Consumers often consider price tag, features, and design when deciding which vehicle to purchase.
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However, car buyers should also consider hidden issues like transmission, depreciation and repair costs so they don’t have to face headaches and drained wallets a year later.
GOBankingRates spoke with JustAnswer auto mechanic and expert Chris Pyle to discuss the ten cars he would never buy and why they’re not worth it.
Tesla
According to Car and Driver, Tesla “has proven that electric vehicles are desirable, combining great performance and high-tech interiors with usable driving range.”
Until a Tesla needs repairs, driving it may seem wonderful. Pyle ranked Tesla and Rivian as the top cars he would least buy because the cost of owning them outweighs the price. The 2024 Tesla Model 3 starts at nearly $41,000.
Pyle ranked Tesla and Rivian at the top of his list of cars he wouldn’t buy.
“The reason is that once the motor or battery fails, the cost of repair far exceeds the value of the vehicle.”
Dash Lewis, who writes for Jalopnik, a news and commentary site about “car culture,” said Teslas are among the most expensive cars to repair and maintain.
When you own a Tesla, you can expect to pay an average of $5,552 in repairs. Part of the reason is that Tesla car parts are unique and hard to find. Lewis said that similar to other luxury cars, you’ll pay a premium for car parts.
Even compared to other electric cars, Tesla costs more. Lewis estimates that Teslas cost $1,078 more to repair over their lifetime than other electric vehicles.
Find out: Six gas-electric hybrids you shouldn’t buy
Rivian
The Rivian is tied with Tesla as the top car, and Pyle said he wouldn’t buy it. Rivian is a California-based startup that builds premium electric SUVs and pickup trucks at a factory in Illinois.
“The high cost of collision repairs and collision insurance can itself pay for the car,” Pyle said.
A 2025 Rivian RIT pickup truck starts at $71,000. Like the Tesla, the Rivian is expensive to repair. A Rivian owner said on an online forum that a minor accident caused him far more damage than expected. What appeared to be a bent bumper cover and a dented tailgate resulted in mechanics having to remove the truck’s rear end and perform repairs for two and a half months.
“I thought the repair would be expensive, but I didn’t expect it!” said the Rivian boss. “Initially her insurance company estimated the damage at approximately $1,600 and sent me a check…the final bill was over $42,000!”
any new truck
Pyle said he won’t be buying any new trucks, including Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet, Nissan or Toyota.
“The prices from light to heavy-duty models are too high,” Pyle said. “In the first five years of ownership, you’ll lose approximately 35 to 55 percent of the car’s value in the $30,000 to $50,000 price range. It’s better to buy a used one so the first owner can absorb the loss.
According to Car and Driver, today’s heavy-duty trucks are “workhorses, luxury cars, high-performance machines and comfortable cruisers.” However, online car dealer CarEdge estimates that a Ford F-350 Super Duty, for example, will depreciate 36% after five years, giving it a five-year resale value of nearly $49,000. This estimate assumes an original selling price of $76,350.
Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500
Pyle said the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500 have the same chassis and are in need of repairs.
“It’s not so much the cost of repairs, but how often they need to be repaired,” Pyle said. “For many people, these cars sit in parking lots waiting for repairs longer than they would drive without a problem.”
Edmunds Car Review gives the 2023 Jeep Renegade a value score of 6 out of 10.
“The Renegade is one of the most expensive vehicles in its class,” Edmunds reviewers say.
“That might be OK if you had a lot of features and good value for money, but you don’t. The interior build quality is good, but there’s nothing special inside and it feels like you’re paying a lot for the Jeep’s rough styling.
The 2023 Fiat 500x performs slightly better than the Jeep Renegade, earning a score of 7 out of 10 from Edmunds critics. Testers liked the “soft-touch materials” and body-color-matched panels. However, reviewers disliked the hefty price tag and “unglamorous accessory sound.”
“Changing these (price tag and accessory sounds) would go a long way in improving the feel of this car,” the Edmunds reviewer said.
Ford Fiesta, Nissan and small SUVs
The next group of cars Pyle won’t buy are Ford Fiesta, Nissan and small SUVs.
“Dual-clutch transaxles and CVTs (continuously variable transaxles) can’t handle it,” Pyle said. “If something breaks, you’re going to have a very expensive repair bill that most independent shops won’t cover. So, they have to go to a dealer.
The Ford Fiesta has been the subject of numerous lawsuits since 2012 because the car company knew about the Fiesta’s PowerShift transmission (dual-clutch transaxle) but still sold it.
Owners reported experiencing the same problem even after replacing the clutch, output shaft, and entire transmission.
Similarly, between 2013 and 2018, owners of multiple Nissan models filed complaints with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), claiming that defective CVT transmissions caused “shudders and delayed acceleration that could lead to collisions.”
jeep grand cherokee
Carparts.com reviewers give the Jeep Grand Cherokee an average reliability rating.
“RepairPal has a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 and ranks 15th out of 26 midsize SUVs reviewed based on data from different model years,” Lisa Conant of Aftermarket Auto Parts Online Provider (Lisa Conant) said.
Pyle listed a number of reasons why he wouldn’t buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
“They’re plagued by high-cost repairs, poor manufacturing that causes parts to fail prematurely, and they’re too eager to buy a new car,” Pyle said. “If you’re going to buy new, be sure to buy an extended warranty before the warranty is up. “
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Mechanic: 9 Cars I’d Never Buy and Why They’re Not Worth It
