24 Affordable Vehicles That Will Bankrupt With Maintenance and Repairs
Who doesn’t love a bargain? Unfortunately, affordable cars tend to be cheap for a reason and can soon cost a lot more than you bargained for.
This is especially true if you buy a used luxury or performance car, but even some cheap and basic brand-new vehicles have proven to be terrible purchases.
We have scoured the internet to compile this list of affordable cars with the potential to bankrupt you. All the information in this article comes from reputable websites such as ConsumerReports, RepairPal, Kelly Blue Book, CarEdge, Edmunds, CarSurvey, NHTSA, IIHS, and owners’ forums.
Our top tip is that you do proper research before parting with your hard-earned cash, and remember, no car is more expensive than a cheap luxury model.
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet built the Cruze to be a true international model. It’s developed, manufactured, and sold globally. That said, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows. Consumer Reports states that the first-year Cruze had the lowest reliability score of all compact sedans.
Even later models are known to be somewhat unreliable, suffering from cracked pistons, electrical issues, transmission problems…, and the list goes on. However, it was still the best-selling car in its segment, so there are plenty available on the used market. It may be cheap to buy, but it can be expensive to own.
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep’s legendary Wrangler is a fan-favorite among off-road enthusiasts and overlanders. There’s no denying that it’s a competent vehicle if you want to venture off the beaten path. The Wrangler also enjoys one of the largest aftermarkets, allowing owners to make their Jeep their own. Unfortunately, it also comes with some issues.
It has become infamous for its so-called death wobble. While that issue may only be relevant for older models, the new models aren’t faultless either. CarEdge reports that there’s more than a 31% chance the Wrangler will require major repairs in the first 10 years, and maintenance during that period is $10,397 – $1,264 more than the average SUV.
Mazda RX-8
By now, every car enthusiast should know to steer clear of the Mazda RX-8. It could’ve been a great sports car; instead, it’s more like a black hole that sucks the cash out of your pockets.
Its Renesis 13B Wankel engine is thirsty and burns a lot of oil. The biggest problem with the RX-8 is that it destroys its apex seals, requiring an engine rebuild every 50,000 miles.
E63 BMW M6
When BMW launched the E63 M6 in 2005, people loved it, but that love didn’t last forever. What could’ve been one of the best M cars ever was ruined by severe engine reliability issues.
BMW fitted it with the 500+ horsepower S85 V10 engine, and while it sounds glorious, both on paper and when you fire it up, it’s an absolute money pit! It suffers from several issues with the rod bearings, valve cover gasket oil leaks, and throttle actuators, and they all cost thousands to fix. Did we mention that the M6 also suffers from transmission failure and other problems?
Jaguar XK
Jaguar’s stylish and aggressive XK model is much cheaper today than when it first hit the market. While buying one of these sporty and luxurious beasts may be tempting, we strongly advise against it.
The Jag XK has a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine that’s known to cause a few headaches. There are also electrical issues, and some owners have complained about brake failure and a sticking throttle.
2nd-Gen Chrysler Sebring
The Chrysler Sebring is dirt cheap these days, and not without reason. Its 2.7-liter V6 engine suffers from problems with engine sludge and oil contamination. Chrysler admitted there’s a problem with the PCV valve, but there’s more than that.
The Chrysler Sebring has a host of issues, ranging from the engine to the gearbox, the electrical system, and more. Consumer Reports says the “Chrysler Sebring was never any good and should be thought of as a low-rent commodity car rather than a desirable object.” That tells us everything we need to know.
1st-Gen Audi S5
Looking at the Audi S5, it’s hard not to fall for its stylish looks and luxurious interior, especially since it’s also very cheap on the used market. Interestingly, some owners report that their Audi S5 has been practically bulletproof, while others are less kind in their reviews.
RepairPal states that there’s a 17% chance of the Audi S5 suffering from a severe or major issue, compared to 12% for other luxury midsize models. Carbon build-up, worn control arm bushings, various gasket leaks, failing fuel pumps, and a broken transmission are the most common problems.
3rd-Gen Nissan Altima
Back in the 2000s, Nissan installed the Sentra SE-R’s QR25 2.5 l 4-cylinder engine in the Altima. With 170-hp, the power output is pretty decent, making these models fun to drive.
Unfortunately, this engine is also plagued by chronic head gasket problems. Even some owners’ forums say the best thing to do is to get rid of the car. Over at NissanProblems, the 3rd-gen Altima is ranked as the second-worst Nissan ever, only beaten by the 5th-gen Altima.
Saturn Sky
In the early 2000s, certain GM brands were suffering, and Saturn was nearly bankrupt. In an attempt to boost sales, Saturn decided to build a sports car for the masses, which resulted in the production of the Sky.
To be fair, Saturn did get some things right with the Sky, and it lived up to its promise as a fun sports car regular people could afford. However, it was affordable because they developed it on a strict budget, which meant a lot of corner-cutting. The Saturn Sky is unrefined and unreliable. While fixing some of its issues may not cost a fortune, it’ll nickel and dime you into poverty over time.
6th-Gen Nissan Maxima
The sixth-generation Maxima is another mid-2000s Nissan model that’s best avoided. In fact, we’d rather have one of its predecessors, as those are known to be more reliable.
The engine suffers from timing chain issues that can be traced back to a defective timing chain tensioner, which can potentially be fatal for the engine. A faulty transmission is also known to cause headaches.
Alfa Romeo GTV6
If you listen to the Top Gear hosts, you already know you can’t call yourself a real gearhead until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo. We love how stylish these Italian cars are, and they sound amazing when you floor the throttle. To make things even better, they’re cheap as well.
Unfortunately, Alfa Romeo isn’t exactly known for reliability. The GTV6 was among the last models Alfa Romeo built before Fiat took over. While they’re often not as bad as their reputation, they need a lot of TLC to keep running. Expect to pull your hair out at some point, as electrical issues are pretty much guaranteed, but engine failure, loss of power, vibrating steering wheel, and other problems are also known to occur.
1995-2005 Cadillacs With 4.6-Liter Northstar Engine
From the mid-’90s to the mid-2000s, Cadillac used the 4.6-liter Northstar engine in multiple models, including the Seville, Eldorado, and DeVille. This engine is notorious for developing oil leaks that are almost impossible to fix, and owners will have to keep throwing money at it to keep the car running.
Some mechanics jokingly refer to it as Deathstar, as the engine is a ticking time bomb, and problems are guaranteed to arise at some point.
Mini Cooper
BMW bought the Mini brand and introduced the New Mini in 2001. It was an immediate success; since then, we’ve had multiple generations and variations of the Mini. Unfortunately, they all come with their own set of issues.
Early first-gen Minis had gearboxes that were seemingly made of cheese, and the second-generation Cooper S has endless engine and electrical problems that can drive anyone to the brink of insanity. Minis are some of the most fun cars to drive when everything works as it should, but unfortunately, that’s a rare occurrence.
Kia Optima
Kia’s 2.4-liter Theta engine is known to have some severe issues. The worst of them all is the infamous rod knock. It doesn’t seem to matter whether the owner has followed all the services; it’ll still happen.
Some owners on CarComplaints say their engine developed a knocking sound out of nowhere and threw a rod straight through the block — and the check engine light didn’t warn them.
Jaguar S-Type
In the 1990s, Jaguar styled its new S-Type to resemble the original S-Type from the 1960s. It looks questionable, but the styling aside, the S-Type is known to have some issues.
Power steering problems are common in early models, and electrical issues are to be expected across the board. Considering that it’s built on a Ford platform and has many parts in common with other Ford brands, you may pay a premium if you buy “genuine Jaguar parts.”
Maserati Quattroporte
Maseratis are highly desirable, but the brand’s cars also have the worst depreciation of the entire auto industry. In fact, according to Business Insider, the Maserati Quattroporte will lose 72.2% of its value in just three years.
These Italian exotics come with every problem Italian cars are stereotyped for. We’re talking electrical gremlins, engine problems, brake failure, and steering issues. Maserati parts aren’t exactly cheap either, and if you want some money back when you sell it, you’ll have to service it at dealerships. If you buy one, ensure you have tissues nearby to wipe your tears once it starts acting up, and be prepared to tell the kids they won’t attend college.
C5 Audi RS6
Audi’s RS models are as practical as they are fast… and they are seriously fast. The C5 Audi RS6 Avant is the cheapest way to become the proud owner of one of the RS variants; just know that it’s cheap for a reason.
Maintenance costs a small fortune, and the car also has various known faults and issues. One owner says the whole engine had to come out to replace an O2 sensor. In addition, fuel and insurance costs will also be high as it’s a performance car.
E90 BMW 335i
The E90 BMW 335i was an immediate hit among tuners because it was easy to extract more power from its twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine. Since it’s now so cheap, some people buy one without thinking about maintenance costs, and it being a BMW, it’s not cheap to maintain.
Those two types of former owners are the main problems with buying an E90 335i. Modified cars that have lived a hard life and weren’t maintained properly are guaranteed to be trouble. Common issues are failing turbos, an overheating engine, and water pump failure, among others.
E60 BMW M5
The BMW M5 has always been one of the greatest sports sedans money can buy, and initially, things were looking good for the E60 M5. It didn’t take long before that illusion was shattered, though.
Its V10 engine may have one of the best soundtracks we’ve ever heard, but it also enjoys snacking on its own rod bearings. Rod bearing failure isn’t a potential problem here, it’s guaranteed to happen eventually. The M5 also has other issues, such as coolant leaks, VANOS oil pump failure, and gearbox troubles, and they’re all expensive to fix.
Porsche 986 Boxster
When the first Boxster arrived, P-car enthusiasts jokingly called it a poor man’s Porsche. Today, the 986 Boxster is one of the cheapest Porsches you can buy, but it’s also a great sports car in its own right. Thanks to its mid-mounted engine, it offers excellent handling, perhaps even better than the 996.
The Boxster does have one severe issue, though — the IMS bearing is known to fail. It’s not as common as the internet will have you believe, but it can happen to any 986 Boxster. If it does, it typically requires a new engine, which certainly won’t be cheap.
W211 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E350
From the 1970s to the mid-1990s, Mercedes-Benz was known for making overengineered cars with practically bulletproof reliability. While modern Mercedes models aren’t unreliable per se, maintenance costs are on the higher side, especially when something breaks.
W211 E350 ownership is great when everything works as it should, and the estimated yearly maintenance cost is around $800. However, that number will skyrocket once some of its known problems, such as camshaft adjuster solenoid failures, internal component issues, and a faulty crankshaft position sensor, rear their ugly heads.
5th-Gen Honda Prelude
As mentioned, Honda built some affordable, fun, and reliable cars back in the day. The last-gen Prelude has developed some issues since then, though, and being their flagship model, it can be costly to maintain.
The Prelude suffers from various drivetrain issues, which can be expensive to fix unless you can do it yourself. Old cars jam-packed with tech tend to be problematic when they age, and that’s the case here as well.
W203 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C230
The W202 C-class replaced the excellent 190E, but it never really managed to fill its predecessor’s shoes. Enter the W203 — surely, Mercedes-Benz had returned to its old form by now, right? Nope! Most M-B enthusiasts seem to agree that this one is even worse than the troublesome W202.
The W203 C-class suffers from severe rust issues, and while that may be its biggest problem, it’s not the only one. The front suspension bushes are known to fail, there are balancing shaft issues, and problems with the radiators. Owning an old C-class will cost about half the car’s value just in regular maintenance costs every year.
Chevrolet Corvette C4
When it first arrived in 1984, the C4 Corvette was a game-changer. It used a new “uniframe” construction, and the body now had molded plastic panels rather than fiberglass. Today, you can buy one for a song, but these cars are old, meaning ownership will come with some headaches.
Both the LT4 and LT1 engines have head gaskets that are known to fail regularly. The oil cooler is a known weak point. There’s suspension wear and tear and, of course, electrical issues. If you enjoy tinkering, go for it; if you need to hire a mechanic, buy a newer Corvette instead — you’ll save money in the long run.
