Ever bought a car that you knew would be trouble?

Mr Benevolent

Just been having a look on the net at a few less common cars and there seems to be a group of people who will buy a car even though they know it has a bad reputation (Fiat Coupe, Alfa 156, older automatic Audis and previous gen 7 series/320d etc). From what I can see they willingly do this, either because they're DIY heads, have a fair bit of money or just trusting to luck,

So have you ever willingly bought a car because of it's looks, performance, handling or badge that you knew would be troublesome? We'll try to avoid the Fiat/Alfa jokes as they're soooo 2008

no1beemerfan

It depends on how much trouble the car could be but yes I would! I'm pretty good when it comes to car DIY if I say so myself and always willing to learn! :rolleyes: Have restored two BMWs (an E28 and an E30!)

Ash.J.Williams

Bought a SAAB 93 2L a few years back, disaster, only saab enthusiasts/specialists would touch it, had a head gasket issue and not one garage i rang would go near it. I guess that was just celtic tiger snobbery, as in they could service 8 toyotas in the time it took them to figure out my problem...got a corrolla as a runaround since then, and cannot get rid of it as it's the best most trouble free driving i've ever had!!

Paulyh

+1 on the corrolla, i have a one for the last 2 years, a 98, i hate it to look at. but it will not break down!! its like a curse!! 2 people have rear ended it.........and nothing!! not even a scratch...........

anyway, back on topic.........i have just bought an Alfa 145 2000. theres a few bits and pieces to get fixed but it seems ok engine wise, although i think there is a coolant leak somewhere:eek: i'm not driving it atm until i get it to a garage. but i only paid 500 quid for it so i'm prepared to put some money into it as its a great looking car and a top spec.

4 years ago i bought a lotus elise S1, absolute nightmare!! i had it for 9 months, and it was in the garage 9 times with major problems (all under warrenty:D) it got new rad, head gasket, coolant system, and lots of other issues! it was the best car i ever had, but the worst at the same time, if you know what i mean.

Run_to_da_hills

Bought a SH 89 Ford Escort Van 1.9 Diesel ten years ago knowing that they were notorious for chewing up timing belts. Had it a few weeks and guess what. :mad:

Anan1

DOn't know if this counts, but my mother bought a new Alfa 156 before they had any reputation, in 1998. The car served her without hiccup for 130,000 miles, although she did have it serviced properly. In 2007 she replaced it with a new BMW 320d (also serviced properly), which died last night and was taken away on a transporter. Make of that what you will.

Stevie Dakota

Family member bought a Punto last year as it was cheap, clean low mileage with known history, been waiting for the head gasket to go ever since. It went pop a couple of days ago. I hate Puntos.

alias no.9

It all depends on whether some other quality of the car (ride, handling, style, practicality, economy, performance, image, cost, etc... everybody has different needs) is important enough to you to compensate for the potential repair bills, and they are only potential repair bills. Most cars sold even by the most notoriously unreliable of marques run perfectly fine most of the time.
I'm generally a bottom feeder when it comes to cars, I buy cars that have depreciated to about 30% of their purchase price or less. I'm not brand loyal, I buy cars to meet my needs at any given time. At various times I've owned an Alfa, a Fiat, a Ford, a Merc, a Nissan and an Opel. The only one that ever broke down was the Opel and that was as much down to neglect as anything though the Alfa did stand me a not too insignificant repair bill following an encounter with a dog on a dark new years eve. When buying second hand in particular, you're buying the car you see in front of you, not the reputation and aftersales support of a brand, in fact the reputation and aftersales support of the retailer is much more important than that of the brand.

Muckie

Was mad into Ford XR3i's when i was younger(Fathers a Ford Nut)
So i ended up having 5 of them at one stage.
Jesus spent a fortune on them, spent more evenings taking out
engines and trying to chase down electrial problems.
Ah we all need a hobby!

Matt Simis

Yes, consistently. Usually because they offer more for the money (as weeners are scared off) and I love fixing things.

1998 prefacelift Audi S4 with exhaust manifold rattle, both turbos died within 1mth of ownership
2000 Audi Allroad - turbos already changed (by PO) but people here will tell you air suspension could go, various other oddities with twin turbos
2004 VW Phaeton - Twin Turbos (also already replaced by PO), air suspension could in theory cost $10k for total replacement, massively complex electronics. Didnt really have any servicing issues with it though, it was very good (which bores me!)
2000 BMW 530i - Transmission already replaced (by PO), changed Vanos unit with 1mth of owning, front suspension shot now

But the crown jewels, 1993 BMW 850CSI. Clutch went on the 2nd day of ownership, wrong spark plugs fitted, Mass air meter died (1 of 2), hoses cracking with age and many many other things. It was like a job in its own right to get it up and going again. Changed all 12 Fuel Injectors 2 days ago and "something" went wrong and now it wont start without stamping the Accel Pedal. Homing in on the cause right now... lovin'n it.
Edit- fixed it, rewired one of the intake sensors.. seems good for now!


The two most expensive to run/fix cars were the Audi S4 (about EUR4000 in parts) and the 850CSI (just over 4k now). I do most of the work myself (except the truly mechanical things) and tend to uprate parts, so I could have saved money by fitting sub-standard bits if I desired.

3ps

do these count?

Alfa Mark

I bought an Alfa Romeo 33 16V with my heart rather then my head. When it went it was great but most times there was something wrong with her. I used to have to rev it like mad at traffic lights to keep it going and people in cars beside me must have thought "look at that twat", then when the lights went green it would usually stall or just about take off. Eventually I got rid of it and bought an ultra reliable Nissan Primera(best car I ever had). We also had a Renault Scenic thats engine went bang and now have a Toyota Avensis(unbreakable but boring I think) and a Ford Fiesta that's a money pit. Every so often the wife sees me looking at an Alfa and just laughs at me. I've always liked cars that are a bit different and have had Xedos 6, Alfa 33, Suzuki Samurai(first car):)

R.O.R

I bought a 14 year old Merc 190e with 156,000 miles on the clock. Electric windows had to be helped by hand (but the sunroof worked perfectly), there was no lock on the boot (barrel removed - used a screwdriver to open it) and there was no radio in.

Cost £700 (UK). Sure I could have got a Micra / Fiesta that was newer, lower mileage and better condition, but where is the fun in that?

Lasted me about 3 months before it conked out one day and had to be towed back home. Apparently there is both a carburettor and injectors on that engine and it would have cost more to fix than the car was worth.

Eventually gave it away to a guy who called at the door as he's noticed the car hadn't moved for a while. He wanted it because the car was the same colour as his 300E and he reckoned the spoiler would fit.

voxpop

Matt Simis wrote: »

The two most expensive to run/fix cars were the Audi S4 (about EUR4000 in parts) and the 850CSI (just over 4k now). I do most of the work myself (except the truly mechanical things) and tend to uprate parts, so I could have saved money by fitting sub-standard bits if I desired.

Im guessing you have a nice warm garage to do this work in - wouldnt fancy been out on the driveway, with my head in the engine bay on these winter nights.


Its interesting about the 850CSI - always thought old beemers where pretty tough.

VinnyTGM

3ps wrote: »

do these count?

No, their look's more then make up for it.

smash

answer to the question = yes!


would I do it again.... yes!