One of the most affordable cars on this list is the Ford Focus. The car is an entry-level sports car and gives the appearance of a highly affordable vehicle. What most Focus owners learn only after they get the actual car, is that it is rife with annual maintenance fees that amount to over $1,000 in fuel, upkeep, and repair costs alone.
These recurring costs are just the start though, as the Focus is notorious for having various technical issues with its components, such as faulty door latches and motor breakdowns. You would be better off skipping this one altogether and considering a slightly more expensive option, such as the Volkswagen GTI, which could end up saving you both money and headaches in the long run.
Mercedes-Benz C300
Mercedes Benz came out with its C300 model somewhere in the mid-'90s. The car was an instant success, and featured the same interior as its E-Class counterpart, but had a much more curved and sleek design. It’s also a relatively cheap Mercedes, and costs around $40,000, making it quite affordable for upper-middle-class Americans.
The main downside behind owning the C300 is the same as with any other Mercedes model. Maintenance and repairs are certainly not cheap, and you can expect to pay around $200 for a basic oil change. It’s definitely worth it if you’re a fan of the German luxury car brand, but otherwise, you should probably save that money for better use.
Infinity Q45
Infinity is a luxury brand that belongs to Honda. It's known for having pricier vehicles that promise a greater level of quality and comfort. The Q45 was one of the brand’s flagship vehicles and was sold for many years until it was replaced by the M45 in the recent decade. Despite the new model that came out, maintenance costs have been and remain steadily high.
As a Q45 or M45 owner, the average cost of maintaining and fueling your vehicle is expected to be around $1,300 per year. Prepare to save some money for oil changes too, as these cost around $200 each. The same goes for brake pad replacements, which also go for upwards of $240. You do the math.
Porsche Cayenne
When Porsche came out with its Cayenne SUV back in 2002, the company was highly criticized, as it was exclusively associated with small sports vehicles. Despite the backlash from fans, the Cayenne quickly became one of the brand’s best-selling models and can be seen almost anywhere in upper-class American neighborhoods. The luxury sport SUV has a fairly competitive price, but that’s only if you ignore its extensive repair costs.
Even simple things like oil changes for the Cayenne will cost you more than $400 a pop. You can expect to pay between three to five times more on just about any servicing, which does add up to some significant annual numbers. Better pray that nothing ever goes seriously wrong with the car’s components, as these fixes end easily end up costing you thousands.
Chrysler 300
Meet the Chrysler 300. This full-size luxury car comes in various trim levels that range from comfortable driving to “holy crap this is really fast!”. Chrysler built it to look as close as possible to the high-end Rolls Royce and Bentley vehicles and managed to do a decent job at it. Unfortunately, it also has quite a steep price when it comes to annual upkeep.
On an annual basis, the Chrysler 300 costs around $1,200 just for upkeep and fuel. It also requires more regular checkups and small tune-ups than your average vehicle, which will each cost you a few hundred bucks. It could be worse, but certainly, any executive has more important things going on than running around thinking about car maintenance.