Tell Us What You Think Is The Most UN-Reliable Vehicle In History

Agent001 submitted on 02/24/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 1:20 PM
from: www.autospies.com

[154] user comments | category: Report Cards

Tags: Land Rover Discovery, Unreliability

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Land Rover Discovery

Unreliability

Tell Us What You Think Is The Most UN-Reliable Vehicle In History

In this world of flawless Lexus quality and so many new cars hitting the roads that are light years ahead in reliability compared to their past brethren, it's getting really hard to find an UN-reliable vehicle.

Almost everything being made today is pretty darn good.

It HAS to be or its game over.

But over the years there have been some REAL beauties out there when it came to just pure unadulterated CRAP.

So we would like to know, in your opinion, what is the MOST unreliable car you, your friends or your family have ever encountered?

Tell us the brand and model but also any stories about how and what went wrong.

I'll start it off with a vehicle that if it isn't THE worst, it's got to be a photo finish.

Are you ready boys and girls?

Drum roll please.....

And the winner (er, I mean loser) is?

The last generation Land Rover Discovery.

It doesn't get much worse than this in our opinion.

Let the posting begin!

This should be a LOT of fun.

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bmwman1963 - 2/24/2008 1:40:03 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

1985 Chrysler Laser XE

Worst vehicle ever in my opinion.

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EnnNorak - 2/24/2008 3:20:16 PM

-1 Boost

Surely the 1985 Chrysler Laser XE could not have been more unreliable than East Germany's Trabant. I found Audi's of the eighties to be unreliable in the electrical department -- this is completely changed now as current Audi's are reliable in just about every way. VW group has experienced reliability problems with coil over plug ignition -- coil suppliers are to blame.

ErichHartmann - 2/24/2008 4:15:57 PM

+5 Boost

The Trabant was actually one of the most reliable cars ever built. I don't know where its reputation of "unreliability" comes from but it is simply not true. It might have been technologically primitive but that's exactly what made it so reliable: simple and proven technology.

AE86 - 2/25/2008 10:49:50 PM

+1 Boost

Trabant's were the Corvette's of Eastern Europe with their fiberglass bodies. All kidding aside, I actually rode in one and it was OK. Did its job and was very reliable to its family for almost 20 years.

tattedtwice - 2/24/2008 1:58:48 PM

+11 Boost

"Flawless lexus quality." LMAO. I needed that laugh to get my day started.

Sounds like someone is either greatly uninformed (nothing new there, previous threads have showed that) or fooled by the hype. Statistically less trouble prone, perhaps, but flawless? Hardly.

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Willis - 2/24/2008 2:06:56 PM

+11 Boost

Agreed. Lexus quality is good, but not flawless. There is no such thing as flawless quality. It's a marketing gimmick.

The most unreliable car I ever owned was an early '90s Nissan Sentra.

ceric - 2/24/2008 7:14:17 PM

+8 Boost

If Lexus has "flawless quality", then the ext warranty will be forever be free. Don't you think?
In fact, it is cheaper than most, but still more than 60% of BMW's.

silver1 - 2/25/2008 11:37:19 AM

-7 Boost

"tattedtwice"

Just look at Lexus History....No other car maker comes close to Lexus with 20 years of terrific reliablity.....That's what they meant buy flawless, but your too slow to understand....

M53R - 2/26/2008 10:22:56 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

XYZZ

Lexus might be the best between luxury makes in reliability, but its not flawless.

My friend bought a 2006 Lexus GS430, and he had to fix the transmission after about 15k.

pushrod27 - 2/24/2008 2:09:38 PM

+6 Boost

ANY Ford from the 1980's.

My uncle had a Tempo that had a spontaneous engine fire under the hood. It was no more than 5 minutes between the time the engine started smoking until the entire car was engulfed in flames.

I also saw the same thing happen to a Ford Aerostar minivan.

Fords are more than just unreliable, they are unsafe!

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EnnNorak - 2/24/2008 3:25:31 PM

+5 Boost

Both myself and the guy that plowed my driveway in the winter had Ford oil pans that rusted out from the outside -- these oil pans were made of extremely thin metal and the engine in my 1992 Grand Marquis had to be lifted up a few inches just to get at the oil pan -- luckily this happened 2 weeks before the warranty expired and Ford subsequently reduced the rust-thru warranty by one year and applied it to body panels only.

w209w114 - 2/24/2008 2:10:36 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

British cars come to mind here in America as being particularly unreliable. Ex: Jaguar in the early 90s. I've also heard and seen horror stories unfold with the mid 1990s Audis.

Today it seems with the technology and knowledge acquired when it comes to building autos, that cars have taken a huge leap into the reliability sector. Just about any (new) car now can be considered reliable compared to 20-30 years ago.

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Agent004 - 2/24/2008 2:16:56 PMView My AgentSpace

-9 Boost

Anything Jaguar in the 80's and 90's. Anything American.

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toolatetorace - 2/24/2008 10:41:48 PM

+7 Boost

are you basing your "anthing American " because you had one of everything , or is it you own personal prejudice

Agent004 - 2/25/2008 3:14:42 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

What's that saying, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me? How many American cars does it take before you're totally turned off on them? For me it was 4. Jeep Cherokee, Dodge Dynasty, Ford Explorer, Ford Mustang. All turned out to be money pits, although the Cherokee('88) held up the longest. None of them lasted to their 6th birthday, where as both foreign cars we owned celebrated their 10th birthdays with no signs of slowing down.

There's a reason an American car depreciates 20% when you drive it off the lot, and there's a reason why not too many of them are making it off the lot these days. It has nothing to do with my prejudices, they dug this hole themselves.

Agent009 - 2/25/2008 9:55:36 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

anything later 70's to early 80's American.. I went through some old paperwork in my dads garage last week. I had a 77 Malibu that was new (HS graduation gift)

first visit warranty visit had 27 items to address including runs in the paint and paint too thin on the rear.

Over the course of owning it 3 years it went to the shop 7 times.

The only thing worse could have been a Fiat maybe...

Shredmo - 2/25/2008 10:49:56 AM

+1 Boost

You owned a Dodge Dynasty and you visit this site?
Too funny :)

Agent004 - 2/25/2008 1:43:49 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Inherited it from my grand parents, the best thing about it was the amount of electricity you could generate from just getting in and out of the car.

DaHarder - 2/24/2008 2:20:40 PM

+8 Boost

My 1st vehicle ever was a 1979 Fiat 124 Sport Spider 2000, and it was the single worst thing (vehicle or otherwise) that I ever owned... Period!

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Sunshine1810 - 2/25/2008 11:51:46 AM

+2 Boost

My father's first vehicle was also a Fiat and although he hated fixing it everyday and I do mean everyday, his least favorite car is a Saab (not sure what year or model anymore.) I can understand why you would find the Fiat's so unreliable.

GruntyDieselsRock - 2/25/2008 4:50:31 PM

+2 Boost

Lancia HPE Volumex. It was a great drive and very pretty but it broke down every Thursday, leaving me stranded in the pub every Friday. I basically replaced the whole thing. Sad to say it but it really was a POS.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/26/2008 7:37:07 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

My first was a Datsun 510... it could've been fun, but my father crapped it up for me.

richard112360 - 2/24/2008 2:27:18 PM

Show Comment -26 Boost

Willis - 2/24/2008 3:01:14 PM

+10 Boost

What a dumb list. Seriously you have issues.

Homer008 - 2/24/2008 8:13:38 PM

Show Comment -15 Boost

Homer008 - 2/24/2008 8:39:06 PM

-9 Boost

However, I believe most modern cars built these days are reliable and hopefully, I didn't offend any European car fans.

richard112360 - 2/25/2008 2:01:21 PM

-1 Boost

All based on facts. See your latest consumer report magazine. A seven year old Lexus LS is considered more reliable than a brand new S class Mercedes Benz.

ErichHartmann - 2/25/2008 4:25:39 PM

-1 Boost

A brand new S-Klasse hasn't reached "seven years of age" yet, hence the comparison is invalid.

Before Lexus took the reliability crown, Mercedes-Benz had decades of top reliability records. Look at the German reliability statistics in the 1970s to the early 1990s. Mercedes-Benz was on top, not Toyota.

Porschinator - 2/26/2008 5:02:23 PM

+3 Boost

Let me guess...your a Lexus fan!!! lol

JUGNU - 2/24/2008 2:29:44 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

"Flawless lexus quality"

It's just like the "BMWs the best driving, best handling....etc".

It's a standard thing. U have to belive just like when a BMW is automatically assumed to be a better driving car than the competiton. Same way Lexus is also viewed as and should be viewed to have the highest quality and reliability (There unparallel quality and reliability records in various studies surely indicate that)

btw i have encountered many unrelibale cas but mostly are Americans and VWs.

The last being a freinds crappy 2007 Chevrolet Optra, engine problems, transmission problems at just 10K and
other's E55 AMG. That's too problematic. Also nowadays a freind is really getting upset from his Jeep Commander.

JUGNU

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atomicbri - 2/25/2008 7:09:57 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Most unreliable in our family was a Honda Civic... 2006 2 door EX.... recalls as well as 3 problems with no recalls and 1 problem has occurred over 2 times... so for the 3rd Japanese car we have owned, it has been a disappointment.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/26/2008 7:38:43 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

JUGNU, there is a difference between "best" and "flawless."

Lexus has great reliability, but not the best quality. The RX330 wasn't built like a tank, like the X5.

xlr8 - 2/24/2008 2:31:30 PM

+6 Boost

A yugo...80s fiats...80s Jaguars...

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528i - 2/24/2008 2:34:34 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

1999 E320 4matic.

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528i - 2/25/2008 1:48:46 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Its the wife's car. its at the shop now, they have to replace the front left axl.

bmwman1963 - 2/24/2008 2:44:57 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

So sick of hearing about "flawless lexus quality" I owned two earlier this decade and both were crap! The carpet did not even got up to the under part of the dashboard and you could reach underneath the dash and pull all the wiring out because of not having a panel. Japanese and most asian brands cut corners where ever possile. Low grade carpet, thin doors, low grade leather, etc, etc. etc.... How many 25+ Jap brands do you still see on the road? I have owned 4 BMW's and all have been flawless, including fit and finish, mechanical, drivetrain and electronics. The lexus cars were always in the shop for transmission problems and electronic flaws. Not to mention lexus charges you out the rear for service!!!

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Agent001 - 2/24/2008 2:50:53 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

When we said 'Flawless Lexus reliability' we were speaking figuratively, describing how good reliability has gotten and how they have built the reputation as the de facto standard of reliability.

Nothing is TRUELY flawless...all machines break

But what a difference over the past five years and their leadership here has made the whole industry improve.

001

0to60 - 2/24/2008 3:56:41 PM

+3 Boost

Ive owned lexus vehicles and mostly japanese cars and they have for the most part been extremely reliable. Esecially my Lexus vehicle. Nissans tend to have some trouble spots but my Lexus's were supurb. Personally I hated the drive of my boring lexus vehicles but they got where I needed to go every time.

bulldogz - 2/24/2008 4:13:09 PM

0 Boost

Dude, that story is so full of shit, your eyes are brown. Please don't waste everyone's time by implying that the 4 BMWs you owned were not only more reliable, but actually cost less to service. I could waste everyone's time to with the laundry list of "issues" both my wife's 330 conv. had, as did my M5. You actually had the audacity to complain about a Lexus having electrical issues, while the Germans literally copyrighted it!

DallasMR2 - 2/24/2008 7:09:35 PM

+8 Boost

AGAIN 001!!!

With all the Lexus ads on this 'neutral' site, you driving an LS460 and now with this 'post' the lexus-ness of this place is getting sickening. seriously. if i want to hear about how much better lexus is than anyone i'll go to lexus.com.

0to60 - 2/24/2008 8:29:13 PM

-3 Boost

bulldogz, my BMW had serious electrical issues also. These bmw fans are in denial.

0to60 - 2/24/2008 8:43:02 PM

0 Boost

DallasMR2, this is a BMW fan site. What are you talking about!?! Yes there are a few idiot lexus fans but overwhelmingly a place for BMW fans to come and "worship" their "pagan god."

bobs4state - 2/25/2008 10:49:05 AM

-1 Boost

Why would you reach under a dash and pull all of the wires out?

autopro - 2/27/2008 11:26:16 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Dude what are you smoking?

Chip - 2/24/2008 3:21:53 PM

+4 Boost

All Landrovers (including the current Range Rover)

My 2000 A6 2.7T was a complete nightmare.

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bmwman1963 - 2/25/2008 9:05:02 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Not once did I ever have an electrical issue with my BMW's.. My mom has a 3 series wagon that is 8 years old and has never had one problem with it... I usually keep mine from 2-4 years too. I'm sure that there are some that have problems, but for me, my family and friends, we have almost zilch problems. We have 7 between us, some are 7 series, some are 5 series, but most are the 3 series.

StickShiftCamry - 2/24/2008 3:27:10 PM

+3 Boost

'89 Eagle Premier LX V6, though the car was ahead of its time. Was locked inside, no door would open!

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StickShiftCamry - 2/24/2008 3:29:30 PM

0 Boost

I think I have an "Un-Reliable" car in the making now: 2007 Mazda CX-7 Turbo, all of a sudden last wk, a huge trail of smoke was blinding everyone while driving, then it stopped smoking, and it didn't come back since!?

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M35MT - 2/25/2008 8:06:24 AMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

How is that unreliable?

All Mazdas with the 2.3L MZR Tubro (speed3, speed6 and CX-7) had an ECU recall to fix this.

Mine did it when it was brand new, almost 8,000 miles now and no black smoke.

Call your dealer.

holmstar - 2/25/2008 11:34:07 AM

+1 Boost

It is an issue with the seal in the turbo. The dealer will replace the turbo under warrantee. I have a mazdaspeed 6 and my turbo was replaced as well.

Audiphile - 2/24/2008 3:36:56 PM

+5 Boost

I have owned 8 cars in my lifetime, and three of them were outright disasters. In ascending chronological order of ownership, they are:

1. 1976 Volkswagen Rabbit. Wonderful design and fun to drive, but a nightmare from the standpoint of reliability. This car was so radically different from its predecessor, the Beetle, that it took VW 3 years to get the "bugs" (pun intended) out of it. If I had waited 4 months and gotten a 1977 model, I would have avoided a lot of headaches and heartburn.

2. 1975 Plymouth Valiant. Typical crappy Chrysler build quality for this era, and that 1960-vintage 225 Slant Six engine was hopelessly crippled by 1970's economy and emission controls. The car was also dangerous to drive in wet or snowy weather, and the tail would swing out when braking in a turn.

3. 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK 320. A beautiful car, and fun to drive - when it was not malfunctioning! The major mechanical components (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, etc.) were fine but little electrical glitches drove me crazy almost from day one. I came to know EVERY person in my dealer's service department, and the owner as well!

My parents owned a 1971 Chevrolet Vega station wagon. The aluminum-block engine block had warped due to a malfunctioning water pump, so we had to carry two gallons of water with us on long trips to replenish the coolant.

Another lemon in my family was a 1987 Buick Century that my aunt owned.

The worst one of the bunch was that 1975 Rabbit I mentioned earlier. It left such a bitter taste in my mouth I didn't buy a car from the Volkswagen Group for 30 yeasrs, when I bought my current car, an Audi A8L - which incidentally has been very reliable.

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TauronB2G - 2/24/2008 7:34:41 PM

+2 Boost

Interesting I had a 98 CLK320 Cabrio, a 2002 Clk320 Cabrio and a 07 CLK550 cabrio and I never had any major problems with the car. The battery in my first one ran down once in my garage but that was it, my 02 seemed to go through brake pads quickly and my 07 is virtually flawless. I haven't had any real problems with the Benzes. The dealerships are another story bu the cars were okay.
T

lexusis350 - 2/24/2008 3:57:55 PM

+3 Boost

1993 Volkswagen Jetta. My brother had one and sold it five months later. It had broken down 13 times in those five months. It was the biggest pile of crap I've ever seen.

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0to60 - 2/24/2008 3:59:12 PM

+4 Boost

Ford Contour - I know of two that caught on fire and the brakes stopped working in Mountainous WV on a steep hill. The newer mass produced suzuki. The old suzuki's back in the early 90's were ok.

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macbjg - 2/24/2008 4:06:05 PM

+6 Boost

Yugo. From the parts bins of Fiat. Need I say more?

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EvoAudi - 2/24/2008 4:38:58 PMView My AgentSpace

+8 Boost

original 1998 MB ML320, had to go to the dealer on a weekly basis. I got to know every mechanic by name from that car.

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bmwman1963 - 2/24/2008 4:48:23 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

bulldogz--- My story is not full of shit and my eyes are not brown. Fact based and can back it up with records. So, KISS OFF!

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MrGunFun - 2/24/2008 4:54:20 PMView My AgentSpace

-7 Boost

Infiniti EX35.

Gets recalls before I even see them on the road.

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mikeydred20 - 2/25/2008 8:11:06 PM

-1 Boost

Thank you

FunBrit - 2/24/2008 6:09:41 PM

+2 Boost

Anything British made from the 1970's, or anything Italian made from the 1980's.

Currently I would avoid anything Nissan built while it is under the control of Napoleon...Carlos Ghosn. The current generation Altima was only released in October 2006 and already has 7 safety recalls. The 2009 Murano only hit the market last month and already has 1 safety recall.

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MrGunFun - 2/24/2008 6:39:32 PMView My AgentSpace

-11 Boost

2009 Murano = EX35.

DaHarder - 2/24/2008 9:55:58 PM

+9 Boost

GunFun,

You Really Don't Have (Even a Semblance) of a Clue, Do You?

The Nissan Murano's Platform Has Nothing What-So-ever In Common With The Infiniti EX35 - NOTHING!

Think of the Murano as a Maxima Wagon, and the EX As an Infiniti G35 Wagon and You'll Be On The Right Track.

amazinBimmer - 2/24/2008 6:40:05 PM

0 Boost

is this a joke? of cpourse the 1985 audi 5000s. no car hasbeen that bad before or since. and a POS. and yes, i did own one, in college.

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S4cabriofoxone - 2/26/2008 7:44:08 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Wow, you are a loser.

TheSailor - 2/24/2008 7:29:29 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

That is easy: every single car to come out of British Leyland! As far as I know, all of them used dodgy Lucas electronics, a company who's unofficial motto was "keeping Britain in the dark"...

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eamaxson - 2/24/2008 7:48:08 PM

+1 Boost

Had to be the original VW Beetle. Never knew an owner who didn't have at least one of them catch fire while underway.

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Luxurious - 2/24/2008 8:01:53 PM

+2 Boost

I gotta agree with last generation Land Rover Discovery, and i'll add 1993 VW Passat GLX VR6(worst ever)and 1998 Audi A6.

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iamdabest1 - 2/24/2008 8:07:47 PM

+1 Boost

my dad swears it was his AUDI FOX , lol

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KEVINBSL500 - 2/24/2008 8:11:34 PM

+3 Boost

2004 SL500 fun to drive when it drives. Trans, oil leak, top gets stuck,trans again, brakes, srs light, gas light on a full tank,etcc....and Jaguar of every year.

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dommagicjuan - 2/24/2008 8:44:36 PM

+4 Boost

almost all range rovers, i have not had any encounters with the newer ones(defunct by bmw) however any one i have had in inventory has had at least one major problem

runner up.....jag x type?

85bmw745i - 2/24/2008 11:34:28 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

Range Rover is a model Land Rover is the manufacturer. Land Rover Discovery, LAnd Rover Defender, Land Rover Freelander, Land Rover Range rover and Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Range Rover is NOT a manufacturer it is a model of Land Rover!!!!! not trying to be an @$$hole but I can't stand it when people ask who makes Land Rover or thinking Range Rover is the manufacturer.

M35MT - 2/25/2008 8:13:01 AMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

That pisses me off too, in the news paper I always see Land Rover and Range Rover listed separately...idiots.

no1listensanyway - 2/24/2008 9:06:53 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

My sister had a 91 Dodge Shadow many moons ago, damn that thing was a POS. Sometimes the car would accelerate for no reason, the transmisson would shift when it felt like, and the car would overheat in the middle of winter.

The worst car I owned was a 92 Camry, what another POS. Leaked gas, the engine was rusted, only two windows worked, the sunroof would get stuck in the most undesirable situations. Inside pieces were falling off.

I also have to say my 06 CTS is not shaping up to the car I expected it to be. The rear differential is driving me nuts, it bangs, whines and sometimes it just all-out schreches along. The struts sometimes squeek and the brakes/tires are wearing at an alarming rate. Worst of all, their service centers are horrible. I have already had a censor in the engine replaced... I gave GM a fair chance here to make me a returning customer...

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bmwman1963 - 2/24/2008 9:19:06 PMView My AgentSpace

-4 Boost

Try BMW next time around. I've owned over 20 luxury cars and BMW has been by far the best of any of them. Their committment to service is vastly superior to the other brands too.

dommagicjuan - 2/24/2008 10:04:34 PM

+1 Boost

i think we also forgot about the caddy allante........ electrical nightmares

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dommagicjuan - 2/24/2008 10:04:34 PM

+1 Boost

i think we also forgot about the caddy allante........ electrical nightmares

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85bmw745i - 2/24/2008 11:37:16 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Any GM car from the 80's to late 90's. Talk about electrical problems! Starters, Alternators and fuel pumps. not to mention wierd electrical glitches that took forever to track down.

jt716 - 2/24/2008 10:19:27 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

2000 Renault Scenic!!

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sailnfl - 2/24/2008 10:42:05 PM

+2 Boost

while British leyland had there problems (lucas)they still are the best looking cars on the road, austin 3000, tr6, tr250, 74 v12 xke and the list goes on. japs sucked and still suck.the boxey bww and garmin geekie porshe sucked. The american vette, GTO, 442 slams anything today except the viper and the old 427 cobra-so you yups keep buying then lame ass cars!

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toolatetorace - 2/24/2008 10:42:40 PM

0 Boost

Oldsmobile diesels

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85bmw745i - 2/24/2008 11:40:15 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Huh? I am a BMW fan but I have had toyotas and I have never had a problem with them but then again, there are exceptions, just like some Domestic cars of the same make and model might have no problems while someone else might be in the shop all of the time. problem with American cars is the inconsistencies in reliability. You might get lucky and get one with no problems or get unlucky and get one with all of the common failures and problems.

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M3owns - 2/25/2008 3:03:52 AM

+2 Boost

I think one of the most unreliable cars out there is the the clk. And for the people that think that cars are not reliable due to recalls: A recall could be for anything, like maybe a floor mat, not every recall is for engine faults.

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