Without going into too much detail, the 4 worst cars I have bought new (to date, stay tuned) are, in order:
1. 1967 Austin-Healey Mk III 3000 - Never brake while negotiating sharp turns, beware of sudden engine and electrical failures, don't go fast across Rt. 30 tire ruts in the asphalt.
2. 1969 Corvair Monza convertible - burned out its exhaust valve guides, once under warranty; followed tire ruts in hot pavement on Maryland 213 north of the Bohemia River. GM gave me a sizeable check to buy another GM car.
3. Citation - drove it only 47,000 miles it was so bad; it had a std. transmission which GM had clearly forgotten how to build, replaced the clutch 3 times, and was told by the Chevy Service Manager that "I didn't know how to drive a car with a standard transmission." The Citation would not go down icy hills with doing a 180 degree spin - something to do with braking valve system. Yuk!! This is the last GM car I will ever buy!
4. 1988 Mazda 929. Had to replace speedometer cable (3x), had to replace salt-damaged Hirada antennas (4x), had to rebuild auto trans (3x), had to replace HVAC fan motor, had to replace left front door window switch, had to replace radio, never overcame gasoline smell in the cabin, feared driving the car in snowstorms as 4-wheel steering would do irresponsible things like take me across all southbound and northbound lanes without warning, had to replace transmission-selection switch. I kept this car for 330,000 miles because my young son thought it was "awesome".
I now own a 2003 Subaru Legacy which was evidently designed by serious people at Fuji Heavy Industries, and built in Indiana. The last new car I owned that was designed with a degree of care approaching Subaru's was a 1970 Chevelle Malibu with a 250-inch straight six, an unbreakable auto trans, and a massive box frame (the sheetmetal still rusted, and the seat fabric wore out and had to be replaced).
