Copyright Parade
Buying a car is a lot like purchasing a home: It’s an investment that you hope will last for many years, with the understanding that you’ll need to put in a bit of work to keep it in good shape. Similar to houses, cars require routine maintenance if you want them to go the distance, but they shouldn’t be a constant strain on your wallet. Every so often, though, you end up with a car that becomes an instant money pit. If you’ve never owned one yourself, you certainly know someone who has. Money pits are vehicles that seem to spend more time in the shop than they do in your driveway, and they quickly rack up thousands of dollars in repair bills. They’re kind of like a game of Whac-A-Mole, since new issues are constantly popping up right after you fix another one. Whether you’re shopping for a new or used car, it’s critical to do your research ahead of time to learn more about a particular model and the common problems it’s known to have. When it comes to cars, mechanics have seen the good, the bad and the absolutely ugly, so Parade reached out to several long-time mechanics to get their thoughts on the cars that are most often considered money pits. With their insight, you’ll hopefully avoid a few headaches when you go to purchase your next vehicle. Related: If Your Vehicle Doesn’t Have a Name, It Needs One! Here Are 300 of the Best Car Name Ideas of All Time What Red Flags Should You Look for Before Buying a Car? Before we get into the specific cars that mechanics recommend avoiding, it’s helpful to know what red flags you should keep an eye out for while heading to the dealership. Alex Kacsh, the owner of Accurate Automotive in Colorado, says it’s important to steer clear of a car that seems “too good to be true.” “When looking for a new or used car, always have a pre-purchase inspection done. If they don’t want you to do that, it is because something is hiding,” he shares. As part of this process, he recommends having the vehicle codes read. “Make sure all the monitors on the vehicle are all in the ready position. If they are not, it means the codes were recently cleared and something may be lurking in the dark,” he says. Jonathan Bemis, the lead tech at VIP Tires & Service in Maine, recommends using a magnet to check for “excessive body filler” to make sure there’s nothing on the body of the car that doesn’t look right. “If you’re buying in an area known for flooding, look up under the dashboard the best you can. The metal under the dashboard isn’t treated, so if water has gotten up there, it will be flash-rusted,” he explains. “You can also grab the wiring harnesses and squeeze them. If they have been underwater, they get brittle and crunchy.” Anthony Gonzalez, a general services technician at Genuine Automotive & Diesel in Texas, says you should be concerned about high-pressure sales tactics. For example, someone may say a deal is only good for a day or say they have another buyer coming soon. “This suggests they are trying to rush you into a bad deal before you discover the car’s problems,” he says. “This is a typical tactic used by dealerships (new and used); however, even private sellers will use some version of this.” Additionally, Gonzalez says a car price that’s significantly below market value is usually cause for concern. Lastly, the mechanic suggests always test-driving a vehicle before purchasing it so you can pay attention to unusual noises, warning lights or smoke. Related: 5 of the Most Expensive Spaces to Remodel in Your Home Which car company is your favorite? BMW BMW0 % Jeep Jeep0 % Kia Kia0 % Range Rover Range Rover0 % Cadillac Cadillac0 % Tesla Tesla0 % Volkswagen Volkswagen0 % Ford Ford0 % Honda Honda0 % Chevrolet Chevrolet0 % These 3 Cars Are an ‘Instant Money Pit,’ According to Mechanics 1. BMW X1 and 5-Series (E60 Generation) The mechanics we polled cited two car models from BMW as potential money pits. BMW X1 “BMW stands for Break My Wallet. These are fun cars to have and drive, but never fun to repair,” Kacsh says. If you do own one of these cars, he recommends having a “dependable and honest mechanic” on speed dial since they “take a serious investment to keep them on the road.” Common challenges range from drivetrain and turbo issues (typically $5,000 each) to electrical (typically $1,000-3,000) and coolant issues (typically $1,000-2,500). “None of the repairs go without major labor expenses, and BMW parts are always expensive,” Kacsh notes. BMW 5-Series (E60 generation) Bailey Garcia, a diesel technician at Genuine Automotive & Diesel in Texas, says the E60 generation of the BMW 5-Series is notorious for “major reliability issues, especially for models with more complex engines.” He notes that oil leaks are common since the valve cover gasket and other seals “are prone to drying out and leaking.” Electrical issues often materialize in the form of “phantom error codes” due to low battery voltage. “Failing intelligent battery sensors and problems with the complex iDrive system can lead to expensive diagnostic and repair bills,” he shares. Cooling system failures, including thermostat, radiator and water pump problems, often occur when plastic and rubber cooling system components fail prematurely. Garcia notes that an electric water pump failure alone can cost more than $1,000 to replace. Overall, the high cost of repairs can be attributed to the vehicles’ advanced technology and the labor-intensive process of accessing/replacing parts. Related: 51 ‘Kids Eat Free’ Restaurant Deals You Should Know About 2. Land Rover/Range Rover Kacsh acknowledges that Land Rovers and Range Rovers are “great cars to drive,” but says they typically require extensive upkeep over time. “We have seen suspension issues (typically $1,500-4,000), coolant issues ($750-2,500) and voltage issues ($750-3,000) show as early as 40,000 miles. The reason why is that the quality of these parts are bad and they are expensive to repair,” he explains. Rick Dollahite, who has been a lead technician at Genuine Automotive & Diesel in Texas for 44 years, notes that air suspension failure due to leaking air springs or failed control modules can result in a sagging suspension. “A single component replacement can cost thousands of dollars,” he says. Dollahite says used Range Rovers are “notorious money pits” due to “poor reliability, high-priced parts and complex technology that is expensive to repair when it inevitably breaks.” He cautions that engine oil dilution, which can lead to “catastrophic engine failure,” is one major issue on some models. If you end up needing to replace the full engine, it can cost $20,000-30,000 or more. Electrical issues also plague some models and range from issues with the parking brake and entertainment system to sensors. “Diagnosing and fixing these issues is expensive due to the vehicle’s intricate electrical system,” he explains. Related: 13 Things Money Experts Tend To Buy Cheap 3. Cadillac CTS and ATS Kacsh says two Cadillac models—CTS and ATS—often run into multiple issues and can easily turn into a money pit. “From timing chain/phaser ($5,000-7,000) to transmission (typically $6,000-9,000) issues, these cars are terrible to own,” he shares. “We have seen these failures as early as 50,000 miles.” In his time as a mechanic, Kacsh and his team have rarely seen an ATS or CTS car last past 100,000 miles without encountering these common issues. “If I were to tell you that you would need to spend at least $10,000 in hard repairs on your car before 100,000 miles, plus other repairs that are normal, would that be a good idea?” he says. “These cars were not popular for a reason.” Up Next: Sources:
