Worst Vehicle Ever Built

[Ns1]

TIL: don't buy american SUV's?


but they're such reasonably priced tow vehicles

 

[slag]

TIL: don't buy american SUV's?


but they're such reasonably priced tow vehicles

Dont buy GM SUV's I guess?

We have an explorer sport that I've talked about on here a lot. Almost 70k miles, we've just had all 4 tires replaced for the first time. Had a ball joint replaced, sway bar end links, and brakes done. Thats it. No engine problems, no transmission issues, just starts and runs. We're driving it a couple thousand miles next week full of kids and stuff and will see how it holds up. Based on how it has run so far, it should have no problems. It has the 3.5 liter ecoboost (twin turbo). Had a 2008 explorer that was very reliable as well that got totalled on ice.

 

[Torn Mind]

TIL: don't buy american SUV's?


but they're such reasonably priced tow vehicles

Not sure if an unibody is really a tow vehicle. If a buddy is broken on the road and you have a tow dolly, you can only tow compacts under 3000 lbs if you want to be safe.

The first gen Equinox is a crossover based on a car platform that can tow about 3500 lbs. The new second gen is even worse if you get the base 4 cylinder model.

Truck-based body-on-frame SUVs are mostly going the way of the dodo except for the ones based on full-sized trucks. The small trucks had dwindled down to the Tacoma; the Colorado was just recently reintroduced and I doubt they will be making an SUV based off of it due to gas mileage.

 

[Torn Mind]

Dont buy GM SUV's I guess?

We have an explorer sport that I've talked about on here a lot. Almost 70k miles, we've just had all 4 tires replaced for the first time. Had a ball joint replaced, sway bar end links, and brakes done. Thats it. No engine problems, no transmission issues, just starts and runs. We're driving it a couple thousand miles next week full of kids and stuff and will see how it holds up. Based on how it has run so far, it should have no problems. It has the 3.5 liter ecoboost (twin turbo). Had a 2008 explorer that was very reliable as well that got totalled on ice.

Your 2008 Explorer might have "died" too soon for it to rear its ugly side. As cbrsurfr noted, the tranny has steel servos and aluminum bores.

http://www.fordservoboretransmissionfixsolution.com/symptoms--solution.html

I would surmise that the old Ranger/Explorer would be alright from a reliability standpoint under 100K, but the tranny is something that will not last.

The new Explorer is based on a car platform that ultimately was derived from Volvo's P2 platform.

 

[slag]

Your 2008 Explorer might have "died" too soon for it to rear its ugly side. As cbrsurfr noted, the tranny has steel servos and aluminum bores.

http://www.fordservoboretransmissionfixsolution.com/symptoms--solution.html

I would surmise that the old Ranger/Explorer would be alright from a reliability standpoint under 100K, but the tranny is something that will not last.

The new Explorer is based on a car platform that ultimately was derived from Volvo's P2 platform.

Very possible we dodged a bullet with the 2008. Never had issues with it either, but we didn't tow much with it (double jetski trailer from time to time). I don't recall exactly how many miles it had, but I think it was around 100k, give or take. I may be way off, though, it was a few years ago.

 

[Ns1]

Not sure if an unibody is really a tow vehicle. If a buddy is broken on the road and you have a tow dolly, you can only tow compacts under 3000 lbs if you want to be safe.

The first gen Equinox is a crossover based on a car platform that can tow about 3500 lbs. The new second gen is even worse if you get the base 4 cylinder model.

Truck-based body-on-frame SUVs are mostly going the way of the dodo except for the ones based on full-sized trucks. The small trucks had dwindled down to the Tacoma; the Colorado was just recently reintroduced and I doubt they will be making an SUV based off of it due to gas mileage.

Ridgeline tows up to 5k. The new Tacoma I could not call a small truck in good faith - but it does tow up to 6800.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Not sure if an unibody is really a tow vehicle. If a buddy is broken on the road and you have a tow dolly, you can only tow compacts under 3000 lbs if you want to be safe.

The first gen Equinox is a crossover based on a car platform that can tow about 3500 lbs. The new second gen is even worse if you get the base 4 cylinder model.

Truck-based body-on-frame SUVs are mostly going the way of the dodo except for the ones based on full-sized trucks. The small trucks had dwindled down to the Tacoma; the Colorado was just recently reintroduced and I doubt they will be making an SUV based off of it due to gas mileage.

Modren Durango is unibody since like 2011 or 2012 ... they can tow up to 7400 pounds. True its less than a ladder frame 1/4 ton pickup with similar engine, but, unibody bodys can be built very sturdy/strong.

 

[Zivic]

Ridgeline tows up to 5k. The new Tacoma I could not call a small truck in good faith - but it does tow up to 6800.

with a 5k lb capacity, still limited to about 3k lb vehicle once factoring in the trailer.

 

[NutBucket]

Buy an aluminum trailer.....

But seriously, a trailer weighs as much as a Miata?

 

[Torn Mind]

Buy an aluminum trailer.....

But seriously, a trailer weighs as much as a Miata?

Well, an SUV is supposed to give more than what a minivan or small car can allegedly provide towing-wise. You seriously can tow a 4x8 trailer with a Corolla and do some light hauling, grass mowing, carry anything up to about 700-800 lbs with a Corolla. Towing a boat, another truck, other "sporty" things are what SUVs can do that mere mortal cars are assumed to not be able to do.

Tandem-axle trailers do weigh a lot just for the trailer, and they are used for hauling heavy loads. This 82 in x 16 ft trailer weighs 1700 lbs empty. http://www.agrisupply.com/utility-trailer-tandem-axle-payload/p/46829/
And if you're in agriculture, a horse weights 1000 lbs by its lonesome self.

Now, the thing is that many SUV buyers are those who do not use their vehicle commercially and just want a people mover that doesn't destroy their self-image of hip, cool, family-free, etc. So, crossovers losing tow capacity is not even noticed by those folks since they care more about fuel economy and comfort. They also are not necessarily needing a full size vehicle, so that buy RAV4s and other laughable tow vehicles in the compact crossover class.

The thing is that crossovers are so generic that seeing one from afar gives you little idea of the actual marque of the SUV. Those that do standout are ugly, like Lincolns or the GMC's disgusting wheel wells in their most recent previous generation.

The one crossover that can do it all would be Cayenne, which happens to be out of the budget of most people if buying new.

 

[jacktesterson]

Well...

The #4 I listed in the OP, the "squeaking" turned into grinding.

Went to the shop with it this morning. Another bad Center Carrier Bearing.

2nd time I will have to replace this. Never had to replace this on any vehicle I've owned before.

For the other items:

The oil loss is also coming from the water pump area.. so when I get the Housing Gasket fixed it will take away the coolant/oil leak. There are no leaks anywhere else and no signs of head gasket again.

I was able to bleed the lines until I get that repaired, it took the swooshing sound away too.

Another $1000 worth of work to do next week.

 

[Squisher]

OP, that car sounds like a piece of shit. I would have given up long before you did even if everything was under warranty. However, I've owned a lot of GM vehicles starting with a '64 Oldsmobile and never had any major repairs my last GM vehicle was a 2003 Trailblazer. Because, I worked for GM at one time the parking lot at work was pretty much filled with GM vehicles because of the employee discount and I don't really remember anyone having problems like yours. I don't blame you for painting with a broad brush after such a piece of shit, but the statistics don't really back you up.

 

[IronWing]

Interesting. When I had to turn in my 2006 2500HD work truck it had run 80k miles with no problems at all, none. ~10k of those miles were offroad. It was the most reliable vehicle I've ever driven. My current work truck is a 2012 2500HD. No problems at 43k though I hate the six speed transmission (stomp on gas... "oh you want to move out, guess I'll drop down an ever so thin gear, that should be enough acceleration for anybody"). With the 2006, stomp on the gas and it moved. Same engine in both trucks.

 

[jacktesterson]

I am tired of it. I'm not saying all GM's are bad. I'm saying the 2005/2006 Chinese Equinoxs are notoriously awful. (In hindsight)

Bought a 2011 Mitsuibishi Endeavor AWD today to replace it. Only has 25,000 miles on it. Still has 75,000 miles warranty till 2021.

Leather and Sunroof. Hopefully it works out better than the Equinox. The warranty, space and comfort drew me in!

 

[Corn]

Worst car I've ever owned without a doubt is a 2004 Acura TL 6MT. From day 5 I couldn't wait to get rid of it. Traded it in on a 2007 Lexus IS350 which is the best car I've owned as far as reliability is concerned. It's seen over 20 track days and has probably gone 10,000 miles WOT. 150k on the ticker now and is as strong as ever. Love it and still beats a ton of unsuspecting V8 cars. Only problem with this car is it's appetite for tires and brakes....and an encrypted ECU that severely limits the aftermarket. Damn lawyers.

Have a 2013 Camaro SS vert. I don't drive it as much, but it has 25,000 miles trouble free with some go-fast goodies installed and an aggressive trans tune. Love the camaro as much as the Lexus. Built like a tank. Solid and badass so far.

 

[jacktesterson]

Worst car I've ever owned without a doubt is a 2004 Acura TL 6MT. From day 5 I couldn't wait to get rid of it. Traded it in on a 2007 Lexus IS350 which is the best car I've owned as far as reliability is concerned. It's seen over 20 track days and has probably gone 10,000 miles WOT. 150k on the ticker now and is as strong as ever. Love it and still beats a ton of unsuspecting V8 cars. Only problem with this car is it's appetite for tires and brakes....and an encrypted ECU that severely limits the aftermarket. Damn lawyers.

Have a 2013 Camaro SS vert. I don't drive it as much, but it has 25,000 miles trouble free with some go-fast goodies installed and an aggressive trans tune. Love the camaro as much as the Lexus. Built like a tank. Solid and badass so far.

My father has a 13 Camaro SS. Lots of work done to it. Great car!

 

[Jadow]

no offense, but that's what you get for buying a GM. it may be anecdotal, but GM produces one POS model after another. Only GM vehicle I ever owned was given to me.... and every time I drove it I literally thought to myself 'who would be stupid enough to pay money for this thing?'

after the bailout, I've decided to never buy a GM, sounds like a good move.

 

[Squisher]

after the bailout, I've decided to never buy a GM, sounds like a good move.

If anything GM cars have never been better. GM rank and file have for the past 20 years have been pretty scared for their jobs and have done much to improve their performance, but the bailout not only put even more of a scare into the union workers it also put a mighty big scare into management the like of which they've never seen before. Now, I'm not going to say they're the greatest cars out there and I'm sure GM still has its share of clunkers, but all and all they're leaps and bounds better then they've ever been.

 

[kn51]

Another favorite GM design for me was the Northstar engine.

Eighty thousand miles in and the head bolts pull out of the block. Woohoo.

 

[hanoverphist]

Worst vehicle I've ever owned was a '94 Isuzu Rodeo. What a pile of crap that was...

WINNER!!

i fucking hate working on isuzu vehicles. such stupid things. we wont even take them at the shop anymore, even isuzu service manager has sent customers to us with bad issues in their big v6 motors. hate em! soft cams, high pressure fuel pumps that take out said soft cams, stupid timing, everything.

 

[bradly1101]

In all my 54 years I have only needed three cars because I read the Consumer Reports April Auto Issue of the most reliable cars. Why don't people do research before plunking down $20+K? If you don't want to subscribe, get it at the library (like I do)

 

[jacktesterson]

In all my 54 years I have only needed three cars because I read the Consumer Reports April Auto Issue of the most reliable cars. Why don't people do research before plunking down $20+K? If you don't want to subscribe, get it at the library (like I do)

3 Vehicles?

Man that magazine must be the sh!t!

Joking aside, glad you've had good reliability!

 

[NutBucket]

Let's face it, most people don't buy new cars because they need to. If you spend just a bit of effort maintaining a vehicle it should easily last a decade or two.

 

[exar333]

In all my 54 years I have only needed three cars because I read the Consumer Reports April Auto Issue of the most reliable cars. Why don't people do research before plunking down $20+K? If you don't want to subscribe, get it at the library (like I do)

Doesn't guarantee you don't get a lemon. Just puts the odds MORE in your favor, that's all.

 

[ElFenix]

In all my 54 years I have only needed three cars because I read the Consumer Reports April Auto Issue of the most reliable cars. Why don't people do research before plunking down $20+K? If you don't want to subscribe, get it at the library (like I do)

which 3?