A 1988 Pontiac TransAm GTA I had for a while was mechanically very dependable, but the bodywork and interior were of low quality with cheap materials and shoddy workmanship. Lots of low-end torque from the 350 L98 V8, and good grip from the fat tires, but the engine ran out of breath soon after 4000 rpm, and the handling was rather clumsy. I always shook my head in disbelief, when I read some US car magazines praising it for its handling.
A 1970 Audi 75 had already seen more than 15 years of use before I got it. The engine and gearbox both made noise that indicated urgent need of an overhaul, which I could not afford at the time. That noise was made more obvious by the fact that the body and interior were of such a high quality that even after years of hard use, they still did not produce any rattles.
- Ed Hahn