Five most disappointing cars you've driven

[HDi fun]

This can cover anything at all that didn't impress you. Perhaps you took to the wheel full of hope and promise and it left you cold immediately. It doesn't have to be based upon anything tangible such as reliability or economy.

Or a car you bought and over a couple of years you found to be not at all pleasant to own or drive.

Or a company car which was forced upon you at the time when we all had to pick from a rigid list of models.

Let's see what we all think. I'm still compiling my list. I will avoid things such as my mate's Escort 1.1 Mk2 that was a death trap, for example. In good condition it might have been just about bearable but listing it would not be representative of my thoughts of other cars.

Here goes;-

1. Vectra SRi 2008 (1.8 VVTi)

2. Renault Laguna II Privilege 1.9 dCi (2001)

3. Volvo V40 T4 (98/99 ish)

4. Escort Mk4 (92 model year I think)

5. Cavalier early 1990s (even the V6 is grey, quickish but flawed, GSi better)

 

[turbonutter69]

1. The original Mini.
2. Fiat Tipo.
3. Volvo T5.
4. Escort estate Td.
5. Renault 5 gt turbo.

 

[RobBentley]

1. Vauxhall Corsa ('Y' Reg)
2. Nissan Micra ('M' reg)
3. Ford Focus (original shape)
4. Toyota Yaris
5. Volvo V70 (original shape)

None impressed me at all.

 

[HDi fun]

I, too, never understood the Mini appeal. Good list, matey.

 

[herb]

1, toyota mr2 2.0 gti
2, renault 19 16v
3, ford probe 3.0 v6
4, peugeot 205 1.6 cti
5, mk3 golf vr6

all where disappointing cause i expected so much more performance than they delivered

and i will add a number 6 the nissan 350z for the simple reason my mate would not let me take his dads further than the end of his dads drive

 

[turbonutter69]

I, too, never understood the Mini appeal. Good list, matey.

When I last drove an original Mini the steering wheel position reminded me of driving a bus because of the position. The new Mini's aren't much better either IMO.

 

[WLBjork]

2007ish Toyota Rav 4 (dodgy auto gearbox)
J-reg Toyota Corolla (loss of torque/power in second gear)
2004 Citroen Dispatch (non-turbo diesel engine, what's the point?)
2002 Peugeot 406 (poor quality interior)
? Peugeot 405 (abused, poor quality interior)

 

[obi_waynne]

Bad cars tend to be more down to handling than lack of power when I think about my list.

1) Brand new 207 Diesel - very woolly and vague handling
2) Astra 1.4 Hi Torque - had next to no power at all
3) Corsa B Steering wheel and pedals were off centre from each other
4) Citroen XM - lots of power but felt like I was in a boat
5) MK5 VW Golf GTi - they really messed up the handling and power on this one.

 

[ben]

cant do this list yet unfortunately!

Bad cars tend to be more down to handling than lack of power when I think about my list.

1) Brand new 207 Diesel - very woolly and vague handling

This is the car I learnt in.. the only car I have driven for a prolonged amount of time.. and i hate it. Its big, sluggish and the handling is like you say 'vague' to say the least.

 

[obi_waynne]

We had it whilst in France driving along the Versaire river which is clifftop, narrow road, steep drop. The sort of situation when you need to feel in control and have a car that responds well!

 

[HDi fun]

cant do this list yet unfortunately!



This is the car I learnt in.. the only car I have driven for a prolonged amount of time.. and i hate it. Its big, sluggish and the handling is like you say 'vague' to say the least.

Not sure I'd call a 207 a big car. The steering felt a bit artificial on my mate's teching car. She's got the 1.4 petrol model and that is completely devoid of shove.

 

[ben]

i know what you mean, its not big, but it just feels strange.. much bigger than it should

might be just me

 

[MasterAuron]

Not that any of these are particularily "bad" cars (apart from the Megane), just disappointing really.

1) Porsche 996 Carrera 2. Disappointing isn't the word.
2) "R" Renault Megane 1.9TD. Horrible thing to look at and drive.
3) Audi A3 1.9TDI. Just a bit slouchy and terribly boring to drive. £20k is much better spent elsewhere. Dull interior.
4) My Mk2 1.2 8v Punto. Slow as anything but cheap as out to run and reliable despite being ragged from A to B to get it to actually move (believe it or not!)
5) Can't think of a 5th! :blink:

 

[HDi fun]

") Can't think of a 5th! "

Go and borrow a current 1.8 Vectra and you'll have your fifth!!

 

[MasterAuron]

") Can't think of a 5th! "

Go and borrow a current 1.8 Vectra and you'll have your fifth!!

Lol that bad?

 

[HDi fun]

I can't see how Vauxhall sell any at all when the Mondeo is available as an alternative at a similar list price. I'd honestly rather put my money into a Kia or Hyundai over a Vectra.

I can only imagine that they offer HUGE fleet discounts.

 

[nota]

2008 Honda Oddessy automatic - amazed at how gutless it was. Foot to the floor yet nothing happens.

2000 Opel Astra 1.8 petrol - engine revs 'hang on' during gearchanges, ie delayed return to idle. I really, really hate that.

Honda S2000 - all revs / no torque = mediocre in-gear acceleration unless constantly driven above 6,500 rpm.

2005 Toyota Corolla 1.8 petrol - a distinct feeling of instability at highway+ speeds.

2002 Toyota Yaris - just awful throughout, give me an old Peugeot 205 anyday.

 

[MasterAuron]

2000 Opel Astra 1.8 petrol - engine revs 'hang on' during gearchanges, ie delayed return to idle. I really, really hate that.

I noticed that too on my mums 1.6 Astra. Really weird. Never seen it on that scale before so I just put it down to the 16v GM motor, whereas I like my revvy completely unsmooth 8v Fiat engines.

 

[HDi fun]

The hanging on to revs thins is where the throttle closing is 'damped'. Today this is done under ECU control. It's to reduce the hydro-carbon (HC) emissions when the engine switched from loaded to unloaded state as the clutch is disengaged. I have an idea it's to do with the 'slug' of fuel that the injectors have just delivered whilst the car is under acceleration and needing enough oxygen to burn off that slug of fuel cleanly.

The first car I drove which exhibited this behaviour to a degree that it became annoying was a Ford Cougar 2.5 V6 (99/T).

It is very annoying and can make gearchanging quite cumbersome, especially on the way up the box.

 

[stamford]

1. Chrysler Voyager 3.0 V6-Snail slow, what kickdown? had a 5 sec delay!
2. Vauxhall Zafira 1.6-gutless and over revved before it reached 70mph, needed a 7 speed box!
3. Nissan Micra-late 90s-tinny as hell. I was afraid to shut the doors in fear of pulling them through!
4. Suzuki Jimny-painful experience, cab too small and needs another gear (wife has one!)
5. MG ZT160-never driven a car that hit the rev limiter so quickly!

I have another! My old boss's Escort nasp diesel estate, that was a fear filled drive, no power, no acceleration and required a country mile to pull out on traffic.