5 Cool Cars That Are Too Unreliable To Buy, According To Doug DeMuro
Written by
John Schmoll
Edited by
Brendan McGinley
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There’s just something about the prospect of purchasing a cool car. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to own a certain car because it looks slick, or your neighbor has an expensive car, and you want to impress the neighborhood with a similarly priced luxury car.
Unfortunately, just because you buy a cool car doesn’t guarantee it will be reliable. Some premium cars require costly maintenance, while others could leave you stranded at the wrong time. Depreciation takes a big enough of a bite out of cars, but adding unreliability to the equation can make matters worse.
Buying a car is often the second-largest purchase Americans make. Due diligence is necessary to avoid buying an unreliable one. In a recent video, auto YouTuber Doug DeMuro shared five cool cars he considers too unreliable to purchase, in no particular order. And while each had its attractions on any given drive, ultimately he couldn’t recommend them for everyday use; They’re just too prone to trouble.
E60 BMW M5
DeMuro lists the E60 BMW M5 as one of his favorite cars. The E60 is the fourth generation of the M5, according to BMW. The automaker said it’s one of its more distinct cars, effectively putting a sports car inside a sedan.
DeMuro concurs as he loves much of the car. “I want an E60 M5 so bad. I like a good V10, V10s are cool, but the fact that BMW put one in a sedan and then gave it a manual transmission is just one of the coolest things,” said DeMuro. He said the E60 is the kind of car you just want to look at in your garage because it looks so cool, but that’s the extent of his affinity for it, since it’s unreliable.
“This is the ultimate example of an automaker that made their customers do their test driving. Like, this car was not ready for prime time,” he said. He said that many owners have to make multiple tweaks to the car just to make it unreliable, yet this often still leads to frustration.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokees have been around for years. They’re popular for off-roading and for drivers who want an everyday vehicle that fits a larger family. DeMuro has long wanted a Grand Cherokee for that reason.
“What I wanted was an SUV that had three-row seating, that had good self-driving tech and that could off-road,” said DeMuro. Instead, he opted for a Toyota Sequoia instead for a daily driver.
The reason is simple: reliability. It’s no surprise either, as Jeep ranks near the bottom for reliability, according to Consumer Reports.
“I love the new Grand Cherokee. I think it is a fantastic car. I think the powertrains are good. The style is good. The interior is the best ever in a Grand Cherokee. The tech is good. I just don’t trust it. And that’s true for basically all modern new Chrysler vehicles,” said DeMuro.
Mazda RX8
Affordable sports cars can be hard to find, but the Mazda RX8 might fit the bill. DeMuro loves the idea of the RX8, despite his feeling that the car looks ugly.
“I have been on the record a bunch of times saying how I absolutely love how the Mazda RX8 drives. It is smooth, it is fast, it is so well balanced. It is one of the very best, especially for the price point, sports cars that I have ever driven,” said DeMuro.
Sadly, the car often requires extensive maintenance that your local Mazda dealer can’t handle.
“You’re talking about real, probably DIY, stuff. You’re talking about using the car a little bit differently than a normal car,” said DeMuro.
Range Rover
Range Rovers have a classic look that makes them a desirable car to some. DeMuro loves Range Rovers and has owned multiple of them, but for the sake of his argument, he said they’re unreliable as daily drivers.
“I love them. They’re great. The new ones look amazing. They look so nice with the vertical tail lights and just like almost the concept car look to them,” said DeMuro. But, he said, they’re not reliable.
“I still don’t trust them. After all these years I still don’t trust them. And, I got to say, as more technology has gone into these cars for off-roading technology, but also the screens and the interior controlling, they haven’t gotten better,” said DeMuro. He said that his Sequoia doesn’t have this problem, and it operates as it should every time.
Rolls-Royce and Bentley
Rolls-Royces and Bentleys are the epitome of luxury cars. DeMuro said something keeps him from purchasing either, though, thanks in large part to multiple rental experiences with the two. He believes they’re great news, but that quickly fades.
“They don’t age well. They were not really intended for frequent daily use, which a lot of them got,” he said.
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