Just a thought like...

[Cavcraft]

...but I suppose if people didn't buy a car because of what they'd read about them then hardly any would sell. The internet is full of 'OMG THEY'RE RUBBISH DON'T BUY ONE YOU'LL BE SORRY' type reports on probably just about any car ever made, and most of us have strong opinions on certain makes and/or models.

 

I'd like to think I wouldn't and I'll try pretty much anything but are any of you put off by reputation or what people say on the world wide interwebz? I'm not neccessarily talking about proper shite like old Maestros and Allegros and what not but perhaps modern/ish motors?

[RedSparrow]

I think people have different priorities. Most of us on here will sacrifice good handling, economy etc etc to drive something with a bit of character. And obviously no-one on here is bothered about keeping up with their neighbours' status symbol cars!

[trigger]

The interweb is full of OMG EPIC INJECTER & DMF FAILER when ever you google anything about Mk 3 Mondeo diesel, I still went out and bought one though as It's a car I've always fancied and i think they look good, I'll worry about it when it actually happens.

[tonedepear]

Well, http://autoshite.commlm/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10725

 

And having worked for Renault for a bit a few years back, I'd avoid most big-ass-megane-era Renaults.

[skattrd]

I recently bought a Lancia (1994 Thema Turbo) after ignoring quite a bit of advice and am assured its only a matter of time before it disintegrates and/or breaks down.

Its a great car to drive though and its got 182k on the clock so must have been vaguely reliable; so far.

[dollywobbler]

I was the only kid at school who dreamt of owning a 2CV. I was the only one who at 18, owned his dream car. I earned some derision for my choice but meh!

 

Similarly with the Reliant, I've ignored all the doom and gloom and decided to check it out for myself.

 

Had an Alfa Romeo - a few electrical gremlins but I'd struggle to say it was worse than any other old few-hundred quid snotter I've owned.

 

Hydraulic OMG KAOS Citroens - nope, never had a major issue there.

 

My dad owns a Renault Scenic that's been pretty reliable, my dad-in-law owns a Peugeot 307 which has barely had an issue. In fact, the only friend I know who's had a car live up to expectation was one who's Pug 207 was so bad she eventually got her money back.

[ashmicro]

With cars, and indeed with anything, people are more likely to voice an opinion if they are unhappy with their product.

 

Here's an example: a couple of years ago I bought a monster Bosch lawnmower (electric). The thing is built like a tank, and also has this vacuum feature where it not only lifts the clippings, but leaves, twigs, dogshit, all sorts.

 

So impressed was I that I bashed out an email to Bosch UK.

 

About 10 days or so later I got an email back, saying that they were sorry for the late repsponse, but as they had no administrative systems in place for happy customers, they weren't quite sure who should handle my email.

 

Go figure. We must be a nation of whingers.

[RedSparrow]

On the contrary, we don't complaim enough to the right people.

 

I posted in the grumpy thread about a TV I bought from Tescos which broke twice within a year. Despite it breaking again just outside of warranty, a couple of snotty letters from me has resulted in a full refund and getting to keep the TV!

[ashmicro]

If it was a Technika TV, you were asking for it. If it was any other sort of TV, you were also asking for it if you bought it from Tesco. A mate of mine works in our local Tesco UltraMega or whatever it's called, and she tells me that the way stock is (sometimes literally) booted around is unholy.

[RedSparrow]

It was a Toshiba, which I have since found out to be shit. There is no way I am ever buying anything electrical from Tescos again.

[Alexg]

Ive had customers choose not to buy a particular car based on online reviews. The thing I hear the most in the showroom though is 'Top Gear' and 'Jeremy Clarkson said'.

[RedSparrow]

Ive had customers choose not to buy a particular car based on online reviews. The thing I hear the most in the showroom though is 'Top Gear' and 'Jeremy Clarkson said'.

 

Seriously? That is mind-boggling! Just shows how thick and easily lead the public are!

[Alexg]

Ive had customers choose not to buy a particular car based on online reviews. The thing I hear the most in the showroom though is 'Top Gear' and 'Jeremy Clarkson said'.

 

Seriously? That is mind-boggling! Just shows how thick and easily lead the public are!

 

 

Yeah, it really grinds my gears! I had one spotty herbert bowl in, point at the Vectra VXR and say "have they released a chassis pack for that yet?" Er... No, why?? "Oh well, because what happened on TopGear"

[Rocket88]

About the only thing I wouldn't buy would be a Renault with an auto box............

[ashmicro]

Also, Clarkson can't drive.

[seth]

I've gone backwards through hedges and died eleventy times due to OMG swing axle, ill handling Heralds, especially with too much power. Though I suppose that doesn't count as we bought it almost before the internet.

 

With older stuff I think looking for bodges of one kind or another tells you an awful lot more about how reliable any car might be than what you sister's mates cat's mum wrote online. So I won't listen to what felines tell me.

[Gompo]

Possibly a Maseratei 3200GT or the late 1990s Maserati Quattroporte.. Infact just about any Maserati from the 1980s and 1990s.

 

Lancia Integrale.

 

..So not much traditional shite down to poor driving experience, more expensive running costs and lack of reliability.

[Pete-M]

I actually try to be objective with most of the cack I write on here, but I've found a good way of finding out about cars is to have a rummage through the owners club / single marque forums for a while first if I'm considering buying something unusual.

 

Yes, there are a billion armchair experts on t'interweb who reckon they know everything about everything but who in fact know fuck all about fuck all (but know all the statistics). Those who've read every car magazine since 1884 but who've had actual experience of about five cars ever - including all the taxis they've ever been in. Normally a flame war will emerge within a few posts with 'em, and there tends to be someone with real knowledge who's at the other end. I look for these people, search their posts and see if there's any actual info to be gleaned.

 

By this time, I've normally bought the bloody car anyway, because I like the way it drives, or because it was cheap enough to have a lucky punt on. The Scorpio Ultima was a perfect example of this, and it turns out the owners forum has some very knowledgable folks. I've yet to find a decent forum for the Heep, or the 604 for that matter.

 

I know I've toasted MGBs into oblivion on t'interweb, and Vectras, Marinas and um... Alfa 33s, but I do try to put across their good points as well. I like the silly little dust cap removers on Vectras, and think the MGB is pretty. The 33's motor is great.

 

There are some obvious disaster areas out there though. Rover K series lumps being a perfect example. Great engine when it works, but their habit of being a giant kettle must have more pages on t'interweb than most. A quick google says 191,000 results for "Rover head gasket failure", which would be enough to put most off. Until you search "Fiat head gasket failure" and it turns up 518,000...

 

The good thing is that forums are spectacularly good if you want to fix or diagnose something. Even if it's something daft there's quite often some smartarse who's fixed that fault a thousand times and has made a little video showing you exactly how it's done. These guys make life easy.

 

So, basically folks, buy it if you like it. If it's shit, someone else will buy it anyway. If it's broken, there'll be a way to fix it.

[Mash]

So, basically folks, buy it if you like it. If it's shit, someone else will buy it anyway. If it's broken, there'll be a way to fix it.

 

That's what I've always done and true I've had one or two ropey experiences but mostly not because of a particular model being at fault - rather it was that example. If a car is looked after, in the main it will be fine if it continues to be so, especially more modern stuff - it'll take more abuse. Hell, if they can't make reliable cars by now then we haven't made a lot of progress in the last 100 years. A lot of early models have faults possibly due to giving the customer the testing to do then fixing the fault at facelift time!

 

With older stuff, the Allegro is a case in point. The usual derision spouted is based on heresy and journos who were miffed to have tested that instead of the latest Alfa or something that week. OK it's not the best car in the world but we had one for 5 years and it never gave any trouble at all.

[pogweasel]

It's a fucking nightmare these days, as everything (that is affordable) appears to have some sort of achilles heel.

Renaults that eat their engines.

Peugeots with spooky fluid that costs £1bn/litre

Fords that eat their gearboxes

ROVER OMG HGF

Vauxhalls with £1000 fuel pumps.

Volkswagens that if only they were as reliable as....

And of course EVERYTHING has a DMF clutch that is 4-figures when it goes tits up.

 

Urgh.

And they're all ugly.

 

But most cars now struggle to do LESS than 40mpg, have 20,000 miles service intervals, don't rust much [KA excluded] and have hardwearing interiors that look fresh after 100k.

 

I do not know what the answer is.

Given that I drive a rusty old shitbox that is 19 years old, I am clearly in no position to recommend anything to anyone.

(I see myself as the quirky hero of the piece. Others likely see me as a skinflint loser)

[Cavcraft]

I reckon you're right Pog. I honestly think most cars in the £2,000-£3,000 price range are actually worse then the sort of £600 snotters that appeal to most of Autoshite.

Bollox's Cavalier is probably a case in point and I'd be willing to bet good money it's a far more reliable (and dare I say better) car than absolutely loads that are three times the price.

[eddyramrod]

It's a fucking nightmare these days,

And they're all ugly.

 

Only the details set one apart from another now, the bodies are just light-sucking blobs. Never order a new car in black for that reason, or silver as it's simply a non-colour. Sadly, those seem to be the only two colours available, whatever make you buy. Since they're impossible to tell apart, it probably doesn't matter. Imagine having to describe a getaway car now...

"Well, it was silver, and, er...."

Compared to 30 years ago...

"Yes officer, it was a yellow Hillman Avenger..."

The villains must be laughing all the way to their "shed up at Heathrow!"

[Lord Sterling]

Ive had customers choose not to buy a particular car based on online reviews. The thing I hear the most in the showroom though is 'Top Gear' and 'Jeremy Clarkson said'.

 

Seriously? That is mind-boggling! Just shows how thick and easily lead the public are!

 

A true point if there ever was one. Society these days are just too lazy to actually go out and physically try what it is they are criticising. The web has created more armchair experts than you could imagine, people dont seem to understand anymore that you have to try something before forming an opinion. It doesnt matter your brother-in-law's step-sisters mothers dog had one and he didnt like it and nor does it matter that you've been a passenger in a certain car, driving and being a passenger are two very different things.

 

I reserve my opinion about something I havent tried, if I do get the chance to try it, even if I dont like it, I'll give it a chance and mark it on its good points aswell as the bad.

 

If I want some proper information I'll find someone or somewhere that has some sort of enthusiasm or actual working knowledge/experience of the car, more often than not they will point out the bad areas aswell as the good.

[Angrydicky]

I want to own a Marina 1.8, see if all the terrible tales of woe are true..

[Guest]

Most cars are mechanically alright if they've never been off the proper servicing schedule and looked after on top of that, this includes spending things which might not always be required just so you know it has been done. And if you're whinging about the handling of something like a base-spec Astra as if it was meant to be an Elise, you should get over it. I bet loads of manufacturers make cars a bit too hard and focused now, just so Auto Express can't publish a picture of it leaning right over on a racetrack. Cars don't have to handle, your gran doesn't care!

 

I'm puzzled as to why anyone feels they need to go up to a new-ish car though. As much as I enjoy driving these 80s Japanese cars, they actually make enough sense as a daily driver that I've never bothered contemplating going newer. What would the advantages be for me moving up to something on around a 55-plate? I wouldn't be able to buy clutch kits for £20 and have them fitted for £40. I'd gain what - some sensors? Probably better fuel economy, negated by the fact that I've paid something like £5000 for the car instead of around £300. Whilst I enjoy the (few) additional challenges it might take to occasionally source a weird part on my lot, I'm still not sure why you'd not just get a grand together and buy the most immaculate ordinary 90s car you could find. Imagine what sort of Cavalier you could have for a grand, it'd be like having a new motor!

[pogweasel]

A_Dicky, I have had the joy of Marina [a 1.3, not a 1.8 and certainly not that rancid german bint].

I can report that it had a surprising turn of speed, and experienced no dangerous handling. The brakes were well shit though.

[eddyramrod]

I want to own a Marina 1.8, see if all the terrible tales of woe are true..

 

They're not, really, I've had two. Mind, it's over 20 years since the last one....

I started with this, 1.8 single-carb coupe...

...which was smooth and fast, believe it or not! I had 165 tyres on the back, which pushed the nose down a bit on the standard 145s, so bloody hell did it handle! However I then discovered the reason for all that helpful negative camber: the front chassis rails were twisted. I sold the engine and scrapped the shell.

 

Three years on, and emergency-replacement time brought this:

...a 1.8 single-carb saloon. It was originally the proper tomato-red, but I stuffed it into another car one wet night and had to effect repairs from my hoard of blue bits I'd kept when the coupe went. Over the weekend of Easter 1988 I painted it by hand, with Crown gloss. Whatever you've heard about Marinas, and I'm sure most of it is bad, was personified by this thing. It was a rough old nail from the beginning. I replaced it with a Lada estate.

[Negative Creep]

Do they really set up new cars to handle? Every one I've driven has been set to massive amounts of safe, neutral understeer, feel free steering, whiplash brakes and grip above all else. I don't know how anyone can use the mainstream magazines to choose a new car, seeing as everything gets 4 or 5 stars. If I were a cynic I'd say the car makers would throw their toys out the pram and refuse to supply any press cars if they got a bad review

[Father Ted]

Meh, if I had a pound for every time someone told me that HP sprung Citroens were unreliable crap I would have £6.

 

They are fine.

 

The Vauxhall has been a PITA because of its yellow lamp of doom which means a trip to the dealers to get the codes read

[oldford]

I'm still not sure why you'd not just get a grand together and buy the most immaculate ordinary 90s car you could find. Imagine what sort of Cavalier you could have for a grand, it'd be like having a new motor!

 

That's exactly my take on motoring. Have an old car in good condtion that does everything as good today as it did when it was new.

 

The Sierra stands me in at £2249, that's what I've spent on it since October 2008, which includes buying it but not running costs - petrol, tax and insurance.