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From: dsi@unccvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Worst Car
Message-ID: <432@unccvax.unccvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-Jan-86 09:00:53 EST
Article-I.D.: unccvax.432
Posted: Tue Jan 28 09:00:53 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Jan-86 06:18:42 EST
References: <379@ucsbcsl.UUCP> <781@grkermi.UUCP>
Organization: UNC-Charlotte
Lines: 40

> >There is absolutely no question in my mind that the WORST car
> >ever built was the
> >
> >                   Renault Dauphine
> 
     No, it was the '69 - 74 Renault R16 estate car. For one month (6/76)
this car was in my life, until it blew up at my attorney's house (we were 16
then)....

     First, take the Solex 31 DIDTA carburetor (and if you have one, throw
it out into the scrap heap).  Why do the Solex people put 45 jets where 1
will do?  Its almost as if Solex engineers build carburetors like a bunch
of sophomores would build a high gain insturmentation amp: trimmers everywhere.

     Then, there is the cooling system, or lack thereof. You haven't lived
until the experience of "bleeding" the air out of the assisted thermosiphon
cooling system scalds your fingers.  The "assist" is provided by a water
pump whose impeller is about the size of a newborn baby's fist, and I am
convinced that Renault engineers really put the "pump" there as an idler
pulley. 

     Yes, it is true that Renaults are softly sprung with unbelieveable
suspension travel.  It leans like an office chair (sideways) in the corners,
nibbles in the straights, has the *worst* torque steer I have ever seen
despite the fact that the driveshafts are equal length.

    R16's have FOUR ON THE TREE!!!!! The transmission and engine are oriented
north-south, with the transmission in the front (no comments about midengine
sportiness, please).  

    The person I bought my R16 from *liked* his Dauphine.  There is still
one running every day 'round here which is owned by the local convenience
store clerk.  My best friend's spouse had TWO R10's, and it is amazing to
realize what total pieces of junk Renaults of that period were (on this
one point, it was like listening to yourself describe your own car... an
R10 is a "saloon" version of the R16).

     Is the Yugo a reincarnation of the R10/R16??

-dya-