Are you planning to get a supercar and you are interested in learning what is the most reliable supercar out there? Well, if this is the case and you are in this situation, then you are in the right place because, in this article, there will be quite a lot to cover on this topic.
Doing thorough research before you buy a car, especially when it is something this expensive as a supercar is the way to go. You just don’t want to get a supercar that will spend most of its life at the shop.
This will not only drain your patience but it will also drain your pocket. And when it comes to supercars, this can pretty serious since these cars not only that require specialists to work on them. Just look at how much is a RX7, as an example (not a supercar, but still… not easy to maintain).
But they also have crazy expensive parts. And problem after problem, it will add up and you will end up in a money pit. They’re not really the sort of cars with the cheapest maintenance. So, you definitely want to avoid this situation. And we are going to help you out with that.
First, we are going to learn what is a supercar and the main characteristics of a supercar, and the differences between a sports car vs supercar. Then we will cover the reasons why to get cheap supercars and the best supercars.
Once we cleared that out of our way, we will move on and learn about the most reliable supercar and the best supercar for the money. We will cover the specs, as well as the cost to purchase one.
What Is A Supercar
So, what is a supercar? What makes a car to be a proper supercar?
Well, the answer to this question really depends on the type of car. A supercar or exotic car is not any car but often a two-door coupe that is completely performance oriented.
Arguably, the first proper supercar created was the Lamborghini Miura back in the 60s. This car basically defined what a supercar should be.
And that is a 2-door sports coupe with a very powerful engine. Namely, the Miura included a V12 engine. And not only that, the engine should produce at least 400hp and also has a top speed of at least 180 mph.
And most supercars nowadays are rated between 180 mph and 200 mph. Some of them can even push even more. And these cars go into a different category that was popularized recently. And this is the hypercar segment.
A hypercar is a car that is often valued at more than $1 million and can be pushed for more than 250 mph. Not to mention the acceleration of 0 to 60mph which is sub-2 seconds.
The first proper hypercar many believe that it was the McLaren F1 while others leaned toward the Bugatti Veyron. But either way, nowadays we have a whole lineup of these cars. But what is the most reliable supercar? More on this we will cover more in a bit.
Sports Car vs Supercar
Another topic that we would like to discuss is the difference between a sports car vs supercar before we dive into the most reliable supercar. Why do we need to do so? Well, mainly because a ton of people are confusing these two terms and do not know how to differentiate a sports car from a supercar. So, let’s elaborate more thoroughly.
As we noted previously, a supercar is often a two-door coupe that sits really low to the ground with a very powerful engine that can push above 600 hp by modern standards. Also, this car has to have fast sub-three-second acceleration from 0 to 60 and a top speed above 180 mph.
While on the other hand, a sports car is an improved regular car with altered performance. Some of them aren’t even sports cars, but cars that merely look sporty. Not that these cars cannot reach the supercar specs. But still, they are a far cry from the proper supercar.
Examples of sports cars are the BMW M3, Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Subaru BRZ, and many others. Some of these are even fairly practical for day-to-day driving. As such, you’re more likely to find sports cars with back seats and sizeable luggage spaces compared to supercars.
Not to get me wrong, these are rather capable cars that can even outmatch some supercars. But unfortunately, they are not considered to be supercars because most of them are based on regular cars. While a supercar is built on a very specific platform that is intended for high performance and racing.
And these supercars often are built around high-strength carbon fiber tubs and are completely handmade. While on the other hand sports cars are mass-produced in the factory, which makes them (relatively) cheaper than supercars.
It’s for that reason that you can sometimes find the best and great sports cars under 50k, and some are even cheaper, still! There are still plenty of the fastest cars that you can find under 30k, for example. But what is the most reliable supercar? More on that we will cover in a bit.
Reasons To Get The Most Reliable Supercar
So, we learned more about the differences between a sports car and a supercar, now let’s take a look at why you should get the most reliable supercar. A lot of people are still in doubt when it comes to daily driver sports cars. Now let’s discuss more about this before we cover the best supercar for the money.
The first reason why to get a supercar in our opinion is the cool factor. If you are a person that wants to get all the attention, then this car will be perfect for you because all the eyes will be on you. It’s one of the reasons why folks often wonder how much to lease a Lamborghini, or knowing how much does it cost to rent a Lambo.
Even though nowadays a lot of people are driving these cars, they still catch all of the attention and if you have a rare supercar, you will be one of the stars at your local cars & coffee meetups.
Another reason why to get a supercar is the sentiment. Supercars do not lose a lot of their value. Some of them even gain value in the long run. Especially now with the pop culture and you have cars that were valued really low a few years back to cost a whole fortune nowadays.
The next reason why to get a supercar is the fun and excitement that you will experience while driving this car. Supercars are a lot of fun, they have great acceleration and also they handle really well.
Most Reliable Supercar
Now let’s take a look at the most reliable supercar list. In this list, we will only include really reliable cars. Namely, the best daily driver supercar.
Everyone has a dream of daily driving a supercar. And if you are one of these people, maybe one of these cars in this list can be your future car. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
Most Reliable Supercar #1: Audi R8 (2006 – 2015)
Now let’s start our list of the most reliable supercar models. And what better model to begin with than the Audi R8. More specifically the first generation of the R8 was introduced in 2006 and was produced until 2015.
This car probably began the supercar craze that followed in the next years. And also, the design that this car implement is really timeless. Even today’s R8 models follow the same design language.
Nevertheless, the R8 first debuted as a concept car in 2003 and the first model year was 2006. The model is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo. This means that these two models share quite a lot between them. Including the engines and transmissions.
And when it comes to engines, this model has a lot to offer. The base engine is a VW 4.2L FSI engine that develops 414hp and 317lb-ft of torque. It’s one of the factors behind why this is actually one of the most reliable Audi models out there.
And the more powerful engine is the 5.2L V10 from the Gallardo. This V10 engine not only that it sounds phenomenal, but it also produces a lot of power. 525Hp and 391lb-ft of torque to be more precise.
In terms of transmissions, there is a 6-speed gated manual and a 6-speed automated manual. In later model years, there was also a new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission introduced.
But when it comes to the most reliable supercar, we would recommend that you go for the V10 engine, preferably with the 6-speed manual. There is hardly any better driver’s car than this. Now let’s continue our list of the most reliable supercar.
Most Reliable Supercar #2: Lamborghini Gallardo (2003 – 2013)
The next model on our list of the most reliable supercar is the Lamborghini Gallardo. This was in fact the model that came before the R8 and the R8 is based on the same platform.
This model debuted in 2003 and was produced until 2013 when it was replaced with the Huracan which is still being produced.
What is interesting about the Gallardo and the R8 was that they were the first Lambo supercars for the average Joe. They were produced in mass numbers, in contrast to the more bespoke Lambos. The R8 was produced in more than 20,000 units, while the Gallardo was produced in a total of 14,000 units.
So, these cars ain’t rare collectibles like other supercars. Even though, there were some special editions of it that are quite rare and very expensive.
The huge amount of units produced by these cars meant that there were high-quality standards. So, these models are really reliable and probably the two most reliable supercar models.
In terms of engines, the Gallardo only comes with V10 engines. The earlier models included the 5.0L even firing V10, while later models included the odd firing (order) gen two engines that were bumped to 5.2L in displacement. The base power numbers for the 5.0L are 493hp and 376lb-ft of torque.
The transmission used in this model is a 6-speed Graziano gated manual. While the automatic is an automated version of this same transmission.
Overall, a very reliable model, especially the manual version and we definitely recommend it. Even if it’s a higher mileage model, if it’s maintained well, you shouldn’t have to worry much about it. Now let’s continue with the next most reliable supercar.
Most Reliable Supercar #3: Nissan GT-R (2007 – Present)
Now let’s cover something really reliable on our list of most reliable supercar models and that is the Nissan GT-R R35.
The R35 is the current generation of the GT-R that was introduced in 2007. The GT-R is getting pretty old. But nevertheless, it is still able to get all the attention of the crowd.
Immediately after its introduction, this model got all the heat. Even though some people would not call it a supercar but a grand tourer. The GT-R is a true supercar, just like its predecessor, the Nissan Skyline GTR R33 (the famous Nissan Skyline GT-R). Mainly because it is a true powerhouse.
The model is running a twin-turbo 3.8L V6 engine that in the beginning produced only 480hp. But as the years went by, Nissan engineers even managed to squeeze more than 710hp for some special editions like the GT-R50.
But what is special is the 6-speed BorgWarner dual-clutch transmission that was able to accelerate this car from 0 to 60 in only 3.6 seconds. And this was back in 2007. Nowadays the GT-R is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 in only 2.9 seconds.
Some people even drag race these models and push them well over 1,000 horsepower. So, this tells quite a lot about the tunability and quality of this powertrain that the GT-R has.
This is why we decided to add the GT-R to our list of the most reliable supercar models. This model can be pushed well over 150,000 miles with no major issues. Now let’s move on to the next model.
Most Reliable Supercar #4: Porsche 911 (1998 – Present)
Let’s continue our list of most reliable supercar models and next on our list is the Porsche 911. So, why the 911?
Well, there are many reasons behind it. But the biggest one is the performance that it delivers and also the reliability.
Especially models produced after 1998 that come with water-cooled engines. These include the 996, 997, 991, and 992.
The current model of the 911 is the 992. This vehicle was introduced in 2019 and the model is a really extensive upgrade in comparison to its predecessor.
The 992 keeps the same old Porsche design language but with all the latest features and inventions in the car world. Including three engine options. 3.0L, 3.7L, and 4.0L flat-six engines. And also four different transmissions.
Not to mention the trim levels that are plenty. With a total of 12 different trims, the 911 is probably the record holder in the car world. And also, the waiting lists for some of the models are very long and you could wait for years until you get your 911.
But what made the 911 such a legend is probably the reliability that it delivers. These models can be pushed really hard and they rarely develop major problems. So, even if you get a hold of an older model, it doesn’t matter because it is built like a tank. Now let’s move on to the next most reliable supercar.
Most Reliable Supercar #5: Honda NSX (1991 – 2005)
Now let’s cover something really reliable on our list of the most reliable supercar models. And this is the Honda NSX. Not the new NSX but the original NSX. The one that the F1 champion Senna tested himself.
This model is one of the most legendary 90s supercars. Even though it lacks some of the features and packs less power (though it is among the fastest Acuras out there). It is still considered to be a supercar by many people.
It has a very low profile and sweeps through corners like a knife through butter. The competition between the 911 of that era and the NSX is really close when it comes to their track performance.
Nevertheless, the NSX comes equipped with 3.0L or 3.2L V6 engines that produce 270hp and 290hp respectively, and are extremely reliable. In terms of transmissions, there are three options to choose from, a 4-speed automatic, a 5-speed manual, and a 6-speed manual.
We would advise that you skip the automatic because this transmission will not deliver you the wanted performance. A proper NSX is a manual car.
When it comes to the overall reliability of this model, we can say that it performs on par with Porsche. Honda didn’t do something special with the NSX in this area. But took off-the-shelf parts and put them into the NSX.
So, the NSX is reliable just as any Honda model produced back in the day. And as we all know, Honda’s quality at the time was one of the best, if not the best. So, if you want something reliable and cheap to maintain the NSX is the way to go. Now let’s move on to the last on our list of the most reliable supercar models.
Most Reliable Supercar #6: Lexus LFA (2011 – 2013)
And the last on our list of most reliable supercar models is the Lexus LFA. Why did we add the LFA? Well, Toyota built it. And Toyota never fails in terms of reliability.
Nevertheless, the LFA debuted in 2011 and this model is a two-seat sports car. Toyota had a long dream of building its own supercar and it finally became possible in 2011. And unfortunately, this model was very shortlived and ended production in 2013 with a total of 500 models produced.
An interesting fact is that one of the LFAs was still unsold until 2020. It couldn’t sell for 7 years after its production. But this does not mean that the LFA is a bad car. It is better said that is often misunderstood and undervalued.
The LFA is packing a lot of power. It is powered by a 4.8L V10 engine that is producing 553hp and this engine is paired with a 6-speed Aisin automated manual transmission. It is rear-wheel drive only but it still manages to accelerate from 0 to 60 in only 3.7 seconds. Which is quite comparable to the Nissan GT-R.
And not only that it is quick off the line, but it is also very reliable as well. Mainly because underneath, it’s built with the same attention to build quality as any Toyota.
The thing we wish is that these models were produced in bigger numbers so we could see more about the drawbacks of this automobile. But unfortunately, only 500 of these were made in total. Now let’s conclude this article on the most reliable supercar model.
In Conclusion…
In this article, we covered quite a bit when it comes to the most reliable supercar. First, we learned what is a supercar and what is the general concept around this type of vehicle. Then we compared sports cars and supercars and we also listed the reasons why you should get a supercar.
Once we cleared that out of our way, we learned the most reliable supercar models out there. All of these cars are pretty much bulletproof and are very highly praised by owners for their reliability and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
What Is A Supercar
In general, a supercar is a two-seater that is built with performance in mind. These cars sit low to the ground for downforce that is needed when it comes to going fast. They also have very powerful engines. A contemporary supercar should have at least 600hp.
Are Ferraris Reliable
Well, this really depends on the model. They have more issues compared to Lamborghini for example. Their reliability score is not the greatest, especially for the older models. So, if you want to buy, go for a later model year and avoid the old models.
Are Lamborghinis Reliable
Yes, Lamborghini is a brand owned by VW. So, during the last 20 years since VW owns Lamborghini, it managed to sort out the problems with poor craftsmanship and reliability. Modern Lambos are practically bulletproof.
Are McLarens Reliable
This depends on the model. The least reliable model is the first model that they released. Namely, the McLaren 12C. This is probably the cheapest model that you can buy. But we would recommend avoiding it. Go for a 650S or a newer model like the 720S if you want to avoid some of the early gremlins with these McLaren models.
How To Afford A Supercar
This a really tough question. But the answer is simple, work. You need to work in order to earn. Money does not fall from the sky. Everything in life is earned and you should work hard for your dreams in order to make them true.
Why Can’t You Modify A Ferrari
Technically, you can modify a Ferrari. But if Ferrari finds out that you modified the car that you purchased from them, there is zero chance that they will sell you another car in the future because they don’t want people to modify their cars.
