Best and Worst Cars You've Ever Owned--Points for PICS!

[iLander]

Tell us about the best and worst cars you've ever owned (and why!). I'm passing out bonus points for pics. The points are worthless, and completely without meaning, but I'm going to have fun with it, so here we go!

BEST: My new (to me) one, a Porsche boxster. For those of you that read my post in the accidents thread, I can hear you wincing all the way from here. But I'm trying real hard with this one, I swear! It rides smooth and goes fast enough for me to scare the heck out of me. Love it! Before I got this car, I would have said my 1990 Toyota Celica, which was reliable, zippy with a fabulous stick shift, and a joy to drive. We had to trade it in when DS got too big to wedge into the back seat (it was a two door). I loved that car!

WORST: A Mercedes ML310. We bought it with only 20K miles on it, but it seemed to be buggy. Then one day I was reading the manual and it said that using a cell phone inside the car could cause electrical problems. What?!! Then it seemed to develop this burning plastic smell, which the dealer decided was a plastic bag sticking inside the engine. Even though he couldn't see a plastic bag. Right. Then one day DH was driving it, and he suddenly had no brakes. He managed to drive it against the curb until it slowed down and got it towed to the dealer. The dealer said it was fine. We eventually made the dealer buy it back, but I'm sure they turned around and sold it to some poor sucker, who may or may not be alive today. Plus it wasn't roomy at all, it was big, but somehow it was the opposite of roomy.

POINTS: 100 points to me for pics!

How about you?

BTW-You can find pics for almost any year and make of car on Edmunds.com.

 

[vc10um]

Oooo, this will be fun!

I've only ever owned 2 cars! But one was LEAPS AND BOUNDS better than the other.

BEST: 2005 Chevy Cobalt in Blue Granite Metallic. I.Love.This.Car. It's the perfect size for me. Hubs with the long legs and big feet has no problems either. It's the most perfect color ever. It's got a pretty spacious trunk, the back seat fits two adults for a reasonable drive, and it gets over 30mpg combined city and highway. It had one recall that was a quick fix (first model year) and since then, no real issues.

WORST: 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 in CD Silver. My first car (I didn't have a say in the matter...mom paid, mom picked...I only got to choose the color). My friends called it the UFO. First model year for this one, too...but about 15+ recalls for various issues with the car. 2 doors made any more than 1 passenger tough (and I often had a full car taking myself, my sister, and the three kids across the street to school), but the hatchback was useful. Passed that off to my sister when I went to college and never looked back. Was suppose to get it when SHE went to college...but she crashed it. So she had to keep it, and my mom gave me the trade-in value plus a little extra for the DP on the Cobalt.

BUT. DH and I are on the waiting list to order a TESLA MODEL S (in blue...but I can't find a good picture of that color). And we are SO.Freaking.EXCITED. They are pretty much the coolest cars ever. EverEver. So that will eclipse my dear Chevy Cobalt once it's sitting in our garage.

 

[Gypsy]

Best... I don't know how to qualify that.

Here's what I've owned and what I thought about it.

1. 1990 VW Jetta. Little engine that could. Perfect for a college coed which is what I was. Had some major issues with repair (the door moisture guards failed and the entire upholstery molded, but it was under warranty and they fixed the whole thing) but I lived next to a great VW service shop and they always fixed what was wrong (plus the parents paid the bills then).
2. 1992 Camaro Special Edition (DH's car that he bought before we met). OMG. The repairs were INSANE ON THIS THING. Could not drive it in the snow without having taken a stunt course on hazardous driving. I hated this car. But it's my DH's favorite. Depends on your perspective. We replace all the axles and everything in the front cause it was cracked under there ( ) and then sold the thing to a collector, cash and he said 'no inspection is fine'... well, he ended up having to replace the whole rear of the thing (everything but the gas tank and the body) after because something was cracked there too (no accidents in that car, just shoddy Chevy quality).
3. Nissan Sentra 2000-something. After the Camaro this car was exactly what I wanted. Gas efficient economy car with a don't quit attitude.
4. Volvo S40. WOW the service fees are high on these. RIDICULOUS. But the car was so comfy and peppy. I loved it. But once the electrical system got buggy it was time to trade it in. Still though, those ridiculous maintenance fees would keep me from buying another any time soon.
5. Toyota Camry. Most boring car on the planet and we had two at the same time. Boring to drive. Boring to look at. But we had NO issues with maintenance and the service fees were non-existent. It was the polar opposite of the Camaro. And I hated this one too just because it was so boring.
6. Mazda 3 2010 Grand Touring. Love my little car. I call it my budget Lexus. It has the right balance between peppy and fun to drive (I have the upgraded engine), lovely amount of comfort features inside, but is budget friendly both in repairs (none) and in service fees (cheap). Great car for commuting (which is what I need) not just because of the budget friendly features but because it has enough personality and features that when you are stuck in traffic you don't mind spending time in it.
7. Mazda RX-8 2009 Grand Touring. Perfect budget sports car. Sleek and low, decent comfort and 'four' doors (nudge, nudge, wink wink) to keep your insurance rates lower, lots of features in the top of the line grand touring. But the rotary engine isn't for everyone. Fun to drive.

 

[manderz]

Worst car- 1998 chevy cavalier, my first car. What a heaping pile of garbage. I don't know how, but I managed to blow a head gasket in the dead of winter. Literally, one of the coldest winters we'd had in eons. I had that thing in the shop every other week it seemed. It was awful in the winter, too. It was like it floated on top of the ice and snow.

Had a 99 grand cherokee next, for ~5 years, and it was reliable, but buggy. It had some strange electrical issues we never could get sorted. It had 160,000 miles when we sold it, and it ran like a champ. It was a solid, well-built car.

Favorite car (can't say best, as I haven't had it long) 2007 Jeep Patriot. Bought it used, and it's the fancy one with all the bells and whistles. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my car. It's perfect for me, and I haven't had any issues with anything yet.

 

[TC1987]

Worst car was the first one I ever bought. 1978 Toyota Corolla SR5. 1600cc. 5-speed. Blue exterior, and blue interior. What a pos. Piston rings cracked for no apparent reason at only 45,000 miles, came with no radio because it had been pried out and stolen, but it was a used car so who knows. It started to rust, and I swear that you really could stand next to it on a quiet night and hear it rusting. Then it developed electrical problems and numerous short circuits. I once left it parked on the street and walked to work for two weeks because the door chime kept ringing and wouldn't shut off. Shortly after that, I got rid of it. Months later, I was driving through the parking garage at the local mall and I spied a car that looked just like it, except it had a big huge dent in the quarter panel. I rolled down the window and yelled "Serves you right!" just in case it was my old car.

This is a picture that I got off the Internet. Note that the car is blue, and also that the current owner calls her "B**ch." I think that's no coincidence. It's the same car. And it's now conned some unsuspecting guy in Poland into saving it, this time. I spent a lot of money on that car, but I was just another sucker on her trip around the globe. http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4023

 

[madelise]

Wow after just seeing the OP, I felt super poor! If a Mercedes is the worst car…!


I've only ever owned two cars. My first was a '93 Camry that was handed down from my grandfather that no longer drove. It had a bajillion miles on it, and would squeak unendingly. It would break down out of nowhere, and it's engine would just STOP. After its engine stopped in the dead middle of the intersection, right after the light turned green, I decided my life was worth it, and reason enough to be buying a new car.

Well, new-to-me.

I now drive an '09 Yaris. It's my best car because it's the only car besides the unsafe car. I actually do love it, though. I love how I can parallel park anywhere, and squeeze into tiny spaces.

 

[Deactivated member 42515]

what a fun awesome thread!

Worst Cadillac Escalade- It clunks allllll the time when I reverse. When it shifts gears, it does this weird downshift thing but only from 1st to 2nd and it makes another noise! PLUS ONLY 10 mpg! I don't really know why I got this car.... I also know that it was voted worst car on the road by like 3 magazines! sad....


Best I don't have one.... I think I need a crash course on picking my cars...

I have been reading up on the new Tesla Model X and have been trying to convince DH to let me reserve one for 2014... But I'm not yet convinced with how small it is. I like big SUVs, but I would like an electric car.


I need to get rid of this Escalade. It's the car I drive now and I gotta admit that it's very comfy, probably the most comfy care I have ever owned but it drives soooooooo bad.

 

[ksinger]

Wasn't MY car (thank God!) but drove a 1978? Chevy Cadavalier one year of college. Mint green. Ghastly.

The worst was the 1979-ish Ford Fiesta. Made in Germany as I recall. NOT a fiesta. Unless you count the electrical system burning to a crisp as "festive".

Mixed bag was the 1990 Geo Prism. Reliable car, although fit, trim, and ride was like being in a badly-appointed tin can. And it was reliable until I found that one of the battery cables I was looking to replace (had gotten a bit corroded and was interfering with the flow of electricity in the car) was an INTEGRAL PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS and could NOT be replaced without rewiring the entire car. Buffed it up, got it started (with some effort) rolled it into the Saturn dealer for a trade before it died an ugly death. And for those of you asking, yes, I too wonder what it is with me and electrical systems in cars...

My 1997 Saturn 4 door was a good car. Fit and trim were poor, engine was rock solid. However, somebody had it in for me in that car, and I was sideswiped by Bubba Joe in from the sticks, in his aunt's truck. I was the second car he'd hit in a week. Got that all fixed, then got rear-ended by an uninsured non-English-speaking illegal. Naturally, I'd just recently dropped comp, so I drove for the next year and a half with both front and end bumpers all punched and mangled - it looked like I rolled out of the trailer park every day. Good car, but was glad to see it's ugliness roll away.

Current best car? My Camry. Yes yes, I KNOW it's dull. But I chose it for rock-solid reliability and comfort and ergonomics, which it delivers. The driver's seat is amazing and since I have a bad back, crappy car seats are deal-breakers. And it's a great car to travel in.

Previous best car - a 1976 Pontiac Ventura hatchback. Actually my mom's, car, but that car shuttled me back and forth to college for years - you could cram the most amazing amounts of STUFF in that thing. It was kinda like Hermione's enchanted handbag, or the tardis: bigger on the inside than the outside. Loved that car....

 

[diamondringlover]

Worst car was a 1997 Isuzu Rodeo, 4 wheel drive SUV, that thing was in the shop more then it was on the road...I owed it for 5.5 years, would have gotten rid of is sooner but it was a lease

Best car well thats a tough one, but so far I guess it would be a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder 2 wheel drive SUV, I drove it for 3 years with no problems, once again it was a lease

I currently drive a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited...as someone mentioned before lots of bugs with it and while the motor so far (knock on wood) still runs great, we have had to replace multiple things on this and its cost us $1000's of dollars in repairs...however I just paid it off so I am going to try and hold on to it till it blows up, I like not having car payments.


As a observation from my point of view only, of all the cars I have owned, by far my American made cars were the worse, since 1989 (when I quit driving junkers lol) I have had 5 vehicles 3 were American made and 2 were Foreign made, of my 3 American made cars 2 of them had the motor blow up in them one had 62,000 miles and the other had 68,000 miles the 3rd one is my Jeep that I have had alot of issues with and it currently has only 84,000 miles on it...my 2 foreign SUV's are the ones listed above...while neither motors blew up, my Rodeo has lots of issues...my next vehicle I think will probably be a Toyota

 

[CharmedOne]

I'm still laughing @ TC1987s car LOL

WORST - 2000 Grand Jeep Cherokee Limited
That car had all the bells and whistles but boy was it buggy. Every time I drove over a joint on the road or a tiny bump I would have to slow down or I'd lose control of the truck. We had a love/ hate relationship.

BEST - 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander AWD
When it stormed like crazy and there was a car graveyard on the beltway/ highway that car always got us home. That is the little engine that could and I still have her. My 17 year old drives it now. The other was a 1995 Mitsubishi eclipse Copper Pearl color my DH bought as a gift. Which was not a good idea considering I never had a license and was three months pregnant. I never got to drive her but once around the parking lot before she got traded in for a mom wagon, but boy was she pwittee!

Now I drive a bus, a 2009 Dodge Caravan which took 17 years of my husband begging me to get a even bigger mom wagon. But I must say, she is a comfortable ride. However, I refuse to get those stickers you see of the stick people. You know the ones I mean, with the dog, the cat, ballet girls, sporty boys, mom and dad etc. NEVER EVER will I get them. BTW, you can NOT look hot driving a bus. You just can't!!!!

 

[iLander]

Wow after just seeing the OP, I felt super poor! If a Mercedes is the worst car…!


I've only ever owned two cars. My first was a '93 Camry that was handed down from my grandfather that no longer drove. It had a bajillion miles on it, and would squeak unendingly. It would break down out of nowhere, and it's engine would just STOP. After its engine stopped in the dead middle of the intersection, right after the light turned green, I decided my life was worth it, and reason enough to be buying a new car.

Well, new-to-me.

I now drive an '09 Yaris. It's my best car because it's the only car besides the unsafe car. I actually do love it, though. I love how I can parallel park anywhere, and squeeze into tiny spaces.

Oh, I've been poor; first year we started our business we made $8000. Second year, $16000, third year, $22000. At no point were any of those figures considered "decent money". With no reserve savings, we lived in a roach infested apartment with bums arguing outside the window. The first year, we had to manage to scrape together $1500 to pay a midwife for the birth of my son. We were driving a Ford Escort and the $150 car payment was a serious stretch. I still remember the day when we finally had $5 to eat at McDonalds, it was a celebration! We shopped in the poor section of town (where we lived) on BOGO night, living on bologne. My wedding band cost $34. So, yeah, "come at me bro" (as my teen would say), on the being poor thing I'm now 25+ years past the poor part, but I haven't forgotten it.

And don't let the big car brands fool you, some of them kinda stink, according to Consumer Reports. Jaguars, some Caddies, some Benz (especially those built by Chrysler, like the ML line), even some BMW's, stink on ice.

 

[iLander]

Points So Far:

vc10um; 450 points for photos!

TC1987; 150 points for photo!

YayTacori; 300 points for photos!

Keep it coming!

I'll comment on the posts later when I have some time!

 

[vc10um]

I have been reading up on the new Tesla Model X and have been trying to convince DH to let me reserve one for 2014... But I'm not yet convinced with how small it is. I like big SUVs, but I would like an electric car.


I need to get rid of this Escalade. It's the car I drive now and I gotta admit that it's very comfy, probably the most comfy care I have ever owned but it drives soooooooo bad.

Tacori, have you had the chance to see the X in person? Or even the S? If you haven't, I HIGHLY recommend you go check out the S if you have a Tesla store near you. It is incredibly spacious. You can fit 3 adults quite comfortably in the back seat. The trunk is MASSIVE, and then there's the frunk. Yes, the frunk. Because there's no giant gas engine, there's an extra front trunk under the hood. It's pretty amazing. And with no transmission tunnel, there's no giant hump of uselessness in the back seat. I can only imagine how much more space there will be in the X! Even though it's not *that* much bigger, I can totally see where they can make some more space from the S body. AND those SUPER SWEET Falcon-Wing doors get me EVERY TIME. We can't wait to order our S and probably will do so in December for a March delivery! SO SO SO exciting. And have you SEEN the Supercharger map?!? I'm getting SO excited!!! (We live in Michigan, so no Superchargers near us just yet...but soon! Soooooon!)

 

[Autumnovember]

BEST The car I have right now is my best car. It's a fully loaded 2012 Audi A7 and it is a DREAM. I have it in black. I drive a TON of miles a year so having this car makes driving much more enjoyable. It's very advanced in terms of technology. I love the interior of my car, I think its beautiful. It's been very reliable. It's good on gas. There aren't many out on the road (here at least) so its also different which I really like. Oh, and its supercharged which makes it a quick car and I love to zoom zoom.

WORST 2009 Range Rover Supercharged. It drove nice but damn, I was in the shop with that car EVERRRRRRRRY single month to fix some kind of electrical crap. Besides that, the car wasn't bad. I did enjoy being higher off the road and the way the car drove but I was going crazy having to bring it in constantly.

For those of you talking about the Tesla...I was just in the mall yesterday and they had an entire showroom set up with the car. DH and I are thinking about if we want to buy one in the future. I have some pictures of it that I took. I think it's a reaaaallly nice car. One thing I really loved about it was that the break light in the back is identical to how my current car's break light is. I don't know why but it stands out to me. I think its super sexy The only problem I have is the price tag which is similar to my car now and I'm trying to downsize in the future. We signed up for the test drive which should be in about a week. I'm excited! I think its an amazing concept thats really going to take off. Wonder if buying stock in that would be smart? Also, I did see the X in person and it IS pretty spacious.

 

[Okie_girl]

My best and worst are the same car. 1966 Mustang that my parents bought new. My mom drove it for years, then my brother drove it, then I got it when I was in high school. In college, I was at Walmart one day, and over the loudspeaker I heard "would the owner of a blue Ford Mustang please come to the service desk." Not a good sign. I go to the service desk and the person there says, "oh, your car's on fire." The carburator caught fire, thankfully it was controlled without too much damage. Soon after, that car was sold. Sold it for what my folks payed for it new. Man, I wish I still had that car!

edited because spelling is important.

 

[amc80]

Worst car- 2002 VW Jetta. Super cute, fun turbo, but soooo many problems. One time, a solenoid (sp?) broke and it wouldn't do any gear but 3rd. Another time, it was as if it turned cruise control on and when I took my foot off the gas it just kept going. The radio broke so it could be turned up but not down ( to turn it down you had to turn it off and slowly turn it back up). Oh, and then the fatal design flaw- the cup holders popped out and were in front of the stereo, so to do anything you woul have to remove the drinks and push the cup holder in.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Worst car... my 1986 Pontial Fiero with the V6 engine. I had surprisingly little problem with that car, but I truly feel lucky to be alive!

Best car... my current Lexus RX330. (Although I hope to be updating that soon!) Could this thing get any more boring... ?!?

And you people are SO bad for me!!! I just looked up Tesla dealers. Unfortunately there are none in Kansas City, but I jused to live less than 2 miles from the one in Chicago. Good thing the roadster is sold out in North America right now, or else there might be some serious competition for the 911 I'm trying to buy!

P.S. - neither of these photos are of my actual car, they are just internet images.

 

[soocool]

Never really had a worst car, though my 1972 VW Beetle's heater would never shut off (had to disconnect the heater hose in the summer)and when the distributor cap got wet (which meant everytime it rained) the car would stall (many times while I was stopped at a red light. But it got me through college and I could drive 2 months before I had to put gas in that car and could park that car anywhere in the tightest of spaces.

Loved my 1978 280Z and sold that car for more than what I paid for it and also loved my 1985 Toyota Celica and also sold that car for almost what I paid for it 8 years later.

Sorry, no photos since that was before digital photography.

 

[ksinger]

Wasn't MY car (thank God!) but drove a 1978? Chevy Cadavalier one year of college. Mint green. Ghastly.

The worst was the 1979-ish Ford Fiesta. Made in Germany as I recall. NOT a fiesta. Unless you count the electrical system burning to a crisp as "festive".

Mixed bag was the 1990 Geo Prism. Reliable car, although fit, trim, and ride was like being in a badly-appointed tin can. And it was reliable until I found that one of the battery cables I was looking to replace (had gotten a bit corroded and was interfering with the flow of electricity in the car) was an INTEGRAL PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS and could NOT be replaced without rewiring the entire car. Buffed it up, got it started (with some effort) rolled it into the Saturn dealer for a trade before it died an ugly death. And for those of you asking, yes, I too wonder what it is with me and electrical systems in cars...

My 1997 Saturn 4 door was a good car. Fit and trim were poor, engine was rock solid. However, somebody had it in for me in that car, and I was sideswiped by Bubba Joe in from the sticks, in his aunt's truck. I was the second car he'd hit in a week. Got that all fixed, then got rear-ended by an uninsured non-English-speaking illegal. Naturally, I'd just recently dropped comp, so I drove for the next year and a half with both front and end bumpers all punched and mangled - it looked like I rolled out of the trailer park every day. Good car, but was glad to see it's ugliness roll away.

Current best car? My Camry. Yes yes, I KNOW it's dull. But I chose it for rock-solid reliability and comfort and ergonomics, which it delivers. The driver's seat is amazing and since I have a bad back, crappy car seats are deal-breakers. And it's a great car to travel in.

Previous best car - a 1976 Pontiac Ventura hatchback. Actually my mom's, car, but that car shuttled me back and forth to college for years - you could cram the most amazing amounts of STUFF in that thing. It was kinda like Hermione's enchanted handbag, or the tardis: bigger on the inside than the outside. Loved that car....

Wow. I'm going senile. Either that or the real memory is too painful. It was a Chevette, not a Cavalier. Even WORSE. It was, however, still mint green and ghastly.

 

[artdecogirl]

Great thread. The best car I have had was and is a impala. I had a 2003 impala, I drive 115 miles round trip to work so I need good milage and comfort and that car gave me both, a year and a half ago I was driving to work and one of those fast summer rainstorms came up with the rain so hard your wipers can't keep up, I was on the freeway and remember just taking my foot off the gas and my back end started to fishtail, I rolled the car going about 65 mph ended up in a water filled ditch hanging upside down with my car totaled and me getting out and walking away, that car cradled me like a baby, all I had was a abraided neck from the seatbelt, of note the tow truck driver said he sees it happen a perfect storm so to speak, it was a hot summer day and I guess the oil from the tar is on the surface of the road from the heat and it mixes with the rain causing it to be slicker and when you slow down quickly( taking my foot off the gas) the water apparently builds up quickly and thats when you hydroplane I replaced my wrecked car with a newer impala with a few more bells and whistles.( side airbags) Luv my car

 

[Rockdiamond]

Howabout the best and worst rolled into one?
I loved this car so dearly. I bought her in 1999- soon after founding Rock Diamond.
1969 Cadillac Deville Convertible
You could fit 6 (large) people, and all of their luggage comfortably.
I know how dear carrs like the 442, or '69 Chevelle SS cars can be- but this was a dream car for me when I was 12 ( in '69)
Powerful, OMG, yes. 465cubic inches of 1969, unrestrained horespower.
Leaving rubber was a mere press of the pedal away.

Thing is, in 1969, cars broke down a lot more than modern ones.......
If it was not the muffler, it as the points, and condensor, or the transmission, or the battery or the .....
When she died on I95 coming back from Cape cod at about 4am, I'd had it.







Is this luxury, or what?


"El Gato" now lives in Finland- at least that's where the person who bought her on eBay lived.

 

[decodelighted]

WORST: 2002 Land Rover Freelander. Piece O' CRAP. Left me by the side of the road more times than I can count. Including 500+ miles from home, where it had to be flatbed trucked to the local dealership. So bad they discontinued the model. CAVEAT: Early on in dating my now husband, things heated up a bit after he rescued me from one of my seemingly endless Dead Car scenarios. So, silver linings, people. SIlver linings.

BEST: 2005 Toyota RAV 4 (?) I also really loved my old '98-ish Honda Accord. Both are/were minty light green with tan interiors.

WISHED FOR NEXT CAR: I'd really love a zippy sedan with automatic convertible top. But I also need AWD & that's a tough combo to find. Especially on a budget.

 

[Inimitable_D]

I've only owned two cars to date. The first was a 2000 Chrysler Cirrus. It had been my grandmother's before it was mine, and I received it with less than 30,000 miles on it, since she really only took it around town. She apparently had to replace the computer in it at one point, but we're not sure if the car really needed it, or if the mechanic was trying to 'take her for a ride'.

I didn't have any major problems with it, even though I only got it to just over 50,000 miles (my job was really close to my apartment at that time, and I didn't drive it much otherwise). At one point, I had to replace the speed sensor. Other than that, it had a couple of minor issues, but nothing huge at all. One thing that I disliked was that the heating/air conditioning didn't work very well. Another thing that I noticed was that it was a really quick car: the gas pedal was really sensitive, but the brake wasn't quite as sensitive as I would have liked.

I recently got a 2011 Honda Accord Coupe, but I haven't driven it enough to comment on its reliability. I love it so far, but I don't want to jinx myself! I just accepted a new job and will be driving a lot more, so we'll see.

 

[iLander]

Autumnnovember; 600 points for pics! 200 BONUS points for 2 of them being cool Audis!

Okie girl; A '66 Mustang is one of my dream cars! Aside from the pesky "bursting into flames" thing, it sounds pretty cool!

Dee*Jay; 300 points for pics!

artdecogirl; 150 points for pics! 1000 extra points for driving 115 miles to work!

Rockdiamond; 450 points for pics! 1000 extra points for posting pics of a car that is VERY similar (only a few years off) to the car I took my driver's test in. I failed parallel parking, obviously.

ETA: Remember the points assigned by the OP are final and completely arbitrary.

 

[iLander]

Best... I don't know how to qualify that.
Here's what I've owned and what I thought about it.
7. Mazda RX-8 2009 Grand Touring. Perfect budget sports car. Sleek and low, decent comfort and 'four' doors (nudge, nudge, wink wink) to keep your insurance rates lower, lots of features in the top of the line grand touring. But the rotary engine isn't for everyone. Fun to drive.

I've wondered how the rotary differed from other engines, please expand on this.

 

[iLander]

Oooo, this will be fun!
BUT. DH and I are on the waiting list to order a TESLA MODEL S (in blue...but I can't find a good picture of that color). And we are SO.Freaking.EXCITED. They are pretty much the coolest cars ever. EverEver. So that will eclipse my dear Chevy Cobalt once it's sitting in our garage.

Is electricity cheaper in other places? Because here it is soooo expensive (they charge you 2X and 4X if you exceed a certain level of usage), I can't imagine running a car on it.

 

[iLander]

Worst car was the first one I ever bought. 1978 Toyota Corolla SR5. 1600cc. 5-speed. Blue exterior, and blue interior. What a pos. Piston rings cracked for no apparent reason at only 45,000 miles, came with no radio because it had been pried out and stolen, but it was a used car so who knows. It started to rust, and I swear that you really could stand next to it on a quiet night and hear it rusting. Then it developed electrical problems and numerous short circuits. I once left it parked on the street and walked to work for two weeks because the door chime kept ringing and wouldn't shut off. Shortly after that, I got rid of it. Months later, I was driving through the parking garage at the local mall and I spied a car that looked just like it, except it had a big huge dent in the quarter panel. I rolled down the window and yelled "Serves you right!" just in case it was my old car.

This is a picture that I got off the Internet. Note that the car is blue, and also that the current owner calls her "B**ch." I think that's no coincidence. It's the same car. And it's now conned some unsuspecting guy in Poland into saving it, this time. I spent a lot of money on that car, but I was just another sucker on her trip around the globe. http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4023

This is awesome that you managed to track your old car down. Sad to see it's invaded Poland . . .

 

[iLander]

what a fun awesome thread!

Worst Cadillac Escalade- It clunks allllll the time when I reverse. When it shifts gears, it does this weird downshift thing but only from 1st to 2nd and it makes another noise! PLUS ONLY 10 mpg! I don't really know why I got this car.... I also know that it was voted worst car on the road by like 3 magazines! sad....
I need to get rid of this Escalade. It's the car I drive now and I gotta admit that it's very comfy, probably the most comfy care I have ever owned but it drives soooooooo bad.

I hate to admit it, but I really don't like the Escalades. When I used to drive my kids to school these monster cars were always trying to eat my little car, and I developed a dislike for them. Those and the Nissan Armadas.

 

[iLander]

Current best car? My Camry. Yes yes, I KNOW it's dull. But I chose it for rock-solid reliability and comfort and ergonomics, which it delivers. The driver's seat is amazing and since I have a bad back, crappy car seats are deal-breakers. And it's a great car to travel in.

One of my DD's Indian friends told her this joke: "How do you empty an Indian grocery store? Just say on the loudspeaker "Mr. Patel, the lights on your Camry were left on"". Her friend now drives a used Camry.

Hmmm . . . it pops into my head whenever someone says "Camry". They are pretty bulletproof, nothing wrong with that.

 

[iLander]

Worst car- 2002 VW Jetta. Super cute, fun turbo, but soooo many problems. One time, a solenoid (sp?) broke and it wouldn't do any gear but 3rd. Another time, it was as if it turned cruise control on and when I took my foot off the gas it just kept going. The radio broke so it could be turned up but not down ( to turn it down you had to turn it off and slowly turn it back up). Oh, and then the fatal design flaw- the cup holders popped out and were in front of the stereo, so to do anything you woul have to remove the drinks and push the cup holder in.

This reminded me that the same thing happened to my ML320! Except there was no way to turn it back down. Worked find for the dealer. What a crap car that Benz was