150 replies to this topic

[tsquare]

A pleasant read:
http://tinyurl.com/7yy2srg

It's US based though, and made me wonder what are our equivalents...

[Super Mustud]

In Australia?

The GTHO. Without a doubt, as it delayed widespread acceptance of the hot small car in Australia for about 35 years.

[handysteel]

Morris Minor, they broke down every time you took them out.

[comfortablynumb]

I will vote for the Leyland P76.

You may well have been able to fit a 44 gallon drum in the boot but the thing was pig ugly. Team that with a British designed overhead cam in-line 6 cylinder. Stupid thing had a mechanical fuel pump driven off the camshaft, so the pump was on top of the rocker cover. Any time the ambient temperature rose about 35 degrees and the damn thing would stop dead with a fuel vapour lock !!

[caddisgeek]

In Australia?

The GTHO. Without a doubt, as it delayed widespread acceptance of the hot small car in Australia for about 35 years.

Wash your mouth out, that is far and away the most outrageous, inflammatory thing you have said on this forum

[comfortablynumb]

Holden Sunbird would have to be right up there too. What a letdown after the SS hatchbacks and the like !!!

[holdencaulfield2007]

The Holden Camira was touted as GM's first world Car. It was a huge flop in Australia. Earlier on the Leyland Marina was a disaster after a huge marketing campaign.

[comfortablynumb]

In Australia?

The GTHO. Without a doubt, as it delayed widespread acceptance of the hot small car in Australia for about 35 years.

An A9X Torana hatch wasn't a hot small car ? Compared to a GTHO ?

[rantan]

.....and that is exactly why he said it. He don't stop fishin'

Wash your mouth out, that is far and away the most outrageous, inflammatory thing you have said on this forum

[Super Mustud]

Wash your mouth out, that is far and away the most outrageous, inflammatory thing you have said on this forum

I try. Sometimes I try even harder. And there is always at least a skerrick of truth.

[davidsss]

That last car, the Pontiac, wow, how ugly can you get?

Camiras? I remember seeing a 2 year old Camira on a hoist and the floor was rusting away, very bad. Sunbird? My dad bought one of those, atrocious car. There was the Star Fire 4 motor (a Holden 6 cylinder with 2 cylinders cut off, gee I wonder why it was unbalanced?) or the equally bad Opel motor.

I had a Morris Mini Minor - best thing I ever did was to slam it up the back of a 4WD. About as reliable as a dead horse, but fun to drive when it went because the handling was stunning. I'd hit a bend and just not slow down, leaving everyone behind me going backwards. Did I mention the crap brakes? Oh yeah, I mentioned that I slammed it up the back of a 4WD!

I know it is a crap car but I had one of these lovely vehicles:



It might have handled like a bull on roller skates but it was stunningly reliable. It still ran when half the valves had bits missing. Mind you, first gear up hills because of the complete lack of compression. BTW, it's a 1968 Datsun Bluebird. I still have a soft spot for that car but wouldn't have minded a Cedric! Even better a Fairlady, they were great.

DS

[Super Mustud]

An A9X Torana hatch wasn't a hot small car ? Compared to a GTHO ?

I dismiss any car that claims to be A nine times. Excessive puffery.

[CP_]

P76 always featured on any worst car list I ever read

[caddisgeek]

.....and that is exactly why he said it. He don't stop fishin'

I know what he was doing, I was just playing along. I happy to leave him to his girls cars

worst car I ever recall was my mates 4 cylinder Commodore

[Grumpy]

Morris Minor, they broke down every time you took them out.

Not the one I learnt to drive in back in the 60's. Not fast but fun all the same.

[mondie]

Yes the 4 cyl Commodore was about as bad as it gets, the Camira wasn't much better. Go Holden!

[Grumpy]

Yes the 4 cyl Commodore was about as bad as it gets, the Camira wasn't much better. Go Holden!

Is there a Scottish car that you can rave about when you get there Simon?

[Jake]

There was the Star Fire 4 motor (a Holden 6 cylinder with 2 cylinders cut off, gee I wonder why it was unbalanced?)...

The Misfire 4 I believe it was dubbed

Worst cars on my list include the Gemini, Camira, and Commodore (any one, pick a year!).

Saw a P76 yesterday actually. Drove passed Nobbys, all throbbing ****-fest with bonnet scoop and giant wing.

[THOMO]

Pretty much all Australian cars were crap really.
They seemed to take the worst elements of US cars and concentrate them into a smaller package.The yank cars probably were worse but at least they were gloriously absurd.
I have never forgiven Holden for my HT Holden.Mechanical clutch and gear linkages that would bind and get stuck in one gear-usually somewhere with nowhere to pull over!

The Holdens and Falcons since about 1994 have greatly improved with a more global approach to design.Or rather some European input.

Edited by THOMO, 13 March 2012 - 11:51 PM.

[Dustin]

Lightburn Zeta?
. . Australia's answer to the Reliant Robin.

http://www.nma.gov.a...ge=yes&size=lrg

[quote name='davidsss'] BTW, it's a 1968 Datsun Bluebird. I still have a soft spot for that car but wouldn't have minded a Cedric! Even better a Fairlady, they were great.[/QUOTE]

I remember when those first Datsun Bluebirds appeared on our roads. They looked a bit funny with that 'channel' that ran around the middle. Weren't they the first Japanese car to be sold in Australia? Who would have thought this was just the beginning of that invasion.

[LogicprObe]

Poor maintenance on older cars was usually the cause of most of their faults.
My S Series Valiant had to have its suspension greased every 500 miles.
Cars these days never need their suspension greased.

Crap cars?

Morris 1100, Datsun 120Y....Oh why?....any Alpha Romeo........most Jags were in the workshop more often than on the road..........I could go on..........

[mondie]

Is there a Scottish car that you can rave about when you get there Simon?

I am sure there will be Grumps, give me a few months and l will let you know! To be honest l have been too focused on all the good ones, so many possibilities....

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Poor maintenance on older cars was usually the cause of most of their faults.
My S Series Valiant had to have its suspension greased every 500 miles.

Maybe so, but the S series (and subsequent model Valiants) had stunning engines (compared to GMH and Ford Australia) crap. Best damned auto gearbox of the 1960s. Tough and reliable too. Loved the push button gears. Mind you, I took my old man's VE V8 for a spin one day. I got it up to 60MPH and it scared the crap out of me. The other family car (an EH Holden) was a MUCH safer car at speed.

[motorazr]

Holdens worst Monaro of all time IMO was the HX brought out in 1976 as a limited edition. From memory it was made from left over parts came in one colour (red) and sported gold honeycomb mags. It basically weighed a ton and floated along the road like a boat. Its amazing what time can do for a dud as I believe it has some value as a classic now?

[Ralph]

Lada - Just to broaden the scope.
The Lada Niva wasn't quite so atrocious, but not by much.

RalphH

[joz]

I assume there are no ex jaguar owners here?

[ayou2]

The Edsel on page 5 looks fine IMO. The worst car on the list, the Pontiac Aztec, was Walts car in the series Breaking Bad.

As far as cars on this side of the world , these were pretty bad. The Hyundai Pony.

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Edited by ayou2, 14 March 2012 - 07:49 AM.

[Dasher]

My vote goes to the Camira.....My wife had one when we were young. My next vote would go to the Datsun 120Y, a top speed of 80 kms down hill with a strong tail wind. Funny thing is my neighbour has one that has been restored. Every time I drive past it I can't help but look, don't see many around these days.

[AKSA]

Oddly enough, and I agree about the 120Y, the previous model, the Datsun 1200, was a great car, with fantastic handling (if lousy brakes) and a great little motor, pre-emissions.

I had one for years, transplanted a 1500 Datsun engine into it, an extraordinary car, very cheap to run and very fast and light.

How about the Proton, and the Family II powered Pulsar? Lousy cars, both of them.

Hugh

[waricle]

1963 Mk2 3.8 manual - I bought this over a Datsun 240Z and am still kicking myself
Lada- any model- crap
Vauxhaul Viva- see above
Datsun 120Y- the dynamics cat on polished lino
Morris Minor-all the above
Humber Super Snipe- Australias royal visit blunder
XB Fairmont wagon-Another purchase mistake
Morris Marina- truly awful
Mini Moke- A truly inferior horse
Hillman Imp- Almost adequate in no department

And my better experiences
Mk2 zephyr-
Morris 21-6 (early Wolsey 6-80)
EA Falcons' apart from the crappy headstuds- unstoppable. I owned three.
AU Fairlane Millenium-Tickford 6cyl handled like a small car, loved it!
HT Holden Wagon- went forever!

[Soul Superfly]

I assume there are no ex jaguar owners here?

Joz, there are Jaguar owners on this site, I have had mine 5 years with 1 problem, the fuel solenoid stopped working, easily fixed. It passed rego yesterday with flying colours. There are good and bad in all cars, I have had an XJS model for the last 20 years both here and the UK with never very much trouble, all vehicles respond well with love and care and regular maintenance. Much like people Nick

Worst car on the road? No make, just the ones driven by incompetent drivers usually on a Sunday.

[Soul Superfly]

1963 Mk2 3.8 manual - I bought this over a Datsun 240Z and am still kicking myself
Lada- any model- crap
Vauxhaul Viva- see above
Datsun 120Y- the dynamics cat on polished lino
Morris Minor-all the above
Humber Super Snipe- Australias royal visit blunder
XB Fairmont wagon-Another purchase mistake
Morris Marina- truly awful
Mini Moke- A truly inferior horse
Hillman Imp- Almost adequate in no department

And my better experiences
Mk2 zephyr-
Morris 21-6 (early Wolsey 6-80)
EA Falcons' apart from the crappy headstuds- unstoppable. I owned three.
AU Fairlane Millenium-Tickford 6cyl handled like a small car, loved it!
HT Holden Wagon- went forever!

Hi, did you start your early years in the UK? The MG Magnette was a gorgeous car, ever seen one, two tone Green over cream with a large chrome line down the side, 6 cyl column change, bench seat. Nick

[joz]

Joz, there are Jaguar owners on this site, I have had mine 5 years with 1 problem, the fuel solenoid stopped working, easily fixed. It passed rego yesterday with flying colours. There are good and bad in all cars, I have had an XJS model for the last 20 years both here and the UK with never very much trouble, all vehicles respond well with love and care and regular maintenance. Much like people Nick
Worst car on the road? No make, just the ones driven by incompetent drivers usually on a Sunday.

My XJ6 must have been a Friday on Monday car.

On it's day was a dream, every other day was picking up spares.

[Grumpy]

Drove a mates Goggomobile Dart a few times. Wow! that was different. A billy cart with a body and motor

[Jake]

My missus had a Lada Niva when we met. I admired her tenacity.

[rantan]

Morris Marina
Lightburn Zeta
Holden Sunbird
Holden Camira
Lada Niva
Datsun 120Y
Nikki.
ANY Proton vehicle.

[comfortablynumb]

Maybe so, but the S series (and subsequent model Valiants) had stunning engines (compared to GMH and Ford Australia) crap. Best damned auto gearbox of the 1960s. Tough and reliable too. Loved the push button gears. Mind you, I took my old man's VE V8 for a spin one day. I got it up to 60MPH and it scared the crap out of me. The other family car (an EH Holden) was a MUCH safer car at speed.

Good point ZB.

All the Valiant (Chrysler) cars had engines that where far superior to all others. Great cars.....

.....till you wanted to stop or go around a corner that is !!! Fairly typical for a Yank designed car. Great in a straight line, otherwise forget it.

[Monkeyboi]

Yep, the Datsun 120Y bother (as a ex-colleague of mine) used to refer to his as, seems to feature highly in the above listings. I wonder Y?

Just loved this description - "the dynamics cat on polished lino" LOL

Cheers,
Alan R.

[rantan]

I also forgot the Datsun 200B, which was regarded as a 180B with 20 more design faults

[MC240]

Drove a mates Goggomobile Dart a few times. Wow! that was different. A billy cart with a body and motor

"Not the dart"

[rantan]

g- o- ggo

[Drizt]

Falcon EA and AU.

The AU we owned needed more repairs than all the other cars we have owned combined. Complete POS.

[comfortablynumb]

Falcon EA and AU.

The AU we owned needed more repairs than all the other cars we have owned combined. Complete POS.

Funny that. We had an AU for 7 years, did over 150,000 kms in it. One set of tyres and one battery. Not even brake pads in that time.

[Drizt]

Commodore VN's are rattling stinkers too.

[rantan]

Sounds like it is no different to the current model
Falcons are very hit and miss. if you get a good one they are fine, but God help you if you get a lemon

Falcon EA and AU.

The AU we owned needed more repairs than all the other cars we have owned combined. Complete POS.