Which European Cars Are the Most Expensive to Maintain?
Purchasing a European luxury vehicle is a symbol of success and wealth, carrying with it a price tag to match. But the expense of buying one of these cars is just the beginning. Along with the prestige of owning these world-class driving machines comes a responsibility to maintain it at their highest possible level. This tends to be at a significantly higher cost than most of the vehicles that an everyday motorist would drive. So which European luxury cars cost the most to maintain? Read on and find out for yourself.
Ferrari Enzo
Most Ferraris hold their value as the vehicle ages, despite normal wear and tear on the vehicles. This is even more so the case if they are maintained and serviced the right way, as the value can increase over time. However, you will need to show all of the proper documents proving that you’ve had your Ferrari Enzo maintained properly.
Ferraris can go up to about 10,000 miles before needing an oil change, and usually cost about $1,600 with parts and labor. With additional services such as fluid change, engine check and maintenance, the price can go up to $9,000. The type of oil recommended for Ferrari’s is Pennzoil PurePlus Technology, typically used for the F1 tracks.
The cost of maintaining an Enzo stands out from that of most other supercars because the scissor lift that is required to work on Enzo’s costs repair shops about $10,000. Naturally, this initial sunken cost will drive up the price of repairs for owners. Additionally, labor costs are higher than normal, because the Enzo engine needs to warm up at 4000 rpm and then idle for a few minutes. This is quite unlike most vehicles, where you can simply flush the old oil, replace it and add new filters.
Rolls Royce Phantom
Rolls Royce Phantoms are a luxury vehicle fit for a king, so it’s no surprise that repairs for these vehicles are expensive. An oil change for a Rolls Royce will cost you about $650, and routine annual maintenance costs are around $4,000. We recommend an oil change every 5,000 to 7,000 miles for newer Rolls Royce models, and 3,000 miles for older models. New Rolls Royce models have been designed to include a condition-based service system that tracks the oil life of the vehicle. The Phantom takes 8 quarts of Mobil 1 5W-30 full synthetic high mileage engine oil. Even if you properly maintain your Phantom, repairs can arise unpredictably and will cost a small fortune. A mechanism for closing one of the doors of a Phantom can cost over $500.
Mercedes S65 AMG
The Mercedes AMG model boasts a big, strong V12 engine. Of course, to properly maintain power like that will mean taking your AMG to a certified Mercedes repair shop that has access to exclusive parts. On a positive note, Mercedes vehicles tend to be very reliable if you take care of them the right way, so your AMG probably won’t need too many repairs. Still though, annual maintenance costs for an AMG can be up to $1,000.
Bentley Continental GT
The Bentley Continental is a popular status symbol for professional athletes and celebrities. Oil changes for Bentleys cost an estimated $500, with other required services which can range from $1,400 – $2,700 per year. We recommend an oil change every 6,000 miles, or 12 months – whichever comes first. Mobil 1 full synthetic motor oil is the recommended choice for all Bentley models when doing an oil change. Even if the British luxury vehicle requires no repairs, maintenance costs are around $3,200 a year.
Lamborghini LM002
Since these rare vehicles were only produced from 1986 to 1993, repair costs on them are going to be expensive. There were about 300 of these models produced, so finding a repair shop that has experience servicing them is just as rare. Even just replacing one single tire can cost up to $5,000, which includes service fees.
Lamborghini Murciélago
Produced from 2001 to 2009, the Lamborghini Murciélago is fast, stylish, and pricey to maintain. An oil change for the Lamborghini Murcielago costs around $2,000 and should be changed every 9,000 miles, give or take. The engine holds 3.43 gallons of oil – the best type of oil used for the Lamborghini is Castrol 10W-60, which can help keep the car running smoothly. The maintenance ranges mostly from the type of model you have – a new transmission can likely cost upwards of $50,000 if a replacement is necessary.
Aston Martin DB9
Even though the repair costs to properly maintain an Aston Martin DB9 are significantly lower than the other vehicles on this list, they are still much higher than that of your everyday automobiles. Rolling in at a mere $400 per oil change, the Aston Martin DB9 is one of the more reasonable cars on this list in terms of maintenance costs. That’s still five times the cost of an oil change on a normal car, but we figure that’s a small price to pay to drive one of the most gorgeous vehicles ever built. The manufacturer recommends using Mobil 1 synthetic 0W-40 oil once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Experts estimate that the annual maintenance cost of these vehicles is around $2,000. Additionally, if you don’t properly maintain your DB9, the repair costs will be through the roof, because of the exclusivity and rarity of Aston Martin parts.
McLaren F1
The F1 from McLaren is a stunning sight to behold, and driving one is certainly a memorable experience. But as with anything worthwhile, it doesn’t come cheap. A simple oil change for the McLaren will cost you $8,000 for every 10,000 miles. Throw in some new tires and a fluid flush, and you’re looking at some serious money for the privilege of owning one–about $30,000 per year in maintenance costs. The McLaren F1 uses Shell TMO synthetic 5W-40 oil.
Parts for this top-shelf European supercar are difficult to find, and maintenance takes extra time to perform, which contributes to the high cost. If that weren’t enough, some repairs can only be made at the McLaren production facility in the U.K., which requires owners in the U.S. to ship their F1s overseas for six weeks. Imagine the postage on that!
Porsche Carrera GT
While built to compete with the McLaren F1, the Porsche Carrera GT has a more reasonable oil change cost at around $3,000 every 15,000 miles. Still, that’s a pretty penny to pay when you consider that the second-most expensive oil change for a Porsche comes in at around $500 (for the Porsche Cayenne).
Why so high? Not only is it a complex vehicle, but the Carrera GT also requires a special $10,000 jack to allow technicians to access its underside. The manufacturer also recommends Mobil 1 5W-40 synthetic oil.
Bugatti Veyron
An oil change for a Bugatti Veyron can go upwards of $20,000 – $25,000. The eye-watering cost isn’t only tied to the car’s complexity; technicians have to remove several panels and parts from the underside to access the 16 oil plugs. Because the Bugatti uses super thick 10W-60 synthetic oil, it takes hours to drain. Expect your Veyron to be in the shop for 27 hours to have its oil and filter replaced.
If you drive your Veyron often, you’ll need an oil change every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Otherwise, it’s just once a year. The Bugatti holds 16.5 quarts of oil from the quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine.
Trustworthy and Experienced
Maintaining a top-notch European supercar is expensive, but can be even worse if your luxury repair shop doesn’t know what they are doing. At Otto’s European, we have two decades of experience servicing, repairing, and maintaining European luxury vehicles. If you need to schedule an appointment or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.
