But Dunedin driver Richie Chadwick is rather fond of the boxy old workhorse - now.
And he hopes it will be competitive in the classic section of the Otago Rally this weekend.
The 29-year-old is one of the Otago drivers to keep an eye on, alongside Derek Ayson and experienced campaigner Allan Dippie.
"The only reason I bought it originally is because it was supposed to have a good motor," he said.
"But when we got it down here from Hamilton, it turned out to be a dud."
Chadwick rebuilt the engine, the gearbox and the suspension, learning as he went.
He had his first rally in 2014 and has been growing in experience.
The Otago Rally has not been kind to him, though.
He pulled out with mechanical issues in both previous attempts to complete the rally, so getting to the finish is the first goal this weekend.The more ambitious aim is to be the first "blind" - he is competing without pace notes - competitor in his section.
"Ever since we got into the sport we've never done notes," Chadwick said.
"The other two times we've done this rally we've been leading blind until a mechanical fault, so I kind of want to get that trophy, really.
"That and it costs money. You have to do [reconnaissance] and that is more time off work," the engineer said.
No notes will certainly take the pressure off his new co-driver, Alison Glover.
The 37-year-old is filling in for Chadwick's wife, Rachel, who is skipping the rally as she is pregnant with the couple's second child.
Chadwick said it would be a little bit odd to look to his left and see a different co-driver. But that may well prove advantageous, he suggested with tongue in cheek.
"We probably won't have domestics like Rachel and I do mid stage," he laughed.
Glover will be competing in her third rally and she has had a different driver each time.
"I'm excited. I feel sorry for Rach, though. She lives for this."
Chadwick expects Whitianga's Miles McElwain, who is also driving a Toyota Corolla, and Winton's Brendon Mitchell will shape as his toughest competition.
The rally begins with a ceremonial start in the Octagon this evening. Racing starts tomorrow.
