Let's hear your horror stories!

Due to the nature of my work, I get to drive a very diverse range of cars.
From the very exotic, to the real bone shakers.

I'd always considered my drive in a 1979 Lada 1,300 to be my worst experience ever.
But yesterday, my opinion changed.
I had to install a replacement 4-speed transmission in a Reliant Rialto, a 3-wheeler with a tiny 850cc engine.
Going round corners can be pretty scary, akin to a kids bicycle without stabilisers.

It's also made entirely of plastic / fibreglass, which increases its unstable ride.
Nicknamed the "Plastic Pig"! 

It's very narrow, and test driving this car today after the gearbox installation, I had the seat back as far as it would go, and it was still very cramped!
With the doors shut, you can't wind the windows down, as the winder is jammed against your knee.

Here's one:



Suddenly, the old Lada 1,300 seems very luxurious!

What's the worst car you've driven, or been driven in?

More on Reliant models here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant

Siena Baba!

How bodi? i have always found the Reliant rather amusing, but lost my amusement when i found out how much they cost. As per the worst ride i,ve driven, its difficult to tell, becos there are so many rattle traps in Naija that you find it difficult to measure their degree of drivability, you just want to get out of them in one piece!

Cyber, I'm good, been a long time!

...memory lane...

The British comedian Mr Bean had a thing against this ride



Worst car i have ever driven was a peugeot 404 pickup van. Dont know what valley of the shadow of death it passed through but i tell you i scaled through...it had a sideways walk very much like a dalmatian.... .

Gear shift was horrendous as even though manual i knew something was amiss...

Bad maintanance.....had no choice then neways.... it turned out to be indisposable!!

The worst vehicle I have driven so far is a 2005 Nissan Almera Tino with automatic transmission and 1.8l engine.

When I read the reviews of the vehicle before buying it for my wife, I thought it would be something exciting. Alas, I was seriously disappointed as the vehicle was so sluggish that my wife who is driving for the first time ever in her life complained of the car being sluggish, especially from start. But it changes gear fast and picks up once its gone beyond the third gear.

I rarely overtake or make quick sharp overtaking when driving this vehicle. I'm a speed demon who love cars with very good acceleration and this car sabi fall person hands die for the acceleration matter. We had to sell the car out after 2 years, though it was in crispy top shape. For the sake of this vehicle, I lost any interest in Nissan cars.

The Tino wasn't my first Nissan car, I had previously owned a 1999 Primera SE with a slightly bigger 2.0l engine whose performance was only slightly better than the Tino, but could never rival my former Honda Prelude with a 2.0l engine and my Benz 190E with 2.0l engine. I think Nissans are generally the worst cars I've driven..

My mechanic's Mazda 626. I needed to rush to the closet ATM to make some withdrawals, so that he can buy stuffs for my car. I regretted not using a taxi that day.

FlyboyZee:
The worst vehicle I have driven so far is a 2005 Nissan Almera Tino with automatic transmission and 1.8l engine.

When I read the reviews of the vehicle before buying it for my wife, I thought it would be something exciting. Alas, I was seriously disappointed as the vehicle was so sluggish that my wife who is driving for the first time ever in her life complained of the car being sluggish, especially from start. But it changes gear fast and picks up once its gone beyond the third gear.

I rarely overtake or make quick sharp overtaking when driving this vehicle. I'm a speed demon who love cars with very good acceleration and this car sabi fall person hands die for the acceleration matter. We had to sell the car out after 2 years, though it was in crispy top shape. For the sake of this vehicle, I lost any interest in Nissan cars.

The Tino wasn't my first Nissan car, I had previously owned a 1999 Primera SE with a slightly bigger 2.0l engine whose performance was only slightly better than the Tino, but could never rival my former Honda Prelude with a 2.0l engine and my Benz 190E with 2.0l engine. I think Nissans are generally the worst cars I've driven..

Bro, the Honda is performance bias, its lighter and more aerodynamic than the tino and primera. Try new nissans now. Especially the altimas and ultimas, you'll be amazed. These cars are fast especially the ones with V6 engines.

My own worst car was a Toyota Carina ii 2.0 Gli liftback 4AT.

Gazzuzz abeg come o! I wanna share my own story, remember you asked me about this last year if I wasn't mistaken, I told you it is a long epistle but tsunami Nairaland wiped it off.

Stories that touch the heart by "lomomike".

Gugru and groundnut loaded.



My worst car was nissan prairie 1989 1.3 liter engine, the engine was replaced 3times, any time you carried anything heavy in the boot, the rear suspensions would break!! It. Was also a rustbucket. Evil car, we had to give it out to an unsuspecting cousin for free

[img]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7wYJjMo_FAIPhqYXu_42XpP3a9hlJr_kE4AG68wdP4z25Vi5g2FBFXcJo[/img]

Ehen, I have come back again to complete my story...
Just returned from India, I decided to buy a small lift back which I could use to move around. I got myself a brown/gold coloured 1990 model Toyota carina ii 2.0 GLi for 450k, brown seats and brown dashboard, heated side mirrors, heated seats, I had to construct the A/C as there was none. It had alloy wheels and looked good it was a German market carina ii. I bought it, from a woman and took it home. Next day, I started the engine and it roared to life. Pushed the lever to R, the car surged backwards with speed, I slammed the brakes only to hear a groaning sound. Pushed to D, nothing R, nothing. I packed the car there. I traveled again and came back after 2months. I inspected the shafts and noticed balls on the tyre area (that time I was a novice with capital "L" who couldn't handle a spanner). I called a mechanic who checked it and told me shaft is bad, I have to replace both shafts as they were fake elcheapo eltawain shaft. I parted with 12K that day, he came with beljium shaft and installed them. He told me to shift R and D to check if they're working, I depressed the brakes and did that, on releasing the brakes, the flexible brake line on the driver's front tyre bursted. Spilling contents. 3k went out for brake pipes again.

2weeks later, I went to install a CD system LG 1 DIN with pioneer speakers and was feeling funky. I went to Suleja to flex my old babe. coming back, I started hearing a strange noise on the rear driver side tyre. I got to mechanic workshop, tie rod broke. No more steering control tyres were wobbling. 8K to purchase new tie rods, 2k for rubber booths, and 3K for one of the multilink arm on the rear (the previous arm was bent and the previous owner used dunlop slippers cut to act as rubber boot hence the noise and uneven driving).
I was back on the road again. I went to APO to flex with my guys, as per I don show Naija na, night came I was returning home, I couldn't see my front. Hmmm. I managed to get home. Called my mechanic. He said reflectors in Headlamp is faded, we should get another one. 11k for one tokunbo 7k brand new taiwan, I picked 2 tokunbo for 22k. He installed it, it was out of alignment. He adjusted it but it was only slightly brighter than the previous units, he called a re-wire who installed a relay, the headlamp worked at last, I was glad. Hehehehe Night movement started again, lol! Only for rains to come and I discovered no wipers, they were wornout and producing noise. 1,200 naira a pair in front and 300naira for long piece on the rear. Nothing's gonna stop me from 'wakaing'. I discovered the motor started drinking fuel. Chai, called my mecho again, he removed sparkplugs, installed new ones 8K (2k a piece X 4), removed airfilter and bought another one 1500, then bought injector CRC cleaner, cleaned the intake butterfly valves. Poured some in the Vacuum line. Started the car to idle a while, then change oil, 3k oil filter 1k total 4K. Economy improved a bit. But still high consumption. Came back to him, he checked and discovered the Airflowmeter is bad. 15K for belgium part. Finally, it worked. My power windows acts as if they've got a mind of their own when rains come, they may not go up. But I had to manage them, I also found the wires on the power moonroof which was detached (the moonroof was sealed with mechanic's trademark black gum which I peeled off). Suddenly, my steering became stiff. I called my mecho, he said pump is failed. Bought tokumbo pump 7k it worked, I went to AMAC. On the road going, it became stiff again. I called him, he said 'when coming home branch my workshop'. On my way home I was doing 140km/hr on berger-nicon junction expressway, suddenly I slowed down to negotiate katampe bridge, steering locked, slammed the brakes, car swerved off the road, tipped over the bridge and landed face down into the deep gutter below. All the contents in the boot fell inside the passenger cabin. I had seatbelt so i wasn't hurt, I climbed down and called my mechanic. He went to find a hiab truck they said 70k to lift the damn car out of the gutter and place it on the road side. I said NO. I quarrelled with the mechanic, I told him I am no more working with him (beef mode active). Luckily, a blue hiab of FRSC was passing by, I waved him to stop, he helped me freely, I was glad. Someone came, with a knife, cut my rear seatbelt and used it as a tow rope tied to his car and towed mine to another mechanic shop. Headlamp broken, grille broken, front driver side suspension broken, brake cable cut, bumper broken, windscreen developed a line from top to bottom, fenders bent, transaxle broken, steering bad. Over 100K to replace them, new strut bought and yet it failed a week later due to a leak thus giving out the pressurized fluid, I opted for tokumbo struts 12k. I was foolishly determined and no one's gonna let me down. I got on the way from AMAC and drove to go see my babe in Bida poly I never knew it was gonna be another epic wrong move filled the tank up and fired, on highspeed in excess of 160km/hr on kubwa-zuba expressway. Damn speed was sweet
I was dusting all other cars on the road when suddenly I hit a pothole (Suleja, Lapai, to Bida was pothole infested then, I don't know of now) suddenly, my suspension gave way again, but I was not deterred, I must love up. Suddenly, a pre-facelift Honda Accord EOD (2003-2005) swept past, this act bruised my ego, in trying to catch up, the driver suddenly stepped on his brake and a petrol truck was coming ahead, I hit another pothole, my brakepad flew out, this gave me no room to maneuver, I rear ended that car and it was totaled. The boot, to the rear passenger was deformed badly. My front end again went bad. Another crack on my new windscreen, broken headlamp, broken grille, bumper. Suddenly another lorry from behind side swiped my Right side, a piece of sharp metal from the truck sank into my car's rear quarter slicing the metallic body work all thru the rear door area. the alhaji came out and looked at his car, looked at mine, and told me to go repair mine, he'll fix his. I was shocked and happy. I continued my mumu journey to Bida poly, stopped at the gate, called the babe, she say she was busy, can't attend to me. chai!

Ego bruised again, I kuku enter my kabu kabu jalopy, manage enter zuba, police check point. Them men in black wanted to start their story again. I vex tell them say make dem leave me, I need to go rest joor. Out of pity one of them met others and they let me go with my jalopy. Got to my old mechanic, he said, 'you don come again with your wahala'? I no fit answer. We fixed the car, 80K went from my pocket. Toks bumper (blue colour), toks struts, toks headlamps, toks grille, brake lines, pads, calipers, booster, disc and master (remember my brake pad fell off, I had to ride the car like that). welding and panelbeating the rear quarter and door area sliced thru. Immediately I fixed it, I put it up for sale, some dudes came, paid 300k cash, took it and travelled lol, wahala removed finally When they got to their destination, they started calling me. Fear no gree let me pick I finally summoned courage to pick after many missed calls from them only for them to tell me I don't know what I sold to them for such a cheap amount. If only I knew, I won't had sold it so cheaply. Mumu people

Mehn, because of that car I learn mechanic by force, and all the chukuwdi, nonso and spareparts dealers for kubwa and zuba come know me as customer.

Gazzuzz, now you know my history.

Lomomike, sweet and touching story

Lomomike this one nah stories that touch the liver! Iv been laughing alone and people have been looking at me like say I de craze, guy you no tell me say you de build car nah?

GAZZUZZ:
Lomomike this one nah stories that touch the liver! Iv been laughing alone and people have been looking at me like say I de craze, guy you no tell me say you de build car nah?

That motor show me pepper. And if you see how I been dey cherish the motor that time ehn? Chai!

After my second accident in which I bought 2nd hand bumper blue colour, my cousin sisters just dey yab the motor 'blue lipstick', 'woman wear lipstick, motor join wear' shey you know as carina ii bumper protude wella. Chai, I suffer wella for that crap hand oo! To make matter worst, the 2nd mechanic na devil lastborn him dey job me like who carry jazz that's why I go back to my 1st mechanic after shouting and cussing him in frustration

Mine was a 90s hyundai excel, those were crapbuckets, even in stock version- Unfortunately the one i was driven in was a LMAO- Locally Modified Ass Obliterator.

Being as some typical Ghanian taxis, shocks were as existent as the unicorns and fairies in your backyard- even microscopic bumps were transmitted undiluted to the bum. The floorboards had rusted through and the noxious gases from the sawed off exhaust filled the entire car. I had to sit precariously , lest I put a foot in a wrong place - a rust breakthrough would have resulted in the mother of all friction burns! I endured this uncomfortable, noxious, noisy trip: all 2km of it..... 'cos apparently 2k was all it took to burst its overinflated, threadbare tires.

Brothers and sisters, you can do anything if you put your heart to it. Now go punch that politician in the face

Lwkmd@lomomike









chai....mai belle ooooo...lolzzz......

Mine waz toyota carina oo.....no need for story but imagine sey dose baby bicycles with 4tayas speed pass dat tin...rain was fallin...moto waz leakin nd it waz slow...wen i got to my destination....dey said dey dnt recognise me dat m a 419...:-/

Chai!!! lomomike has scared me away from toyota.......dis motor be NIGHTMARE personalized!!!

Chai!!! lomomike has scared me away from toyota.......dis your motor be NIGHTMARE personalized!!!

Lomomike, you suffer sha. That your story was touchy

billy187:
Chai!!! lomomike has scared me away from toyota.......dis motor be NIGHTMARE personalized!!!

Lomomike still uses toyota brands, 2 for that matter.

Nah winch de that him carinaII

GAZZUZZ:

Lomomike still uses toyota brands, 2 for that matter.

Nah winch de that him carinaII

Oga you for whisper am for him ear make people no hear am na

marshalcarter:
Lwkmd@lomomike









chai....mai belle ooooo...lolzzz......

Mine waz toyota carina oo.....no need for story but imagine sey dose baby bicycles with 4tayas speed pass dat tin...rain was fallin...moto waz leakin nd it waz slow...wen i got to my destination....dey said dey dnt recognise me dat m a 419...:-/

Oya, tell your full story here, we no want cut and paste stories.

Specialist900:
Lomomike, you suffer sha. That your story was touchy

Infact, as in eh... But now I'm free!

If I could recall, Marpol, you also commented on this thread before tsunami Nairaland did its own bidding. Pls come tell your story.

GAZZUZZ:

Lomomike still uses toyota brands, 2 for that matter.

Nah winch de that him carinaII

With all this carina wahala? u gotta admire the faith of this guy...make I spread my mat again jor.

Nothing to say here

^^^
I can hardly understand what you have written. I guess you wrote it 4 people to read...

Marshalcarter, your story dey too cumbersome. I hardly understood

lomomike:

Infact, as in eh... But now I'm free!

you suppose still go dey gréé your customers for zuba.

Before I forget, do you know of a workshop in abuja where I can scan my toyota corolla 05

Thanks

The worst car I have been driven in was a regular benz 200 or so, I had performed well in my final exam when I was in primary 5 or 6 and I was to be awarded so my parent had to come in to witness my coronation as he Brainy of the school, so my dad offered to attend with his benz (he used 4 of those cars during his life time).
Well my dads benz is one of the most abused car so it is expected to disappoint when it wants to, water is the only coolant he uses in the radiator, one ragolis bottle every morning, engine oil is one ragolis bottle also every week bottled by association of road side sellers, the battery is the acid filling one, and he spends money to keep it in top shape.

So this faithful morning we had to go out early so that we would be through with my dad's outing before 11-12 when I am to be coronated. The car refused to start and while twicking with the battery, the head of one side gave way, chai see yawa after working maggic for 30mins, the car came alive and we started our journey, my dad na agbada man so while coming back from Ajah after his outing we had to make a U turn where the head quaters of oceanic bank was when heading to bonny camp (I think we branched at Mr biggs there or so) we needed to turn back to VI where my school was I don't know whether na brake fail abi steering stiff, my dad didn't turn well and he plunged with speed into a gutter I heard a sound like an atomic bomb had been dropped and the car was bouncing like someone was playing with its air suspension, we had to park, the front tyre had burst my dad removed his agbada and I went to place C-caution (then Nigeria was still good) and the type of jack then for the benz was a fix into the hole in the car and winding but the hole to fix the jack had rusted so anytime he jacked the car the thing gave way. I was lucky a car stopped to pick me to school while my dad was in OYO mode my dad walked in during cultural dance and after the ceremony we were to go home omo come and see disgrace the car refused to start and had to be pushed, you could see small children of 2-5 also running and pushing as the car purred to life, we were covered in thick smoke like we were on the stage and about to be presented in style, I just hurried into the car in shame and we drove off since then if I hear my dad has come to pick me after school I must always be the first to hit the car park so as to quickly work maggic on the car and move off before my secret admirer sees me pushing car.