Biggest disapointment/overrated car experience

[Morgan84]

What cars do you feel are highly overrated,and which have disapointed you the most ?

 

A drive in a 1998 Porsche 911 Turbo today did absolutely nothing for me

[vulgalour]

I've always set my expectations nice and low so I've never been disappointed.

[CreepingJesus]

First (and maybe most importantly) the humble 2CV. I wanted to like it for being wilfully weird, but no. Absolutely awful driving experience, and totally over-rated in my book. I know it's a marmite car, but I really did try. (The garage I worked for took it in part-ex and it hung about for a week or so, being used as a hack. I went back to the dire Fiorino and the awful Astramax 1.6D in preference)

About the same time, I had a proper let-down: the Calibra Turbo. What a cop-out by Vauxhall. It was supposed to be the flame-spitting Cossie killer, but it just wanted a nice cup of cocoa and an early night.

Speaking of which, I was given the keys to a Saffy Cosworth some years later, and pointed at some quiet roads I knew well. 370 horse in the thing, all the good bits, sticky tyres and so on. What an utter bag of penguin shite. Hard to manouvre, due to the 'uprated' clutch and reduced turning circle. Fuck all up to 3k, then all hell let loose. About as much 'fun' as being repeatedly kicked in the knackers. I handed the keys back in under 5 minutes, and put the kettle on. Tea 1 - Sierra 0.

[oman5]

I owned a 1989 BMW 320i, back when it was seen as desireable, and it was a total piece of shit. woeful fuel economy, zero torque, less interior room than an escort and shitty handling.

 

61 plate corsa 1.4 petrol..gutless bag of shite, the forward view is like looking through a periscope the scuttle is so high, when performing the "lifesaver look" (ie, glancing over your shoulder when joining motorway to check in blindspot) you can't see anything because of the teeny weeny triangle shaped rear side window, and not even particularly economical.

 

Shogun 2.5 td. Hateful. a diesel that does only 22 mpg. gutless. stupid wide spaced autobox that is either screaming in 3rd or labouring in 4th. if you specifically want/need a 7 seater 4x4 that uses lots of fuel, buy a discovery V8.

[face]

Calibra - I was about 20 when they came out and one of the salesmen from work had one of the first ones as a company car. After badgering him for a few days he let me take it out for a drive one lunchtime, and, well, to say it was underwhelming doesn't do it justice. Most of the chaps had MG Montegos and Cav SRIs back then and this was just shit in comaprison.

[skattrd]

Saab 900 T16s - I've dreamed about one since I was a kid. it's ok in a straight line, but I was majorly disappoited with the numb handling and the wallowy feel.

Subaru XT - same as the Saab, always wanted, majorly disappointed. Why did they fit air suspension to it? It turns what should be tight handling sports coupe in to a Citroen barge

[kinkersaab]

Saab 900 T16s - I've dreamed about one since I was a kid. it's ok in a straight line, but I was majorly disappoited with the numb handling and the wallowy feel.

Subaru XT - same as the Saab, always wanted, majorly disappointed. Why did they fit air suspension to it? It turns what should be tight handling sports coupe in to a Citroen barge

 

 

^that really surprises me! I love and have always loved a Classsic 900. I think they are fantastic cars to drive, and would and do choose to drive one over anything else. They just seem to "fit me" Even my old vert is good fun to chuck around the twisties.

 

I have an inbuilt HATE for anything VAG, other than a few 80's Audis, yesterday I bought an 05 S4, i cant knock the noise, but as a car, it left me cold, it did nothing for me at all, As does everything else from VAG.

 

My Citroen C6 is also a dissapoinment in many ways, in fact, if it werent for the way it looked, and the fact that it isn't an Audi, i doubt i would keep it.

[John F]

Calibra - I was about 20 when they came out and one of the salesmen from work had one of the first ones as a company car. After badgering him for a few days he let me take it out for a drive one lunchtime, and, well, to say it was underwhelming doesn't do it justice. Most of the chaps had MG Montegos and Cav SRIs back then and this was just shit in comaprison.

 

Really? I had a Cavalier SRi before I bought my V6 Calibra, and although the Cav was a great car I wouldn't call the Calibra shit in comparison, not by a long chalk. I've also driven a 2.0 8v Calibra and that was far better to drive than the equivalent 8v Cav due to the Calibra's close ratio gearbox.

[Rocket88]

Mint Saab 900 t rag top I got for my bro in law. Scuttle shake was appalling, although quick and comfy cruiser. Bit of a wobbly old hector, and this one was mint.

Mk 1 Golf GTi. Appalling brakes........that is all.......apart from the crap ride quality

Cadillac Fleetwood diesel. Outdragged from traffic lights by a bus..............shocking understeer

[face]

Calibra - I was about 20 when they came out and one of the salesmen from work had one of the first ones as a company car. After badgering him for a few days he let me take it out for a drive one lunchtime, and, well, to say it was underwhelming doesn't do it justice. Most of the chaps had MG Montegos and Cav SRIs back then and this was just shit in comaprison.

 

Really? I had a Cavalier SRi before I bought my V6 Calibra, and although the Cav was a great car I wouldn't call the Calibra shit in comparison, not by a long chalk. I've also driven a 2.0 8v Calibra and that was far better to drive than the equivalent 8v Cav due to the Calibra's close ratio gearbox.

 

Opinions mate. The one I drove was a 2.0 8v jobby. Perhaps it was tight as it only had under 1000 miles on it but It felt really wooden compared to the Cav and Montego.

 

I dare say if I had a go in one now I'd probably enjoy a whole lot more than I did back then.

[scaryoldcortina]

Morgans.

 

To explain, as a child I loved the look of "traditional" british sports cars, and the morgan stood out because they still made them so I obsessed a bit, and was left with a want for one that lasted into adulthood. Obviously, I was never in a position to buy one due to the insane values they seem to attract, but I did have a few kit-car roadsters of various makes. In the last few years however I have started working as a MoT tester at a garage whose main client is MacDonald Racing, the morgan main dealer. This means I get to drive them a little. First time I was excited, then confused, then disappointed. You couldn't imagine a more cramped nasty driving position, harder suspension or a worse pedal setup (unless you have driven a kitcar of course...) and testing them regularly makes me realize that it is a coachbuilt kit car that is in no way (to me) worth the cost. Even the plus8 was awful, although it did sound nice.

[Betaphile]

I owned a 1989 BMW 320i, back when it was seen as desireable, and it was a total piece of shit. woeful fuel economy, zero torque, less interior room than an escort and shitty handling.

I'd definitely go with this. Thought about buying one as a daily runner but test-driving a few was enough to put me off. Can't comment on the economy but I'd definitely go with no torque/zero interior room/twitchy rear/slow steering. Very disappointing considering all the hype from people who should know better IMHO. Is it just me or are they better-regarded now than they ever were when they were new?

[wuvvum]

Reliant Regal. Similar to CJ's experiences with the 2CV really (which I actually quite like btw) - I really wanted to like it but found it to be an utterly hateful vehicle in almost every conceivable way.

 

Audi A3. Quite a competent car but left me utterly cold. Felt slower than the Rover of Doom too, despite the on-paper performance being more or less identical.

 

Rover 420 GSI Turbo. 200bhp in an Escort-sized car should really have felt much, much faster. This is the only reason I've not yet bought a 620Ti - same engine but more weight so I'm worried the experience would be even more underwhelming.

 

Ligier Ambra. Another one I really wanted to like, but although it was mildly amusing (in a masochistic sort of a way) as a toy for occasional pottering, it was utterly useless as a form of transport - too slow even to be useful round town.

[Pillock]

Peugeot 205 1.9 GTI.

 

My mate lent me his whilst he went on holiday with my ex-wife.

Whilst he was on holiday, I discovered some fact didn't quite ring true regarding him and my ex-wife and so I spent the rest of the holiday thrashing the bejesus out of his car, I think it saw the redline on every journey. Despite the fact I was driving it like a hooligan it just didn't inspire, it wasn't especially quick or sorted. This was an early pre-cat jobbie too.

 

And strangely, he had no end of running issues when I gave it him back.

[John F]

Calibra - I was about 20 when they came out and one of the salesmen from work had one of the first ones as a company car. After badgering him for a few days he let me take it out for a drive one lunchtime, and, well, to say it was underwhelming doesn't do it justice. Most of the chaps had MG Montegos and Cav SRIs back then and this was just shit in comaprison.

 

Really? I had a Cavalier SRi before I bought my V6 Calibra, and although the Cav was a great car I wouldn't call the Calibra shit in comparison, not by a long chalk. I've also driven a 2.0 8v Calibra and that was far better to drive than the equivalent 8v Cav due to the Calibra's close ratio gearbox.

 

Opinions mate. The one I drove was a 2.0 8v jobby. Perhaps it was tight as it only had under 1000 miles on it but It felt really wooden compared to the Cav and Montego.

 

I dare say if I had a go in one now I'd probably enjoy a whole lot more than I did back then.

 

Yeah, probably. Plus the 2.0 8v only has 115 bhp compared to 130/136/150 bhp in the Cav SRi.

[John F]

I owned a 1989 BMW 320i, back when it was seen as desireable, and it was a total piece of shit. woeful fuel economy, zero torque, less interior room than an escort and shitty handling.

 

+1 on this. I drove both the E21 and E30 320 years ago, their straight six engines sounded nice but the cars were disappointing to drive.

[Justin Case]

Lada 1200. The engine, steering, brakes, accelerator linkage and seats appear to be all made from wood. The 1600 is similar except that the steering is made from hardwood and not softwood.

[Formula Autos]

Morgans.

 

To explain, as a child I loved the look of "traditional" british sports cars, and the morgan stood out because they still made them so I obsessed a bit, and was left with a want for one that lasted into adulthood. Obviously, I was never in a position to buy one due to the insane values they seem to attract, but I did have a few kit-car roadsters of various makes. In the last few years however I have started working as a MoT tester at a garage whose main client is MacDonald Racing, the morgan main dealer. This means I get to drive them a little. First time I was excited, then confused, then disappointed. You couldn't imagine a more cramped nasty driving position, harder suspension or a worse pedal setup (unless you have driven a kitcar of course...) and testing them regularly makes me realize that it is a coachbuilt kit car that is in no way (to me) worth the cost. Even the plus8 was awful, although it did sound nice.

 

I agree completely, having driven a Plus 4 around the Lake District (and not as far as originally intended - it was so crap even the use of someone else's fuel didn't make me go any further than I had to). There's a reason why the world has moved on, and Morgan wilfully ignore this.

 

An Aero 8 might be a different matter, but the 'traditional' Morgans are just awful, awful cars, with no ride quality to speak of.

 

Another car that seems over-rated to me is the Lotus Elise. Having driven an early-ish (late '90s) one when it was only a couple of years old, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Yes, they handle beautifully - but they don't seem to me to be much of an advance over a Mk1 MR2 in that regard. The word 'basic' struggles to convey the grimness of the interior on a winters day too. Vast expanses of exposed metal and a British winter are not the best combination.

[oman5]

Lada 1200. The engine, steering, brakes, accelerator linkage and seats appear to be all made from wood. The 1600 is similar except that the steering is made from hardwood and not softwood.

 

 

I agree. I had one of the last UK ones on an N plate, that was no better but it also had the added joy of being strangled by a catalytic converter

[Manbearpig]

BMW 635 Csi - point and squirt squishmobile

 

Cavalier GSi 2000 16v - just slow, still looked ace though

[dollywobbler]

I naturally love 2CVs, and quite enjoyed some wheel-time in a Reliant Regal (though the Robin is a much, much better car). I've driven a Morgan Plus 8 and really enjoyed that too - though it was a later one.

 

Biggest disappointment of any car I've owned was a Maestro 1.3L. Wasn't horrible, but it was the automotive equivalent of magnolia. Not at all exciting and a bit dull.

 

Was sold to some bloke who wanted the engine for a Mini project. Well, I wasn't going to tell him...

 

Or how about the MG RV8? I keep seeing road test reports that claim it's too soft. Maybe the one I drove had been 'played' with because the suspension didn't really seem to exist at all. It was skittish as hell on broken up country roads. The engine and acceleration were good, but you can't get away from the fact that the design was over 30 years old when they were brand new, and a 'premium' product doesn't really work when you've got the same switchgear as an LDV Pilot.

[fiatdaft]

A 4.5 tvr cerberra for me,looked and sounded good,i did think i was in for a wild ride but i thought it was a bit overrated and flat(maybe i just prefer turbo cars) . I then started to look around the interior and while nice to look at the dials and switches were just thrown from a bucket and were left where they landed .

 

Oh and that rank fibreglass smell !

[bigstraight6]

On a slightly different angle, I let one of my best 'petrol head' friends drive my at the time beloved Renault 4 and after a few miles he stopped in the middle of the road, got out and walked around to the passenger side where I was sitting and exclaimed "I'm not driving that piece of shit any further"! There's no accounting for taste! I loved that car, and it was the ultimate development late model GTL and he still hated it!.....

 

In fact, said friend always boasts that the worst cars he's ever driven have all belonged to me

[retrogeezer]

I owned a 1989 BMW 320i, back when it was seen as desireable, and it was a total piece of shit. woeful fuel economy, zero torque, less interior room than an escort and shitty handling.

I'd definitely go with this. Thought about buying one as a daily runner but test-driving a few was enough to put me off. Can't comment on the economy but I'd definitely go with no torque/zero interior room/twitchy rear/slow steering. Very disappointing considering all the hype from people who should know better IMHO. Is it just me or are they better-regarded now than they ever were when they were new?

 

+3 on this, I drove one for a couple of days when I had a Vectra in for repair a few years back and I thought it was dreadful......I honestly sat in it and wondered to myself why the fook did people rave about them.

[Morgan84]

Peugeot 106 1.1 - gutless,and lousy gearchange and awful pedals

 

Citroen C2 1.1 - gutless,and same ancient technology pulling what should be a nice fun modern car

 

Renault Clio 97> No va va voom,just lots of dull grey plastic,and no fun at all.

 

Renault Clio automatic 2004 - weird gearbox,lots of revs,and jerks,but no refinement at all - not half as nice as a Renault 5 auto

 

2003 Ford Fiesta Durashift - Horrible horrible horrible *sticks fingers down throat *

 

2006 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 petrol manual - Bad gearchange,and over sensitive throttle;diesel auto would be nice though

 

Toyota Yaris 1.0 - yawn

 

1998 Rangerover 2.5 DHSE auto - sounds like a dustcart,and handles like a pair of underpants in a spin dryer

 

1998 Porshe 911 Turbo - Thanks,but no thanks - a Ford Puma 1.7 is more fun !

[RichL]

The Fiesta ST I bought new in late 2006. I had I 2001 Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 before it and I still say it was the better car. The ST just felt big, heavy and underpowered in comparison. It was good on the motorway, even when loaded it accelerated well from a cruise in 5th. But 17 inch alloys and 40 profile tyres ment a terrible ride around town and zero steering lock. I did have one great week with it though, whilst commuting between Nottingham and the North Norfolk coast, when those big tyres and brakes made the sometimes twisting A roads easy

[Morgan84]

The Fiesta ST I bought new in late 2006. I had I 2001 Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 before it and I still say it was the better car. The ST just felt big, heavy and underpowered in comparison. It was good on the motorway, even when loaded it accelerated well from a cruise in 5th. But 17 inch alloys and 45 profile tyres ment a terrible ride around town and zero steering lock. I did have one great week with it though, whilst commuting between Nottingham and the North Norfolk coast, when those big tyres and brakes made the sometimes twisting A roads easy

 

We have a MK4 Fiesta Chicane as a small run about;really clean rust free condition.It handles and drives really well,despite only being a 1242cc,its quite a fun nippy little motor;the later Fiesta which came out in 2002 ( baby Focus ) is really dull in comparison,and doesn't feel 'chuckable' or give any sporty enthusiasm. The MK4 is brilliant on roundabouts,and have out paced many more powerfull cars,including a Z3 - Mr Shineyhead-Midlifecrisis wasn't amused when a little Fiesta whizzed round him when he was trying to look cool !!

[ayd]

Mk II Golf GTI

 

after a string of hot hatches I gave in to peer pressure and picked up an 8v GTI, interior was dismal and not a nice place to be, drive was numb and it just didn't go anywhere or do anything, I'd been used to chucking 205's, MG Maestro's, 5 turbos and the like around and having a smile on my face but this thing was woeful.

 

Some years later I got offered another, this time a 16v, so idecided I'd give it another chance as maybe I'd been a little hasty with the 8v....nope, sold it a week later.

[eddyramrod]

Every Mercedes (from a 307D to a 500SEL) I've ever driven has been a disappointment, at best. Not one has come within phaser range of living up to the hype.

 

BMW 5-series. E28, is it? Taken in part-ex against a Cadillac, because I thought they were a good-looking car and here was my chance to try one. Sold it four weeks later. Still like the shape though.*

 

BMW 5-series, 2004 model (lost track of the designations). Least comfortable car I have ever had the misfortune to sit in, and practically undriveable too. Every time I wanted it to do something (like signal a turn, say) I found I had to do something unexpected with the controls. How safe is that?

 

Austin Maxi 1750. Seemed like a logical purchase at the time, but I couldn't get a comfy driving position and the ride was just too bouncy.

 

Ford Capri 3, in 1600 Pinto flavour. I always wanted a Capri, didn't we all? Mk3 seemed ideal, being the Professionals shape, and the 1.6 looked like a suitable prospect for a daily. It replaced a Skoda Estelle, which was faster....

 

1987 Range Rover Vogue V8 auto. Bloody hell are they wobbly! If it wasn't for the plush seats and the V8 noise (mmmmmmmmmmmmm!) I might have thought I was on horseback!

Discovery 2 V8 auto. All the same comments apply.

Discovery 2 diesel auto. All the same comments apply, with one added: no power whatsoever.

 

Golf GTi. Y prefix, is that Mk3? 4? Competent enough, but never going to put a grin on my chops like the MG Maestro did, reliably.

 

Rover SD1. Maybe my mistake was buying the 2.6, but as with the Capri, I thought it would be practical. The single most unreliable car I have ever owned, bar none. And I've had some shit! I never even got to find out if it was needlessly thirsty, comfy over a distance, liable to struggle up hills... One day I should probably try a V8.

 

Ford Granada Mk1. I've had two now, 25 years apart, both with the Essex V6. First one was thirsty, unreliable and the heater never worked properly. Second one is manual, big mistake. There won't be a third.

 

Ford Escort. According to the hype, even a humble 1.3 Mk1 or 2 should be involving and fun. They're not. They're just dire. Dire enough to turn me right off.

 

Vauxhall Chevette. See Escort. Although unlike the Escort, I would like to try a really good one sometime to see if I actually am missing something.

 

*Am I ill? I just said something positive about a BMW!!!!!

[Negative Creep]

I owned a 1989 BMW 320i, back when it was seen as desireable, and it was a total piece of shit. woeful fuel economy, zero torque, less interior room than an escort and shitty handling.

I'd definitely go with this. Thought about buying one as a daily runner but test-driving a few was enough to put me off. Can't comment on the economy but I'd definitely go with no torque/zero interior room/twitchy rear/slow steering. Very disappointing considering all the hype from people who should know better IMHO. Is it just me or are they better-regarded now than they ever were when they were new?

 

+3 on this, I drove one for a couple of days when I had a Vectra in for repair a few years back and I thought it was dreadful......I honestly sat in it and wondered to myself why the fook did people rave about them.

 

 

Mine was......ok. Excellent visibility and ergonomics, nice engine sounds, steering feel and it didn't break. On the other hand it wasn't quick, did 20mpg around town and just didn't feel "premium". The Bluebird is a far nicer car to sit in. So I wouldn't say it was one of my worst cars, but around the middle when it should have been higher.

 

 

What was one of my worst cars wazs the mk2 Golf gti. Decent performance and steering feel, but that was pretty much it. Unreliable pile of crap I never should have even contemplated. Such is my dislike I doubt I'll ever buy a VW again