Best and Worst Car you have owned - Personal experience only.

[redsturgeon]

I have run many cars over my 45 years of driving and have formed my own impression of the good and the bad over time. Clearly some of the older experiences from 20 or more years ago are not so relevant though.

Most of my driving has been in relatively new cars but occasionally I have drifted past the MOT stage.

Those cars I have owned for significant miles lets say 20,000 or more that have proved reliable have been unsurprisingly Japanese. Our Lexus covered 80k with never a hiccup and the Honda Type R never missed a beat for 30k. Those strangely have been the only Japanese cars I have owned though I have had many Japanese motorbikes and they exhibited similar reliability.

I ran only Golf GTis for about twenty years (1980 to 2000), from the mark 1 all the way up to a mark 4 (which was actually a VR6. I usually did about 30k per year and kept them for two years and never had a breakdown or mechanical failure in any of them. I am currently running a Golf Tsi and it is similarly completely reliable.

I have had three or four Fords in my life, Cortina/Puma/Focus/Galaxy and they have all been completely reliable over significant mileage. Oh and my son's 2013 Ford Fiesta is still driving well and has just needed a new battery in that time, not surprising since it mostly just gets short runs around town.

Also two Audi which again had no issues at all.

On the negative side, I have run three of the new Minis and have had trouble with them all, steering pump went on two of them! Sticking with BMW this seems to be a theme since my current BMW had a power steering failure at 18 months old that required a total new rack and took a month to fix. My experience while waiting in the BMW/Mini dealership is that significant and expensive problems with BMWs are not unusual.

Had a couple of Merc MLs and one exhibited a total electric failure at 18 months old, thankfully fixed under warranty.

My one disappointment in the Golf experience has been the only diesel Golf I ran which suffered a turbo failure at three years and 45000 miles. VW agreed to pay for the parts on that one.

So in summary; thumbs up for the Japanese, Ford and VW/Audi and not so good for Mercedes and BMW/Mini.

John

[robbelg]

One bad car was a Morris Ital (fancied up Marina) It didn't have any specific faults - apart from terrible handling - it was just all-round Meh.It did have the redeeming feature of being a company car so free.

An MG Maestro had a problem where after a motorway run it would boil off all the petrol in the carb so you couldn't start it for about 20 minutes. Eventually fixed with a spacer and heat shield.The digital dash had an interesting feature where it would sometimes display 2 or 3 different speeds at the same time.

The best was a Cadillac CTS, Leather, power and automatic everything, GPS, Bose stereo,TV (only when parked), 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. I bought it at 3 years old with 10K miles for just £8000. On the minus side 15mpg around town, could get up to 25mpg on a motorway.

Rob

[dionaeamuscipula]

Alfasud Sprint Veloce 1.5, early 80s.

In many ways I loved this car. I saw it in a dealers as I drove past, and it completely caught my eye. When it went, it was a glorious car to drive, a lot of fun and guaranteed to impress.

However.

Firstly, the conversion to RHD was a bit odd, and the only way of opening the hatch (the rear seats didn't fold BTW) was to lean over the passenger seat and operate a lever that was on the floor between the door and the seat. I recall the pedals being a bit offset from the steering wheel too.

Then there was the mechanical design. The front brakes were inboard on the axle (in some way that I never did fully understand) with the result that when I had an issue with the pads, the garage had to drop the engine out to get to them.That was expensive. And of course only specialist garages could fix it and spares were a mighty cost.

Then there was the engine. A thing of beauty that purred like a baby tiger with one tiny exception. It worked wonderfully as long as it was dry. It didn't like the wet, that ol' Alfasud, no siree. One drop of precipitation and the damn thing wouldn't start, or if it did start, would cut out after a few hundred yards. After a while I took to carrying around a spare set of spark plugs, a spark plug spanner, some sand paper, a can of WD40 and a cloth, and I could whip those darned plugs out in no time, give them a whizz, stick the spares in, and sometimes, at least, get on my way. The worst two times were the day I was, as a young child at the time, due to give a presentation to a main board director of my then employer, a FTSE 100 company which employed 44,000 people, and I arrived at work late (having started out early), soaked to the skin, and up to my elbows in engine oil. And the day late at night when it cut out in the off ramp of the Blackwall Tunnel, and I had to bump it up the ramp into the Isle of Dogs and abandon it there. Sadly, no one stole or vandalised it, and when I eventually got back to it the next day, it started first time.

Never, ever, ever again.

My next car was a Holden (sob).

DM

[ReformedCharacter]

When I was young I had a number of Citroen 2CVs and Dyanes. One of the best cars ever made. The last one cost me £250.

RC

[Urbandreamer]

My experience is that cars have got a LOT more reliable.

All my early cars had rust issues. That doesn't tend to happen anywhere near as much these days.
I had to be very particular about cleaning the HT circuit in the mini that I owned if I expected it to start reliably. Great design putting the HT just behind the grill to catch road splash.

Without a doubt the worst car that I owned was a Dihatsu people carrier based upon a Chevrolet design. It had no grip at all if there was a hint of ice. Parts were also impossible to get.
The Sezuki swift was great, until you needed to change the exhust. The wrong exhust always turned up at Kwik-fit. Parts took some getting and forget Haynes, there was no such book for that car.
The Citreon Xantia always had electrical problems and oh boy was it expensive when you needed to change the suspension or clutch. I did like the adjustable ride height though. It got me places that "normal" cars couldn't go.

I'd have to claim that the current car (Hyundi i30) was the best that I've owned. However as I said, that's probably just because cars have got better. It's 15 years old, though I've only owned it for about 5. I expect to own it for about another 5, at which point I'll be looking for a second hand EV.

[Midsmartin]

Ah yes. We bought a c. 18 month old VW Polo some years back.

I don't remember the precise sequence of events now, but it had an electronics fault which caused semi-random warning lights to come on every so often, and/or cause the engine to go into "safe mode" where it struggled to go over 40mph until you turned the engine off and on again - quite dangerous when you're on a motorway or overtaking and the car suddenly loses power. It went back to the garage 3 or 4 times, and each time they said they'd fixed it. They hadn't. If anything it got worse.

Then we had a VW courtesy car for 3 months while VW UK looked at it (it still had a manufacturer's warranty). And they fixed it! The chap in the dealer was chuffed to bits when he was able to tell us it was all working fine. So I went back to collect my long lost Polo. The fuel tank was nearly empty (thanks VW) so I popped into a petrol station before going home. After paying, the car would not start. It was just dead. So they had to send the rescue truck out to tow it back again. I don't think it ever worked properly the whole time we had it and eventually we part-exchanged it for a Fiesta . We should have demanded our money back but the dealer was very resistant, saying we weren't entitled to that on a used car, and anway "we've fixed it now".

Now I'd pretty much only get a Ford because I don't know any other car that comes with electrically heated windscreens.

[Watis]

I have fond memories of a Ford Ka, the original model from 1999. Bought almost new, I put 140,000 commuting miles on it and it never let me down - although it did dump its coolant one time but staggered home.

And despite both Watis Juniors learning to drive and passing their tests in it, it still had its original clutch when traded in ten years later under the scrappage scheme!

The only downside was having to change at least one headlight bulb every winter.

Watis

[TedSwippet]

Worst? Morris Marina, I think. Handling was sloppy, but for me its worst feature was the clutch. About 1/4 inch or less of twitchy effective travel between disengaged and fully engaged, and worse, where that 1/4 inch appeared in the pedal's full travel was variable and unpredictable. You could be the most experienced driver in the world, and still regularly stall it on a start from a standstill.

Most fun was probably my old Hillman Imp, with twin carbs. The combination of rear engine and low body weight meant it took off like a rocket from traffic lights, easily beating more 'performant' cars. The downside was that you had to keep a bag of sand or cement in front, to stop the front wheels from lifting off the road if you put your foot down.

For all-round reliability and a reasonable driving experience, I'm oddly fond of my '05 Vauxhall Corsa. The twinport engine is small but has enough pull to be quite nippy around corners and when overtaking, and the stiff suspension holds the road well, though if the road surface is manky (as so many are these days) you really feel every ridge and pothole. The M25 around J9-J11 is a nightmare in it.

[Redmires]

Worst Car
Nissan Qashqai 57 plate. A brand new lease car that I couldn't wait to get rid off after the 2 year term. The first week I had it the fuel lines split, spilling diesel all over the driveway. It was off the road for a week. The rear shocks needed replacing at every 10k service (under warranty) and an engine seal blew, again leaking oil over the drive. I don't know if it was early model teething issues or not but I vowed to never have Nissan again.

Best Car
Triumph Bonneville T120
Seriously though, I'm rather fond of my wife's Ford Kuga. 16 plate from new with about 28k miles, and just passed its 2nd MOT without any issues. Very versatile and super nippy for a 1.5l engine in a big car.

[Breelander]

I have run many cars over my 45 years of driving...

I've been driving for nearly as long averaging about 20,000 miles a year, but I've only got through a dozen cars in that time. I tend to keep my cars until they reach 100,000 miles/10 years or they fall apart, whichever is the sooner.

Best? Well they all were serviced regularly and were (for the most part) reliable. The endurance record goes to an Austin Metro 1.0 HLE with an A-series engine that at 170,000 miles was just starting to feel nicely run in - then the body fell apart around it.

Favourite? Well my last three have have all been VW Polos. All were completely reliable with the current one bought new in 2010 and approaching 90,000 miles now (yes, I'm down to just 10,000 miles/year now I'm retired).

I had to be very particular about cleaning the HT circuit in the mini that I owned if I expected it to start reliably. Great design putting the HT just behind the grill to catch road splash.

The classic Mini's were my all time favourite. I have a Mk1 from the 60s tucked away in the garage for when the 'road salt season' ends. The trick to make the HT circuit impervious to water is to buy spark plug caps that have a rubber seal on the end that fits over the plug. I use NKG. https://www.sparkplugs.co.uk/brands/ngk/plugs-cap

[UncleIan]

When I was young I had a number of Citroen 2CVs and Dyanes. One of the best cars ever made. The last one cost me £250.

My first was a Dyanne, one of those cars where the owners wave at each other. Learnt to drive in it, mad car but I loved it. It coincided with a mad second year at six form, so there's many happy memories tied up with it there, lunchtime drives, friends in the car, top down, tunes on, good times. Weirdly a couple of years back I was walking along some very back road in France and one that exact same colour ("Jade" green) drove past and pulled into a drive, reader, I nearly went and made them an offer (or at least explain in pigeon french that I had one the same). It looked immaculate, even though it must have been close to 40 years old. Sounded just the same, that twin cylinder air cooled engine was unmistakable.

Worst car was what came next, a Renault 5, poke a finger through it rusty, and a succession of random different bits went wrong in the year I had it, a complete shirtbox. Luckily the person we bought it off had a scrap one in the drive, and they said if we could move it we could have it, so nearly burning out the clutch on my dad's fiesta, we did it, and towed it home, cannibalizing bits off it all year, boot door, starter motor, horn, alternator. 1.3 engine so when it went, it went quick, especially with a 19 year old me behind the wheel. It eventually broke a conrod or something down the M3, and that was that.

[tea42]

Best car without a doubt is my current SEAT Ateca. The 1.4 litre turbo petrol engine that is so quiet its uncanny, plenty of oomph too it can keep up withyour 2 litre turbo diesels easily. For a 4 cylinder engine it is relaxing and quiet on long journeys. People who have diesel cars and get in it cant believe it. Is the engine running? Along with this feature the other great thing is the connectivity with my Android Moto G phone. With Android Auto on board you get Google sat nav on the Ateca's central screen. This is brilliant because with the traffic information it gives you an accurare arrival time, warnings of delays and how long go slows and jams are and I find that and the quiet engine makes driving long distances a relaxing dream. Driving stress evaporates.
I have owned a Merc 350 TE estate and that comes second with its purring perfectly balanced 6 cylinder engine.

A long way behind was the 1950s Hillman Minx that I bought in which the rear suspension collapsed as I drove it home. Luckily the seller was a decent guy who refunded my £20 without a murmur

The vehicle I love most is Rusty my VW T25 Camper. Breakdowns and problems are legion but you cant help loving him... T25 owners can be recognised by their empty wallets and hangdog expressions A badge of honour is to post a photo on Facebook of your Van perched on a recovery truck!

[tjh290633]

Don't know about the best and worst, because we move on with the time. My favourite was a Mark 1 Toyota MR2, which was great to drive. Had it from 1993 to 1998 as a second car, first being a company car. Sold because I needed more luggage space.

Worst, undoubtedly a Vauxhall Cresta PB automatic, which had the habit of dropping its coolant on the road just after stopping.

Best? The current one takes a lot of beating, a Suzuki SX4 S-Cross SZ4 1.0 litre Boosterjet.

TJH

[Charlottesquare]

Mine have mainly been been surprisingly good , the worst was a Granada 2.0e saloon, it had some sensor issues dropping into limp home often and despite new cat, helgo sensors etc was never spot on- it could run well for 2-3 months then hiccup for the next month.

The absolute worst have to be my late father's cars, his volvo 345 always felt like it was going to overturn cornering at anything above 40, then he had a big Citroen-it burst into flames outside his house.

My best is my 1991 Mercedes E320 wagon, its auto box went in 2009 coming back from Sweden to Esjberg for the ferry, but gamely got us there with 1,000 rpm per each 10mph we did over about 300 miles , it was traded in at Ipswich under the scrappage scheme for a new Fiat for my other half and I felt rotten; in effect like kicking a loyal dog after it had near killed itself to get us to the ferry.

Next favourite is my 1987 Reliant Scimitar SS1600, for the brief times it actually gets on a road (it will never get sold) it is great fun to drive, handling is sharp, cornering through some of the Borders B roads great fun; just a shame i keep taking it to bits.

I also loved my much earlier Escort Ellipse 1990 (traded in during 1999 for the ********* Granada), great blue, solidly planted, no acceleration- overtaking in Germany with kids /family was not for faint hearted, needing about 800 metres clear in outside lane behind to make it safe to pull out, but a really planted car, really hard to skid, a decent challenge to drive providing no passengers.

In all I have had over the years a mark 1 escort, a mark 11 Cortina, a Fiesta Ghia , the Escort Eclipse, Granada, Carlton, Rover 620, Mercedes 320, Mercedes 200, Mercedes 220 and the current Countryman 2.0l, out of all of them the Granada being the only issue car and I drove/still drive older cars (current one is a 2011)

[staffordian]

My first car was a 1968 Hillman Imp deluxe, bought for £150 in 1974.

In many ways my worst car, in others my best.

As was common in those days, it rusted well; new sills being needed to pass an MOT a year later. I got quite proficient with body filler and rattle cans

And off the top of my head, in the two years I owned it, I replaced brake light bulbs, voltage regulator, radiator, heater valve, accelerator cable, cylinder head gasket (twice), clutch and gearbox and the rubber 'donuts' connecting the driveshafts to the gearbox.

And probably some other bits I've forgotten.

Apart from that, it was no trouble

And as it was my first car, and taught me a lot, it was a great car.

Other gems I've had, a Vauxhall Viva HA (the first generation boxy shaped one) which my Dad bought from new and I learned to drive in, which I owned much later when it was a more a few bits of metal held together with body filler and a prayer than a car, an HC Viva which sounded more like a bag of nails than a car once the engine was started, and several Metros which ran well but rusted well too.

The only car I owned in the 70s and 80s which I had absolutely no problems with was a six year old 1970 Morris 1100. And the only reason I had no problems withnit was that it was stolen less than a year after buying it...

On the other hand, since selling an S reg Fiat Punto early this millennium, I have never had a breakdown or MOT failure in any of the cars I've had since.

I think it's very difficult to find an unreliable car these days, unless you deliberately look for one, such as a JLR product or possibly a recent Nissan.

[Mike88]

Worst car - Range Rover which acquired a new oil leak far too often especially around the front hubs. Most expensive car to repair (had it not been for the manufacturers warranty) was my Audi Q3 which had a new transfer box, new central locking, new filler cap trigger device and new Haldex unit governing the 4 wheel drive system. Some of these issues arose after less than 10000 miles. However, the Q3 is the best car to drive I have owned.

[JohnB]

Worst - Chrysler PT Cruiser. I liked it the States so bought a friend's here. It wallowed all over Devon, drank petrol, and was a bugger to park, then the power steering went. Garages failed to fix it, so it went for auction, and am so grateful to the auction staff who drove it into the ring with thews of iron so no-one noticed. I remember hovering round it in the auction compound sticking the badge back on with blue-tac after tire-kicking punters kept knocking it off.

Best - Citroen Saxo 1.4i, over-powered for its handling, it was like driving a roller-skate, lots of fun, and so cheap to run.

I did enjoy running a Mark 3 Escort for years 18-22 of its life, lots of fun having a banger that drank 1 litre of oil per 100 miles.

[Braziers]

Best owned- 1995 Mercedes S124 E220 estate. Bought at 163000 miles for £900, miles sold at 210000 for £600. Spent £5500 on repairs and upgrades. Loved it. Really loved it.

Best company car - 1992 Honda Prelude 2.3i 4WS auto Malacite green. Boot spoiler. Gorgeous to look at. Divine to drive.

Worst - Mini pick-up. Silver with green canvas canopy. What was I thinking?

[Breelander]

Worst - Mini pick-up. Silver with green canvas canopy. What was I thinking?

I hardly dare tell you, but do you know how rare they are now? Or how much they go for? We're talking five figures here....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Mini-Pickup-Cl ... n_55183039

[Braziers]

Worst - Mini pick-up. Silver with green canvas canopy. What was I thinking?

I hardly dare tell you, but do you know how rare they are now? Or how much they go for? We're talking five figures here....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Mini-Pickup-Cl ... n_55183039

Well that sums up my investing career.