10 FOUR-CYLINDER SPORTS CARS THAT'LL BANKRUPT YOU WITH MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

The benefits of a four-cylinder engine are vast. A small package that naturally consumes less fuel takes up less space and is far easier to work on in the event of a problem. The four-cylinder is the most common basic engine that sits beneath its six-cylinder and eight-cylinder bigger brothers. The most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world is the Mercedes-Benz M139 turbocharged engine, which can withstand a whopping 421 hp.

Mercedes-Benz's psychotic little power plant lives within the A45 AMG models, the SL 43, and the inbound 2023 Lotus Emira. Today, juiced-up four-cylinder cars are rendering the V6 setup redundant as more and more manufacturers opt for emissions-friendly turbocharged four-pots. However, the four-cylinder comes from humble beginnings and has truly experienced the school of hard knocks. Let us take a look at the predominantly 'base' level four-cylinder sports cars that broke the bank.

Jaguar F-Type 2.0

The plucky Jaguar F-Type introduced a new engine to its lineup in 2018. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder Ingenium block sat alongside the V6 and V8 options, producing a competitive 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Further benefits of the four-cylinder included a reduced weight of 54 kg across the chassis. The little block also awarded customers a modest 30.1 mpg average as Jaguar continued to trouble German rivals Porsche.

Sadly, what breaks the allure of the little Jag is maintenance costs; CarEdge estimates an F-Type will cost customers around $13,255 over its first 10 years of operation, roughly $934 more than other luxury sports car competitors.

For gearheads, the Jaguar F-Type has long been the perfect alternative to the Porsche 911. Unlike the 911, the F-Type will cease to be beyond 2024, all thanks to Jaguar's pledge to remove gas-powered vehicles from its lineup. So, now is the time to pick up the sophisticated Brit if you can part with its average used price of $58,642.

BMW Z4 2.0

BMW released the Z4 in 2003, and consumers currently benefit from its third iteration since. Although a six-cylinder is what connoisseurs of the Bavarian persuasion are used to, BMW utilized a four-cylinder configuration for the Z4 on the base trim. As a result, you can purchase the four-cylinder with a 2.0-liter displacement producing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque – prices for the little four-cylinder car average around $22,426.

However, what may dissuade gearheads from the tempting 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds is the 'Average' quality and reliability rating from J.D. Power; this was as recently as 2020. CarEdge estimates maintenance and repair costs of $13,999 over the Z4's first 10 years, roughly $1,700 more than your average luxury sports coupe. So, although it may look like a performance bargain, buyers beware.

Mercedes-Benz C300 3.0

The Mercedes-Benz C300 coupe has been a problem child for the C-Class range. In fact, the 2015 car was subject to 13 recalls as it cemented itself as one of the worst sports cars you can buy. In addition, J.D. Power brandished an 'Average' rating for quality and reliability to further reiterate the four-cylinder sports cars issues.

Sadly, poor reliability is becoming the norm for Daimler products; Mercedes-branded cars are subject to average costs of $15,986 over the vehicle's first 10 years, around $4k more than the industry average for a luxury car.

Although the C300 fractured the three-pointed star's durable reputation, the little four-cylinder engine is quite the entertainer, producing 241 hp and 293 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, the RWD C300 is subject to multiple build quality issues, from steering lock problems to electrical gremlins, which is likely why prices average around $19,000 for a 2015 model today. That's a far cry from its $40,000 MSRP when new.

Saturn Sky 2.4

Arriving on the General Motors sub-compact RWD ‘Kappa’ platform, Saturn released the ‘Sky’ four-cylinder sports car between 2007-2010. Powering the Sky is a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder capable of producing 260 hp or 290 hp if consumers opt for the uprated turbo from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, the Sky shared most of its components with the Pontiac Solstice, and both vehicles suffered from build quality issues as General Motors struggled to combat the 2008 financial crisis.

A faulty service break caused a brace of vehicle recalls, and further problems relating to an airbag sensor caused the Saturn Sky to amass 345 reported problems with Car Problem Zoo.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why We Actually Like The Saturn Sky

Pontiac Solstice 2.4

Pontiac released the Solstice alongside the Saturn Sky, featuring the same four-cylinder engines; both the 2.0 and 2.4-cylinder four-pots were available for the Solstice, which served as an indirect successor to the Pontiac Fiero GT of the '80s, and flopped in a similar fashion.

The issues with the Solstice were identical to its Saturn counterpart, both models suffered similar recalls relating to the service break, leaky suspension components, and electrical gremlins. Pontiac sold just 65,724 Solstice models between 2006-2010, the rarest being the coupe GXP (targa top). Pontiac released only 1,266 hardtop Solstice models, making it rarer than the 1,311 Ferrari F40s!

Today, the troubled Pontiac costs an average of $17,077 and serves as one of the final performance cars from the once great brand.

Audi TT 1.8-Liter

The Audi TT is forever the perfect car for gearheads. The TT began in 1998, and the first gen saw a 1.8-liter four-cylinder option rated at 178-222 hp, dependent on trim level. The earlier four-cylinder cars saw assistance from K03 or K04 turbochargers, with the latter providing higher power figures.

Audi is a costly brand, with average maintenance costs of $13,222 over their product's first 10 years. That's around $1,200 above average for a luxury branded vehicle.

However, as much as we love the Audi TT, first-gen models experienced five recalls. The 2000 first-gen TT was subject to track control arm issues, and wait for it… risk of fire! The TT was at risk of fuel leaks due to faulty fuel lines damaged during production. Aside from the defective airbags and the car catching fire, the Audi TT is a tempting bargain four-cylinder car thanks to its longevity; the average cost for a TT is $9,885 today.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why We Love The Audi TT

Alfa Romeo Spider 2.2

Alfa Romeo released the convertible version of the gorgeous Brera coupe in 2006, naming it the 'Spider' after the legendary Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider of 1954. Alfa Romeo went on to manufacture 12,488 Spider models between 2006-2010.

Like the Brera Alfa Romeo fitted the Spider with three four-cylinder engines, a 2.2 gasoline, 2.0 diesel, and a later 1.7-liter TBi. The most common was the 2.2-liter four-cylinder car under the JTS trim, producing a lowly 185 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. However, while power was down, performance was hindered further by the astonishing 3,373 lb chassis the Spider found itself upon.

The final nail in the coffin for the unreliable Alfa was the multiple recalls; Brera and Spider models suffered from braking issues caused by incorrect brake hoses installed, and another issue was oil leaks from the PTO (Power Take-Off Unit). Perhaps worst of all was the notorious M32 six-speed manual gearbox, which suffered chronic bearing wear, leading to a rather expensive transmission repair.

Fiat 124 Spider 1.4

The Fiat 124 Spider took its name from the 1966 Pininfarina-designed Fiat 124 Sport Spider and went into production in 2016. The result was a nearly identical twin to the Mazda MX-5 to which it shared most of its components; the creatives among us quickly began naming it the 'Fiata.'

The 124 Spider featured a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 160 hp for a modest sports car experience. Sadly, sales were one of many problems for the Fiata. J.D. Power rated the 2017 model 'Average' for quality and reliability, scoring 75/100, whereas the MX-5 of the same year achieved 85/100. Fiat's budget roadster also suffered multiple software glitches, causing the auto-box to shift down unintentionally.

Pontiac Fiero 2.5

Pontiac built 370,168 Fiero models between 1984 and 1988 as a compact sports car willing to take on Japanese and European rivals in the mid-rear engine category. The base Fiero drew firepower from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, sending a full 90 hp to the rear wheels, a figure which grew to 98 hp by 1988.

The lovable little Fiero has gathered a cult following today due to its unique nature in the North American market. However, what forced it to flop way back when was the catastrophic build quality. Pontiac engineers estimated that one in every 508 cars from 1984 had the risk of catching fire due to faulty connection rods installed at the factory. In addition, the Fiero is a notoriously leaky beast built on a budget; buyers beware.

RELATED: 10 American Classic Cars That Are Cheap To Buy... But They'll Eventually Bankrupt You

Porsche 718 Boxster 2.0-2.5

Since 2016, the Porsche Boxster and Cayman have sported a flat four-cylinder setup on their base trim levels. The 718 takes its name and four-cylinder setup from the legendary Porsche 718 race cars of the '50s and '60s. The 2.0- and 2.5-liter flat-fours take the Boxster from 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds, producing an astonishing 300-350 hp, depending on trim level.

What ruins the fun is general maintenance. The 718 Boxster will cost owners an average of $15,670 in its first 10 years of service. The car also has a major repair probability of 46.56%. Porsche is the most expensive luxury brand regarding maintenance, with prices averaging $22,075 over their product's first 10 years. I'm not sure about you, but fellow VAG group competitors, Audi, is looking far more tempting at $13,222 over the same period.

Sources: CarEdge, J.D. Power, Classic.com

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