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19 Apr 2005, 10:39
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#1
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Veteran
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,154
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What's the worst car you've ever driven?
What's the worst car you've ever driven?
I've driven a lot of cars in my time. I learnt to drive in a Metro 1.1, and practiced in a Mini Clubman and a Austin (BL) Princess 1750 tank. Then there was my parents' Peugeot 309 and MG Maestro, my sister's Ford Fiesta, various friends' and girlfriends' cars including a Vauxhall Firenza and a Simca 1000. My own first car was a Metro 1.3, and my wife's was a Peugeot 205. I also had a Vauxhall Cavalier and Citroen AX diesel. Our first joint car was a T-reg Rover 200, then a VW Polo. I've also driven a wide variety of hire cars, work cars and vans: Metros, MPVs, saloons (even a Vauxhall Belmont), and unlimited vans and trucks - even a fork-lift! I'd be the first to admit that a lot of the cars I have bought or hired were, out of necessity, not exactly good. We now own a Smart City Passion Cabriolet and a Smart ForFour, and, of course, there's my treasured but currently immobile 1967 Bond Equipe GT4s 1300.
But I have never in my life driven such a pile of unmitigated cack as the Mercedes A-Classes that keep being foisted on me when one or other of our Smarts is in for work. I just don't get it! Mercedes-Benz are one of the world's biggest, richest and most respected car manufacturers. People from virtually every nation on the planet aspire to a Merc, and yet the company's efforts at a medium-sized family hatchback is a clunky, rattly, floppy, plasticky pile of utter drivel. And the automatic I've got today really takes the biscuit. It drives like, I don't know... what's the most rubbish thing I can think of right now? Apart from a Mercedes A-Class? I can't think. It's just got oceans of leatherique plastic everywhere; the steering wheel feels like it's made of the stuff they make stress-relief squeezy toys out of; all the knobs and switches are (a) clunky and stiff while at the same time not feeling like they're fitted properly, and (b) not in the most obvious or even sensible places; everything hums or rattles strangely; the seats have virtually an infinite number of positions - none of them either comfortable or offering any kind of support; the wing mirrors are so tiny that you can't see a damn thing in them... it's just complete and utter ********. Grrrr!
So, er, what's the worst car you've ever driven?
Or, if you own an A-Class, try to convince me why it's worth a minimum £13,655 (over $/€20,000) for the absolute basic model.
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19 Apr 2005, 11:14
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#2
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,315
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Easy, people will buy an A class for the badge. I prefer my R reg Fiesta to one of those things!
Last edited by maximus; 19 Apr 2005 at 11:15.
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The opinions on the post above are copyright of whoever cares.
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19 Apr 2005, 12:36
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#4
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Veteran
Join Date: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,693
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I had a Fiat Brava as a hire car once too. I thought it was ok, if a little underpowered. Although the oil light came on at every roundabout.
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"Not the pronoun but a player with the unlikely name of Who is on first."
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19 Apr 2005, 13:12
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#5
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 Weasel Wrangler Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,890
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To be fair, my hired Bravo probably wasn't the best example of the model - it had been through 13k miles or so in 9 months as an Avis car and looked & felt rather "tired", to put it politely.
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"If nothing else works a total pig headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." - General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett
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19 Apr 2005, 20:39
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#6
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 897
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A Saab.
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__________________
John M
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19 Apr 2005, 20:46
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#7
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,193
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I have not actually own one, but driven yes - The Wartburg 353W, some 990cc, two-stroke, 45 hp, overhigh suspension, which make it wobbly and uneasy ride, not to mention the noise and distinctive two-stroke smell from the engine.
Some plus-sides though: It was roomy and had clear visibility on every direction, and it was still better than hiking!
Example of the spoken car.
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Think, then act. Don't act, then think.
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20 Apr 2005, 10:18
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#8
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Race Official Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,830
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As Garcon says this thread topic has come up before - my answer is still the same though - the Fiat Idea is the worst car I've driven by a long way. Honourable mentions also for the dismal Fiat Punto, Fiat Brava, Nissan Micra and the truly dreadful Renault 19.
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20 Apr 2005, 14:07
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#9
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Subscriber
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,301
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Morris Ital - truly awful.
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'I've seen it, but still don't believe it.....'
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20 Apr 2005, 15:52
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#10
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Racer
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 151
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Maybe we could have a "Worst meal you've ever eaten" thread. Any takers for that? 
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Never criticise a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes. Then, when you do criticise him, you'll be a mile away. And you'll have his shoes.
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21 Apr 2005, 18:49
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#11
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Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,525
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by massifheed
Maybe we could have a "Worst meal you've ever eaten" thread. Any takers for that? |
Sounds like one for Parc Ferme 
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There are 10 types of people in this world... those who understand binary, and those who don't.
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21 Apr 2005, 20:22
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#12
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Registered User
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,661
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Ford KA.
They've got one at work with 98000 on the clock - it's bloody awful
Horrible engine noise - unpadded interiors on the doors - you feel so exposed!
At least it handles a bit like a kart...
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21 Apr 2005, 22:37
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#13
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Take That Fan
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,232
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The new shape Nissan Micra, had 2 as hire cars about 12 months ago and they where awful. My mate's girlfriend has one and loves it do death, personally I think she needs here head testing as I wouldn't touch one for all the tea in China again.
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There is only one way of life and thats your own ! ! !
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21 Apr 2005, 22:53
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#14
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Location:
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Sydney, Australia |
Posts: 511
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Cars I've Driven more than 20 times...in order of appearance...
Holden HB Torana - Learnt to drive from when I was 12
Holden HG Premier
Holden HZ Kingswood - First accident (I tangled with an F100 on my P Plates)
Nissan Bluebird Series II
Holden FJ Special - Completely rebuilt with my father
Holden HT Kingswood - First car I "Owned" (hand me down from my grandfather)
Mini Clubman 1100 - First car that was stolen from me
Holden HR Premier - this is without a doubt the worst of the pack
Suzuki Mightyboy - closely followed by this beastie...
Volkswagen Kombi
International Scout
Volkswagen Kharmann Ghia - highly modified show winner (boss' car)
Mitsubishi Pajero
Toyota Landcruisers x 4
Mercedes Benz 180E
Holden VH Commodore - First car I bought myself
Ford EA Falcon
Datsun Stanza - Rebuilt as a rally car myself
Holden VTII Commodore SS - First car I bought new
Mercedes Benz 300E
Holden Commodore VZ SS - Current car
DKGandBH
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Look at my web page...
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23 Apr 2005, 21:40
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#15
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Race Official Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,557
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Vauxhall Zafira - it feels like your sitting on a cardboard box and driving it. Just absolutely no feel for the road at all.
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