Advanced German Engineering has always come with something of a hidden cost: high maintenance. Not only do the cars require more maintenance, but those maintenance items cost more than the competition. Then, when things do go wrong and need repair or replacement, they tend to cost that much more.
Add to that higher labor rates, and you have an essentially expensive car to deal with, no matter what the initial cost was. This has frustrated many customers over the years, forcing more and more people away from prestigious German brands, having experienced less “sheer driving pleasure” and more “sheer driving pain.”
10 Audi A4
Audis from the late 2000s have proven to be something of a maintenance nightmare. Although it was a period of major growth for the company, it came with a few growing pains too.
Both good and bad things have been said about the little TT sports car, but closely related to that are the A and S4 cars, with the more sporty S (and TT) understandably being expensive to run. It is less understandable that the running costs of their base model A4 could cost you up to 40% of its initial purchase price over 10 years.
9 BMW X3
One of the most infamous brands when it comes to maintenance costs has to be BMW. They don’t really make any bones about the fact that their focus is on the driving experience; reliability and maintenance don’t regularly make an appearance in their marketing.
So, it is unsurprising that they have a strong presence in this list. If you're going to get this little SUV, expect to pay more than 35% of its purchase price in maintenance (if there are no spectacular failures along the way)
8 Audi Q3
One thing that should set a few alarm bells ringing is the fact that these fairly expensive cars are now being made in China.
Say what you will about the strides they have taken in their quality control, the materials they use, and overreliance on automation will have a long term effect. Expect to pay a lot more than the projected 30% over 10 years.
7 Volkswagen Jetta
Although the Jetta has been a popular choice for fleet owners in the past, its overall performance is far from spectacular, costing as much as 35% of the purchase price over 10 years.
Fuel economy is stellar, but we all know how things stand with the emissions. It is an oxymoron of a car that simply shouldn’t cost as much as it does to run.
6 Mini Cooper
.jpeg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Mini, like their parent company BMW, is a luxury brand. It is still a small car that can only realistically be used as a family runabout.
It should be a more reliable car, though sadly, that is not the case. Running costs are much the same as the BMW platforms they are based on, eye-wateringly expensive, close to half the initial investment will come out of your pocket over a decade. A fun car to drive, but it might be time to recalculate just how expensive that entry-level Porsche really is.
5 BMW 3 Series
Over the years we have seen some exceptional 3-series cars, all packed with the latest technology, fun to drive and somehow comfortable to take on long road trips.
What they aren't is cheap to run; they never have been and likely never will be. Mid 2000s cars are particularly expensive to run, with a lot of newish tech packed in, you would have likely been able to buy another new 3 Series by now had you saved the money you spent on maintenance and repairs.
4 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
In the past, if you wanted to buy a reliable luxury car, you bought a Mercedes. Today, they have ventured into different market segments. With the crossover/small SUV fad in full swing, the GLA-Class is nothing but a bow to the market.
With the rather expensive AMG version taking the spotlight, it is this more entry-level Mercedes that is quietly becoming a money pit. If you are going to keep this for 10 years, expect to pay around 40% of the purchase price in maintenance.
3 BMW X2
In no way, shape, or form will we try to argue that the X2 is cheap, but it is by modern standards an entry-level luxury car.
It still has luxury car maintenance costs, though, and will be a very expensive friend even if you don’t factor in the very realistic possibility there will be a failure to deal with in the course of its time with you, however long that may be. Although marginally cheaper, it costs the same as the X3 to run.
2 Volkswagen Passat
Now, one of the most infamous maintenance nightmares, there are still those willing to take a shot at owning the aging luxury VW.
With what was essentially an Audi platform, it comes with Audi running costs that are rather far removed from what you would ever expect from the average VW, and the W8 pictured had more than a few reliability issues.
1 BMW X1
In the last few years, sales of their smallest SUV have dropped off rather dramatically and there is one rather obvious reason for that.
Relative to its lower cost, this comes out as the most expensive car to run on the new car market. It will not cost less to run though, costing just as much as the X2 and 3.