Which luxury car looks like a nightmare but is great to own ?
Posted by sernameeeeeeeeeee@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 90 comments
Posted by sernameeeeeeeeeee@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 90 comments
rockdude625@reddit
E55 AMG. Once you figure out the air suspension or swap to coils. They’ll go to 400,000 miles if you treat them right
JamesDavid72@reddit
Would you say the same for an S55 AMG? In the market for one
rockdude625@reddit
Not even close. The ABC suspension on the S will break eventually, and it’s $10,000 to fix even at an Indy
SonicHVAC@reddit
Volvo xc90, not cheap but very reliable
punkcitykid@reddit
No way, I owned one for 2.5 years. It spent at least 6 months in the shop. Their drain tubes are smaller than their competition, so they flood all the time and the electrical system is a nightmare. I overhead one of the volvo mechanics say "Volvo is really good at selling expensive pieces of shit"
IMO they're still riding their rep from the 850 and 740 models.
ihavetoonowtheanswer@reddit
Volvos aren’t reliable in the slightest. I had a 2007 and it was issue after issue. The new redesigned cars are even worse with software and electrical problems. Just wait till it starts burning oil or your supercharger AND turbo go out at the same time
PracticableSolution@reddit
Audi B8/B8.5 S4 and S5 cars. They look like nightmares (I mean, the four rings are the warning), but they’re actually crazy stupid simple dinosaurs. Classic Quattro with the mechanical limited slip diffs, a manual transmission, and all if it behind a dead stupid roots supercharged v6 that’s famous for reliability and underrated from the factory, just like the old days. It’s probably the most vintage muscle car thing out there from Germany and there’s tons of examples of them making it to 200k miles
Just_Movie8555@reddit
It’s all fun and games until you get the gearbox malfunction error in the B8 lol
PracticableSolution@reddit
6MT, baby
Just_Movie8555@reddit
Lol for sure. Those autos are a ticking time bomb
focus@reddit
They aren't
Just_Movie8555@reddit
The B8 most certainly is. Happened twice to my S4.
No_Direction235@reddit
I’d add in C7 A6 and A7, same 3.0t that will run forever.
Captn_Clutch@reddit
2009 A6 checking in. Going strong 152k miles, on anything but the sunniest day this thing still out runs v8 mustangs.
RobertISaar@reddit
Throw a 187 crank pulley on there with a stage 2 tune and even on the sunny days, the Mustangs have to be running under a 12.0 to keep pace. Except for some of the truly special mustangs, that's on par or faster than any run of the mill GT.
I couldn't find the space to go any larger than a 187 on my C6 and I really didn't feel like changing the supercharger pulley either, so that's where I put my limit.
Captn_Clutch@reddit
As much fun as that all sounds my main use for this thing is a long commute, and it's one year too old to have rewrite able memory on the ecu so it would have to be cut out and replaced if I want to mod the engine. It's faster than most things, gets me to work with mid to upper 20's mpg, and is quite comfortable and all weather capable. I'm satisfied lol. No sense in spending nearly the current value of the car on ecu replacement.
RobertISaar@reddit
The 09 is flashable. It's the same PCM and likely the same original calibration as my 10, which I'm running EPL stage 2(who are no longer in business). APR, unitronic and jackal are still kicking though.
But even then, I was still impressed when mine was stock too.
Captn_Clutch@reddit
Interesting, I'll be honest I didn't look into it any farther than going to a well reviewed apr dealer shop in my state, and what I told you above is what they told me. That was like a decade ago though.
jonnyt88@reddit
D4 A8, B8/B8.5 Q5 and SQ5, Q7 also had that engine.
I think these all (Maybe not SQ5?) had a ZF8 transmission which also has a promising reliability record.
DJConwayTwitty@reddit
Fantastic car and so easy to work on. Even the automatic transmission was fine. It was a joy to drive with that supercharger.
wggledik@reddit
Just sold my B8.5 S4 after 6 years of ownership. I miss it everyday. Amazing car and absolutely bulletproof engine.
Different-Gate8262@reddit
No new luxury car. Hardly any cars at all great to own anymore
Boilermakingdude@reddit
Honestly high end Mercedes. Sure they can be costly but when you realize the car was over 100k new, it's really not bad at all. Especially if you have an example with good maintaince history.
True-Ad3380@reddit
GLS at 100k miles threw codes and had to replace fuel pump and turbos. Taking medicatio A vacation from Mercedes for a decade or so.
Lawineer@reddit
My GLE63 was an absolutely nightmare right at 40k miles. Between 38 and 41k, everything started failing. 2 shocks, fuel pump, 2 different coolant lines (independently), HVAC blower, engine seal and valve cover gasket.
That's when I sold it. I had enough.
Boilermakingdude@reddit
Can't agree with you there. I have a 155k mile M278 S550. I've done coolant lines and a bunch of other work but for my mileage it's all maintaince. Been a very stout car considering it's a first year M278
jackr15@reddit
The key here is AMG. I had a c63 for a few years & it was the same situation, constant headaches & needs. My dad has a standard e class with the v6 engine, hasn’t had any real problems. I think the more niche engines & platforms aren’t nearly as reliable.
doc_55lk@reddit
My AMG has been bulletproof.
jackr15@reddit
What engine? I had a late model m156, stranded me a few times between camshaft adjusters & waterpump failure
doc_55lk@reddit
M152.
Lawineer@reddit
Definitely seems that way. But there’s no way I can buy a 300hp car when there’s a 650hp version!
whoooootfcares@reddit
It's consider that an upgrade and a serious win. Blackwings are arguably since of the greatest drivers cars on the road. And they do all the normal car stuff reasonably well too.
doc_55lk@reddit
People tend to give Mercedes a lot of of flak but imo after properly living with 5 (and having spent time in a grand total of 7 over my life) I couldn't disagree more with a lot of the sentiment around them. The car I spent most of my childhood in is still alive and kicking, and I can happily say it's mine.
There are some problem years and models for sure, and I, quite frankly, don't get on with most of their lineup from 2020ish onward, but that holds true for most if not all other car companies, so I don't think Mercedes deserves any special treatment here just because they're a luxury car company.
I won't sit here and pretend like they're super cheap to own either. I would pretty confidently say it's worth it if you have that kinda money to spend on maintenance though (going to a good indy mechanic instead of the dealership also does a lot of heavy lifting here). We've never had any problems with our cars, and we've only ever had to do regular maintenance and wear and tear repairs over the years.
SrErik@reddit
I need to finally get an E350 wagon and put some all terrains on it. F it.
doc_55lk@reddit
The rear suspension on those is air springs so I think that mod will need some extra work
I_Want_What_I_Want@reddit
My current car is a 2018 MB 350GLE. It's the best car I've ever had. Paid 31,000 for a two year old car, and have had absolutely zero issues with it. When I was looking, I saw Fords, GM's, Jeep, etc about the same size and about the same price. I'm onboard with the indy mechanic, it's the same as any other car you don't have to take it the dealer.
It drives like a dream, is the perfect size, and looks sexy.
doc_55lk@reddit
Nice. Can't go wrong with that V6
I_Want_What_I_Want@reddit
Yes, I love the engine. The gas mileage? Not so much.
doc_55lk@reddit
It's a crossover tbf I wouldn't expect Prius level gas mileage.
I have a GLS550 (2017), same platform as yours, and I get 15ish city and 22 highway (highest I've seen was 25). I'd say if you're at least matching that you're in good hands.
I_Want_What_I_Want@reddit
Yeah, that's about what I get, almost. Also takes premium, but I don't put a lot of miles on, so it's a fair trade off.
doc_55lk@reddit
That's not terrible given the kind of car it is then, yea
Bigbangmk2@reddit
The same with our C124 230CE flew through MOT today 33 years old 221k miles
Rapom613@reddit
Mercedes are really model dependent. I worked for MB dealers for over 10 years, most of the stuff that fails is easy to fix and does not leave you stranded. If they are the older naturally aspirated ones they will last and last. E class is the sweet spot between build quality and reliability
ElectronicCorner574@reddit
My first car was a 99 E430 and I loved that thing. It was my mom's car and she passed it down to me. That thing rode so smooth but packed a lot of power. I ended up totaling it in a ditch like 16 year olds are prone to do!
doc_55lk@reddit
Yep. You have to do some research before committing.
TurboLover427@reddit
This post right here! Everybody told me to ditch my car. I refused. Couldn't be happier. Just run into some cartoonish problems every now and then.
firetothetrees@reddit
I used to have a 2000 Audi A6 4.2. lasted to 183k with minimal maintenance. I hit a deer towards the end then not long after the transmission died
1v1meAtLagunaSeca@reddit
Alfa giulia owners have said good things generally.
Steffiluren@reddit
They are very solid cars once you upgrade the original battery. Sadly they seem to be bought by the cheap maserati crowd in the US. So many abused and horribly modified cars in the forums, with aliexpress mood lightning, slammed suspension, straight pipes etc. Those are the same people who have issues, coincidentally. In the European owners groups there are very few issues reported.
Rapom613@reddit
Porsches are unbelievably reliable. Expensive to service, and they look awful to work on (spark plug replacement on 992 for example) but they are stupid reliable, honestly I would put them right in line with Toyota and Lexus (911 and 718 at least)
333jnm@reddit
For how much power and how great they are at handling they are very reliable
cookie-ninja@reddit
Tough one to tell because average Porsche owners treat their cars much better than average Toyota owners. So 'average reliability' is a bit of a difficult value to land on. But there are also lots of examples of 20 years old Porsches sold at low prices to young people who do minimal maintenance and they're still running.
I only say this because VW seems to be one of those brands people love to say they are unreliable, but do stupid shit and blame it on VW, like fuck up their transmission at a quick lube shop or put in the wrong battery and not reprogram the system after etc etc etc. Basic read the manual or Google kinda stuff.
Rapom613@reddit
In my experience and what I have always told people (15+ years in the auto service industry) is German cars will tolerate abuse, Japanese cars will tolerate neglect.
I’ve seen perfectly well maintained Hondas still drop the transmission or burn copious amounts of oil, at the same time I’ve done launch control and bounced limiter in 300k mile Porsches on all original components
If you know any German people, you will understand that they cannot wrap their head around the possibility that the car would ever not be serviced exactly on time, at the dealer, and get everything it needs every time. They simply cannot comprehend not following the service book to the letter, and the vehicle design reflects it
Monotask_Servitor@reddit
Yep. Whereas the Japanese barely service their cars because they’re incentivised by the government to onsell them after 4-5 years and buy a new one, so they’re engineered to tolerate that level of neglect (and they do, you can generally buy exported used JDM cars when they’ve still got moderately low kms on them, give them a good service and they’ll last you for ages if you keep them reasonably serviced after that point, and quite often if you don’t.
cookie-ninja@reddit
Agreed. I have found my VW group cars to be excellent, no reliability issues from 3 of them now, but maintenance was always done and on time and according to manufacturer's instructions.
JustCallMeBigD@reddit
My 95 GTI VR6 is absolutely the most reliable vehicle I own, my 71 Super Beetle second only because I keep getting screwed over on "rebuilt" engines.
Holiday-Poet-406@reddit
Depends how they have been looked after a late 90s era boxster could for example be a gem if looked after or a national debt if its been neglected for the past ten years.
OutlawMINI@reddit
Biggest shock: Land Rover LR3, and to a lesser degree LR4.
LR3 is basically bulletproof, LR4 just needs timing chain and coolant pipes at 100k otherwise solid.
Non-turbo Mercedes V6 cars. E350 and the like are also very reliable.
Any BMW/MINI product with the BXX engines.
1st Gen MINI (2001-~2006) actually very reliable as well. Just needs proper maintenance intervals. Service the supercharger and belts at 100k.
Hukthak@reddit
What about the N55 engine?
No_Cartographer1396@reddit
Can attest to the LR3s reliability. It was actually a great car too, quiet, smooth, great seats and interior, etc. Ours made it to 228K miles until one of those plastic coolant Ts blew up and my mom’s boyfriend kept trying to drive it with no coolant. It’s a shame because that would’ve been such a simple fix but instead the block was warped.
OutlawMINI@reddit
Also, Aston Martin. Not cheap to own, but still shockingly reliable for a British car with V8's and V12's.
RogerMiller6@reddit
This is a very ‘loaded’ question depending on whether you DIY maintenance or not… Many ‘luxury’ brands get a bad name from people who know nothing other than to got to the dealer when an idiot light comes on. The ‘stealership’ maintenance model will bleed you dry if you fall into that camp.
On the other hand, if you are a creative and competent DIYer, there are many surprising gems to be had. I’m personally a Mercedes fan. The brand has gone to total shit lately, but older ones were incredibly well-built and easy to service. I have a home shop with a lift, so I’m on the extreme end of DIY, but I’ve enjoyed many cars I couldn’t otherwise afford because of it.
Late model Jaguars are surprisingly reliable and easy to maintain, as are Porsches. Bentley Continental GTs are mechanically Volkswagens if you know how to creatively cross-reference parts.
If it meets your definition of ‘luxury’, the last of the panther platform Lincoln Town Cars are virtually unkillable, and lovely to drive. Pick your poison.
Ok-Alfalfa288@reddit
A lot of jags, its not like the German cars are cheap to own.
windmill09@reddit
Saying a Jag is about as reliable as another unreliable car is an extremely low bar.
Ok-Alfalfa288@reddit
Theyre in the same realm of car.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
My XJ6 has been very reliable over the years I’ve owned it.
alkalinev@reddit
V6 AJ126 engine JLR put in everything is well-engineeered and quite reliable.
ProjectZeus4000@reddit
Exactly.
The 3l diesel V6 engines have well known issues, but that's on heavy brick shaped land rovers that can tow.
Stick it in an aluminium x351 slippery XJ, and they are over engineered
Sindica69@reddit
This is just anecdotal experience, but Bentley. My father owned a Continental before he passed, I used to own a Mulsanne, and I know quite a few others who own a Bentley. None have had any major issues in the multiple years I’ve known them.
2lovesFL@reddit
911's
expensive to buy and own, but sooo worth it.
No-Collection-2485@reddit
No Substitute
JustCallMeBigD@reddit
B5.5 GLX Passat. Maintained properly, this is one of the most underrated, best-driving mid-luxury sedans I've ever driven. The 30v V6 was very easy to work on, mine was FWD so no worries about torque converter failure with the 4motion, and the GLX was very well-optioned.
The interior wood trimmings were real veneers encased in resin. The seats were real leather. The mirrors and driver's seat would recall to the positions saved for a particular driver's key, premium amplified sound system, digital climate control, power-folding mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, basically everything you would expect in a luxury cruiser. If you felt like importing the European parts to the US, you could even have had in-dash color navigation that would link to the full-size LCD display in the instrument cluster to show you navigation directions without taking your eyes too far off of the road; common today but cutting edge in 2001, in a VW no less...
It was more often compared to the Audi A6 even though it was built on the B5 A4 platform. Stellar vehicle to own and drive.
allahakbau@reddit
S class never had an issue.
windmill09@reddit
That's crazy. My gf left her Lexus IS250 out in the desert sun for 4 years. It melted the paint and dash and the tires rotted out but the car worked perfectly.
allahakbau@reddit
It was an old 15 year old S600, not really maintained at all but was just sitting in a garage for a few years. The engine broke immediately when they started it or sth.
windmill09@reddit
#plasticgermanengineproblems
allahakbau@reddit
Lexus isn’t good either because their engines are very underpowered across the entire lineup. It’s just engineering picking and choosing what they need.
windmill09@reddit
I have a Lexus RCF and I agree that it is underpowered when compared to AMGs of the similar price, but it's still way overpowered for a road vehicle. It's been virtually indestructible in terms of reliability, feels higher quality than comparable European cars in material quality, has lower NVH than anything else, is extremely easy to drift as it loses the rear end progressively like a 350z, and is very dramatic when full sending as tires chirp with each gear change and the V8 roars in med rpms and screams in high rpms.
My gf's IS250 is from 2010, was absolutely neglected, scraped everywhere, and just kept going with no squeaks or rattles. It's only needed a new locking mechanism for the trunk.
Human-Iron9265@reddit
Most 3 series BMWs are generally reliable cars. Problem is that they have cheap resell value and get bought by badge whores who tear them up.
trap_money_danny@reddit
Audis with the 3.0T, post 2021 3.0[actual]T, and the 4.0T.
It's like a well-kept secret (until about 2 years ago).
There's a lot of "theyre great when you fix XYZ thing" engines out there on German luxury cars. The depreciation makes it worth the fix, too.
A car with heated, cooled, massaging seats, and Bang & Olufsen with 60k miles for like $30k all because "well German car expensive to fix and twin turbo V8 complicated"?
Sign me up.
sendme_your_cats@reddit
Modern bmw's with the B58. Of course, I'm biased because I own one but they're genuinely good engines.
As I've done maintenance, I've noticed a lot of thoughtful things done by the engineers to make working in the engine bay a little bit easier, which has been a welcome surprise.
Watery_Octopus@reddit
Having worked on several of my own BMW and Mini and then come back to a Honda, the BMW engineering choices are usually small but very thoughtful. Case in point, the sway bar end links are oriented in a way that allows easy access to the counterhold hex (or usually even better, Torx), plus they provide a second method for counterhold for when the hex strips out. I spent the better part of 4 hours cutting off 3 of 4 sway bar end link joints due to rust, and two of them pointing in where i can't get the hex bit hammered in.
TwinFrogs@reddit
Had a 2006 328xi wagon. The engine was perfect. Purred like a kitten. Everything else was complete shit. The transmission shit the bed every two weeks
Any_Honeydew9812@reddit
I've been pretty happy with my 2001 Volvo V70 2.4T ... its like the European Toyota Camry.
Full_Nail6029@reddit
Land rover, my boss owns one, jusme laging na daily stand up meeting sa talyer.
techrider1@reddit
Porsche Panamera Turbo
MattTheMechan1c@reddit
Mercedes cars from the 2010s. Particularly the V6 powered ones. M276 is up there as one of the best V6 engines ever made. They’re reliable if well maintained and VERY easy to work on. Parts aren’t too bad to find either. Hardly see these cars with any electrical issues as well.
Smooth-Fan-8647@reddit
In europe n57. Great engine if you delete emission stuff and change oil every 10k kms.
Commonsenseisgreat@reddit
Toyota Century. V12. Just change the oil every 5,000 miles and you are good to go.
TheWhogg@reddit
Everyone says 750i. But the parts come off and go on with a spanner the same as every other car. The brakes are so enormous that they may never wear out. If they do I will try $100 worth of OEM pads. Every other service item is the same as any other car. It might go "bong" occasionally but it's not given me excessive trouble.