Most Unreliable Cars
82Automobiles with a Bad Reputation
Most unreliable cars - Another article that I’ve decided to write in the first person. Although, many would agree, that even without concrete statistics, or evidence to back some of these claims up, assumption suffices when it comes to some of these automotive narratives....
Furthermore, inspiration for this article came as a result of the response that I received from its sister article about “Reliable Cars”..., and a suggestion made to me by a hub member to compose a counterpart article.
I’ve never, in my life, believed the stereotype that gets circulated around, which says that good looking people usually have a nasty disposition, whereas average or below average looking individuals usually have a great attitude. In fact, I’ve met - and know beautiful people that have a disposition to match their good looks, likewise, I’ve met ugly looking individuals whose attitudes matched their looks as well, so this rumor is not in the least bit true. That being said , I think this stereotype can safely be applied to many of the world’s most beautiful automobiles - my article will be about gorgeous cars that have been cursed (some with good reason) with this stereotype of being unreliable.
Furthermore, many of the beautiful vehicles of old days, which were infamous for being unreliable, now days get high marks for performance and reliability....
Here are a list of the most unreliable cars around:
Jaguar
If I had a penny for every time someone dumped on a Jag, I’d be a millionaire - at least! Well, I hope the saying “your time will come” is not true, because I just purchased a 2011 XF. However, Jag’s are amongst the world’s most beautiful automobiles - I knew their reputation, but still, I love British Automobiles - and I love Jag’s.... Although no rumor is entirely without a cause, Jag’s did have a horrible reputation back in the 70’s and 80’s for breaking down quite often.
Audi
Automotive experts will be the first ones to tell you that most car companies try to emulate Audi’s good looks - interior/exterior. In fact, most automobile companies give Audi cues to their cars - Honda, Toyota, Nissan, etc. Back in the 80’s, Audi's were not considered the most dependable cars around. Nevertheless, Audi’s themselves have always taken cues from Porsche, making them quite sporty looking and desirable. Just like Jag’s, Audi’s are trying to improve their bad reputation amongst consumers.
Volkswagen
If you want to go around telling your friends and co-workers that you actually own a European car, just purchase a VW, they’re one of the least expensive European cars around. What’s great about Volkswagen, is that they own all the famous Euro-brands: Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. However, their past reputation for making unreliable cars still pursuits them.
BMW
Another gorgeous car from Europe, whose bad reputation still pursuits them. BMW and Jag have decided to take responsibility for their past mistakes by offering free regular scheduled maintenance until 50k miles....
Mercedes Benz
Although not quite as bad a reputation as the previously mentioned automobiles in my article, some Mercedes owners have had tales of woes about their Benz.
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Thanks for commenting Betty....
If you're not an automobile connoisseur, then stick to Honda and Toyota, you should be okay.
Take care
John
Hi John,
Poor me, I have to stick with my Toyota for now. I know you love music. My husband came in with an old CD I had forgotten about, which has to do with Astrology. You may be familiar with Gustav Holst's The Planets. I used to listen to it all the time, and am back in love with it again. He catches the mood of the signs through his musical interpretations of each planet. My favorite is Mercury, the Winged Messenger. Do you know this work? Take care, Jean PS Wish I had a Jag.
Hi Jean - thanks you!
Holst's "The Planets" is very famous. You have a keen ear for music, because although Mars is the most famous of all, I feel Mercury is musically superior in so many ways....
- I love cars, so much so that I don't mind getting into debt over them. Jags (British automobiles as a whole) are one of my personal favorites. Nevertheless, nothing gives you a bang for your money like a Honda or Toyota does....
Take care of yourself
John
Thanks for your thoughts on my Astrology Hubs. I began studying it about 35 yrs ago, and stayed with it on and off. I began my HP time with SunSign pieces, and I'm in the process of rewriting them. I'd rather be finishing my work on the Greek Gods and Motherpeace, but the old hubs needed to be improved, I added RSS feeds, finally learned, and I deleted a few hubs that usually got down to 70 or a little lower. So I'm working hard, but only have 2 new pieces to show for about a month. I'm happy with what I have now and only have 4 hubs to fix now!
As I said, I'm not that familiar with astrology, so I enjoy reading your astrology hubs from time to time. You're very knowledgeable in that field.
Take care and thanks for reading my hub
John
Great Hub, John, Luckily the cars like Jag, Audi, VW, Benz, BMW already have good reputations now.
Thank you Aris. Yes, European cars have improved on their track record, however, they still have a long ways to go.
Take care of yourself
John
i have to disagree in what concerns BMWs and Mercedes.
I own a BMW 320d SW since 2003 and it is quite reliable: 225.000 km without issues, affordable maintenance, never let me down, and as a bonus it is very economical (avg 900km for a filled tank - city driving) .
As for mercedes..well 95% of the taxis than exist in my country are mercedes from brand new E and C series to late 1970s 240 and 300 ( diesel engines). Most of these cars ride 24/7 ( 3 shifts per car) and most of the older ones have already locked more than 1 million Kms without changing the engine ( if you visit the mercedes museum at stuttgart you`ll see a Mercedes 300d portuguese taxi in exhibition as it made 999.999 km with the original engine), and of course remember these cars are always adding kms at urban traffic which is the most terrible conditions for a car`s engine.
just my 2 cents
Cheers,David
Hi David,
- First, let me thank you for reading my hub. I'm glad you founded challenging enough to comment on it....
There are exceptions to every rule. Nevertheless, here in America, most people that I know don't usually have many good things to say about European cars - except that they look good, no argument there: English, Germans and Italians make the best looking automobiles under the sun (British being my personal favorite). However, I beleive that as a result of the Japanese Automotive Assault (as I like to call it), both American and European companies have improved considerably.
Take care of yourself!
John
Thanks for the reply and sorry for my english :)Indeed even here in Europe Italaian and french cars are considered the most unreliable. As for german cars I believe the diesel engines are not that common in your country\continent so probably gasoline engines have a different record of reliability. As for the japonese yes they are very robust cars ( for ex the Honda S2000 have been considered the most reliable car at a european car review) however they are expensive considering the overall quality and of course the looks :).
Thanks,David
- Thanks again daviddrio. I really appreciate your comments. Take care
It's a shame to see the Jaguar up there.
I remember the old Skoda jokes (when they were really bad) and how VW have managed to turn it around to be an excellent Marque, way above what was a Great British icon
- Yes Ghostwriter, especially being the Jag is one of my personal favorites.
VW has done a good job with all their products: Bentley, Lambo and Bugatti, even if they recycle Audi cues in all of them. Nevertheless, Audi is one of the best looking automobiles around, so why shouldn't VW cash in on their good looks being that they own them.
Thank you for commenting and take care of yourself
John
Am I right in thinking that in its day Skoda was a top luxury car or had a particular executive model but the 'iron curtain' put paid to it?
I agree with you Ghostwriter. I don't think VW has anything to offer any car company. Their great success has come about because of the Audi. Even Bentley's and Lamborghini's have some Audi cues in them and, forget about any VW; all the VW are just Audi reworkings through and through, nothing original there. Any chance that the Skoda had was lost, because all VW will do is rework it as a VW wanna be....
Take care
John
Very informative hub.Helpful to choose a car.
Thanks Fashion
Research is backing these statements up right? Kidding a wonderful useful Hub.. I drive a BMW because I like the way the Germans build cars.. but I do find myself in the shop a lot..:) and those regular 50k Miant... cost an arm and a leg well unless I purchase that coverage plan..
Thank you Atanacio...yes, I drive a Jag myself, cost me an arm and a leg (costing me that is...), but I love it. I love British automobiles, they're my personal favotire. Thanks again for stopping by and commenting...
Just read this hub and think that my comments on the GM cars would have been more appropriate here. Anyway, I've been around cars since I was a kid (back in the dark ages), and I think that sometimes the bad rap we give certain Eurpoean cars may be our own fault. Service is the key. Unless changes have been made in the last few years, they require a critical program of maintenance and tune-ups that most Americans don't want to follow or of which they are ignorant. My brother was selling his Porsche several years ago and wouldn't sell it to me. He said that I couldn't afford to pay for the maintenance and he wasn't going to do it for me. My friend got rid of her Mercedes after one year because she said it cost about $400 each time she took it in for service.
Hi MizBejabbers,
Yes, I love European cars myself; English cars are the best looking cars under the sun, in my personal point of view... So, I went out and bought a Jag last year...traded my Lexus in for it. Reason being, I don't want to be 90 years old, on my deathbed, and upset, because, I didn't own a Jag.... All that said, you need to known when to call them and I didn't, but oh well...I do love my car though....
I still think that Japanese make the best cars---not best looking, or best performance, but best over all value in terms of reliability....
Thanks again and take care
John
Hi John, I am with you, if you can afford the maintenance, then get what you please. I owned a few Beemers, great cars until you have to whip out the check book come tune up time. I’m also a big truck guy, I’ve seen American trucks drive circles around their car counterparts in terms of reliability. The 80’s and 90’s were just atrocious for most marques. I finally capitulated to reliability demons and bought my first Toyota last year. Great car, comfortable and utilitarian…but BORING. Cheers.
Hi Jason and thanks for stopping by.
Yes, Toyotas are boring, even Lexus... Nevertheless, they do have great track records and that's what makes them so appealing.
Take care
John
Where's Lancia!?
Hi Takua and thanks for commenting.
You might be correct about Lancia automobile not being reliable; nevertheless, Lancia is not a very well known automobile, hence the reason it was omitted from my article.
Additionally, I'd like to say that there are some people out there who've owned Acuras and complained about them being unreliable. However, Honda and Acura has an impeccable reputation with the public, so who cares if they've put a few lemons out there (unless you happened to be the owner of one of these lemons :-(...)
Furthermore, I own a Jag and love it very much. All said though, I was skeptical when I purchased it. The Jag hasn't given me any problems, but there are quirks here and there; British automobiles are my absolute favs of all, followed by Germans.
Take care and thanks again for stopping by and commenting
John
Whew I am glad to see my car did not make the list. I do agree with the BMW comments as a friend of mine became quite frustrated with his model. Good list and helpful too.
Thanks Christy for stopping by.
Although my article was written in somewhat of a "subjective fashion," I think most people will agree with my choices.
Thanks again and have a great weekend
John
Betty Johansen 11 months ago
Again, thanks for the information. When it comes to cars, my main question is: How often is it going to break down? I don't care what it looks like as long as it goes.