Cars that you would buy but WOULD NOT recommend to others.
Discussion
Turning the other thread on its head, what cars would you buy but would never recommend that others buy?
Firstly, from personal experience:
Peugeot 205 GTi - still the Hot hatch GOAT IMHO and thrills like no other. They still look great but build quality is poor and as a comfortable, reliable way of getting from A to B, they're a little lacking. Most people would be much happier in a contemporary Golf GTi, it's the "better" (if less fun) car.
R-series MINIs - I think these look great, are really fun to drive , feel quite solid and feel totally unique but they're less practical than any other hatchback, hard riding, not very reliable and very expensive to fix for a small car. Most people would be better off in a Fiesta/Corsa/Polo/Clio.
BMWs - I know lots of people over the years that have come from non-premium brands into a cheap 4 cylinder BMW because they fancy a swanky badge and think they are getting a better quality car (which used to be true a long time ago) but are just rewarded with poor reliability and massive repair bills. For instance, my cousin has mostly owned Fords in the past and received a bill for 4000 pounds for an automatic transmission repair on her 2018 BMW recently and it wasn't even one of the good BMWs (2-Series Active Tourer)! If you go in eyes open ie not expecting Ford/Vauxhall running costs and get one of the RWD ones with a straight six engine, they are fantastic cars though. V8 M3/V10 M5 prices are particularly tempting but promise a whole world of pain in terms of running/repair costs. I get the feeling that the lower level Audis/Mercedes are mote reliable/cheaper to run though? If she had got the 4 cylinder C-Class that I had suggested, I think she would have faired better.
Land Rovers - not much explanation required really. I adore their style, image and utility and would love to own one myself but they're reliability record/cost of repair speak for themselves.
Ferrari 355 - my dream car as a 15 year old and probably still is. They look perfect, sound amazing and have that classic open gate manual but prodigiously expensive to run vs. newer Ferraris and very likely to bankrupt you. I still want one though.
Jeep Wrangler (JL) - had one of these as a holiday rental a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. I always found the old XJ/WJ Cherokees/Grand Cherokees quite charming and owned a 4 litre WJ briefly, which was objectively crap but felt like driving around on a sofa. The Wrangler was a bit better than that (so better than I thought it would be), 3.6 V6 and an 8 speed ZF auto, so not fast but performance was adequate, infotainment decent and you can take the roof and doors off! However, it's still quite heavy on fuel, feels a little cramped for its size, only has part time 4WD and the halogen headlights were quite poor and a pretty poor crash rating IIRC. Totally inappropriate for my needs (a smaller-engined petrol/diesel estate would serve me much better) and quite pricey but perhaps a less "tragic" mid-life crisis than a Porsche? Not one that I could recommend then but I still quite fancy one!
So which cars would you consider buying yourself but would not generally recommend to others?
Firstly, from personal experience:
Peugeot 205 GTi - still the Hot hatch GOAT IMHO and thrills like no other. They still look great but build quality is poor and as a comfortable, reliable way of getting from A to B, they're a little lacking. Most people would be much happier in a contemporary Golf GTi, it's the "better" (if less fun) car.
R-series MINIs - I think these look great, are really fun to drive , feel quite solid and feel totally unique but they're less practical than any other hatchback, hard riding, not very reliable and very expensive to fix for a small car. Most people would be better off in a Fiesta/Corsa/Polo/Clio.
BMWs - I know lots of people over the years that have come from non-premium brands into a cheap 4 cylinder BMW because they fancy a swanky badge and think they are getting a better quality car (which used to be true a long time ago) but are just rewarded with poor reliability and massive repair bills. For instance, my cousin has mostly owned Fords in the past and received a bill for 4000 pounds for an automatic transmission repair on her 2018 BMW recently and it wasn't even one of the good BMWs (2-Series Active Tourer)! If you go in eyes open ie not expecting Ford/Vauxhall running costs and get one of the RWD ones with a straight six engine, they are fantastic cars though. V8 M3/V10 M5 prices are particularly tempting but promise a whole world of pain in terms of running/repair costs. I get the feeling that the lower level Audis/Mercedes are mote reliable/cheaper to run though? If she had got the 4 cylinder C-Class that I had suggested, I think she would have faired better.
Land Rovers - not much explanation required really. I adore their style, image and utility and would love to own one myself but they're reliability record/cost of repair speak for themselves.
Ferrari 355 - my dream car as a 15 year old and probably still is. They look perfect, sound amazing and have that classic open gate manual but prodigiously expensive to run vs. newer Ferraris and very likely to bankrupt you. I still want one though.
Jeep Wrangler (JL) - had one of these as a holiday rental a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. I always found the old XJ/WJ Cherokees/Grand Cherokees quite charming and owned a 4 litre WJ briefly, which was objectively crap but felt like driving around on a sofa. The Wrangler was a bit better than that (so better than I thought it would be), 3.6 V6 and an 8 speed ZF auto, so not fast but performance was adequate, infotainment decent and you can take the roof and doors off! However, it's still quite heavy on fuel, feels a little cramped for its size, only has part time 4WD and the halogen headlights were quite poor and a pretty poor crash rating IIRC. Totally inappropriate for my needs (a smaller-engined petrol/diesel estate would serve me much better) and quite pricey but perhaps a less "tragic" mid-life crisis than a Porsche? Not one that I could recommend then but I still quite fancy one!
So which cars would you consider buying yourself but would not generally recommend to others?
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th August 04:48
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th August 04:49
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th August 04:49
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th August 04:50
Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 6th August 05:55
I stopped recommending cars years ago, it's a fools errand as you just get low key blamed for any unexpected costs.
I just listen to what they want and say "yeah why not, just do your basic research as obviously you will anyway and go for it!"
The only modulation to this is when my SIL decided she wanted a Range Rover, I think I said "yeah why not, just do some research as some people report reliability issues, and if you're happy then go for it!"
(she went for it, 9 weeks after collecting it new it was back at the dealer for 3 weeks with a suspension fault warning light)
I just listen to what they want and say "yeah why not, just do your basic research as obviously you will anyway and go for it!"
The only modulation to this is when my SIL decided she wanted a Range Rover, I think I said "yeah why not, just do some research as some people report reliability issues, and if you're happy then go for it!"
(she went for it, 9 weeks after collecting it new it was back at the dealer for 3 weeks with a suspension fault warning light)
Definitely agree with the BMW statement in OP' post.
Had a number of BMW's, all 6 cylinder and all fabulous, with a very important caveat. You kept on top of the maintenance. My M2C I used to do interim oil and filter changes and the same with the 440i.
A friend got a 320d and it was always in repair, he just never kept on top of the maintenance. Turned into a problem car.
Any exotica is going to have big bills anyone expecting to run an Audi R8 on a S3 budget is going to have a rude awakening add a Marque like Ferrari into the mix and I imagine the bills can get frightening fast.
I'll add Porsche to the list, I'd buy one (got a 718 GTS 4.0) but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone due to the steep running costs. Decent Geo, PPF etc all add up.
Had a number of BMW's, all 6 cylinder and all fabulous, with a very important caveat. You kept on top of the maintenance. My M2C I used to do interim oil and filter changes and the same with the 440i.
A friend got a 320d and it was always in repair, he just never kept on top of the maintenance. Turned into a problem car.
Any exotica is going to have big bills anyone expecting to run an Audi R8 on a S3 budget is going to have a rude awakening add a Marque like Ferrari into the mix and I imagine the bills can get frightening fast.
I'll add Porsche to the list, I'd buy one (got a 718 GTS 4.0) but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone due to the steep running costs. Decent Geo, PPF etc all add up.
This thread reminds me of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird I once dailied through winter. It was essentially a drag car with number plates. The engine was a 7 litre V8, with a roller cam, no choke provision and open exhaust headers, it made for excellent cold start abilities 
. The interior was stripped out down to a single seat, a fire extinguisher, 5" Auto Meter tach obscuring most of the other gauges, and a ratchet shifter for the auto box that was fitted with a modified valve body, so it only shifted manually. No heater or blower either, so I had to keep wiping down the inside of the windscreen. Hilariously impractical, wildly expensive to run, and I absolutely loved it! 
No part of me would recommend it to anyone else, and it's still around now, albeit strictly race only.
. The interior was stripped out down to a single seat, a fire extinguisher, 5" Auto Meter tach obscuring most of the other gauges, and a ratchet shifter for the auto box that was fitted with a modified valve body, so it only shifted manually. No heater or blower either, so I had to keep wiping down the inside of the windscreen. Hilariously impractical, wildly expensive to run, and I absolutely loved it! No part of me would recommend it to anyone else, and it's still around now, albeit strictly race only.
Yeah, we look down on the normals in their boring, mundane cars that show no imagination, whilst they are there all comfy, safe and happy in their upended tupperware box on wheels whilst we suffer hard suspension, histrionics, crap economy, high tax, noisy exhausts, expensive repairs and various bits of the joy that is owning more esoteric cars.
Am we think they are the mad ones
Am we think they are the mad ones
Capitan Obvio said:
I stopped recommending cars years ago, it's a fools errand as you just get low key blamed for any unexpected costs.
I just listen to what they want and say "yeah why not, just do your basic research as obviously you will anyway and go for it!"
The only modulation to this is when my SIL decided she wanted a Range Rover, I think I said "yeah why not, just do some research as some people report reliability issues, and if you're happy then go for it!"
(she went for it, 9 weeks after collecting it new it was back at the dealer for 3 weeks with a suspension fault warning light)
Basically this. My ex wife bought a Toyota Verso and she proudly told me how it "has a BMW engine". Yes the N47 that rather inevitably stretched it's timing chain after she didn't service it for 20K miles "because Covid".I just listen to what they want and say "yeah why not, just do your basic research as obviously you will anyway and go for it!"
The only modulation to this is when my SIL decided she wanted a Range Rover, I think I said "yeah why not, just do some research as some people report reliability issues, and if you're happy then go for it!"
(she went for it, 9 weeks after collecting it new it was back at the dealer for 3 weeks with a suspension fault warning light)
There does seem to be this idea among people who don't know much about cars that cars with a prestige badge on the front are better built and more reliable. The myth of "German reliability" and "Teutonic build quality" is alive and well. The same people who get upset when they are hit with a £4K bill when the timing chain stretches of the gearbox s
ts the bed.As for what cars would I buy but never recommend to others? Renault Clios and Meganes. I know people will dismiss them instantly as "French rubbish" but my whole family run them and we get minimal issues, the odd snapped spring or ball joint for the MOT.
I find they just go on forever with minimal issues.
I love my WJ v8 but it constantly needs tinkering with and often tests my patience. I'm guessing most owners give up on them, because there are so few out on the roads these days
https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/681468/20240...
https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/681468/20240...
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
Basically this. My ex wife bought a Toyota Verso and she proudly told me how it "has a BMW engine". Yes the N47 that rather inevitably stretched it's timing chain after she didn't service it for 20K miles "because Covid".
There does seem to be this idea among people who don't know much about cars that cars with a prestige badge on the front are better built and more reliable. The myth of "German reliability" and "Teutonic build quality" is alive and well. The same people who get upset when they are hit with a £4K bill when the timing chain stretches of the gearbox sts the bed.
As for what cars would I buy but never recommend to others? Renault Clios and Meganes. I know people will dismiss them instantly as "French rubbish" but my whole family run them and we get minimal issues, the odd snapped spring or ball joint for the MOT.
I find they just go on forever with minimal issues.
Didn't realise these had a BMW diesel engine! I did know however that Toyota/Mazda diesels were the exception to the buy Japanese and you won't go far wrong rule and are best avoided.There does seem to be this idea among people who don't know much about cars that cars with a prestige badge on the front are better built and more reliable. The myth of "German reliability" and "Teutonic build quality" is alive and well. The same people who get upset when they are hit with a £4K bill when the timing chain stretches of the gearbox s
ts the bed.As for what cars would I buy but never recommend to others? Renault Clios and Meganes. I know people will dismiss them instantly as "French rubbish" but my whole family run them and we get minimal issues, the odd snapped spring or ball joint for the MOT.
I find they just go on forever with minimal issues.
Freelander 2. Brother had one and I had it for a long weekend and was actually enamoured by it. I was tempted to but one off him, but the amount he'd spent on it and ULEZ requirements for my daily meant that I didn't. Would never recommend one to anyone though. TBF, would never recommend a LR/RR to ANYONE unless I knew they had super deep pockets.
Probably a bunch of 90's - early 00's Japanese performance cars. Cars I'd love to own but would never recommend to others without deep pockets - Impreza's, Evo's, RX7's, RX8's, Nissan Silvia's, Skylines etc.. you get the idea. I think everyone I know who wouldn't buy one of these without recommendation would like the upkeep costs of any of these.
On the opposite end of the scale, there's probably a bunch of cars I would unlikely (never say never) buy myself but wouldn't hesitate to others as anyone I knew who owned them had zero running issues. Non performance Honda's of any description. From friends experiences they seem to go on forever with simple yearly servicing and regular cleaning (to minimise rust risk). Probably a bog standard Fiat 500. Cheap and cheerful, and seems to take a battering mechanically with the amount of new drivers which drive them. Cheap as chips to maintain too.
Probably a bunch of 90's - early 00's Japanese performance cars. Cars I'd love to own but would never recommend to others without deep pockets - Impreza's, Evo's, RX7's, RX8's, Nissan Silvia's, Skylines etc.. you get the idea. I think everyone I know who wouldn't buy one of these without recommendation would like the upkeep costs of any of these.
On the opposite end of the scale, there's probably a bunch of cars I would unlikely (never say never) buy myself but wouldn't hesitate to others as anyone I knew who owned them had zero running issues. Non performance Honda's of any description. From friends experiences they seem to go on forever with simple yearly servicing and regular cleaning (to minimise rust risk). Probably a bog standard Fiat 500. Cheap and cheerful, and seems to take a battering mechanically with the amount of new drivers which drive them. Cheap as chips to maintain too.
Jayho said:
Freelander 2. Brother had one and I had it for a long weekend and was actually enamoured by it. I was tempted to but one off him, but the amount he'd spent on it and ULEZ requirements for my daily meant that I didn't. Would never recommend one to anyone though. TBF, would never recommend a LR/RR to ANYONE unless I knew they had super deep pockets.
My impression was that this was the most reliable Land Rover ever made and they were actually very reliable (a lot of Mondeo stuff in there I think). Probably the only Land Rover that I would own out of warranty and sleep easy at night lol! white_goodman said:
Jayho said:
Freelander 2. Brother had one and I had it for a long weekend and was actually enamoured by it. I was tempted to but one off him, but the amount he'd spent on it and ULEZ requirements for my daily meant that I didn't. Would never recommend one to anyone though. TBF, would never recommend a LR/RR to ANYONE unless I knew they had super deep pockets.
My impression was that this was the most reliable Land Rover ever made and they were actually very reliable (a lot of Mondeo stuff in there I think). Probably the only Land Rover that I would own out of warranty and sleep easy at night lol! white_goodman said:
My impression was that this was the most reliable Land Rover ever made and they were actually very reliable (a lot of Mondeo stuff in there I think). Probably the only Land Rover that I would own out of warranty and sleep easy at night lol!
From a conversation with a mechanic friend here in rural Aberdeenshire who looks after a lot of 4x4s. In his opinion the Freelander 2 is by far the most reliable Land Rover and about the only one he could half heartedly recommend.He went on to say that being reliable for a Land Rover is rather damning it with faint praise as like it's Mondeo roots, in reality it's a long way from bulletproof and actually has fairly average reliability!
Edited by Snow and Rocks on Tuesday 6th August 16:53
I had a couple of BMW turbo-diesels for business mileage reasons. The 2nd was a 2007 123d I bought in 2008 with the infamous N47 engine.
Anyway by 2014 I no longer had the business mileage excuse so I bought my first two straight 6 petrol BMWs and realised what I had been missing out on!
My nephew had a drive in my 325ti Compact and a few weeks later I found one for him. But he became a dad a year later so an E46 325i Sport Touring was tracked down, but sadly it became a Cat S and started to become a bit of a money pit so I doubt I'd recommend them again.
But it hasn't put me off, I'm on numbers 5 and 6 now although one is a Z4M. As much as I love it I'd think twice about recommending one to anybody else. Running costs rack up quickly, but I knew that before I bought it. Others may not!
Anyway by 2014 I no longer had the business mileage excuse so I bought my first two straight 6 petrol BMWs and realised what I had been missing out on!
My nephew had a drive in my 325ti Compact and a few weeks later I found one for him. But he became a dad a year later so an E46 325i Sport Touring was tracked down, but sadly it became a Cat S and started to become a bit of a money pit so I doubt I'd recommend them again.
But it hasn't put me off, I'm on numbers 5 and 6 now although one is a Z4M. As much as I love it I'd think twice about recommending one to anybody else. Running costs rack up quickly, but I knew that before I bought it. Others may not!
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