What's The Most Embarrassing Car You've Ever Owned?

"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey) 11/01/2013 at 13:22 • Filed to: Embarrassing cars

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Given I'm running a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at the moment I feel like I should be embarrassed in it, but am surprisingly not.

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I was, however, embarrassed all the time I was in the 2nd car I ever bought, an Austin Metro 1.3 automatic. My dad kind of forced me into buying it. In 1989 it was thought of as an old people's car and I was 19.

What's the most embarrassing car you ever bought and owned?

NB the car in the photo wasn't mine, I took it from Wikipedia. I never took any photos of mine

HammerheadFistpunch > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:24

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I've never been embarrassed to own a car. is it a car? can you hoon it? I'm good.

Your boy, BJR > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:25

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1995 Ford Bronco Eddie Baur 5.8 with mud tires and a glass pack. Nothing says "Wannabe frat-boy redneck" Like a bronco with mud tires.

ddavidn > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:25

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Never been embarrassed about a car I owned, but when I had to drive my dad's brown 1980 Dodge Ram van to college, I didn't exactly feel cool.

Speedmonkey > Your boy, BJR 11/01/2013 at 13:26

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Yee haw! (And a six pack and rifle on the passenger seat)

Your boy, BJR > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:27

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'Murica

Jagvar > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:28

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Of the two cars I've ever owned (I still currently own both), my DD isn't considered very Jalop . I'm not embarrassed of it, but I don't talk about it much with other car people. The Galant gets no love from gearheads.

Takuro Spirit > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:29

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Yeah except for driving some girlfriend's car's, I've never been embarrassed to drive what I drive. Even the Camry.

Milky > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:30

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I LOVED the thing don't get me wrong. But with purple or white rims, dents, rust, virtually no interior, and almost no exhaust it wasn't very fancy. When going to design conferences or getting it valeted I felt like I was 16.

duurtlang > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:31

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Despite being 30 years old I've only owned three cars. The most embarrassing isn't my (imho) gorgeous DD, a Peugeot 406 coupe. It isn't my mk2 Golf either, because firstcar. That leaves the third, a Legacy. A frumpy looking lump devoid of much character (again, imho). Here it is in its least embarrassing outfit, while participating in a rally.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > ddavidn 11/01/2013 at 13:32

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I can relate to that experience. Although, it was probably the most Jalop car I've ever driven. A slant six? Check. Four on the floor? Check. Manual choke? Check. No power windows/mirrors/locks? Check, check and triple check. Slow as hell & handled like it was going to kill you in the wet. But, I hooned it anyway....

Mikeado > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:33

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Having only owned a Mini and been insured on a Grande Punto, I can't answer this question properly, but the most embarrassing car my parents owned was an N-reg Nissan Serena 2.3 D LX, essentially the car pictured but with a sliding rear door on both sides and without the curtains or spoiler of this JDM model.

I didn't realise that a 2300cc engine in the modern age could make such little power, although being an NA diesel van engine didn't help. 0-60 in 27.5 seconds, a deafening 85mph or so flat out and almost zero comfort. It was horrendous. Its only two virtues were practicality and reliability. Oh, and some low-end torque, although that didn't help it climb a steep hill at all...

CalzoneGolem > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:33

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I owed a slushbox PT Cruiser.

Was I ashamed? No.

Was there handbrake turns? You bet your ass there were!

ddavidn > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 11/01/2013 at 13:35

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...Just in the wet? Pretty sure dad's has the 5.2L V8 too. Automatic, though.

Speedmonkey > Mikeado 11/01/2013 at 13:36

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Yeah that is bad

Speedmonkey > duurtlang 11/01/2013 at 13:37

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Quite like Legacys. Owned 2 Outbacks

Speedmonkey > Jagvar 11/01/2013 at 13:37

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No love but understated appreciation

willkinton247 > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:38

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Well, the worst car I've ever owned was a Ford Taurus. Not exactly embarassing, though.

However, the first two cars I ever drove were as embarassing as it gets: a PT Cruiser and a Yellow VW New Beetle. The VW was a manual though, so that's redemptive?

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Your boy, BJR 11/01/2013 at 13:39

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But, but, but... Real Broncos are AWESOME!!!!! I have an unhealthy fondness for that era of Bronco. A friend of mine had one and it was great. There is a guy around my parts who has a slightly older one with a plow on it. And the thing is absolutely beautiful. I don't know how he manages, but the paint is in excellent shape and no visible rust at all. It does appear to have been repainted, but still, to keep a plow truck clean is no easy task.

Speedmonkey > willkinton247 11/01/2013 at 13:41

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Have a serious dislike of PT Cruisers. Drove one once and needed to get out ASAP

Your boy, BJR > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 11/01/2013 at 13:42

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No, it's an embarrassment, the chariot of frat boys and toothless hillbillies everywhere.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:43

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Hmmm I suppose my old civic could be considered embarrassing. It was a 1990 EF Hatch with 205k miles. It was shit-tastic, I still miss it sometimes. I guess I did some embarrassing shit to it though since I was 19 and stupid. Ebay cold air intake and strut bars are pretty embarrassing. Oh and I painted it with Rustoleum. Good times.

My pickup truck was embarrassing in a way, having grown up in the north I would have gotten funny looks and going from an E46 with a manual to a Silverado with a 4 speed column shift autobox sorta sucks. In Texas I guess it was sorta embarrassing because I opted for the cheaper 4.8L engine, which is less manly.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > ddavidn 11/01/2013 at 13:43

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My dad's was an '86 Ram Wagon. It was the cheapest van you could buy at the time. No AC either, by the way. That van was epically slow, with 3rd gear topping out at about 45 mph, and 4th gear being an overdrive, which put the engine rpm in the cellar, so acceleration past 55 mph was just not going to happen. Heaven help you if you wanted to pass someone. Every time someone mentions how slow a modern car is, I just shake my head, saying you have no idea how bad many cars used to be in the late 70's mid 80's. They sucked so hard. Our familes only bright spot was when my dad bought an '85 VW Golf. Now that car was really good. Expensive to repair, but a really nice drive.

duurtlang > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:44

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I don't dislike them, it's just that you forced me to choose between only three cars.

willkinton247 > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:47

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Oh they are absolutely horrible. And yet, stateside, you will see houses with 2 or more of them parked in the driveway. People bought one, and then thought "I like this, I'll have another. "

Baffling.

njp1589 > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:47

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'95 Plymouth Neon Highline Sedan. With the 3 Speed Slushbox. And those goofy looking white wheelcovers.

Admittedly it was really cheap, and it got me through most of college, but when people would hear me talking about cars with such excitement and then hear that I drove that abomination... Ugh.

desertdog5051 > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:51

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1971 Vega. It took me nowhere most of the time. Always had to add an hour or more to any trip because it would do things like overheat.

Justino6969 > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 13:53

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Probably my current car. A 2001 VW Jetta 1.8t Wolfsburg edition. Everyone sees it as a woman's car, but it's a 5-speed with an absolutely wonderful turbo sound (thanks to a SRI, and my wastegate malfunctioning sending the air back through the turbo for a satisfying flutter). I also have non-stock rims on it, so that helps a little. Still though, chick car.

pdx107 > Jagvar 11/01/2013 at 14:03

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Hey I have one of those too, been a resilient bastard over the 10 years I have had it, survived the concrete wall, and the deer and still gets near 28mpg

STAGGERED-6 > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 14:10

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Dawoo Lanos 1.6L I4 with a 5spd, what kind of craptacular prize do I win? Went to school at AzSt and it was cheaper than a bike for my 20 mile commute each morning. I did however park this flaming turd well away from campus, plus if you drive a daewoo you can't afford a parking pass on campus anyway. Loudest most obnoxious car I've ever driven, probably because of the paper mâché build quality. Great for getting carne asada fries at 2AM and rallying through the desert at four peaks. Never once broke down though and I drove it like a third world dictator with an iron fist. Sold it after graduating for a 25$ scrap yard profit, can't complain.

Jagvar > pdx107 11/01/2013 at 14:13

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Wow, my gas mileage isn't that good. I think I get around 22.

SatriaFanboy > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 14:13

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Naza Ria (a Rebadge Kia Sedona)

Lousy engine, crappy interior and questionable Malaysian build quality

I own it for a while but then I got my Previa. Now that's a proper super-van :P

Speedmonkey > STAGGERED-6 11/01/2013 at 14:14

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Excellent. Drove it like a third world dictator...

pdx107 > Jagvar 11/01/2013 at 14:18

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On my last round trip Portland to Seattle I hit 28, with some hellish traffic, time before that was close to 32. In town I am far closer to 20 or less. I have an 03, 147k on the clock

ColoradoTaco > Your boy, BJR 11/01/2013 at 14:33

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But full size Broncos are awesome.

ColoradoTaco > duurtlang 11/01/2013 at 14:34

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So popular here that you can't kick a rock with hitting one, even 15 years after that gen went out of production.

ColoradoTaco > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 14:40

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pretty much this. Not mine pictured but was this color with much less peeling clear coat

The Transporter > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 15:10

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I guess that depends on your point of view. Most people would probably find my rusty '79 Fiesta embarrassing, but it was a hatchback and easy to work on, so it gets oppo points for that. However, the most embarrassing from a Jalop and Oppo standpoint would have to be my 2001 Dodge Neon ES. The Fiesta with its rusty carburettor had more heart than that thing.

Mazarin > Jagvar 11/01/2013 at 16:01

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Plz ignore some of the stickers, but one of the sexiest Mistus I ever saw was Noel's 8th Gen. Was featured in Modified Mag:

AMC/Renauledge > Jagvar 11/01/2013 at 16:37

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That generation of Galant was really rather good. Great styling. Great optional V6. I think it even won C/D's midsize sedan comparo back then.

You'll get plenty of admiration from me.

AMC/Renauledge > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 16:41

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One of these. 1986 Plymouth Horizon.

Without a grille. With a twisted front bumper. With a bent left rear axle that gave the car obscene negative camber. With a liftgate that had no lock and had to be supported by a broom handle to stay open.

I bought it for $300 and had it a month before it died.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > willkinton247 11/01/2013 at 16:49

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Why is the PT Cruiser so terrible? I like the way it looks.

Agrajag > Speedmonkey 11/01/2013 at 22:05

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1991 Dodge Spirit is the only car I was embarrassed to drive, and I once owned a Celebrity station wagon.

KirkyV > Speedmonkey 11/02/2013 at 13:24

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Well, I've only ever owned one car, and it doesn't really stand out enough to be embarrassing - and, hey, it's actually a really good car - but it's the only choice I've got, so... Peugeot 106?

As for cars I've driven, well, when I started learning my instructor had a dull, diesel Vauxhall Corsa. Can't say I was the greatest fan of that thing. Though, again, it's a mite common to be called 'embarrassing'.

Thankfully, he soon switched to a very swanky DS3, which is where I had the majority of my instruction.

Speedmonkey > KirkyV 11/02/2013 at 13:59

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Good little rally car the 106

KirkyV > Speedmonkey 11/02/2013 at 14:04

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I live around twenty minutes from Lydden Hill, and have ambitions of turning my little 106 into an amateur rallycross machine once it gets too expensive to keep getting through emissions tests, and I have to get a newer car. I'm not sure if it'll ever happen - for one thing, as it's the 1.1, I'd probably need to do an engine swap to be even the least bit competitive - but the idea certainly appeals a lot more than just sending it to be scrapped.

Speedmonkey > KirkyV 11/02/2013 at 14:08

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Never rally crossed but have been on a few rally courses. It's immense fun. Did you see the Top Gear rally cross episode?

KirkyV > Speedmonkey 11/02/2013 at 14:10

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... That may have been where I got the idea. I mean, Hammond was essentially rallying my car with a different badge and bigger engine.