I love my car, but I also hate it sometimes.

"fhrblig" (fhrblig) 01/15/2015 at 11:37 • Filed to: None

2

55

We all love our cars/trucks here. We love to drive them, we love to tell anyone who will listen about how great they are and how they should also buy one, we spend ridiculous amounts of money upgrading or modifying them, etc. But no car is ever perfect. What are the things about your beloved vehicle that drive you nuts?

For me and my car, there are several. I have a 2012 Fiat 500 Sport that I bought last January with just under 13k on it. I've put 15k more on the clock since then, and there are a number of really annoying things about it, but I put up with them because it's fun to drive, is the perfect color (for me), and gets great MPG.

It's also been more reliable than I'd expected an Italian car to be. The only things I've had the dealer fix have been minor issues related to build quality, and the dealer (Fiat of Denver) took care of every issue while it was in for oil changes. I'm quite happy with the dealer's service department, but guys, spend some money on your dealership! It needs some sprucing up.

However... there are multiple niggling issues and outright design flaws that aggravate me. Lets start with the doors. The doors absolutely do not want to stay open. I'm tired of opening the door and taking my hand off it only to have it swing back and nail me in the shins. I had the same problem with my old Hyundai Accent. The door checks have grooves stamped into them, but they're way too small to work.

Second, I HATE the automatic climate control. It loves to secretly put the a/c on when it isn't necessary, and the only way to make it stop is to not use 'Auto'. It's not much of a secret because in a car with 101 hp you tend to notice when the A/C is on, especially at altitude. And the worst part is, it seems to be completely arbitrary when it chooses to use A/C. Also, it won't remember what the settings were left at if I shut off the HVAC before turning the car off. If I do that, when I start the car next and turn on the climate control the fan speed has been reset to zero and 'recirc' is now on. WTF mate?

Third, the iPod interface is buggy as fuck! The display freezes sometimes, I get 'UNAVAILABLE' a lot, and I spend a lot of time turning the power off and on and reconnecting the iPod. Sometimes if my iPod is connected but I've been listening to the radio and I shut the car off (but leave the iPod connected), when I start the car again it decides I need to start listening to the iPod.

Fourth, the clutch pedal does not get along with sub-zero temperatures. I learned this a couple weeks ago, when the pedal would not spring back like it usually does. It only did it for less than half a second, but enough to concern me. The clutch itself behaved totally normally, and there's no slipping. Just the pedal.

Fifth, it is hard to engage reverse without grinding. If I want to make it happen without cringing, I usually have to put in the clutch and wait at least 2-3 seconds before trying it. None of the other gears have ever done that, just reverse. I mentioned it to the dealer and he said it was normal, that there are no syncros on reverse. While I'm into cars, my mechanical knowledge is limited (especially on transmissions). He told me he'd monitor it and check the fluid every time he does an oil change, but that every Fiat he's driven has done the same thing.

Sixth, the sunroof doesn't always close properly. It sometimes behaves like it thinks something is in the way and the safety mechanism keeps it from closing. That means I have to hold the button down for 10 seconds to reset it. It's not a big deal, but it is a bit annoying.

These things aren't enough to put me off it, though. I feel like it has a personality. Besides, none of these things make it any less fun to fling up twisty mountain roads.

So, what bugs you about your cars?

Agrajag > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:43

0

MKV GTI: Breaks way too much.

240D: So many little cosmetic issues that it seems I'll never be able to complete.

MonkeePuzzle > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:44

0

I've complained on thsi one before, but why is there ONE chrome button. only bit of silver in the car.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:46

2

I love my car, 2002 SVT Focus, but yeah...

It will be 13 years old in March. I rattles like I'm carrying a plastic tray of loose metal bits over a washboard road in the winter.

My aftermarket exhaust is way louder than I thought it would be. I went with the quietest one I could find, as they no longer make the factory exhaust anymore, but I still wish it were much quieter.

They don't make a ton of parts for this car anymore. As there are many SVT-specific parts on the car, if anything breaks it can be a real pain to fix. Thankfully I don't have any real body work issues as those bits are totally unobtanium now.

I only get ~20 MPG in the winter and I need premium. When it's warm and I can actually drive the damn thing like it's supposed to be I can get ~24+ easily. This car hates being babied.

My radio doesn't work. The single-disc, non-digital CD player still works, so I have to burn CDs (Who does that anymore!? I do...:/ )

I've fixed most of the major issues, though I am do for a timing assembly here soon.

At least it's paid for...

yamahog > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:49

0

I hate that although I have an engine that will run through the end of days, everything else is falling apart around it like a tissue paper umbrella and I'm losing desire to Just Empty Every Pocket on basic crap instead of fun stuff. I'm now planning on ordering my new car in February or March because arghhhh.

Also that the previous owner did some really stupid shit, like cheaping out on the lift kit (stock sway bar links, really??), putting on that crapcan exhaust (which interferes with the trans pan now *headdesk*), and installing the world's worst alarm system instead of fixing the locks after it was broken into.

fhrblig > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/15/2015 at 11:50

0

I bet the 'paid for' part makes it a lot easier to put up with.

fhrblig > MonkeePuzzle 01/15/2015 at 11:50

0

Because that's all that was left in the bottom of the parts bin.

Flat Six > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:50

0

Gooey knobs/switches that look and feel disgusting. Mine look exactly like the "before" picture here. Still trying to figure out the best way to fix it.

fhrblig > Agrajag 01/15/2015 at 11:51

1

I like VW's but they scare me. Apparently more than a Fiat scares me.

MonkeePuzzle > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:53

0

likely true. makes it no less annoying.

I've added a blue button, and a black button, and a light grey button, as those were what was available to me, and they don't match. but the factory added mis-matched chrome button really irks me

fhrblig > Flat Six 01/15/2015 at 11:53

1

Ugh. The Oldsmobile Alero I used to have had these gross-feeling rubber textured knobs on the HVAC controls. I hated them.

Textured Soy Protein > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:54

0

I mostly love my cars. So just focusing on the nitpicking.

My 135is has pretty worthless cup holders, and the seats are pretty heavily bolstered which makes riding in it with a giant wool peacoat on a little difficult. It also insists on dinging at me and putting a snowflake icon on the info display any time the temp is 37 F or lower. But I put it away for the winter so the only real annoyance is the cup holders.

My Grand Cherokee gets terrible gas mileage. On winter-blend E10 and the low temps we have in Wisconsin right now, I'm getting 11-12 mpg in mixed driving. It has the Hemi, which I didn't really need but it was the only engine option available with the fanciest 4wd system. It also doesn't have an aux jack, so I have to use an FM transmitter. But after some trial and error I found an FM transmitter that works fine, and hey I just drove past a gas station this morning where gas was $1.95.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:54

0

what bugs me about my car (2000 mercury mountaineer) first off is gas mileage, 11 mpg is not great at all, granted I do drive a bit like an ape, and gas mileage isn't such a big deal right now with cheaper gasoline,

secondly, you have to really slam the doors, especially the drivers door, to make sure they are shut, usually when I get in, I have to open my door and reclose it to get the car to acknowledge its shut

the other thing is the stereo, and part of it is becuase there is an aftermarket stereo in it (put in by the previous owner) I can't control the volume or the track via the steering wheel, even though there are buttons on it for volume and track, granted it does now have an aux port so I can hook my phone up to play music

third, the rear window on the back hatches latch mechanism doesn't work right, and you have the manually push it in to get it to stay shut

4th, there is no locking mechanism on the hood (its missing) so I currently have a bungie cord on it.

5, the front bumper is messed up since a truck from someone else rolled into the front

6, the suspension is so soft, I can create body roll just by going side to side with my body in the drivers seat

7, because there is a teen behind the wheel (me) it is expensive as hell to insure, and I have to pay my mom for my insurance

8, the v6 in the stupid thing is sooo underpowered, it stuggles to accererate the 5000 lb beast.

9, the ford 5 speed auto transmission (Column Shift FTW!!!) is really lethargic, and it doesn't like to shift gears very well.

but, for the money (I only paid about 2300 bucks for the thing) I think got a great deal, I've driven almost 1000 miles in it. (which is a lot for a teenager having to pay for his own gas). mechanically, the thing is rock solid.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:56

0

Only when it's warm out.

If we weren't trying to find an at least 2-car garage with attached living quarters I would have bought a BRZ already.

I'm at the point where spending anything more than $1,000 to repair it isn't worth it as I'd be lucky to get $3,500 selling it. Apart from the timing assembly, I'm pretty much done buying it parts anymore.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 11:59

0

BRZ - Too much road noise, not enough power, and the ride's bad.

AW11 - Straight pipe.

fhrblig > yamahog 01/15/2015 at 12:01

0

I had a Buick that was like that. Not a lot of fun to keep dumping cash into it.

Scary__goongala! > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:04

0

I cant adjust the steering wheel in my NA at all. The location of the spare tire in the trunk fouls up what already small space there is without it.

fhrblig > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man 01/15/2015 at 12:04

0

I am so glad I had the manual in my Ranger. My mom had an Explorer with that transmission and I hated driving it. Funny though, her V6 got around 20.

fhrblig > Textured Soy Protein 01/15/2015 at 12:07

0

Yeah, at least gas prices are down.

I think the cupholders on European cars are crappy on purpose, that they resent having to put them there at all. The one in my Fiat is ok, but not for two people. It's this weird three-holed orifice that can really only do well with one cup in the center. I guess it's a good thing my partner hates riding in it.

fhrblig > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/15/2015 at 12:08

0

I could never BRZ. I like them, but I'd hate owning one. Too low, too harsh. I'm glad they exist, though.

fhrblig > Scary__goongala! 01/15/2015 at 12:10

1

My Ranger had no tilt, either, and the top of the wheel obscured the top of the speedometer. No, officer, I swear that's why I was going so fast.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:10

1

The ridiculous runflats on my Mini make me cry tears of rage.

There is no excuse to have a ride that ridiculous on any car. Except The Clarkson's AMG Black Series. Because he freaking deserves it.

SVTyler > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/15/2015 at 12:10

1

Don't forget a turning circle larger than a Tahoe's, the fact that any aftermarket suspension components trash the ones you kept stock, the timing belt does a better job as a bomb than it does opening and closing valves, it's easier to order parts from Yurrup instead of calling your local Ford dealer (who are the only people you can buy parts from since Autozone doesn't even bother to distinguish between regular and SVT cars), and that any car built before 2004 is riddled with ECU glitches. I love mine too but it's definitely not the easiest car to own, that's for sure.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:11

0

Low is good in my book. It's the first car that I sat in in years and felt like the seating position was correct. It's a bit harsh, but they really do set it up as a starting point. I have a track car, so the BRZ is going to transition into more of a grand tourer. I'm going to be adding extra soundproofing and working on the suspension to make it more comfortable.

BeaterGT > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:11

1

Legacy GT. Has a decent amount of cabin noise, Auto Climate Control also isn't the greatest. Wish I could have it do presets instead. Driver's window switch is too notchy meaning it will almost always go auto-down instead of you choosing where it stops.

fhrblig > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/15/2015 at 12:12

0

I have never owned a car with performance tires before, so I'd been used to relatively cheap rubber. No more. One tire on this car cost me $180 when I ran over a screw. Those wheels look great, but I cringe at the thought of getting new tires now.

fhrblig > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 01/15/2015 at 12:13

0

Low is fun, but my knees don't like it.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > SVTyler 01/15/2015 at 12:14

1

Some days I do wonder if I should just sell it and find a 2004 just to see if they finally got it sorted out.

Since mine is number 85 off the line, I clearly do not have the benefit of later production changes.

Also the EAP could be nice; seat warmers go a long way when it's freezing out. Though, it is also just more to go wrong.

But, those 04 6-spoke wheels...

fhrblig > BeaterGT 01/15/2015 at 12:15

0

The auto-down windows in my partner's Juke make me crazy. And pretty much all the steering wheel controls on every Nissan made in the last 5 years.

Justin Hughes > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:16

0

After talking a lot on here about how awesome my BRZ is...

There is NO feel through the clutch pedal. None. For a car that gives such excellent feedback elsewhere, that really sucks.

OEM Prius tires. Great for sliding around and making lots of noise without actually going anywhere fast, and that's about it. They're never going back on this car unless I decide to deliberately kill them.

Rear visibility is ok for the rear view mirror, but terrible for backing up. I added a camera that hooks up to the stock head unit to fix that.

Crickets.

Scary__goongala! > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:16

0

When i eventually get a smaller aftermarket wheel i might have to change my gauge faces so that everything is still in sight.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:20

0

I absolutely love my car, but cold mornings just suck. I've gotten used to newer cars where they warm up quickly and their interiors won't freeze you. Then the entire car just feels off, especially the transmission. But then the car warms up and it's amazing to drive.

My other complaint is with its age and mileage, at 100K and being 12 years old the car is bound to make noises. I know this but it leaves me so paranoid that something is going to break.

Oh, and gas mileage. But I guess that's what I get for having a 4V V8. And it's worth every cent of fuel so I don't mind it to much.

SVTyler > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/15/2015 at 12:22

1

From what I understand Ford didn't change a lot except how they calibrated the PCM, save as you mentioned, different trim packages, so there's probably not much difference between your car with a Ford reflash and an '04. I have an '03 with the Cold Weather Package and heated seats and they're a godsend in the Midwestern winters. The '04 wheels are sweet but remember ours look almost exactly like Cobra R wheels:

fhrblig > Justin Hughes 01/15/2015 at 12:23

0

No feel in the clutch is a dealbreaker for me. I know it's a crappy small car, but the only reason I didn't get a new Chevy Spark is that the clutch had no feel whatsoever. I can put up with a lot of mediocrity in a car, but the clutch has to be at least adequate.

FromCanadaWithLove > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:23

0

I've got a base-spec M235i. Thankfully, BMW managed to put the interior together with very few blank buttons. Unfortunately, there are buttons (real, press-able buttons) that do absolutely nothing in my car because I didn't spring for the options. I don't have bluetooth audio either, which is standard on virtually every car these days.

See that voice command button? It does nothing.

Justin Hughes > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:25

0

Don't get a Toyobaru then! You'd hate it.

fhrblig > SVTyler 01/15/2015 at 12:25

0

How can Ford make a big-ass cargo van with a decent turning circle and not be able to figure it out in a small car?

fhrblig > FromCanadaWithLove 01/15/2015 at 12:27

0

I think that bugs me more than a switch blank would.

fhrblig > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 01/15/2015 at 12:28

1

My Ranger had the personality of a cranky old man. It hated cold weather and amplified every noise it made during winter. Creaky and bitter.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:34

1

The 2013 Kia Soul:

Clutch is hydraulic with the slow release valve so its catch point changes with the temperature.

Shifter is notchy and rubbery at the same time

After 30k miles it's starting to feel cheap inside. I know it's the base model, and I'm a fat guy, but the carpet and upholstery are already starting to wear.

Noisy - the direct-injection system is noisy enough that it sounds like something's wrong with the car. It's almost like that valve rattle that every old Honda seems to have, but there's nothing wrong.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:36

0

Ya, I've learned to fear the cold now that I have a car.

And the extreme heat, because the drivers side window only will sometimes not come down. It'll always go up but not always down. And I live in Texas so that's a problem.

fhrblig > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 01/15/2015 at 12:38

0

I considered a Soul. I probably should have gotten one instead, as my partner won't ride in the Fiat and my dog hates it too because I have to load her in through the hatch and she can't see out the back windows. (She is fascinated with the sunroof though.)

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:39

0

I agree with you on the reverse thing. Mine is the same way, and from what I've read in other online forums, it seems to be just how they are...as for the rest of what you said, it makes me glad that I went for the base model with less bells and whistles. Less things to break. Unfortunately the bluetooth on this model only works with your phone but you can use a cord to connect it to the aux connection in the glove box or, if you don't want to use the cord an audio bridge will work well. Those can be had for about $30.

Otherwise, I'm at almost 27k/Miles with mine and have been pretty happy. Not a single problem so far.

fhrblig > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 01/15/2015 at 12:43

0

It's too bad it's just for the phone, but I absolutely love the Bluetooth interface. It works perfectly and intuitively for me.

I'm about to pass 30k soon. I do sort of wish I had a Pop instead of a Sport since the tires are probably much cheaper and no auto climate control. This was too good of a deal to pass up though.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > yamahog 01/15/2015 at 12:45

0

As much crap as I talk about my old Dodge, the engine was pretty good, other than needing emissions work that cost more than the car. The rest of the car was falling apart, but I'm pretty sure the engine itself would have been happy to keep chugging along for many, miles until it failed from shitty low end oil sump issues...again.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:48

0

At first i was kicking myself for not at least going with the Sport, but it does have sport mode for those time I feel the calling of the hoon, and I have more headroom in it than the sport. That sunroof hardware takes up a lot of space! Good thing I'm not that tall. (5'9)

Spoon! > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 12:58

1

My '13 Abarth had many of the same issues, and the AC wasn't just annoying it was also anemic. With the sunroof on a hot FL day it could barely keep the car below boiling. And yeah, the stereo was meh, even with the Beats upgrade I had. The '90s era LCD readout was sucky for any media, and sound was meh.

Current ride is a '15 Mustang GT, and I am already chasing mysterious rattling sounds, likely exacerbated by the stiffer Eibach Pro springs and Bassani exhaust, but at least windows down the exhaust overwhelms everything else.

fhrblig > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 01/15/2015 at 13:00

0

It really does. I have a 6'6" stepfather who cannot fit in it. I have a pic somewhere with his head sticking out of the sunroof but I can't find it.

fhrblig > Spoon! 01/15/2015 at 13:02

0

My Bose stereo is pretty good, actually. Great sound.

I totally forgot, another annoying thing is the black interior. In summer it feels like getting into the sun. My Ranger had a black interior and NEVER got this hot. The A/C copes pretty well, but we have no humidity here so that helps.

Spoon! > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 13:09

0

I had the red and black leather, didn't get too bad, and I made sure to use a sunscreen. The car was a hoot though, made all the annoyances worth it. Only after I bolted on every part available and still got beat off a redlight by a Ram 1500 did I realize how much growl and little bite it had, heh.

fhrblig > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 01/15/2015 at 13:20

0

Found it.

Evil-B > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 13:44

0

My 05 neon SXT while being a great car and reliable as hell rattles and squeaks horribly during the winter months in Wisconsin.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 13:55

0

Gas mileage, it's an auto(A terrible one), and it's terribly slow.

SVTyler > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 14:17

0

Since it doesn't have an LSD, Ford had to get creative with the suspension geometry and weren't really concerned with packaging so long as it handled extremely well, which it does, but that meant they left almost no room in the wheel well for the wheels to turn. Combine that with wide tires and you've got a 39.4ft turning circle. Apparently the ST brothers have the same problem as well so Ford hasn't really learned its lesson.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > fhrblig 01/15/2015 at 14:24

0

I love my Jeep for the most part. Few complaints:

-Getting occasional misfires in cylinder #2 and loud ticking due to cylinder head design flaw

-The clutch is too light and the engagement point is very high up

-Takes ~90 seconds to break into. This is helpful sometimes when I lock my keys inside but anyone can break in and steal the doors and soft top if they wanted to.

-The hood doesn't lock (I got my battery stolen once)

wiffleballtony > fhrblig 01/16/2015 at 00:09

0

There are some really bumpy roads on the way to church. So once a week every week my spine takes a beating to and from church. Because my Mustang suspension isn't the most comfortable and my wife doesn't want me driving her G8 and I am suposed to drive so she can put on make up. It's probably some sort of divine punishment.