This is very funnily written: http://autos.aol.com/article/general/v2/_a/top-10-ugly-cars/20080110154209990001

Well, here’s hoping you get Mister Bourdain or a reasonable facsimile and he upgrades you to a better ride than that. Or at least one that will make you pull your hair out less. (See how I brought that around, hmmmm? 🙂 )

Honey girl, why on god’s green earth are you interested in Pontiacs? I mean, I haven’t had much luck lately with my imports, granted, but GM . . I think I’d buy that $2500 Indian contraption first.

On VWs: sorry RD for being characteristically vague. That’s exactly what I was talking about–my friend with the GTI spent a weekend going around to a mechanic and Wal-Mart trying to get a battery for the thing and finally had to take it to the dealer. He was a little disgusted. My current hoopty is a 95 Jetta and listen, it has outlasted two other cars in our fleet, so I’m not complaining about the thing. It is electronically speaking on the short bus though. We finally had to have the car alarm and the motor that runs the sunroof disabled because they just didn’t work right and had no intention of taking fixes. Now the engine, great. The transmission, great. It’s got 140K miles on it and it’s hit three deer. I kid you not. I don’t have to hunt; my car kills deer. And my partner’s father is a VW junkie and he scowls when we buy anything else–but we haven’t bought another one. I do not understand why the Rabbit doesn’t get better mileage.

I had a Subaru ("Japanese for ‘leaks oil’") Forester that I obsessively loved but it had the lemony Subaru head gasket problem and I had to replace it. I still pass 00 Foresters and go ‘call me’ on the street. I’m not getting over that one soon. I replaced it with an 06 Scion xB that got totaled about six weeks ago by a lady who saw us not at all. I had been kind of crabby about the car (mostly because it wasn’t the Subaru), but I have to say in the 18 months I had it, nothing other than an oil change. Not a peep of trouble. And really roomy and easy to park. And it took a hit very nicely.

We replaced it with a used Honda Fit, and it’s my partner’s car because I politely respect it and it gives her the shivers. I think you should drive something you love whenever possible. We immediately drove it to Minnesota, and we got 38 mph on two tanks. Never did worse than 33. And it handled really well, smooth transmission.

Tara, I’ve had the same mechanic for about 20 years now; I went to high school with his wife and co-owner, and they totally do not bullshit me. That’s really valuable. (The phone call about the Subaru started like this: "how much do you like this car?") You just listen and pick up tips and for little things, you can go into a Pep Boys or something like that and they’re usually more than happy to help. I have a good friend who does things like her own oil changes and brake service, etc. but I decided a while ago that I didn’t want to drive a car I’d replaced the brakes on. And sometimes, just banging the thing will do. 🙂

quote:

Originally posted by LoveMyLab

The only thing I know about cars is;

You pull up to the gas station attendant and say, "$10.78 in regular unleaded please".

I knew you’d be a resident of either Oregon or Joisy when I read that.

The only thing I know about cars is;

You pull up to the gas station attendant and say, "$10.78 in regular unleaded please". It was not until I hit 40 did I know where the windshield washer fluid went!

Roossy, as mentioned earlier, when you buy something at the auto parts store, they will be glad to show you what to do next. And, thanks for your comments at the chili recipe thread!
Joe

quote:

Originally posted by mar52

Ha! I wouldn’t call my 1976 Chevy Monza a muscle car, but it did have a 350 engine in it.

An engine that did indeed have to be lifted to change the last spark plug.

It was a tiny car with tiny brake pads and a big heavy engine.

Only kept it for 2 years because I couldn’t afford the tuneups and brakejobs.

Then again I replaced it with a 1979 Olds Gutless Cutless. Why did I ever buy it with a diesel engine?

Want to know about pulling hair out?

That vintage Monza was a Vega with different body panels. Way too much engine for a car designed for a 4-cylinder.

Roosy,

If your car is like my wife’s similar vintage Malibu, you have to get to the lights through the trunk. The liner panels pop out, and you should be able to find the light fixtures behind them.

quote:

Originally posted by rouxdog

Sounds terrific. How do you get over that VW ugly??

Like anything else that is ugly but dependable…they grow on you after a while. I’ve had a few dogs like that as well.

Sounds terrific. How do you get over that VW ugly??