MX-5 Miata
- Make
- Mazda
- Segment
- Compact
Sports cars and reliability are seldom terms you'll see in the same sentence. That's because sports cars live a harder life than most, pushed to their limits and often finding themselves in the hands of drivers with more bravado than skill or mechanical sympathy. Even the most reliable cars will break when mistreated, though, and sports cars are no different. But, some sports cars can be considered more reliable than others, whether it's because of their relative simplicity, their bulletproof engineering, or the fact that they can be tuned to high heavens and still keep on putting a smile on your face without any fear of an engine blowing up.
Because sports cars get driven so hard and their depreciation is so high, they often find themselves in the hands of passionate owners who can't quite afford to maintain them as they should. But, the 10 sports cars we've picked here should still put up a great fight, even when not looked after as well as they should.
So, what are the most reliable sports cars around? Let's take a look.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Cliche? Sure. But there's a reason the MX-5 Miata is seen as an ideal starter sports car for just about anyone, including new drivers - they're remarkably reliable. Mechanically, they're about as sound as you'll get, and most of their weak points relate to bodywork issues (like rust and paint chips on NA and NB models).
Whichever generation you choose, from the 1989 NA to the current ND, a Miata requires relatively little extraneous maintenance to keep going. Keep the oil topped up (and make sure you resolve the leaky rear main seal that inevitably occurs) and the coolant system functional, and an MX-5 will generally last a lifetime.
And even if something goes wrong, they're simple enough for you to work on at home with the help of a few YouTube tutorials, and there's enough support from the aftermarket and Mazda USA to make ownership nice and easy.
Nissan 350Z/370Z
I know someone's going to disagree in the comments on this one, but the 350Z and 370Z are bastions of reliability in the sports car world, partially because even when something goes wrong, they never really die and can always be revived.
Both use the same platform (which has also been carried over to the new Nissan Z), meaning it's a proven formula with many of the kinks worked out over the years and enough support from the Z community to circumvent common problems. It may be mechanically unrefined, but it has the benefit of sharing parts with various other vehicles, meaning parts availability is exceptional. And then there's the engine - the VQ engine family (VQ35DE in the 350Z and VQ37VHR in the 370Z) is ubiquitous across the Nissan product lineup and has been awarded Best Engine in Ward's Ten Best Engines a staggering 16 times.
There's a reason the 350Z/370Z and the VQ engine are used as a staple in the drift community: the platform is excellent, and the engine can take a beating. However, sticking to later-year model 350Zs is advisable as earlier cars had a penchant for grinding gearboxes and burning a little oil.
Audi TT
It's seldom a car people think of when they think "sports car," but with the Audi TT being sent into the sunset at the end of the 2023 model year, Audi's sporty coupe deserves some love. We're not going to limit its selection to any of the three generations because all of them are pretty reliable in the grand scheme of things, although the first-gen cars with a DSG weren't the greatest. These early cars were also prone to bent conrods when heavily tuned, and the instrument cluster screen was notorious for dead pixels.
Regular maintenance, preemptive maintenance of the water pump, and refreshing the bushings as you would with any older car will keep it fresh. Later generations moved to the MQB platform, shared with a dozen other VW products, and with support from multiple brands, a strong aftermarket, and hefty investment from VW and Audi, the TT is a tried and trusted sports car solution that will keep going with minimal fuss.
Toyota Supra (A80)
Officially the A80 generation, but most commonly referred to as the Mk4 Supra, the fourth-generation Supra is a bona fide sports car icon, if for no other reason than it was home to the 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo inline-six that can be tuned to 1,000 horsepower with minimal modification without even batting an eyelid. It's one of the most reliable engines of all time, and in a Toyota sports car built to stand the test of time, this is in strong contention for being considered the most reliable sports car of all time.
There's just one big problem: you will struggle to find a clean Supra these days as most have been heavily modded, and when you do find one, it will cost a fortune. The Supra was more than just a one-engine wonder, though, and you could get non-turbo variants and even those with a four-speed automatic. Manual is always better, but in whatever form you find a Supra, its reliability is nothing short of legendary.
Honda S2000
If you're looking for high-revving RWD thrills that are also insanely reliable, the Honda S2000 is bang on the money. Prices are now soaring as the S2000 becomes a collector's car, but many who own them drive them and sing their praises regularly.
Although prone to high oil consumption, most other issues can be circumvented with routine maintenance, especially at major service intervals. We've covered this in greater detail here, but on the whole, the S2000 is reliable and holds up well to moderate abuse and spirited driving.
The 2004 model years were less than ideal with high oil consumption and issues with the valve retainers wearing, but later models got just about everything right. And with 240 hp on tap and a redline of over 8,000 rpm, the only thing more reliable than the car will be the smile it puts on your face.
Nissan 240SX
The Nissan Z-cars weren't the only sports car lineage from the Japanese automaker, and in 1989, the 240SX was launched in America as a continuation of the Silvia/S-platform denomination. Sold across two generations, both were powered by the 2.4-liter KA24 engine (140 hp/152 lb-ft in early years and 155 hp/160 lb-ft after 1991), sending power to the rear axle. The 240SX is reliable and a fantastic platform for modification, which has led to its adoption as a popular drift car. However, this means finding stock cars is tricky.
The big issue with the 240SX is that it is an old car. Getting an early-year model 240SX means buying a circa-30-year-old vehicle, meaning you will have 30-year-old car problems. Bushings, damaged paint, etc., are par for the course here. However, with regular maintenance, a little mechanical sympathy, and some common sense, a 240SX can be exceptionally reliable.
Chevrolet Camaro (6th Gen)
A staple of the American car world, the Chevrolet Camaro has spent six fine generations on this planet, although 2024 may be the last year you can get one. While you could take your pick of which era you want (most were pretty reliable, including the Catfish Camaro), we've selected the current sixth-gen car as our pick for a reliable sports car.
First, it's a hoot to drive, whether you're driving the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder or the 6.2-liter V8. The GM Alpha platform is one of the most robust and finest-handling platforms in existence, too. Because of the shared nature of many of the parts (engines, gearboxes, etc.) used in the Camaro, they're easy to maintain, and because they're relatively new, dealer support is available, and most won't have suffered at the hands of time.
They also have a track record of relatively few complaints and recalls, which can't be said of the previous fifth generation.
BMW Z4 (E85)
The BMW Z4, in any generation, has been remarkably resilient and has not been complained about much. However, it may be one of the least reliable models on this list, as there were fancier electronics at play that were prone to failure with age. The roof mechanisms are known to fail on convertible variants, but the coupes are pretty solid and reliable overall.
While the new one has just made the news for adding a manual gearbox, we'd be inclined to recommend older models. The E85 (2003-2008) is our favorite, not just for its sexy styling but the fact you could get a variety of six-cylinder engines ranging from 2.2 liters to 3.0, including a full M version in the Z4 M Roadster and M Coupe. Devoid of turbocharging, it was less fussy over fuel issues, but VANOS problems are known to occur - most of which are easily treatable by a knowledgeable BMW mechanic.
We also wouldn't begrudge you for picking an E89 generation, but the N55 was known for a few problems, like broken valve cover gaskets, water pump failure, high-pressure fuel pump issues, and VANOS solenoids. This is one car we'd advise you to retain in stock form, as tuning unlocks other problems that can remove the reliability factor.
Porsche Cayman/Boxster (987)
A contemporary 718 Cayman or Boxster is a little expensive for our liking, but we're absolute suckers for older-gen Caymans and Boxsters. For that reason, and because they've now had the time to prove themselves as reliable, we'll happily recommend the 987-generation (second-gen) Boxster and Cayman as a reliable sports car you can buy for not a lot of money. Many might advocate for the first gen (986), and they wouldn't be wrong, but the first gen had some engine issues on specific models - specifically those with the 2.5-liter M96 engine.
But the second generation replaced the troublesome engines, looked better, and got more power. More than this, with routine maintenance, they've proven to be exceptionally reliable with very few failure points. Hydraulic steering is a pro, too.
Chevrolet Corvette (C5)
The Chevrolet Corvette is more than just a sports car; it's an American institution. The fifth generation (C5) gets our nod as a reliable sports car with solid mechanical foundations, although its wiring was a weak point that has caused problems when owners have had the cars looked after by not-so-savory characters. Sold from 1997-2004, there were fewer issues as the years went by, meaning a 2001-2004 model year Corvette is a solid bet for trouble-free motoring.
Powered by a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 in base form with 345-350 hp and a 405-hp LS6 in the Z06, engine issues were seldom cause for concern in this generation. That said, worn rings could result in excess oil consumption, and there were regular reports of problems with the steering column lock, so make sure these are attended to.
As is the case with all older sports cars, you're buying an older car, so some wear items may need replacement, but on the whole, the C5 Corvette will look after you if you do the same.
