The Most Reliable Exotic Cars To Buy In 2023
Most motoring enthusiasts dream of owning some sort of exotic or sports car – whether it be something as simple as a Porsche or Lexus, or as soulful as a Ferrari or Lamborghini. While these cars are amazing machines that push the boundaries of automotive engineering and design, their low-production nature results in some reliability issues.
Exotic cars are great – from their outlandish styling and cacophony of wings, vents, and intakes, to their massively powerful engines and drivetrains. These cars allowed engineers and designers alike to let their imaginations wander to make the coolest vehicle possible. Granted, today’s exotic car scene mostly features twin-turbo V8s and naturally aspirated V12s, but back in the day, they produced ridiculous power from straight-6s and twin-supercharged monsters. Granted, these cars almost constantly broke down, but they were still cool. Today’s sports and supercar world demands at least some reliability to compete, as many wealthy and famous people use them as daily drivers.
Exotic cars may be excellent to drive, but many have issues that cost thousands of dollars to fix. Luckily for us, there are modern exotic cars currently available that are pretty great to use every day. Here are eight of the most reliable exotic cars on the market in 2023.
8 Lexus LC 500
The Lexus LC 500 is about as safe as one can get in the exotics segment of the auto industry. It features a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 which produces 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. All the power is sent to the rear wheels only via Toyota’s brilliant 10-speed automatic transmission.
The LC 500’s styling is better than most high-end cars on the market, with striking lines, gorgeous creases, and a silhouette that embarrasses most sports cars. Thanks to the fact that it is a Lexus, a high-end Toyota product, its reliability is superior to most GTs, and it will continue working for a long time – given proper maintenance.
7 Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R used to be the highest-spec of the Skyline range, before being rebadged as a model on its own. The GT-R has recently been updated for a second time in its production run, getting subtly updated styling and more modern technology.
The GT-R features a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 which currently produces the same 600 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque as the previous Nismo version. It sends all the rampaging Japanese horses to all four wheels via a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. The GT-R may have some ergonomic and practicality issues, but it has remained relatively reliable over its 13-year production run.
6 Porsche 911 Turbo S
The Porsche 911 is the best sports car on the market, surpassing anything it is put up against. While the base model Carrera T is excellent, the top-spec Turbo S is even better, beating nearly everything it is put up against in a drag race. The 911 Carrera S is powered by a 3.7-liter twin-turbo flat-6, powering all four wheels via an 8-speed PDK transmission.
The Turbo S officially produces around 650 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, but the actual power output will be higher than that as Porsche likes to underrate their vehicles. The 911 Turbo S is a no-nonsense rocket with elegant lines and a great interior, filled with nice-feeling materials and build-quality Mercedes-Benz could only dream about. Also being a modern Porsche, it’s pretty reliable.
5 Jaguar F-Type
The Jaguar F-Type is the spiritual successor to the famous E-Type of the 1960s. When the C-X16 Concept debuted in 2011, it showed gorgeous lines and a sports car that could embarrass Porsche and its 911. When the production car emerged two years later, it shared the sentiment and instantly became one of the prettiest cars on the road.
The F-Type features both rear- and all-wheel-drive, mated to either a turbocharged 4-cylinder or a choice of supercharged V6s and V8s. In any trim, the F-Type is pretty reliable as the engines are proven and the build quality is good. Some owners experienced issues with interior fittings, but Jaguar quickly fixed them.
4 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is another brilliant British brute. It has all the beautiful lines associated with Aston Martins and thanks to some clever business and engineering, the base powerplant is supplied by AMG.
Not only is the V8 Vantage powered by the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 from the AMG GTS, but the AMR model even features the option of a manual transmission. The V8 Vantage is quite dependable thus far, thanks to its German engine, gearbox, and differential – adding it to the list of daily drivable exotics.
3 Audi R8 V10
The Audi R8 is currently still in its second generation but has received its third and final facelift before being discontinued. The R8 evolved from a V8-powered sports car into a V10 beast which easily competes against its Italian sibling, the Lamborghini Huracan.
The R8 V10 is one of the easiest-driving supercars on the road, with some journalists likening it to the VW Golf in terms of ease. The 5.2-liter V10 in the middle, screams to its 8,700 rpm redline before a new cog engages in the dual-clutch transmission and the symphony starts all over again. Thanks to the years of development and the long production run, the R8 is reliable and relatively simple compared to its rivals.
2 Ferrari F8 Tributo
Speaking of its rivals, believe it or not, the Ferrari F8 Tributo is a petty dependable model within the Prancing Horse’s line-up. The reason behind this is the fact that the F8 is nothing more than a re-bodied 488 Pista, featuring the same engine and chassis as the older car.
Unlike the Pista, the F8 features a plethora of inlets, wings, and over-styling, which results in it being mostly ignored within the supercar world. It seems Ferrari is also avoiding it as it has been on sale now for four years, and it doesn’t have a special version. Maybe Ferrari will just quietly discontinue it in favor of the 296 GTB.
1 Ford GT
Like the model before it, the current Ford GT is a beast. It features the engine out of a pickup truck – albeit heavily modified – and has dynamics that make even the most hardcore road-legal European supercar get nervous fits. The GT is a mighty car that emulates business wherever it goes.
Surprisingly, the GT is also really well-built, requiring little maintenance and repairs. Thanks to the trusted 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, the GT is about as dependable as the F-150 work truck the engine came out of. One would think that the complicated hydraulic and electrical systems which operate the suspension and rear wing would be finicky, but it’s quite the contrary. It is a brilliant car that keeps on giving – even with its Crown Victoria-like steering wheel.
Sources: JD Power, Porsche, Ford, Toyota, Consumer Reports
