Bad luck with cars

[ezmobee]

My wife and I have had extraordinarily bad luck with cars. Well mostly my wife now that I think about it. Her first new car was a Neon. That thing had chronic brake problems and a head gasket failure before 75k miles. I convinced her to trade that in on one of my beloved V6 powered GM products. She bought a very nice Olds Cutlass (the Malibu style ones) with 30k miles on it. She loved that car but the whole time we had it it had chronic noise issues with the rear suspension. Then it developed an intermittent loss of power issue with the motor that was difficult to diagnose. We didn't trust it so we traded it on a new Camry. The Camry was a decent car but had an issue from the start with the intermediate steering shaft. The dealer blew us off during the entire warranty period even charging us for at least 1 or 2 alignments which did nothing. Then as soon as the warranty expired the steering issue got a little more aggravated. At that point they were immediately able to determine that the problem was the intermediate shaft $600. We called Toyota who agreed it was shady and got the repair comped fortunately. We traded the Camry in on a lightly used Chrysler Pacifica which we thought would be nice to have after our son was born. Loved that car. Had some issues from the start but were taken care of under warranty. Sadly gas then hit $4 a gallon. We were commuting together in my older Buick as the Pacifica got like 16MPG going downhill in a tail wind. My Buick basically wore out and needed some expensive repairs. We couldn't afford to replace it and keep the Pacifica. So we traded them both in on a lightly used '07 Impala. This was the worst car ever. We had it for about a year and put about 25k miles on it. It was constantly in the shop for something or other. Plus it had numerous other issues we didn't even feel like addressing. Virtually nothing was covered by GM's worthless powertrain warranty. This leads us to our current car. We trade the problematic Impala in on a brand new Accord with a huge extended warranty wanting nothing but reliability. We had numerous issues with both the driver and passenger seats in it which are unresolved. Today it went to the shop for a screeching noise. It needed all new rear brake pads at 15k miles. REAR brakes! Can you believe that? Honda is calling it a wear item but only made us pay for half of the repair. $98. A quick google of "2009 Accord brake failure" reveals pages and pages of complaints about the same problem. We complain to the dealer and they basically tell us to save our receipts hoping for a recall. Like that'll happen!

Moral: I hate cars and the next one I buy I will do no research on and only buy because it's pretty. May as well since they all suck. If I had my way, we'd have 2004 Buick Regal GS, a 2007 Chrysler Pacifica AWD, and my old truck which I love.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Sorry to hear you've had some bad luck with cars...hopefully the boat and OB stay problem-free to make up for it somehow.

One piece of advice for ya...don't ever buy cars built on monday or friday

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Sorry to hear about your car problems EZ, I'm surprised with the Honda, I bought my wife a new Odyssey a couple years ago, brakes lasted till she hit the 35k mark changed them with Napa parts, fine since then.

These days I don't buy new I drive thousand and 2k vehicles for the most part. I look at cars the same as when I had tractor trailers, we have 2 choices, payments or repairs

Hope it works out for you, I would see if I could get Honda to recognize the issue somehow maybe write a letter to Honda themselves. They might re-reimburse you, especially if you tell them you will never buy another Honda. I know they don't like unhappy customers

 

[Bronc Rider]

Re: Bad luck with cars

That is definetly bad luck with cars. You even tried different brands.
I recommend a pick up truck. Ford, Chevy or Dodge all make good trucks. I have a 1991 Ford F250 with a 351 thats going on 270,000 miles and runs perfect (I bought this thing new so I know its the original engine). When I bought a new truck this year I couldn't bring myself to trade it in for what they wanted to give me for it so I kept it. I only purchased a new truck cause they were almost giving them away.
Were you towing with the camry and buick? If you were, you will really appreciate a truck.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Dunno man, maybe it's time to learn a thing or two about cars to match the boat expertise. I have a 00 Dodge Neon and an 03 Chevy Blazer 4x4 and have no trouble with either.

Try running your next car through this checklist (what I base my purchases on):

- been around the block (3+ years without a redesign)
- low cost (I want a car I can drive off a cliff, banks need not apply)
- power stuff (windows, locks) (things I can't upgrade myself without difficulty)
- found everywhere (autozone stocks 1/2 the car in parts)
- parts are cheap and available (custom and aftermarket parts mean cheap parts)
- it looks classy enough to not get laughed at (we all know you can't look like a clown and be taken seriously)


If something looks weird or new or fancy or gadgety or awesome, I immediaitely disqualify it. Yes, I refuse to rely on anything awesome; Awesome is expensive, awesome is difficult, and difficult things break expensively. I want a car which does exactly what I need it to do and nothing more. So far, that has never failed me. Yes, I've owned and do own awesome, but never as a primary vehicle.

Unique == expensive parts and low engineering budget
Awesome == difficult and expensive, which usually ends up meaning annoying for every day use

Heck, think of your wife's Neon.. it took 5 years for Dodge to fix the issues with that model. From 2000+, that car is as reliable as any car can be, has tons of parts available, gets 32MPG even after 10 years, fits 5 people and hauls any pieces of lumber you ask of it (trust me on that last part).

I'd love to feel bad for you, but every one of those cars I would never consider owning (maybe the Accord, but an 05, not an 09), simply because a tiny bit of research brings up the track record of them or just because they are new-fangled and unproven. You say you love Chevy, but none of those cars you listed are the proven Chevies which likely made you love Chevy to begin with. Nobody buys a Pacifica because it is trusted and proven. A newly redesigned Impala is ensured to have growing pains for the first few years (at least) and a 2009 Accord is brand new, which means you get the joy of dealing with the "I hope this works" manufacturing process (all for 30% price markup).

You're a smart guy, and I think you know what a reliable vehicle is, you just don't want to be seen in a Caprice classic or a Crown Victoria or even a Taurus. But we all know those are the reliable ones.. the ones with years behind them and billions of miles of testing.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Dunno man, maybe it's time to learn a thing or two about cars to match the boat expertise. I have a 00 Dodge Neon and an 03 Chevy Blazer 4x4 and have no trouble with either.

Try running your next car through this checklist (what I base my purchases on):

- been around the block (3+ years without a redesign)
- low cost (I want a car I can drive off a cliff, banks need not apply)
- power stuff (windows, locks) (things I can't upgrade myself without difficulty)
- found everywhere (autozone stocks 1/2 the car in parts)
- parts are cheap and available (custom and aftermarket parts mean cheap parts)
- it looks classy enough to not get laughed at (we all know you can't look like a clown and be taken seriously)


If something looks weird or new or fancy or gadgety or awesome, I immediaitely disqualify it. Yes, I refuse to rely on anything awesome; Awesome is expensive, awesome is difficult, and difficult things break expensively. I want a car which does exactly what I need it to do and nothing more. So far, that has never failed me. Yes, I've owned and do own awesome, but never as a primary vehicle.

Unique == expensive parts and low engineering budget
Awesome == difficult and expensive, which usually ends up meaning annoying for every day use

Heck, think of your wife's Neon.. it took 5 years for Dodge to fix the issues with that model. From 2000+, that car is as reliable as any car can be, has tons of parts available, gets 32MPG even after 10 years, fits 5 people and hauls any pieces of lumber you ask of it (trust me on that last part).

I'd love to feel bad for you, but every one of those cars I would never consider owning (maybe the Accord, but an 05, not an 09), simply because a tiny bit of research brings up the track record of them or just because they are new-fangled and unproven. You say you love Chevy, but none of those cars you listed are the proven Chevies which likely made you love Chevy to begin with. Nobody buys a Pacifica because it is trusted and proven. A newly redesigned Impala is ensured to have growing pains for the first few years (at least) and a 2009 Accord is brand new, which means you get the joy of dealing with the "I hope this works" manufacturing process (all for 30% price markup).

I must say, as a professional mechanic, VERY good post.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bad luck with cars

i drive a 1987 Astro Van 4.3L. i paid $500 for it. i've had it 2 years, put brakes on it, and changed the oil. I tow boats with it, so the brakes do get a lot of wear. 160,000 miles on her now.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Lowkee, the cars I described only fail to meet one of the criteria you described and that's the long time since redesign part. Otherwise you'd be hard pressed to find anything more common than a camry, cutlass (malibu), impala, or accord. We drive over 30k miles a year so we do not have the luxury of buying more well used cars cheaply. None of these vehicles were loaded with complicated options either. They were all the slightly upgraded base models.

Can't count the Pacifica. We only owned that for a few months and loved it. Had to sell it just because of the fuel mileage. We knew exactly what we were getting into with that when we bought it. It was never a daily commuter vehicle.

Best car I've had was a 2000 Buick Regal which met all of your criteria (except it was pretty well loaded).

I am not disagreeing with your post. However half if it applies to "unique and awesome" cars. I didn't come in here moaning cuz my volvo convertible, audi TT or Porsche Cayenne were giving me fits.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Bad luck with cars

You have had some bad luck.
We had a brand new Neon in 96. Worst car ever, absolute junk. Replaced with a Contour. Almost as bad. 93 Aerostar extended with the 4.0 motor was just great. Towed anything and went everywhere. Had 2 Windstars.....junk transmissions, never again. Currently have an old 98 Jimmy 2 door with 200,000 miles on it. Still running great. We also have a 05 Grand Prix which we bought a few months old. Best car we ever owned.
In short, keep going your luck will eventually change.
Good Luck.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Bad luck with cars

LoL at a newly re-designed 2007 Impala, The W body architecture dates to 1988 and the worst thing about those cars is that the 1988-1993 gen II 3.1's were more reliable than the 94 + dexcool intake gasket eating 3100 and 3400 in the later models. That engine dates to a 1980 carbed 2.8.
I hear the engine that replaced the old 60 degree V6 has head gasket problems and likes to crankcase milkshake.
Things got so bad at GM in the late 90's and early 00's that GM was actually able to mess up the venerable Buick 3.8. add crappy dexcool, meth head designed intake gasket and a plastic intake with HOT HOT HOT exhaust gas flowing into said plastic intake and you got yourself a guaranteed piece of junk.
Lest us not forget the countless pencil injector failures.
And dexcool intake bomb intake gasket eater Vortecs ? puhlesse.
I mean that 4.3 TBI was a good one, then GM upped the HP lost the gas mileage, cheapened up the gaskets threw a plastic intake on there with an ill conceived fuel injection system and Viola! you got a recipe for repairs.

At work we have an 03 2500HD 6.0 with 53k on it and its using coolant with no visible leaks another 05 2500 6.0, message center said for the first time today, LOW COOLANT LEVEL, 63k Miles Power steering pump whines like roots blower at full tilt. All ABS sensors replaced.

GM Automobiles, good cars if your a mechanic. GM outta go the way of Studebaker. I will say the LS Series or engines is a good one.
All those folks who got these junk cars, Ford and Chrysler made a bunch of them also all went to Yotas and Hondas most will never look back. Luckily for GM and Ford Honda and Yota have been building some crap as well.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Bad luck with cars

I would take an old ford hub cap and stick it under my arm and walk before I bought a car that used the dexicool crap.I found that a company owned taurus with 100k or less is the best bang for the buck . You can get a one owner thats only 3 or 4 years old for aprox 6 to 7 k and have a solid ride with few issues if any for several years and drive it hard. I found an 04 2 years ago for 6 k with only 89k on it. Just about to turn 100k.

 

[JB]

Re: Bad luck with cars

You need to add two criteria to your "buy this" list:

Consumer Report (NOT Consumer Digest) rates it high for several years in a row.

J.D. Power says people still love it after years of driving it.

That is largely why our family is up to 3 Subarus.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Subie is next after we pay off this Accord. Only 4.5 years AHHHHHH

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Bad luck with cars

I've had similar experiences with american cars over the years. My perspective is that you get what you pay for. If you go for a cheaper option off the lot then you pay for it in the long run. I've owned Dodge, Chevy, Nissan, Honda you name it. In the end you spend the money up front or spread it out with repairs and inconvenience over the years you own it.

Currently I drive an 05' BMW 325i and it has been the best engineered vehicle I have ever driven. It's still under warranty and granted it will be expensive if anything fails when that's up. So far it has been perfect.

Before anyone goes off on a "if I spent that much cash my car would be perfect too" rant when I bought mine, (used) it was less expensive than a new honda accord.

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Subie is next after we pay off this Accord. Only 4.5 years AHHHHHH

I have a friend who swears by those subies... They are very nicely built cars.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Man, forgot about Subaru's.. I've lived in the south too long. People here have little reason to own them. You can always tell a nice car when the resale value never goes down. Even a well used Forrester costs over ten grand. I used to have a '92 SVX.. man that was a nice car. They don't make cars like that, even today. Too bad the trannies were bombs. 80K and you were on borrowed time.

 

[dr_bowtie]

Re: Bad luck with cars

I have had good luck with older cars/trucks....

now late 90s and 2000s I have had no luck with...

My 88 GM truck has 340,000 on it and runs like a top and gets 24mpg on the highway with Headers and dual and a timing re-map...

I just got a 95 Ford F150 this year with the 300 I6 4.9L those things are the biggest rust magnet...this truck at 70,000 miles has more rust on it than my 88 GM...but runs like a top...

I just scrapped an Astro Van that had 290,000 on it and ran fine but the body rusted to crap...very reliable

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Bad luck with cars

I really dont know what new car I would select evn if I could aford something better than a basic econobox. I know little about the ford 500s and heard the new gms were made so you couldnt even service the auto trannys. Dont care what the maker says I need to see plenty of positive owner reports first. I do know that the early altimas were very solid and dependable. I still have the solid engine in my sons second altima using the same engine in both cars which has outlasted 2 differant auto accidents in which both cars were a total lose with severe right front suspension.body and frame damage. One sits in my yard now wainting to be towed away. sorta hate to see that old engine go. Theres nothing cheap about those cars. The later models I havent messed with. Most of the time a car will last longer than the engine/tranny but this engine has outlasted 2 cars.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Bad luck with cars

I haven't had much luck with cars but I haven't also had the greatest ones. First was a 1992 Geo Metro (my clown car - I'm 6'4")... and the motor had to be rebuilt after 6 months. Bought it used and just wasn't a great vehicle. After that I bought a 1999 Saturn SC1 that after 3 months had both front wheel bearings go.... thankfully had some warranty. Nothing much else wrong with that other then the front end feels funky. Bought a 1998 Durango, 1 week in had to replace the tranny. When my parents bought it off me they had to replace the pinion bearing in the rear diff and the MAP sensor (cost of those came off my selling price). Ex's car she bought, Nissan Stanza... fuel injector issues, rebuilt the motor and the worst was she let her dad drive it who had previously ruined 4 cars in 4 years and something else went on it again (head gasket I think) but she was out of my life shortly after.

I don't think I can call this one overly unlucky, I bought a salvaged 1986 Harley FLHTC, replaced the fluids, rubber, and fixed a few minor things. Promptly went on a 4000km round trip with it and on the way there the stator crapped out. Thing still got me to where I needed to go but cost me and extra $700. Needed a new battery this year and now needs a new starter or starter solenoid. Was a cheap bike that was in a bit of a spill but is worth 4x what I paid so I'm not concerned.

Fingers crossed for my buddy. I just helped him purchase his first car, private sale, a 1993 Mazda Protoge - $1700 with a bunch of pricey work done to it. Absolutely zero rust and when I was driving it home for him on the highway, I called to tell him I was keeping his car and he could have my Saturn. The thing is mint and all I have to look in to is the light issue. They work with the remote start but go out when you hit the brake. Light switch does nothing. Switch or fuse, still a good deal on a sweet little car.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Bad luck with cars

Hey Suzuki..
Watch the trannies on those proteges...
A few friends of mine had owned them and all had issues..May depend on the year..