We’ve all got a dream car that we’d love to take a ride in. But not every dream is as sweet as it looks! In fact, many people regretted buying the cars they’d always wanted. Here are the cars that you probably dreamed of owning as a kid, and then regretted as an adult.
Toyota MR2
Every young daredevil would have given everything to take a Toyota MR2 for a spin, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Though the MR2 is fun to drive, many drivers have complained about it wasting excessive oil and having a faulty engine.
Maserati Quattroporte
On the surface, the Maserati Quattroporte has it all: style, luxury, and insane speed. But lots of owners regret splashing out when they realize that they’ll continue spending more and more on maintenance, which can easily be over $1,000 per year!
Aston Martin DB7
What little boy didn’t want to be James Bond? Unfortunately, the reality of the Aston Martin DB7 is far from that level of adventure. It’s notoriously unreliable, so you might spend more time with it in a garage than on the road.
Land Rover Discovery
Lots of people would have grown up with the Land Rover Discovery as their family vehicle, which made them want one of their own. But what they didn’t know as children was how expensive it is to repair a Discovery, nor how often they break down.
Porsche 911
The 911 is the undisputed Porsche king, and it’s a car that many of us could only ever dream of driving. But perhaps it’s best to keep this one on your wish list because it’s one of the most expensive vehicles to maintain and also a target for thieves stealing parts.
Tesla Model X
Many teenagers went wild when the Tesla Model X was released in 2015, but would they feel the same as adults? Probably not when they realized just how unreliable this car is! From strange leaks to malfunctioning tech to jammed doors, the Model X is an innovative nightmare.
Cadillac Eldorado
If you ever liked vintage cars, you’ll know the Cadillac Eldorado very well. It’s absolutely gorgeous but reportedly quite underwhelming to drive. The engine is a bit underpowered, resulting in a sluggish and boring driving experience that isn’t worth that much money.
Jensen Interceptor
Nothing brings Brits and Americans together quite like the Jensen Interceptor! It combines exquisite British style with the classic American V8 engine but sadly doesn’t have the performance to match. The quality of the drive has disappointed many previous owners.
Citroën SM Oldtimertreffen Ebern
There's not much about how this car looks that anyone could be mad about... It's just... so... cool! But this car, which was a collaborative effort with Maserati, had a few reliability problems, especially when it came to the oil pump and failures in the ignition system. Ah, what a shame.
Jaguar E-Type
Before the F-Type, there was the E-Type; the car that introduced many children to Jaguar. But those who dreamed of the E-Type might be better off with its successor because it really shows its age, especially in the cosmetic and mechanical departments.
Lotus Elan
The Lotus Elan is the car that many automobile enthusiasts will have followed since childhood. But even such a distinctive, swift vehicle can fall short of expectations. The Lotus Elan is known for being frail and often unreliable when you drive it.
Triumph Spitfire
Everything about this car’s design spits fire, but lots of new owners are disheartened when they realize it’s not as powerful as it looks. The engine is slow to tick over, and it’s common for parts to wear out and need to be replaced, for a hefty price, of course!
Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque is another more modern car, and its biggest problem is that so many people want it! It’s actually one of the most commonly stolen cars, which means insurance is usually a nightmare. The Evoque is also expensive to maintain and repair.
Pontiac Catalina
The ‘50s Catalina is a Pontiac model that we think deserves more love, though it has still earned its place on our list. Ever since its launch, owners have been complaining about components messing up, leading to several revisions and repair jobs.
Ford Escape
The Ford Escape has ruled the roads for 24 years, with many of its childhood fans graduating to adulthood and making it their first car. But the Escape has slowly begun garnering a reputation for being unreliable, leaving many owners out of pocket after paying for repairs.
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
The Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham is a sight for sore eyes and perfectly encapsulates ‘70s luxury. But people who grew up wanting this car likely aren’t aware that it suffers frequent engine issues and poor fuel efficiency, which is likely to do with its age.
Ferrari Testarossa
Children love fast cars, so it makes sense that the Ferrari Testarossa has so many admirers who have grown up wanting it. But they’re in for a huge wake-up call when they find out that a standard service can cost up to $5,000!
Porsche 996 Carrera
This one might be cheating because the Porsche 996 Carrera is actually the fifth-generation 911, but we think it deserves its own spot on this list. Over time, it has suffered several age-related issues, including IMS bearing failures, oil leaks, and expensive maintenance.
Maserati Ghibli
The Maserati Ghibli has only become fancier with age, so we can understand why the kids who aged with it always wanted to own one. But the Ghibli’s beauty is fragile, with many owners complaining of broken trims and misaligned body panels.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider
It doesn’t get more beautiful than a classic Italian car, and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider has the looks (and cool name!) to enchant people of all ages. Unfortunately, this car can be a bit of a money pit, with suspension faults, oil clogs, and devastating rust.
Jaguar XJS
Many people grew up admiring Jaguars, and the XJS is one of the most famous and enduring models. However, it’s another classic car that rusts badly, which ruins the look. The V12 engine can also be problematic and needs to be completely replaced in some cases.
Audi S6
Audis are some of the most desirable cars, but what most people don’t realize until they grow up and buy one is how unreliable they can be. Several drivers have reported that the S6 didn’t make it to 100K miles, which is disappointing given its speedy reputation.
Lexus RX
Lexus launched the RX SUV in 1998, so it’s a more recent car that many people would have admired in their teens. Sadly, this sleek vehicle is plagued by a plethora of problems, including bad brakes, dodgy steering, rough transmission, and electrical failures.
DMC DeLorean
Anyone who watched Back to the Future as a child has coveted Doc’s time machine ever since! But the real-life DMC DeLorean is an expensive investment that doesn’t always pay off. For such a sporty car, the engine is quite underpowered, and the handling is heavy.
BMW E21
The BMW E21 was the first in the very successful S-Series and many people’s introduction to BMW. But their age is a problem, and the novelty of having a classic BMW soon wears off when the maintenance and repair costs get bigger.
Austin-Healey 3000
The Austin-Healey 3000 was designed to be a sports car for young people, so it makes sense that so many kids grew up idolizing it. But vintage cars need very specific care, and it can be exhausting to keep up with the rusting and corrosion that affects the Austin-Healey 3000.
Ferrari F355
The 1997 F355 is the second Ferrari on this list, and it’s not hard to see why so many kids dreamed of owning one. The F355 is fast, loud, and attractive. However, there are lots of additional costs that quickly add up, including the annual service, which is usually between $500 and $700.
Mazda RX-7
Never mind the kids; most adults would kill to own the Mazda RX-7! But once they’ve taken it out for some long rides, they may start to regret making the purchase. Common issues include oil leaking in the engine, flooded fuel injectors, and component wear and tear.
Chrysler E-Class
Though it wasn’t a huge sales success in the ‘80s, many people have long had a soft spot for the Chrysler E-Class. However, its short lifespan makes sense once you discover that the E-Class has many electrical, transmission, and suspension problems that need to be fixed.
Bentley Turbo R
We'd be lying if we said we didn't want to own a Bentley, and some people manage to save up and make that dream come true. But for that much money, the Turbo R does not live up to the Bentley name, with a slow-starting engine, loss of power, and frequent head gasket failures.
Lancia Montecarlo
The Lancia Montecarlo is just as desired now as when we were kids, but many adults now regret going all in on it. This is because it suffers from several problems, including trouble shifting gears and suspension that can lock up while you’re driving.
BMW E31
In 1990, BMW kicked off its new 8 Series with the E31, and people everywhere instantly took notice of it. But this dream car isn’t all it seems. It has some serious underlying problems, including a faulty cooling system and a deteriorating exterior, that can be costly to fix.
Volvo S60
We’ll admit that the Volvo S60 has plenty going for it, but it does have its faults. Some drivers have reported build issues, with certain parts even coming off the car, which means they need to be bought brand-new. The S60 is also susceptible to electrical faults.
Chevrolet Corvair
The Corvair is one of the most famous Chevies in the world, and many people grew up wanting one. The distinctive front alone is enough of a reason! But the Corvair’s handling is a huge letdown, which impacts the driving experience and has disappointed many big fans.
Lamborghini Gallardo
Finally, we have the Lamborghini Gallardo, which is another car that has only been around for about 20 years. Many young adults grew up admiring it but have now found it to be rather faulty and fragile, which is not what you’d expect from a supercar with a big price tag.
