ford Crown Victoria that seems to be indestructible. Has over 425,000 miles on it and still runs great and gets 22 mpg. It will smoke the punks in their fart can mufflered little shit boxes that think they’ve got a fast car. Only issues were that stupid plastic intake that started leaking coolant at about the 200K mark and it’s on its third alternator. Easy, cheap DIY repairs. Oh, and the rear air suspension crapped out at 300K. I just replaced it with cop springs. My wife won’t give it up. Says it’s like driving your couch with a V8. Solid car. She’s been in two major crashes (not her fault) where her car was easily repairable but the other cars were totaled. One of Fords best cars! There’s a reason the cops drove it for so many years.
The cops were still buying new ones up to the moment Ford retired the car.
emiliozapata
Senior Member
and that new car warranty on hyundai and kia=100k miles!!
Samuel Adams
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Dennis, I still don’t understand what it is you got against brushing horse hair out of your clothing, every day !!
For almost every car, there is a vehicle specific forum out there.
Unlikely that you will encounter a problem which hasn't been worked through before...and documented.
DIY repairs are thoroughly discussed too, with tips and tricks you won't find in a manual.
Usually, people will post regional repair prices for any given problem
Frequently, people who aren't mechanically adept work through repairs with them.
A great resource before you buy any particular model.
F'rinstance, this Ram I'm driving started losing the "On" switch for cruise.
Plenty of, "change the switch cluster, change the module, etc."
One guy had the best fix... "MEH, Tilt the wheel up and whack the $#it out of the bottom with your hand".
Works every time.
The injector pump grenaded on my last Duramax.
A known problem for that Bosch CP4 pump.
The best repair was to swap it out for the older CP3...bulletproof.
Dealer price was around $12,000 to put it back to OEM.
I DIYed it for about $6,000 in parts, with the upgraded pump.
It was a pain, but for 6 large, I can wrench.
Unlikely that you will encounter a problem which hasn't been worked through before...and documented.
DIY repairs are thoroughly discussed too, with tips and tricks you won't find in a manual.
Usually, people will post regional repair prices for any given problem
Frequently, people who aren't mechanically adept work through repairs with them.
A great resource before you buy any particular model.
F'rinstance, this Ram I'm driving started losing the "On" switch for cruise.
Plenty of, "change the switch cluster, change the module, etc."
One guy had the best fix... "MEH, Tilt the wheel up and whack the $#it out of the bottom with your hand".
Works every time.
The injector pump grenaded on my last Duramax.
A known problem for that Bosch CP4 pump.
The best repair was to swap it out for the older CP3...bulletproof.
Dealer price was around $12,000 to put it back to OEM.
I DIYed it for about $6,000 in parts, with the upgraded pump.
It was a pain, but for 6 large, I can wrench.
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IMO, a known fault that is cheap/easy to repair is preferable to a car with an occasional problem falling in the catastrophic range.
There is a guy near Fulton who repairs/replaces frames. Cost us $120 to get the frame on our 2009 Silverado reinforced and welded... he did a great job! He told us he had done 4 COMPLETE frame replacements in the previous month! Salt on northern roads is hell on underbody. Our truck was Ziebart undercoated and maintained... it's still rotting.
Summerthyme