10 Desirable Cars That Spend More Time In The Shop Than On The Road

Plagued by a plethora of issues, these cars may seem great at first sight but are genuine money pits.

Over the last century, an incredible number of vehicles have been released. Whether they were mass-produced or one-off cars, gearheads globally dreamed about getting behind the wheels of those astonishing vehicles. For those released over 30 years ago, their value and attractiveness have gone through the roof. Most gearheads will not have any major issues with these vehicles.

RELATED: 5 Cars That Are Highly Valuable For Good Reason (5 We Can't Understand)

Although these cars are highly desirable, some of them end up spending more time parked in the garage and not for good reasons. Plagued by a plethora of issues, these cars may seem great at first sight but are genuine money pits. Owners of these unreliable yet desirable cars are on a first-name basis with their mechanics. With that said, these unreliable cars are almost too much fun to drive.

Several executives in the automotive industry have made a name for themselves over the years. Whether it is Henry Ford or Lee Iacocca, these automotive personalities have greatly influenced the industry as a whole. However, no one is as memorable as former Vice President of General Motors John DeLorean. Known for his nonconformity, DeLorean would live on to be America's most infamous automotive figure.

The true reason why the DMC DeLorean project flopped is not as straightforward as most car fans may think. Though, it is true that the entire existence of the DeLorean company is sketchy, the DMC-12 failed for a plethora of issues. The electrical system constantly failing, batteries dying before the end of their lifespans, and leaky doors are just a couple of examples. On top of that, the DMC-12 was far too slow for the advertised price.

Defunct carmaker Pontiac was once one of the best alternatives to what Ford and Chevrolet manufactured. With outstanding vehicles such as the Torpedo or the Trans-Am, Pontiac was destined to become a globally-recognized brand. Unfortunately, a variety of events led the brand to go from attractive to laughable. While the company was on its deathbed, it tried to revive the flame it once had.

The Pontiac Grand Prix GXP is a terrific sedan from the early 2000s. Boasting 303 hp and 323 lb-ft of torque, the GXP is an underrated beast. Unfortunately, the GXP is very similar to other American cars built around the same era. Head gasket blowing prematurely, slipping transmission, and the fact that the power is sent to the front wheels make the Grand Prix GXP a debatably reliable car.

The BMW 6-Series was first released in 1976. Known as the E24, the first 6-Series is a grand tourer that most piston heads remember fondly. In fact, the M635CSI is today one of the coolest classic M cars to have ever been made by BMW. In 2003, BMW brought back the 6-Series to the pleasure of all luxurious and sporty car aficionados.

RELATED: The Real Reason Why The Unreliable BMW E60 M5 Is Going Up In Value

THe BMW M6 E63 is an absolute beast. Sharing the same 5.0L S85 V10 found on the M5 E60, the M6 can quickly go from being a head-turner to becoming a headache. If maintenance is done properly, serious problems will not emerge until the M6 reaches 120,000 miles. However, maintaining a V10 costs an arm and a leg. Not every M6 owner can afford to keep up with the maintenance costs. In that case, issues will mushroom like there is no tomorrow.

Automakers from the land of the rising sun are known for their affordable and reliable vehicles. Although it took some time for Japanese cars to be accepted as legitimate, they are today regarded as serious contenders for some of the nicest cars coming out of Germany. At Mazda, everything was always looking bright. In fact, Mazda struck gold when it released the RX-7. Things took a turn for the worst when the RX-8 hit the dealerships.

The RX-8 is among the coolest Mazda sports cars. At best, the RX-8 comes with a 1.3L Renesis two-rotor engine that makes 232 hp and 159 lb-ft of torque. These numbers are respectable for a Japanese car. Sadly, it is well-known that the RX-8 is a lemon. After 60,000 miles, the rotary engine will simply give up. That is the main issue. More problems arise as the RX-8 gains miles.

Volkswagen was always regarded as the bottom-shelf German car brand. While it is true that Volkswagen stands for the "people's car," things have drastically changed since the brand was government-owned. Since the mid-70s, Volkswagen lineups have evolved to include more family-oriented and sporty vehicles. The Golf was introduced during that era and grew into something quite remarkable.

It would only be fair to admit that the Volkswagen Golf is a very reliable vehicle. However, Volkswagen did manufacture a Golf that was ridden with problems. The MK6 looked the part but unfortunately came with issues that are not cheap to fix. The common problems are the water pump, ignition coil pack, and timing chain tensioner failures.

Hyundai first arrived in America in 1986, it was the only brand from South Korea looking to attract people at the bottom of the market. While Japanese carmakers were working on establishing their luxury subsidiaries, Hyundai was actively attracting motorists that would usually go for cars such as the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla. At the dawn of the 2010s, Hyundai was doing exactly what Japanese car companies did during the late '80s and early '90s.

The Genesis Coupe is the first Hyundai two-door vehicle to come with so much power. The 3.8L V6 pumps out 299 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The main issue with the Genesis Coupe is the fact that it is a Hyundai. Things rapidly fall apart after a year or two. Though a great starter sports car, the Genesis Coupe is not as robust as other cars in its category.

To most domestic gearheads, Ford can be summed up with two vehicles: the Mustang and the F-Series. The two nameplates have attracted motorists globally for decades. With that said, Ford used to have more interesting vehicles in its lineup. From the Ford Taurus SHO to the Ford Focus, the automobile conglomerate brought back some of its forgotten cars with debatable success.

The Ford Focus RS used to be one of the hottest hatchbacks on the market. The turbocharged 2.3L inline-four pumps out 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. To make a long story short, the Focus RS is far more interesting than the Mustang EcoBoost. Unfortunately, being the first of its kind at Ford, the Focus RS was plagued by one main issue: a leaking head gasket. This issue single-handedly made Focus RS owners want to trade in their cars.

Italian car companies are not known for their lukewarm vehicles. In fact, when Italy and cars are put in the same sentence, the first thing that comes to mind is the roaring sound of an exquisite supercar and enough tire smoke to make any gearhead smile from one ear to the other. Unfortunately, not every Italian car is created equal. At Maserati, things have gone downhill rapidly.

RELATED: The Maserati Levante Isn't As Unreliable As You Think, Here's Why

The reasons why gearheads should steer clear of the Maserati Ghibli are numerous. In fact, here is why the Maserati Ghibli is a terrible way to spend $85,000. For this price, it is one of the most unreliable cars in its category. Compared to BMWs and Audis of the same caliber, the Ghibli spends more time parked at the dealership.

There is not a single brand in the world that embodies off-roading like Jeep does. Since the success of the Jeep Willys on the battlefield, Jeep has been synonymous with sturdiness, adventure, and overall awesomeness. In the '90s, the Grand Cherokee was released. It was one of the first SUVs with serious off-road capabilities made in America. Following this success, Jeep went on to manufacture similar vehicles.

The Jeep Compass is a decent crossover that has a solid fan base. Known for being fairly reliable, it quickly became a great alternative to Asian crossovers. However, some years are not as reliable as others. Faced with issues including the fact that the crossover simply will not start, grinding brakes, and overheating transmission may turn off potential buyers.

Electric cars have been around for decades. Though the technology was there, the cars manufactured were simply awful. The GM EV is a prime example of an atrocious-looking electric car. When Tesla entered the market, it showed the whole world that an electric car did not have to look like a milk pouch. The Model S, Tesla's sexiest sedan, is a stunning electric car filled with issues.

RELATED: Are Tesla Customers Turning Against The Brand?

Tesla is one of the most valuable car companies on the planet. Since the company is perceived as a rowdy trailblazer in the industry, it is quite normal that its value went through the roof. While the Tesla Model S Plaid is the world's fastest and coolest sedan, it is also one of the most unreliable and expensive cars to maintain. Several users have publicly voiced their anger against Tesla.

Max Veron is an avid fan of anything equipped with a powerful engine. Spending time between Southeast Asia, Europe and the US, Max is travel bug with a great taste for cars.