Fiat 500
While the Fiat 500 is undeniably popular for its unique, quirky design, it is also very much a European car, with many of its parts sourced from Europe. If you live anywhere else in the world, however, and experience an issue with your Fiat 500, importing the necessary components will take a lot longer. Additionally, the parts are very specialized and can cost more than double what standard components do. With that being said, the 500 is still a great car and it's not necessarily known for having problems very often.
Mini Cooper
The Mini Cooper is another small and quirky car that has become a worldwide favorite. Not only is it small and practical, but it is also a fun drive, with world-class handling abilities and a surprising kick in terms of speed and acceleration. In fact, it has even featured on the racing circuit, which goes to show just how powerful this little vehicle really is. However, many owners go on to regret buying it, mainly because of its complex BMW engineering. Whenever there is an issue, special tools and components are required, making it a nightmare to repair.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
While Alfa Romeo is generally known for its luxurious cars, many owners regret owning one, and for good reason. Sure, the cars are stunning to look at and usually drive as well as the best of them. However, they are also made up of parts that are ridiculously rare and expensive, making them difficult to source. On top of this, only designated Alfa Romeo dealers can actually get their hands on these components, meaning that owners will often wait months (or even years) for them to arrive!
Maserati Ghibli
The Maserati Ghibli is a luxury vehicle that owners spend an absolute fortune to get their hands on. In fact, it has made quite a name for itself on the collectors market, despite the many issues that owners go on to encounter. While the car drives well, sourcing any spare parts is a massive headache because they are just so exotic. On top of this, owners don't appreciate having to spend a fortune to repair the car when it costs so much to purchase.
Jaguar XF
Like most Jags, the XF is undeniably a great looking car. It is sleek, stylish and offers a feeling of luxury that not many other brands have been able to achieve. However, it does come with one major issue. It often experiences electrical failures. While this would be a pretty simple fix in most other cars, the XF features proprietary components that are not only hard to find but incredibly expensive. In fact, many buyers have complained that even the most basic of sensors cost an absolute fortune to replace.
Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery may look unique and stylish, but it doesn't come without its fair share of issues. Unfortunately, these issues often cost an arm and a leg to repair, as the car is made up of rare components that are paticularly hard to come by. In fact, many owners have to wait months for the necessary parts to arrive, despite not actually being able to drive their car in that time. For many, this is simply too big of an inconvenience, leading to a high resale rate amongst Discovery owners.
Tesla Model S
Let's face it - Tesla is the car of the future. However, while they may look sleek and high-tech, the brand is also fairly new, which means that the cars also come with their fair share of issues. Unfortunately, just about all Tesla models cost an absolute fortune, and the repairs and maintenance are just as pricey. In fact, any issues with the battery or electric components can only be repaired by a designated Tesla dealership. If you don't live near one, you have a major problem on your hands.
BMW I3
While BMW is generally known for its top-quality vehicles, the BMW i3 is an exception. Not only does it experience frequent issues, but these issues also cost a fortune to repair. The car is made up of specialized carbon body panels, which are very difficult to source. According to owners, even the most basic of repairs can cost thousands. For a car that isn't cheap to begin with (like all BMWs), having to spend a fortune on keeping it running properly just doesn't sit well with many owners.
Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class
Like most German automotive brands, Mercedes is loved for its reliable and well-designed cars. With that being said, the S‑Class doesn't meet these standards and is a particularly problematic model. The main cause of concern for owners is the fact that it comes fitted with extremely complex electronics. Not only is it a mission to source the necessary spare parts in case of an issue, but it is also incredibly pricey. Unfortunately, the S-Class does experience frequent electrical problems, meaning that owners rack up a high maintenance bill pretty quickly.
Audi A8
The Audi A8 may be a stylish and well-designed car, but it doesn't come without its fair share of issues. For many owners, this is an unpleasant surprise, as they expect precision and good craftsmanship when buying from a brand as reputable as Audi. More so, the car features advanced technology and incredibly rare components, making it particularly difficult to repair. According to owners, a lot of automotive shops won't even take on the challenge of the A8 and recommend sending it straight back for a designated Audi dealership to handle the problem.
Saab 9‑3
The Saab 9‑3 experienced so many issues that it was eventually discontinued entirely. While the car looked pretty cool and didn't actually drive too badly, it simply didn't adhere to the quality standards that buyers were promised. The car often broke down with transmission or steering issues, leaving drivers stranded on the side of the road. However, it wasn't only the frequent repairs that upset buyers so much - it was also the cost and difficulty of finding spare parts that turned them against the model and, in many cases, the brand entirely.
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Just by looking at it, it's easy to see that the Chrysler PT Cruiser is an oddball of a car. While many people simply didn't like its strange design, buyers who did also ended up regretting their decision. Let's just say that the look of the car isn't the only unique thing about it. It is also made up of incredibly rare components that are becoming increasingly hard to find. As a result, repairs are also becoming increasingly challenging and expensive, with owners being forced to spend thousands on some of the most basic repairs possible.
Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 was designed to be anything but ordinary. While the car is undeniably cool to look at, it also features heavy-duty parts that are hard to come by. In fact, it's pretty common for owners to spend months waiting on their delivery - especially if they don't live near a designated Hummer dealership. With the price of the car and it's luxurious nature, you'd be pretty safe in assuming that the spare parts cost just as much. In reality, they cost even more.
Volkswagen Phaeton
The Phaeton is advertised as a luxury VW with bespoke components. VW isn't really known as a luxury brand and, when you take a closer look at the car, it's easy to see that it's actually just a regular VW with a few expensive parts thrown in and a severly inflated price tag. In fact, most drivers don't notice any improvement in ride quality or feel, making the expensive components more of an added headache than anything else. According to the owners, it costs the same as an Audi, but without the high-end features of a luxury car.
Peugeot 206
While Peugeot is generally known for its reasonably priced and safe vehicles, the 206 is a tricky model for many reasons. It features rare components that are particularly difficult to source. The brand is originally French and, for some reason, they decided that it would be a good idea to use components that are almost impossible to find anywhere else but France. This hasn't been a problem with any of the earlier Peugeot models, making the choice even more peculiar. On top of this, owners have to go through a designated Peugeot dealership, making repairs that much more challenging.
Renault Clio
Renault is a French brand that has produced some incredibly well-built cars over the years. While the Clio is undeniably popular in Europe, it is more rare in the US, making components difficult to source. In fact, if you own this car anywhere other than Europe, you could end up spending months waiting on a single spare part. Not only is the wait time ridiculous, but the cost of the spare components is also outrageous. If you are considering buying the Clio as a budget-friendly, everyday car, you may want to think again.
Subaru SVX
While the Subaru SVX is a great car, it features an incredibly unique transmission. While this isn't a bad thing, as the car actually offers a petty great ride, it can become problematic if you ever need spare parts and live outside Asia. In fact, most owners agree that replacements are just about impossible to come by. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on the necessary components, however, you will end up spending a fortune of them. Overall, buyers agree that the anxiety of driving this car and worrying about any issues arising simply isn't worth it.
Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper is a specialized car that features specialized parts. Just by looking at it, you can see that the car was made to turn heads. In fact, it was designed for optimal performance, as well as good looks, making repairs that much more expensive. According to owners, even the most minor of repairs can cost thousands, which simply doesn't sit well considering just how much the car initially costs. After all, if you spend a fortune on a vehicle, you don't want to keep having to throw money at it.
Lotus Elise
The Lotus Elise was designed to be as lightweight as possible, meaning that it features highly bespoke components. Well the car is an undeniably fun drive, it also comes with its fair share of issues and, if you are to encounter any major problems, you're going to need a small fortune available for the repairs. According to owners, even the door handles can cost thousands to source. So, if you are on the market for a budget-friendly car that's easy to own and maintain, the Elise definitely isn't for you.
Aston Martin DB9
The Aston Martin DB9 is a hand-built luxury car, and the price tag shows it. While it is fun to drive and offers just as much luxury as you would expect from such a vehicle, be prepared to sit with your fingers crossed every time you drive it. If the car encounters any issues, just know that it's not going to be cheap to repair. Owners admit that even the smallest repair jobs feels custom because it is just so expensive. The DB9 has plenty of unique quirks about it, making it that much harder to maintain.
