The Chevy Vega: the Worst Detroit Car Ever?

Pinto Ads

Ford touted the pinto in their ads as having "...more road-hugging weight" (presumably compared to Corolla, etc.). Techies will know how absurd this statement is.

Leonard G. of CA @ Aug 29, 2009 16:04:05 PM

My 72 GT

I purchased my 1972 Vega used for $600. Sure it had its problems however repairs were not that costly compaired to the ones I have had with my current GM products. The Vega was a great car compaired to my 99 Olds Bravada and 2002 Safari van. I still have the Vega and it gets alot of attention when I drive it.

Ken Mulvania of WA @ Aug 23, 2009 22:46:38 PM

My first car

Yep, a 71' vega was my first car. I had $400.00 to spend and my Dad bought it. I didn't have a choice. Actually, mine didn't rust, ran great for a year, but then I was parked on a "lovers Lane" with my girlfriend. and left it idling with the a/c on.Warped the aluminum block. After that, I'd pull into the gas station and say "check the gas and fill it up with oil!

Tom of KY @ Aug 17, 2009 14:10:11 PM

Vega joke in Spain

I was so happy when I picked up my shiny new 72 Vega in, of all places, Spain, where I was employed by an American firm. I wanted an economical, sporty looking, American made car and thought the Vega was it. Being a really cool head turner on the streets of Madrid, I was in heaven. A year later the seats began falling appart, and several large sized rust spots began appearing. I am not making it up when I say one of my female friends, of the time, tried to stand on the bumper to sit on the fender and a 4" chunk of rusted fender just fell to the ground. My lower jaw went down along with it! After two years the car was totally being held up together by prayer. I was going into my 2nd engine, the first one burned. To make a long story short, my Vega became a Spanish joke, since me and all my Spanish friend used to kick the car someplace before entering, it was like an anger management tool. It didn't have one square inch that wasn't dented or scratched. Funny thing was it turned alot more heads all banged up than when it was new........ From that time on I bought European cars and still do.

Royce Drake of NY @ Aug 13, 2009 09:56:22 AM

My Vega collection

I have 7 Vegas. You can STILL buy rust free vegas with original paint. They rotted in states that pour salt on the roads everytime it snows an inch. The engines did have an overheating problem in 71 and 72 that GM fixed. Gm also repaired them for the customers for free even after out of warranty. Some of the storys I have read here were caused by the stupidity of the cars owners."I junked it when it was two years old because it overheated" STUPID and not the cars fault.

But there are alot of us guys who love these cars so you people keep bashing them and keep the price down for those of us who like buying 40,000 mile rust free cars for 800 bucks!

Matt Lepperd of WI @ Jul 31, 2009 14:43:25 PM

1971 Chevrolet Vega

When I was 16 yra old,I bought my first red car, 1971 Chevrolet Vega in 1973 for 1500 dollars. Wow that was a bargain for a 2 yrs old car! I don't have problem with it but I have to warm it up to get the engine going in high speed by racing it up to 60 miles per hour in a few seconds to get it going normally in any speed. If you don't, the car will shake so badly and it barely move however I managed to make it works in a strange way so I am lucky to live on a farm where there is plenty of room to race the car on a country road. The car already rusted on the windshield even 2 years old. The strange thing, I still love that car, I guess it gives very good gas mileage at that time when all other 70's cars are terrible gas guzzler so no wonder, it has no air conditioner so I always open the window to keep cool over 50 mph in summertime. I sold it to my brother in 1976 and he wrecking it all in half front after he fall asleep on the road while driving it. It broke my heart to see it going to junkyard. The front side of the car looked ugly but I love the look of the back side, sort of like Corvette look with the taillights similar to Corvette. The back seat are hard as a rock in the middle. There is no glove compartment so the instruction book inside the driver's door pocket. The shift stick pop out so I have to buy heavy metal ball and it hold up good. Nice car for a 16 years old kid for me at that time, I kept in the garage, maybe that why it hold up so well for me at that time and know how to make the car go like handing a donkey.

John Evans, Hendersonville,TN of TN @ Jul 22, 2009 23:54:44 PM

VEGA

I BOUGHT A NEW VEGA IN 1972 IT WAS THE ABSOLUTE WORST CAR I EVER OWNED. GM PLEASE SEND ME MY MONEY BACK.

LOU of RI @ Jul 10, 2009 12:59:14 PM

Chevrolet Vega

Who did you get your stats from. This was one of GMs great achievements in getting into the small car market. How many 1972 toyotas are still on the road not very many. Actually I don't see any at all. I still haMandy Vega and if you look on eBay,go to the local track and in many communities believe me there are lot more in the garage. The Vega did not end they just changed the name and tweaked the body and called it the monza which later bacame the cavalier and now the cobalt so take another look. One thing about therust issue if you live on the east coast talk to your municipal and tell them to lay off the salt.

Vega-Worl.com

Vega World of FL @ Jul 08, 2009 11:51:22 AM