What's the worst car you *almost* bought?

"George McNally" (GeorgeMcNally1) 10/21/2014 at 19:55 • Filed to: None

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Me? I came very close to buying this......

A 1981 Diesel Chevette.

(The pic isn't mine- but the car I test drove looked just like this one)

If I remember correctly, it had an non turbocharged Izuzu diesel with something like 51 horsepower. I remember the test drive like it was yesterday, I took it out on the highway to see how it did (I had a 35 mile commute at the time) and I had trouble keeping it in my lane as it wandered all over the place and I had trouble keeping it at 60 mph.

Decided it wasn't for me and bought a leftover 1980 Ford Fairmont Futura....very similar to this one. (this picture is of the very rare 1980 only 2.3 liter turbo Fairmont)

I alternately loved and hated this car.

It had one option-power steering.

On the bright side- I put almost 100k on this car in 7 1/2 years and spent "0" dollars on repairs. I changed fluids and filters and tires, but I didn't spend a penny on anything else. No brake pads, no tune ups, no water pumps.... nothing .

I beat this car like a rented mule for almost 8 years and it didn't cost me a dime. Of course by the time I traded it in on my 88 Tempo....there wasn't much left of it.

Both rear fender wells had rusted out (partially my fault- I drove 20 miles with broken tire chains beating both fenderwells and fenders when I was late for work once- didn't feel like stopping to take the broken snow chains off.). The paint had gone totally non-skid by then, all the plastic "chrome" trim had turned black, the interior plastics where just completely cracked, dashboard, door trim was all faded and warped.

I had used it as a push car for a buddy once- I basically rammed him with my front bumper 10 miles to his house because he couldn't get his car started and we didn't have a tow rope.

Oh, I almost forgot- I had the interior completely cut full of holes for speakers...I liked my Bon Jovi LOUD .

It had 4 6x9 speakers in the back deck, two tweeters in the dashboad, a set of speakers in each door plus a subwoofer in the trunk. I had a couple of amps and an equalizer plugged in as well. I wired all this stuff myself and unbelievably, it worked and it sounded really awesome. It would vibrate a silver dollar off of the roof in a couple of seconds.

I traded it in for a 88 Tempo (needed a four door car-my wife had just had our first child)

I think I got 600 bucks for it and the dealer was probably being kind.......

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 19:58

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If I hadn't have gotten my 4Runner that weekend, I was planning on checking out a 2001 Range Rover.

dogisbadob > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:01

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a light green 79 Mercedes S-class W116. Most of the windows didn't work, and right at the end of the test drive when I pulled back in the lot, I thought the dealer guy was going to get angry, but when the two long pipes just slammed on the ground, he just said "Jersey not passing that"

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:01

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My brother had one of those. You can say what you want about old Fords, but those cars could take a beating....Almost seemed like they preferred it that way.The same brother also had a Chevette at one point too, but we don't talk about that.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:02

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Well I've only almost bought one other car. A 2009 Ford Focus, in hindsight I'm glad I didnt.

 > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:02

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Back in the day I almost bought a Hyundai Pony. It was in good shape with low miles. Sat somewhere for a long time, not driven as paint was faded and all the rubber moldings around the windows were dry rotted. It ran good though and had a stick. I am sure glad I didn't buy it though.

 > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:03

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Back in the day I almost bought a Hyundai Pony. It was in good shape with low miles. Sat somewhere for a long time, not driven as paint was faded and all the rubber moldings around the windows were dry rotted. It ran good though and had a stick. I am sure glad I didn't buy it though.

The Compromiser > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:05

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1979 or 80 Camaro z28. Gold. Ram air with popup scoops and t tops. Mint condition. Dealership owner's sister had it since new and left it stored in a garage. $2100 with a safety.

Worst car I almost bought...

GeorgeyBoy > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:13

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A V6 300

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:16

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1987 Ford Mustang GT, 5 speed, t tops. Seller said it just got a new clutch...took it down the street and around a corner, clutch felt like it was attached to a cinder block...heaviest clutch ever. Quarter mile later, a loud bang and straight to the floor. We walked back, told him what happened, and were gone before he walked back. Ended up buying an almost identical '88 with a blown head gasket and bad floors...maybe should have bought the '87.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:16

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Holden Gemini.

The car looked okay in the pictures, "runs and drives" were operative words in the ad.

I got to the house 15 minutes before the seller did, rang him and he said it was fine if I had a look while waiting.

It had flat tires, peeling paint, rust in the bottom of the door sills. the bonnet was open and there were cracked coolant hoses and the oil wasn't even reading on the dipstick.

Surely this isn't the car from the ad? maybe he has another one out the back.

The owner turned up and I asked if that was in fact the car he intended to sell: "yep".

I asked where all the missing bits were: "in the boot"

I told him his ad says it runs and drives but this is far from a running car: "nah it's fine mate, just put the battery back in and it's good to go"

All aboard the train to nopesville.

Dsscats > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:17

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Beat ass Fiero

Beat ass E36

Beat ass R53 Mini

Money Hustard > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:28

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My friends 2004 VW Pheaton. Another friend fortunately outbid me and 2 months later he had a $14K repair bill for some whacko air strut system.

thedevilinside > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:32

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Early 70's Pontiac Catalina with a big V8, manual, and power seats from a Suburban(?). For just under $5k with olive green paint. Nice exhaust too.

Actually that may be the worst mistake I've made to not buy it.

AthomSfere > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:32

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2008 Jetta, brand spankin new. They were doing a great special and I wanted to make the numbers work. They did, but then I started to get concerned and tried to walk out to think on it.

VW sent me home with the car, to come back the next day with my decision because they "knew I would buy it then".

I took a 2 hour drive around town and realized I didn't actually fit comfortably in the car. Went back the next morning, dropped the keys off and said "No way in hell" and went and bought something Honda just released stateside, a Fit. More nimble, but with more roll and space for me.

Sn210 > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:34

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I wanted a DeLorean for my first car. I had found one, found a mechanic, found where to source parts. But since I was only in high school, would need a loan, and I worked at Burger King, it didn't work out. It would have been both awesome and terrible at the same time.

George McNally > GeorgeyBoy 10/21/2014 at 20:44

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My father-in-law bought one of those 2.7 litre V-6 Chryslers .....he had it for 8 years and only put 20k on it....sold it to one of his grandkids and guess what? My nephew has driven it for an additional 80k and it's still running.

GeorgeyBoy > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:47

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That must be record. You sure it wasn't a 3.5.

Jay Lauer > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 20:51

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Almost bought a Audi B5 S4. Dodged such a huge bullet there.

George McNally > GeorgeyBoy 10/21/2014 at 21:11

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Positive about the 2.7......we can't believe it either.

My nephew is still driving it 40 miles each way to work. I told him to get an AAA membership....he's gonna need it eventually.

Suuuubaru > George McNally 10/21/2014 at 23:18

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I once legitimatley considered calling a guy on craiglist about a $700 Dodge Aspen. Balked because I was (and still am) saving for a WRX.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > George McNally 10/29/2014 at 11:00

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80's era Lotus. Don't even remember the model. Someone had decided to Bondo the front end into a Corvette. The owner had said it ran when he parked it....5 years ago. The frame and chassis was there but the interior.....was not. It would have been crates for seats. Saved myself $500.