Hey guys,

Thinking of having a "car of the month" for my business. A write-up on my website regarding a notable vehicle made in history.

The question i pose to you:

Which car have you owned, or known of, that has been the best? (simple, eh)

I'm looking for mainl vehicles that were seemingly bulletproof. The perfect mix of reliability, mileage, styling...etc.

My 1st pick

1994 Honda Accord EX Auto

Two friends have the same vehicle, exactly the same.

800+ KM/TANK ($45)
Peppy
Look Great
NO PROBLEMS
all over 375 000KM and the orig. a/c still works.


Whats your pick?
BONUS:

WORST CAR EVERl

List your least liked vehicle

...Least Reliable, Worst Looking, Poorest Mileage...etc.

Lets see what you think!

best vehicle? im going to go with a 1990 mitsubishi mighty max 4wd for personal reasons

worst ever, my ****ing eclipse that is always broken
favorite vehilce, my late 1989 chrysler new yorker landau. its a seriously pimpin' car
worst looking, scion xB

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[This message has been edited by mysticfire6602 (edited 07-10-2006).]

I don't know about "best" since no car is the best at everything. But of the cars I've owned, the one I miss the most is the '72 Trans Am I had in college. My '87 Grand National was nice, but I'd have to give the nod to the TA. The fact that it was one of only 1286 or so made in '72 made it even better.

Sometimes I scan the classic car ads to find another one. Most end up going for $40,000 and up.
I sold mine for $4400, which was a fair price at the time.

Buick Skyhawk.

200,000+ miles on the Odo, very little was ever done under the hood. Oil change, some rubber tubing/belts replaced.



Rode like a power-wheels, felt like I could pick it up, stick my feet out, and I would go faster, but it WAS reliable...Dang thing REFUSED to die.

I'll play......................

1998 Buick Riviera
Last model year made (they supposedly made them in '99, but have you ever seen one?)
3800 SC engine
28-30 mpg, depending on driver.
Luxury ride with all the amenities while still decent handling
280,000 miles on ours with (other than normal maintenance) the following repairs:
*rebuilt transmission at 175,000, $1,200
*water pump at 200,000, $65
*several idler pulleys on the accessory drive, ???
*1 Coil failure at about 110,000 miles, $125 with a new set of wires

That's it.

Comes to less than $1500 in non routine maintenance repairs in the 260,000 miles I've owned it. Including aquisition costs, ($19,000 in 2001) that comes to less than 8 cents per mile. I'll take that any day, and it still rides like a new car.

John Stricker

PS: worst car? AMC Ambassador. Dad owned one for 3 days. Took it back to the dealer and got his money back. The biggest piece of junk I've ever seen. He decided to take it back when he closed the drivers side door (from the outside) and the right outside mirror feel off simultaneous with the inner door panel on the drivers side coming off and hanging onto the seat. This was when the car was one day old to him and he bought it new. Kind of soured me on AMC products, although I always liked Javelins.

My 92 GMC Sonoma. It was a 4.3 TBI with 5 speed, that led a hard life.
All that ever broke was the A/C compressor, a couple of Advance Auto alternators, a couple of switches, and two left side motor mounts. (Wonder how that happened. ) Traded it with 100K plus.

Just an opinion... I would have to include the Chevelle from 64-72. My father had several of them over the years. They were just about bulletproof. (Although he didn't beat on them.)

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-10-2006).]

I'd stay away from posting worst cars... you will invariably piss a potential customer off that happens to love whatever you pick.

57 Chevy Bel-Aire. Hands down best car ever built
Worst car? Yugo!!!!!!!

I won't say it is the best car ever, but old Saabs are nice.

I had a 1977 Saab 99 with 398,000 miles on it and it ran great.

It's death came when a ziptie snapped and a wire harness came in contact with the alternator cooling fan, which shorted out and lit the whole under hood/dashboard up.

1994/1995 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi.

Best years of the 3800 Series I SC engine. Made 225Hp (rumored 230) and 280 Ft/lbs torque. 0-60 7.1 secs - 1/4 mile 15.2

Very reliable car, only had LIM gaskets replaced, SC coupler which is like a tune up part, and a new trans (which was common with the factory ones) Very comfortable car, color matched rims to the car. All around a good car.

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'94 Bonneville SSEi - 115k
Law of Mechanical Repair:
After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee... never fails.

Good Point, Scott,

I try very hard to NEVER say something bad about another MAN'S car. Women aren't quite as touchy about this because they seem to think of cars as just another appliance as a general rule. Men, OTOH, generally drive the best car they can afford OR the one they're most in love with, and if you insult someone's true love, well, "them there's fightin' words".

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by Scott-Wa: I'd stay away from posting worst cars... you will invariably piss a potential customer off that happens to love whatever you pick.

Mazda RX 2 - RX 7.

Absolute best car I ever owned, how can there be any question on this forum. 88 Pontiac Fiero Formula, singularly stylish, unique, mileage and reliability, what more could you ask for. It does everything it was designed to do and yet is still sought after. Not that it can't be improved upon, everything/car can be improved. Just my .02 worth. Worst, not going there.

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Ron
Freedom isn't Free, it's paid for with the blood and dreams of those that have gone before us.
My imagination is the only limiting factor to my Fiero. Well, there is that money issue.

1979 Honda Civic CVCC.

1973 Dodge charger was the best car I ever had.
I learned a lot working on that car.

One of the best cars we ever owned was a 1985 Chevy Chevette, 4 spd. My wife purchased the car when we were dating back in college. She paid $1000.00 for it. We put new tires on it and fixed a few cosmetic things and did routine maintenance. We sold it 4 years later for $900.00.

We never had any trouble with it. It was a very low maintenance vehicle to own.

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Awesome Fiero items by F-I-E-R-O

Best car as far as reliability I have owned: 1997 Saturn SL, 70k+ miles(the car now has 160k miles) and only had to replace the alternator. The clutch has 80k miles on it and it's not even hinting at needing replacement.

Worst car: 1991 Jeep Cherokee, that thing went through electrical parts like a fat cop goes through donuts.

Funnest car: My old 87 Fiero GT
Least fun car: 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier... that thing was a dog and unreliable to boot.

[This message has been edited by Spektrum-87GT (edited 07-10-2006).]

Best car I have ever owned: 1991 Buick Century Station Wagon. 195K miles, engine (3300) and tranny have never been apart. It won't quit.

Worst car I have ever owned: 1998 Ford Escort. Auto trans problems, leaky gas tank, harmonic balancer replaced, CV joint probs, got rid of it when it started leaking coolant which appeared to be coming from head gasket. Bought a used 1993 Century to replace it and it has been a good car too.

Tim

1973 Dodge Coronet 318 auto.
Damn car was bullet proof.
Ugly as all hell as it was a former city car, no carpet, no radio, just white with 4 doors and that 318

Going on your criteria mileage, styling, reliability I'd have to say (SADLY) : the Ford F150

im not one to keep cars long, but one of the best cars i owned was my white fiero the one withthe black top, it ALWAYS started and went, never let em down only ever needed minimal tune up items here and therehad it 4 years or so, and it was a great car, i sold it a month ago and last week i got a call, the kid put it into a pole and its done for so sad...

other than that i had a 92 325i the bought it with 80K sold it with 130K 4 years later and all i ever did to it was changed the oil with 7 qts of mobil one every 7K miles and put in a valve cover gasket and spark plugs and o2 sensor and new exhaust

the early ones were relaible as hell, in 93 they came out with VANOS (like a vetec) and they had more problems

best was a 71 chevy 1/2 ton van. a rust bucket but it ran. i bought it for $600, drove it for 4 years. i had to replace the alternator, otherwise flawless. it hauled a lot of stuff. i left it parked for a year, and it started right up. sold it for $600.

worst was a chevy LUV. i loved that little truck, but it went through heads like potato chips. till i put a 327 in it. 2,000 miles later it caught on fire, totalled.

[This message has been edited by lurker (edited 07-10-2006).]

Best car I ever had was a 81 Ford Fiesta. It wasn't stylish but it was nearly bulletproof. Bought it for $700 with 78k on it. Drove it to 140k and blew the engine. Replaced it with a used engine with 90k on it for $150. Drove the car to 232k on it and sold it for $700 to a buddy. He drove it another 70k and sold it to his brother for $700. His brother took it to 400k before it went into the junkyard in 1998. Except the engine blowing, the only repairs in the last 320k on the car was new tires. (And they only cost like $75 for 4 tires mounted and balanced)

It wasn't stylish. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't loaded. But it got 36-40mpg and was reliable.

quote Originally posted by FrugalFiero: Best car I have ever owned: 1991 Buick Century Station Wagon. 195K miles, engine (3300) and tranny have never been apart. It won't quit. Worst car I have ever owned: 1998 Ford Escort. Auto trans problems, leaky gas tank, harmonic balancer replaced, CV joint probs, got rid of it when it started leaking coolant which appeared to be coming from head gasket. Bought a used 1993 Century to replace it and it has been a good car too. Tim

Hey, have you signed up over http://cgi.a-body.net/forum/ yet? Great forum for the a-bodies. BTW, I am Ciera96V688 over there.

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'94 Bonneville SSEi - 115k
Law of Mechanical Repair:
After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee... never fails.

The best car I've owned was a '69 Camaro Z28. I'm still kicking myself for selling it.

The worst car I've owned was a '74 VW Beetle. I wanted to like that car. I really did. It got good gas mileage, and was fun to drive. But it spent more time in the shop than on the road. That got old really quick.

Good replies!

I haven't really owned a car that i've been 100% ok with.


Every VW that i've owned have had few problems, but all costly (turbo chargers ont he Turbo Diesel's). I had a suzuki sidekick that wasn't so bad except for the fact that it was about as aerodynamic as a brick. It'd hit 110KM/H if you had a a good wind pushing you...even that car had it's problems with rust and exhaust...etc.

The best car that i've seen thus far are all Toyota's and Honda's...i know...i know. Don't ban me for it!

A friend has a 1994 Accord 4CYL Auto - still has the orig. freon in it, 360 000KM and purs like a kitten, not a problem with it that i know of. Another friend has a 1997 Camry V6 - same thing, no problems what-so-ever.

Worst car:
Mid 90's LeMans

Leaked Fuel
Oil
Coolant
...The door was rusted right through, it would overheat, not enough braking power to stop a pedal bike...just one of those cars made to just plain suck.


so far the best vehicle i have is (asides from the 4.9L Fiero) would have to be:

1992 Chevy 1500 4x4 6.2L Diesel...the diesel's were terrible in the mid 90's when they switched to electronicly controlled injector pumps. This one is non-turbo and mechanical all the way around. Got it for $800 - sat outside of a paint shop for 4 months without a hood or any doors...got it back just the other day all buttoned up and freshly painted, and (with two good strong batteries) - it started and purred like a fat-kitten, no problem. Mileage is well over 1/2 a million, and it shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Great car, great durability. Can't say that for my 1995 GM3500 Dually Tow Truck...thing eats transmissions and fuel!

I have owned 4 different cars over my (relatively) short driving career of 8 years. Just so happens I have one for each category:
best mileage: 92 geo storm (38-42mpg iirc)
most reliable: 84 toyota supra (water pump and battery)
best styling: 86 fiero gt (love those lines)
worst: 76 mg midget, for both reliability (curse you, lucas electronics!) and driveability (scariest freeway driving in my life)

for me it was a 1982 VW Rabbit Diesel
thing ran forever + a day
still running when I gave it away 4 years ago, with 286K miles, and still getting 48 MPG
slow as hell tho. learned alot about maintaining speed by slowing down.

1976 Pontiac Grand Prix. 400CU. V8. Great power, very comfortable. Only needed tires and brake pads in 6 years. After 6 years it started to rust, badly...........Paul

I think as far as reliability is concerned, any of Ford's Panther cars (Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, Maurauder, Town Car, Town Coupe') are unbeatable. Our family has gone through a couple.

Original Mini Cooper S (UK version with the 1275 engine).....and from the ridiculous to the sublime.. The flat-floor Mk 1 3.8 Jaguar E-type.
Nick

1969 Chevy Kingswood station wagon. My grandparents bought one brand new and put somewhere around 150k miles on it (350/auto, if it matters). They then gave it to my mother who put another 60k+ miles on it. Finally, she gave it to me for my 16th birthday. I drove it 40k miles before I finally sold it to someone restoring a '57 Chevy (he wanted the motor). The motor/tranny was never worked on (other than normal wear and tear) and the body was still in great shape. No dents (and I tried), dings, rust, etc. The only 2 problems I can recall were a loose steering box and a broken strap on the gas tank. I'd give minor parts of my anatomy to have that car today (assuming it's still in the same condition).

My first and only car is my Fiero, so that's pretty much my best one. My mother had a Challenger, I don't remember what year, but it had a Mitsubishi engine in it. It was pretty quick, and got good gas mileage. And it was falling apart. Unfortunately we left it behind when we moved.

Worst car would probably be a 1995-ish Ford Taurus. It ate auto transmissions like crazy.

The best car I've been associated with (was my mom's car actually) was a '76 Toyota Corolla station wagon. Came as a 4 speed, I changed it to a 5 speed at 60,000. Needed normal stuff like a couple of water pumps, a starter, new brushes in the alternator, new timing chain and tensioner, pads and rotors and shoes, etc. Switched out the stock carb for a Weber--improved the throttle response a little. Started using Mobil One in it at about 15,000 (on 15,000 change intervals, btw)--the car never leaked a drop of oil and the engine was still going strong when I bought her a new Tercel in 1990. Not fast, styling that had to grow on you, but fairly comfortable & and very reliable.

I had a 78 Toyota SR5 short bed pickup that was of equal quality, and required even less work over it's 240,000 mile lifetime (still in good shape when I sold it.)

Sounds like I had to do a lot of work, but the stuff above was over a period of almost 15 years and 290,000 miles.

I wouldn't mind have one to restore. . .

Best car ever....

87 Turbo Firefly, 1L, 3cyl, wooping 70hp with the turbo. I beat the bag off that thing i bought it at 200,000 some km and just bagged it. easy 50+ mpg. the thing was peppy too and fun to drive...not much bigger than a golf cart. oh how i miss the Flea....should have never sold it. that thing will never die...

- Phil

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"When enough is enough, thats when you know.....your halfway there"

[QUOTE]Originally posted by stevenrossi:
My 1st pick

1994 Honda Accord EX Auto


Sorry but these cars have a known tranny problem, very costly to repair. You got lucky


Astro / Safari vans, I've had 14 and every newer one I get is better than the last.
Worst car ever is a toss up, Yugo or Ford Courier.
.

I think and probably most of the police officers around the US also, that the Chevy Caprice has to one of the best cars ever made, mainly the 86-96 9C1 models. You cant really kill them unless your really trying. You could probably drive through a house and just wind up with a few scratches on the paint and a twisted hood orniment. Hell, The other week I hit a guard rail in my 88 caprice hard and wound up with a small dent in the fender and scratched paint. Buddy ran his caprice 12,000 miles without and oil change beating the balls off it everyday. Im no saint to mine either. Theres a reason why there are companies re-fubishing caprices for police departments including the LAPD. They're tanks.

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Fiero- mild 2.9 160hp
Caprice- wild 383 500hp
--Adam--
IM AOL: FieroGT5speed

quote Originally posted by Kekipi: ...Astro / Safari vans, I've had 14 and every newer one I get is better than the last.

I've been looking at buying one of those, used, to use as a tow vehicle, and for my wife to use to shuffle dogs and dog stuff around. (She's a dog trainer.)
Anything I need to look out for?
Any particular mileage where stuff starts breaking?
Were they ever available with OnStar? (I don't really care, but that would be a big plus for her.)