Owning a sports car should be a fun experience. But, there are some sports cars out there that are just plain bad and can make their owners’ lives a living hell. Whether it’s through poor reliability, difficult maintenance, or just not being what their owners thought they would be, the world of sports car ownership can be something owners regret.
While it’s not unusual for sports cars to be a little more finicky than other kinds of cars, even the most forgiving owner will start expressing frustration and regret over the problems these cars can have!
10 Ford Mustang (S-197)
Compared to its predecessor, the S-197 Ford Mustang is nicer to look at. It’s also got better performance. But, it’s not that hot when it comes to reliability. The S-197 suffers from multiple serious problems, including corrosion and paint blistering. Body and paint problems seem to be the most common gripe people have with this era of the Mustang.
The S-197 is a cheap entry into Mustang ownership these days. But, it’s also a problematic one that you might regret. If you really want a Mustang, you’d be better off buying a classic one or one from a newer generation.
9 Mazda RX8
The Mazda RX8 is a very tempting prospect for many. It’s one of the few production cars to ever be offered with a rotary engine, and people crave that engine’s unique characteristics. But, that engine is also a huge part of why people regret buying these cars. The unique engine that gives this car its character is also its biggest weakness. Owners often complain about excessive oil consumption and engine failure. While the former is unfortunately an unavoidable quirk of the rotary engine, the latter is worrying!
The Mazda RX8 is a sports car unlike any other, and a lot of that is down to its unique engine. But, the rotary allure could leave you with some serious problems after that honeymoon phase. It’s easy to understand why it’s a car that gets a lot of complaints from owners who now regret buying one in the first place.
8 Mercedes SL (R230)
The Mercedes SL has long been a bastion of quality and luxury. Well, except for the R230 model. Designed and developed in the era when Mercedes decided to leave the budgets to the accountants over the engineers, the R230 turned out to be a disappointing car. It was markedly less well-built than its predecessor and, as a result, reliability problems set in before too long.
Thankfully, the SL has since recovered and become one of the best luxury cars on the market again. But, that hasn’t removed the memory of the R230. It may be cheap now, but it’s a car that’s best left avoided. You’ll have a less troublesome ownership experience buying a different generation of SL.
7 Ferrari Mondial
The Mondial has a unique distinction in the world of Ferrari. It’s mostly forgotten even by Ferrari owners and enthusiasts, and yet has a huge degree of infamy attached to it. It’s routinely criticized for being ugly and slow. It’s also one of the most difficult Ferraris to maintain.
The allure of the Ferrari badge is tempting, and the Mondial is one of the cheapest ways into Ferrari ownership. There is a reason why they’re so cheap, though. They’re really not very good cars. Buy a Mondial at your peril, because there’s a high chance you’ll regret your purchase not long after!
6 Triumph TR7
The Triumph TR7 should have been a good car. It looked great, even though there was some division over its radically modern design compared to its TR6 predecessor. It was also a fairly light car, which should have given it great performance. But, British Leyland decided to do what it usually did at the time, and ruin it. The TR7 was given an asthmatic 4-cylinder engine that produced less than 100 hp in US-spec models.
Triumph did attempt to save the TR7 by putting a V8 in it, creating the TR8. They also moved production to a different factory that had better quality control. But, the damage had already been done. The TR7 has had a stinker of a reputation since, and many owners actively regret even considering one in the first place.
5 Pontiac Solstice
The Pontiac Solstice should have been a brilliant car. It was small and light, and it also should have been easy to maintain due to it using as much of General Motors’ parts bin as possible. But when the car actually came to market, problems began to set in. One of the Solstice’s biggest problems is issues with the airbags. When you’re in a car that small, it’s a terrifying prospect that there’s a good chance your airbags aren’t working properly!
You’ll rarely ever hear anyone talking about the Pontiac Solstice. There’s a reason why. It was a disappointing car, and many owners regret having anything to do with it.
4 Saturn Sky
Like its Pontiac Solstice sibling, the Saturn Sky should have been a fantastic sports car. But, like the Solstice, serious problems set in after the car went on the market. Like the Pontiac Solstice, the Saturn Sky suffers from big issues with its airbags not working. This is a problem you really don’t want to have pop up in an emergency!
Like the Pontiac Solstice, the Saturn Sky is a forgotten sports car. It was just nowhere near good enough, and people who once owned them don’t want to have anything to do with them anymore.
3 Chevrolet Camaro (6th Generation)
The Chevrolet Camaro is one of the longest-running production cars around. It’s usually a solid choice for anyone who wants a great sports car. But, the 6th generation model is one that buyers might regret splashing out on. They have multiple documented major issues including premature timing chain wear, electrical problems, and a higher-than-normal risk of engine failures. These are all very big issues, and certainly not ones you’d want to encounter fairly early on in your ownership of the car!
The Chevrolet Camaro is an American icon. The 6th generation model, however, is one era of this model that you might want to give a miss.
2 Mercedes C-Class Coupe
These days, Mercedes tends to be a reliable brand. The bad old days of 20 years ago are long behind now. But, that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been more recent problem cars. One of the most notable of those is the C-Class Coupe. This sportier version of the C-Class should have been a great car. What happened instead was a mess of reliability issues, mainly to do with the engine. They got so bad that recalls were issued!
In most circumstances, the Mercedes C-Class would be a great choice of car. The sportier coupe version, however, really isn’t. The car has so many problems, and you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
1 Dodge Challenger (3rd Generation)
When the return of the Dodge Challenger was announced, everyone got very excited. That’s understandable. The original Challenger is one of the most legendary muscle cars of all time. But, when it finally hit the streets, the 3rd generation Challenger ended up being a car that buyers started regretting. Scarily, one of the most common faults reported for the Challenger is the engine cutting out while driving!
The 3rd generation Dodge Challenger may be a great-looking car with an iconic name behind it. But, it has some serious problems associated with it. Those problems could turn your own experience into a nightmare, and make you regret buying one very quickly!