Buying a car, along with purchasing a house, is one of the most complex and important financial decisions most people will undertake during their lifetime. For those of us who aren't so fixated on cars, a low price-tag is enough to assuage their interests. In reality, though, a cheap M.S.R.P. could be a bad thing.
Obviously, this isn't the case for every affordable car, but remains a persistent problem in many cars. Sometimes, saving money off the lot will only last for a couple months before some serious repairs are needed. To help distinguish the good affordable cars from the bad, here are seven cheap cars that are actually expensive to maintain (And eight that aren't)...
15 Affordable: Toyota Tacoma
To start off, we've got a brand that's known for their build-quality: Toyota. In this instance, their Tacoma pickup truck. Once again, Toyota has managed to produce a well-built truck that doesn't cost a lot either; both new and years down the line. The best examples of this are their second and third generation versions (The third being the latest).
14 Costly: BMW 7-Series (4th Gen.)
Even though BMW is usually held in high regard for their manufacturing and vehicle quality, that isn't always the case, as evidenced by their fourth generation 7-series. The fourth gen. (A.K.A. E65/66) is a nightmare to own; constantly leaking brake and steering fluids with trip after trip to the dealership.
Do your wallet a favor, stay away from the late-2000's BMW 7-series!
13 Affordable: Volvo C30
If you're looking for a car that will last for a lifetime, there are few brands as good as Volvo. Their reputation for high safety standards, affordable maintenance, and tank-like durability proceeds them to this day. Most of Volvo's new models are very expensive, but cheaper (Yet still astounding) alternatives can be found with older cars like the C30.
12 Costly: 2018 Ford Mustang
Since we're discussing maintenance and repair costs, it wouldn't be too long before a Ford vehicle made an appearance. In this case, it's the 2018 Ford Mustang (All versions). Unlike Volvo and Toyota, Ford is known for their recalls and repair requirements. As such, the Mustang works great until you put more than 20,000-miles on the odometer...
11 Affordable: Honda CR-V
Getting a new, yet inexpensive, car that can be driven into the dirt isn't as hard of a task as you may think. The answer is Honda and their litany of middle-class vehicles. For example, the CR-V. The CR-V retains Honda's legacy of cheap repair costs with infrequent trips to the dealership and (somehow) has a low M.S.R.P. It also looks pretty good, to boot!
10 Costly: Porsche 911 Carrera (996)
Perhaps this is an obvious statement, but a sports car like Porsche isn't going to be economical (Brand new) or great for extensive trips. This is expected, however, much more pronounced in the late-'90s and early-2000's 996-body 911 Carrera. The move away from air-cooling to water-cooling effectively divided the fanbase and made the new 911 a house-of-cars, so to speak.
9 Affordable: Kia Soul
Sadly for us, the Kia Soul doesn't come with any free hamsters (Bonus points if you know the reference). It does, however, offer the motorist a small, fuel-efficient, and cheap alternative to the Toyota monolith. Because the Soul is a Kia, parts are exceedingly low-cost and maintenance doesn't require many extra tools. The older versions may not look the best, but the newer takes seem to be improving the aesthetics for the better!
8 Costly: Mazda RX-7 (FC3S)
J.D.M. enthusiasts and mechanics know all too well how troublesome rotary-engines can be. Another group who feel that pain are Mazda RX-7 owners. Now, this includes the FD3S, the latest RX-7, yet, those aren't always affordable nowadays. Its older brother, though, is very cheap used, still the constant breaking of apex-seals, repeated oil-changes, and high-cost to maintain make most would-be owners run away screaming.
7 Affordable: Lexus SC300
It may not be badged as a Toyota here in The States, but make no mistake, it's certainly a Toyota at heart. Originally, the Lexus SC300 was known as the Toyota Soarer overseas and rebadged for American markets. What makes it so great, though, is the 2JZ engine powering it (The same as the Mark IV Supra). These engines will last a lifetime and put down a ton of horsepower in the process, as well.
6 Costly: 2014 Chrysler 300
In recent years, Chrysler and G.M. as a whole have significantly improved their vehicle's quality, safety, and affordability. Before this, one of Chrysler's biggest 'wake-up calls' came in the form of the 2014 Chrysler 300. The 2014 300 acted more like a Ford than a decent car; spending a good portion of its time on the side of the road or on the back of tow trucks.
5 Affordable: Honda Civic
It was only a matter of time until the Honda Civic was brought up. And why wouldn't it be mentioned? After all, the Civic has maintained its status as a popular, fuel-efficient, affordable, reliable, and fun little car for everyone. Luckily, the latest Civic hasn't lost any of those traits, in fact, it's gained a few (Just avoid the CVT transmissions).
4 Costly: Audi A5
Due to the incredible rate of depreciation on Audi's, some used models can be found for a decent price here and there. This is a trap. Similar to nearly every foreign carmaker in the U.S., parts cost an arm-and-a-leg to get here and dealerships (Who are usually the only ones to trust) take everything you have! They also, like E65 BMW, tend to have a lot of minor issues that add up over time.
3 Affordable: Toyota Avalon
Just as with the Toyota Tacoma, Toyota produced another great vehicle. Not the Camry or Corolla (although those are both good cars too), but, rather, the Avalon. When contrasted with those models, the Avalon is clearly more luxurious and high-tech. Along with those, the features on the new ones are a nice touch.
Most importantly, however, is that (since it is a Toyota) drivers can rest assured that the Avalon won't break-down anytime soon.
2 Costly: BMW X3
BMW, and a lot of other German car manufacturers, have a tendency to "over engineer" their vehicles to a certain degree. This increases the costs of parts, makes labor more difficult, and sometimes require extra tools for no justifiable reason. All of that (And more) is present in the BMW X3, particularly the first and second generations, which turn the X3 into a mechanics worst dream.
1 Affordable: Mazda Miata (NA - ND)
To finish up the list, we've got, arguably, one of the most reliable and beloved vehicle in the car/motor sports community: The Mazda Miata. Unburdened by a rotary engine or over engineering, the Miata thrives on its efficient 1.6 to 2.0-liter four-cylinder and extremely lightweight chassis. This combo helps the Miata to become the best of both worlds: A car that can withstand the test of time, but can still win races!