Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22779 Location: UK

I think the Somerset I had some years ago was the most fraught ownership experience I've had. Constant running problems were finally cured, only for the rear wheel to part company with the car on its first, successful, drive out after curing the ignition woes. I wasn't sorry to see the back of that one Smile

RJ
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bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta

For me there's no competition at all, the Hunter wins outright, even a clubman estate bought for a 100 pounds as a runabout hardly ever gave me any trouble compared to the hunter, and that clubman was really tatty to say the least!
However I am not giving up, its a fight between me and him and I'm gonna win! Laughing

nqtraderman · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 2:56 pm Post subject:

That's an easy one. Bought for £100 as a student, a Viva HA. What a pile of ****. Broke down every day on the way to college at the exact same spot. Sounded like petrol trouble, so hopped out dismantled the carb blew thro it and back together in about 5 mins and always went. Tried loads of solutions but blowing the jets out was the only thing that worked.

Except on wet days when I couldn't be bothered getting out. Then it was plan B .. sit with throttle on floor until it picked up and then carry on.

But one wet day it didn't .. con rod through engine.

I managed to get a tow home, then on to a dodgy local car auction where it was pushed through ... and I still got £50 for it Wink

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Owner of a 1953 Sunbeam Alpine

Phil - Nottingham · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1252 Location: Nottingham

1987 Rover 820SE auto saloon we bought in 1990 - lovely car but EVERYTHING went wrong and it had only done 25K miles sold it after 18 months by which hed asket and gerbox was failing
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

Ellis · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:16 pm Post subject:

For me, it was a 1968 F registered Jaguar S Type 3.4. Despite (or probably because of) a a comprehensive restoration it was the most unreliable and troublesome car I have owned.
I was convinced by the end of three years of ownership in the early 1990s that there was a malevolent spirit living inside it.
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22779 Location: UK

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

As per my post here
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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2150 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

Keith D · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:23 am Post subject:

No hesitation for me. !964 Jag Mk 2 3.4 sedan!

Most efficient way of boiling water known to mankind, despite throwing countless dollars at it! I had fuel, auto transmission, anti-lock brake, generator and oil burning problems! Plus the fact that it would not restart if it was hot. That car has given me a lifelong allergy to the name SU. As one thing got finally fixed, something else died.

It was by far the most difficult car to work on I have ever had. Accessability was a word the Jag designers had never heard of!

I only kept it for a year! It was the only car that I stood and watched the new owner drive away with unbounded joy in my heart!
I am now shuddering with the memory of those days!

In hindsight, I could have made it into the perfect car by dropping a Holden motor and transmission in it!

Keith

Ray the rocker · Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 187 Location: south wales

My money grabbing motor of all time--- 1968 vauxhall hb viva GT. purchased it as a part ex from a local dealer.Was a decent headturner in those days .Had a professional respray but no end of problems with engine oil leaks from the cam cover!!! never got rid of excessive fumes inside the car from oil dropping onto the exhaust manifold. Went like shhhh of a shovel--but had to go--swmbo`s orders.! it`s me or the car she said .Did i make the right decision---they must be pretty thin on the ground today.

Cheers --Ray the Rocker....

Nic Jarman · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:26 pm Post subject:

Marina van, grrrrrrrrr.
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1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

Funny old world - I had 2 Rovers in a row, an 800SE, followed by a V6 Honda engined Sterling and loved them both.

Granted the head gasket went in the 800 at 79,000 and various odds & sods, but nothing like what you guys went through. The Sterling was my pride and joy and the only reason I traded it in for a XJ6 Jaguar was the Honda auto box was waaaaay too difficult to repair and too expensive to replace.

The Jaguar on the other hand turned out to be a piece of junk, everything broke or rusted and I traded it in when it was 3 years old for a brand new Land Rover Defender County Station Wagon - and it was then I discovered the Jaguar compared to the LR was the better car! Rolling Eyes

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 663 Location: Sydney

SU carbys can be a problem unless you know the tricks of how to adjust them. I have not had one to deal with one. My old man used to carry an oil can with light oil in, to put into the Su when it started to play up. He drove a Morris Minor van for many years. My older brother had an Austin Healy 3000 with 3 SU's on it. He was telling me a month or so ago that you had to listen to the noise each Su was making and adjust it on that. I can get the full details from him , if anybody wants.

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

My current '63 Riley 1.5. I've spent far more money on it than I paid for it - any sane person would have scrapped it long ago. I'm not going to list everything that it has needed, you wouldn't want to see a grown man cry...

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2150 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

My Landcrab. I've hardly used it since buying but have bought new steering rack, starter motor, dynamo, battery, tyre, tracking, repaired the front wing...oh about £500 worth of work. Of course I won't get that back when I sell it. It's all sorted now, but it seems no one wants Limeflower landcrabs (even one owner original ones).