We love Europe for many things. Stroopwafel, Pizza and Daft Punk. When it comes to their cars, we know they love to go fast. However, going fast doesn’t always mean being unreliable. Some car companies push the limits of what a car can be. Some strike the perfect balance between performance and reliability, sports cars that will last a lifetime, not just in our memories.
All information on reliability is taken from Consumer Reports and owners' forums. Of course, a reliable car now may not be reliable in 20 years. For the most part, this article focuses on owner experiences and what manufacturers did to improve reliability.
10 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
A track car for the street. The 911 GT2 RS (991) ditched the manual gearbox that struggled to handle the stock 500 hp of the previous generation. Titanium and magnesium body parts mean that the body is rust-protected. The Porsche team took all their work on the 997 and refined it with this generation.
Of course, this car will set you back a pretty penny, about $300,000. However, you can be pretty much guaranteed that the naturally aspirated Porsche 911 will last a lifetime.
9 Alpina B8 4.6
What if we put a V8 in the M3? From that question, the B8 4.6 was born. The engine is based on the M60 V8 in the BMW 540i and pushes out 333 hp. For comparison, the U.S. spec E36 M3 only made 240 hp, which was a big number for 1996.
In terms of reliability, Alpina strengthened every component of the M3 to deal with the increase in power. High-compression Mahle pistons and a 6-speed manual Getrag gearbox mean this car will last you a lifetime.
8 2008 Lotus Elise
A British classic. The 2008 refresh got a Toyota 1ZZ-FE and 2ZZ-GE engines. Mate that with a 5 or 6-speed manual transmission and these cars are near bulletproof. There are also Toyota supercharger kits for this car if you want more than the stock 200 hp.
Look out for small dents or damage to the front. The front is a fiberglass clamshell. Any damage means you need a whole new front and often costs more than the car itself.
7 Volvo C70
Volvo’s motto is safe and reliable. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the U.S. called the C70 a “top safety pick.” It is a convertible, so the roof seals and mechanism will eventually fail. However, in the 15 years this car has been around, owners noted no major issues with the engine or transmission.
The T5/polestar versions got straight-five turbocharged engines with 217 hp. Unfortunately, the non-turbo base model has 138 hp. Owners note some of the worst fuel economy and power for this version.
6 2002 Alfa Romeo GTV
Never buy an Alfa. Every mechanic and Alfa Romeo owner says this at some point. The GTV is the outlier in a sea of unreliable cars and poor brand reputation. The Cast iron twin-spark straight 4 is practically bulletproof and puts out 120 hp. If you opt for the historic Busso V6 engine, it gives you 230 hp with equal reliability.
It's also one of the best-sounding engines in existence. They would throw this out the window with the GDI 24-valve JTS V6, so don’t opt for that version of this car. Jeremy Clarkson called it one of the best cars of its time and noted its solid build quality.
5 Audi TT RS
It’s no secret, the TT is a great car. You could pick any of the three generations, and you would have a reliable, future classic. Audi perfected the 5-cylinder formula with the Ur-Quattro. Almost 30 years of development later, this turbocharged engine pushes out 394 hp. It won the engine of the year 5 years in a row.
With regular maintenance, the 7-speed S-tronic transmission is one of the best out there. The TT RS is also still in production, so parts are readily available.
4 Alpine A110 S
The Alpine A110 S is Alpine's return to sports car production. The A110 S takes all of Alpine's racing development and puts it into one package. In terms of power, it puts out 288 hp from a 1.8-Liter straight-four engine. A 7-speed Magna DCT is a tried and true platform.
Of course, it's a great driver's car, but is it reliable? No serious issues or recalls have occurred in the 36 months since its release. The car will also be released in the U.S. in 2026.
3 Peugeot RCZ
Coupe of the year in 2010. Assembled by Magna Steyr, the RCZ is one of the best euro-convertibles of the last 20 years. The Peugeot turbocharged petrol engine is reliable, with no major issues noted since its introduction. The base model gets you 140 hp.
A 6-speed manual option means you get engagement and reliability. 2000s French cars are reliable but have ugly plastic interiors, so if you're looking for luxury, this car is not it. However, the driving experience is second to none.
2 BMW M2 Competition
The S55 is an insane engine. It is essentially a strengthened version of the straight-six N55, which is already a super-reliable power plant. The twin-turbocharged version of this car makes 405 hp. Cooling was the main improvement between the N54 and N55, with this car getting a revised intercooler and cooling system. It won engine of the year, 3 years in a row.
This is the second generation of the BMW M-DCT. The 6-speed manual is just as reliable, but major reliability improvements were made to this generation of a dual-clutch transmission. BMW interior and build quality are second to none, so you can be sure that this car will drive you in comfort for a lifetime.
1 Porsche 911 (997)
The switch over to water cooling and body changes in the previous generation meant new issues. This 997 fixes all those issues. Jeremy Clarkson, a notable Porsche hater, said "it will make love to your fingertips and stir your soul." The car still retains the character of a flat-6 Porsche engine while upping the power to 350 hp.
In terms of reliability, the gearboxes are highly reliable. If you're purchasing a used version, coil packs will have to be replaced. Porsche ASM improves ride quality and almost gamifies driving this 911.
Sources: Owner's Forums, Manufacturers' Pages, Top Gear, Reddit.