What's the worst deathtrap you've ever driven on the road?

[Asimo]

A borrowed mk1 Cortina 2door. It was supposed to be something special and had rally type mods in what was said to be a special export-strength shell. Plenty of go, (only time I have seen twin SUs on a Ford), but I was warned that the “wheels need balancing” So the steering shakes a bit at speed? The wheel wiggled in my hands at walking pace and was a blur before third gear. Only time I have been unable to keep grip of a steering wheel. Crazy shaking at all speeds. Not a balance issue but possibly something to do with banded wheels or spacers combined with worn out balljoints? Even worse under braking.
But it was a go-faster Ford that made a great noise and the power was fun so I drove it further and faster than was at all sensible. Perfect deathtrap, loads of go, little directional control and imminent complete failure of something vital

[christine]

I've never bought a car from Foad

[DodgeRover]

That Peugeot hammered over a golf hasn't surfaced again for a while, the last owner I think became aware of all it's issues after spending a load on paint and interior on it and it was up for sale again.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Anything Colc'd is doomed.

[Hooli]

The worst deathtrap I've driven home was probably my Disco after a slight cock up on an uphill cross axle section. It rolled back & I didn't get the clutch down quick enough so when the rear wheel hit the deck again it stopped dead & the car rolled over it. The nearside of the axle moved forward 3-4" and the right side about half that. It also tore the prop apart.
Took about 1/4 turn of right hand wheel to crab in a straight line, well you know what I mean & I drove it about two hours home like that. The bent radius arms were an interesting sight & got replaced by later, much stronger ones.

[mercrocker]

I'm very reluctant to contribute to this thread on the grounds of diminished responsibility.....

Suffice to say my motoring history has hitherto been a litany of gaffer tape, self-tappers and latterly cable ties.

I have, however, to confess to driving a Mini with mole grips on the steering column splines and another similar tool on a rear brake hose.....

[panhard65]

Driving the Seat hearse back from Barcelona was a pretty interesting run. You had to pump the brakes 3 or 4 times to get it to try and stop. The exhaust fell off, it overheated every 10 miles or so. Wipers were useless, no heater when in Northern France in January and finally 50 year old tyres that only just made it before falling to pieces. I have also done the molegrips on the steering column and a Datsun 100a with no brakes whatsoever.

[paulplom]

I'm jealous of all your adventures. The worst I've driven was a Y reg nissan sunny saloon with no boot floor at all. I paid £50 for it with six months mot. The car was really tidy with no rust so fuck knows why the boot floor had been chopped out.
I ended up scrapping it. I was up a farmers dirt track with some young lass in the front seat doing what you do. We finished and I did a three point turn on this narrow road and reversed it into a dyke. The front was off the bottom and the lights were pointing at the sky. We had to walk three miles home and I phoned the scrap man in the morning. I bet the farmer wasn't too happy.
I don't think I'd passed my test then either.

[AutoshiteBoy]

I've driven a Metro with no brakes, without issue and a Rover 200 without brakes which I had to use a Maestro van to stop.

[DodgeRover]

Oh forgot about the no brakes, most miles - did most of a lap of Australia on a CB750 with no rear brake when the seals went.
Vauxhall cavalier 1.6D ex cab, ex District nurse, been stood front caliper siezed about 1/4 mile after purchase, returned to the seller to borrow a jack and hammer, belted the caliper until it released and drive back from the tops behind Huddersfield then down the M1 using only the handbrake and forward planning.
Mother in law's Merc blew a break hose, decided it was easier to drive it carefully to a friend's unit than get him to recover it.