Best Car You've Owned, Worst Car You've Owned (2015, Bentley, California)

[IGoZoom]

BEST- Hands down, it was a 1994 Acura Legend L 4-door that I bought in 1997. It had been turned in at the end of a 3-year lease with 31k miles on it. It sat on the Acura dealer's used lot for over six months because it had a manual transmission and cloth interior. I made a lowball offer and it took five weeks for them to finally agree to a price very close to my offer. I ADORED that car and it was bulletproof right up until it was totaled in 2003 with 218k miles on it! I still miss it!

WORST- 1996 Honda Accord LX 4-door- I think I bought the only "lemon" Honda made in the mid/late 1990s. It was a nightmare and I hated it....having flashbacks just thinking about it!

[cdcdguy]

Best- 2003 Toyota Avalon, my current car. Dull, but it goes and goes. Still no squeaks or rattles. Everything still works. Has required very little.

Worst- 1982 Renault Alliance. Bought new. Base model had NO radio. Manual trans. Gear shift knob actually came off in my hand. Roll down window handles broke. Started rusting year two. Sold around 50 K miles. Figured it wouldn't go much further. Imported at that time by AMC. Should have been my first clue.

[Nattering Heights]

The 1989 Toyota Corolla had the best mpg and lasted some years. The 1994 Ford Ranger also lasted a while and hauled some stuff. It had around 280K miles when I junked it.

My worst was the 1984 Cadillac DeVille. It was a cheap old luxury car with problems I didn't have the money to fix, and it reinforced my 20 year abhorrence of electric windows.

[Jamal jaber]

Lakes ls430 past car I love ❤️

[LesLucid]

My worst car was one of the new Ford Taurus. I drove it off the lot, stopped at the first traffic light, turned around and drove it back to the showroom. When I stopped at the light, the transmission downshifted so hard, the tires chirped. It was back 3 more times for complete teardowns of the transmission. I was ready to insist they take it back when they seemed to get it under control.

Unfortunately, the car was never right. Over the years the transmission would just randomly screw up. It would downshift going around a corner and when I’d accelerate, it would be out of gear essentially and tires would chirp when it caught.

After I got rid of it, I was required to read a book on quality in my job (https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Deming-Ame.../dp/0671746219). Wouldn’t you know, my car and its transmission were actually used as an example of poor manufacturing, specifically tolerance stacking, in the transmissions that were produced in the U.S.

The best might have been a Honda Civic. Great little car, just never realized it was getting old. I also really liked a Nissan Murano, first year they were out. I understand people had some issues but I never had a one and really liked most everything about the car.

My current car is a 2008 Audi S4 Avant. I really like the handling and performance, design and build quality but it’s nav system and climate control are atrocious.

[JohnSoCal]

Best is 2008 Honda Ridgeline RTL. It is still just like new. 2003 Honda Accord EXL is a close second. Both were purchased new. Worst one by far was a 1972 Cadillac Coupe de Ville.

[Arktikos]

Worst: Jeep CJ-7

Best: Toyota FJ-62

[sailor_lou]

Best: 91 Accord EX Coupe, drove it 314k miles with the original clutch and outside of routine maintenance the only part it ever needed was a master relay that cost me $40. Replaced it with an 01 Accord EX Coupe, which we are still driving at 228k miles and so far only routine maintenance. Unfortunately for us Honda no longer makes an Accord coupe so we are considering a Lexus RC350 for our next car.


Worst: 08 Nissan Frontier NISMO, with less than 100k miles it has had two recalls and then I had to replaced a failed emission solenoid, both rear axle seals, both front wheel bearings, a clutch and recently the radiator. In order to replace the spark plugs on the passenger's side I needed to remove part of the intake manifold (poor design) and oil changes always result in oil dripping on the splash pan. I'm glad I do my own maintenance because if I didn't all theses repairs would have cost me big $$$$. Definitely my last Nissan.

[Stonepa]

Depends what you mean by 'BEST'. Based on the other posts, I'm guessing reliability mixed with running costs? If so:

Best car - hard to say. 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2002 Lexus SC430, 2008 Lexus RX400h, 2014 Lexus LX570, 1997 Volvo 960, 1994 Toyota 4Runner, various Toyota Tacomas, all bought new. Lots of miles but zero issues.

Average cars - a lot of them. Mercedes 500SEL, Ferrari F430, Ferrari 612, Mercedes 300TE, Volvo XC70 T6, Volvo XC90 T6, Volvo XC70 D5, and so on. Again, all bought new. Not spectacular but fulfilled their purpose at the time.

Worst - 1990 Chevrolet Lumina Z34, 2004 Chevy Suburban K2500, 2000 Land Rover Discovery 4.6. All bought new. ALL TERRIBLE! My Ferrari California has been pretty bad also - fluid leaks, electrics, etc. But when it runs it is glorious.

Now, if not measured by reliability but fun to drive, put a smile on my face every time? 1998 Land Cruiser, 2002 Lexus SC430, any of my Tacomas, my Ferrari California and FF, any of my Bentleys.

[Stonepa]

Originally Posted by Blind Cleric

Worst: Jeep CJ-7

Best: Toyota FJ-62

I'd agree on that FJ62. I bought a FJ60 new in 1987 and drove it all over north and south america. Still have it.