fastford04150

Hey lets post some stories about everyones first "clunker"? How bad we're they and what did you go through to keep them running?

I had a 96 chrysler sebring jxi or lxi (cant remember model) convertable that had a habit of transmission engaging in neutral. After two months i had no guage clusters except speedo. Three days after i bought it the alternator needed to be replaced and battery as well. This i did, and, when looking at the cables back to battery from alternator i realized that the previous owner just literally wrapped the exposed copper wire around the battery terminal. No terminal rings - nothing. Four flats, three batteries, and a constant problem w/catylitic i finally decided to rebuilt the engine, repaint it, and "restore" the car. I still have it to this day - don't drive it much. But i rebuilt it to like new condition - Only thing original is just about the block. lol.....

What are your stories?

91351

i had a 1903 model f ford handled like crap

Lenn

My first car was a 1988 Toyota Celica GT-S. I bought it in 1999 and learned how to drive AND how to drive manual on it. It had 91k on it when I paid $2000 of my hard earned minimum waged dollars on it. I put ALOT of time and money into that car. TRD coilovers and sway bars, poly engine and suspension bushings, clutchmasters clutch and flywheel. I then began racing SCCA Solo II with it. All that did was make my pocket even more empty since I broke just about every driveline part in the car doing that kind of stuff. I traded it in with 147k on it for a 1997 Dodge Avenger ES at the Dodge dealer I worked at.

Lenn

Wow... Benjamin Button in the house. Looks younger as he ages.

ricrok

I had a 1983 VW Rabbit GTI. It was such a pile but it got 31mpg. I remember that it had a 5 speed in it but gears 4 and 5 had the same frickin ratio which was just hilarious to me for some reason. My old man being a VW mechanic took a look at it and said it was rebuilt and they put in another 5th gear are a replacement for 4th. We were both going WTF. I also had to redo the entire fuel lines as they rotted and started spewing gas on the ground at 65mph. That was awesome to say the least. I was worried I was going to be in a hollywood type explosion. Those are just a couple of the problems that thing had.

Shoey

My first vehicle was a 1994 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. I wish I hadn't sold it, my '02 Grand Cherokee has more problems. I mudded the ol girl, lifted it, jumped it, and she still ran like a champ. Oh, bought it with 200k miles, and sold it with 250k.

HypnoticPigeon

1991 Olds Bravada, ran great for few years till the inspections were costing me 500-700$ a inspection. Dumped it for a 98 blazer.

8up

1961 ford fairline, 6 cyl, 3 speed payed $450.
Had it less then a week-scattered the engne.
Two weeks later hade a 390" stuffed into it, less then a year a 427" 4-speed.
Got to the point it was hard to start and my old man was getting tired of having to "push start" me every day so I could get to work to pay for all the stuff that I was putting into the car (looking back all i needed to do was install 2 biger batterys - but I was 18 at the time and not as sharp as I am now LOL).

Jason8691

A 77 Chevy Monza, blew two engines in it before I figured out what maintenance does for a car.

camohr

85 Honda prelude and I paid 500 bucks for it and this was the best car I ever owned. Broke 2 timing belts while driving and never messed anything up. Other than that I put a clutch in it and put some rims and exaust on it and drove it for 2 1/2 years and ended up selling it for 800 with 230,000 miles on it. I wish I never sold that car!