Maintaining a vehicle is a crucial part of car ownership, but some models require significantly more attention and financial commitment than others.
This article highlights a selection of vehicles known for their high upkeep costs and frequent servicing needs. From luxury SUVs to high-performance supercars, these vehicles demand substantial annual maintenance expenses.
Whether you currently own one of these cars or are considering purchasing one, understanding the maintenance commitment involved is essential.
For instance, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport SV is a luxury SUV that delivers impressive performance but comes with an annual maintenance cost of approximately $1,680.
On the extreme end, the Bugatti Veyron exemplifies exorbitant upkeep costs, averaging a staggering $40,000 per year. These examples, along with others on our list, illustrate the financial and time investment required to keep these vehicles operating smoothly.
By examining these models, we aim to provide better insight into the demands of maintaining some of the most service-intensive cars on the market.
10. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
Annual Maintenance Cost: $1,850
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van earns a spot on this list due to its heavy-duty utility and the high costs associated with keeping it in top condition.
While you may not expect a large utility van to appear here, its widespread use in commercial applications and overlanding justifies its inclusion.
The Sprinter’s robust engineering requires frequent and often expensive servicing to ensure optimal reliability and performance.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 3.0-liter V6 Turbo
- Transmission: 7-speed automatic
- Horsepower: 188 HP
- Torque: 325 LB-FT
- Driveline: Rear-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 11 seconds
- Top Speed: 90 MPH
Maintaining a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van involves routine oil and filter changes, with the diesel model requiring 14 quarts of oil. Additionally, fuel system services and transmission fluid replacements contribute to its upkeep.
The diesel engine demands particular attention to components such as glow plugs to maintain efficiency and longevity, further increasing maintenance costs.
Given its essential role in various industries, the Sprinter Van serves as a prime example of a vehicle requiring significant upkeep.
Also Read: Top 10 Cars that Excel in Interior Styling and Comfort
9. Porsche 911 Turbo S
Annual Maintenance Cost: $2,200
The Porsche 911 Turbo S is a high-performance sports car renowned for its speed, agility, and engineering excellence. While Porsche is known for build quality and reliability, maintaining a 911 Turbo S involves an extensive list of servicing requirements.
The $2,200 annual maintenance cost reflects the specialized care needed to keep this powerful machine performing at its peak.
For enthusiasts using their 911 Turbo S for track days, autocross, or spirited canyon driving, regular maintenance is the minimum requirement to sustain top performance.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six
- Transmission: 8-speed PDK automatic
- Horsepower: 640 HP
- Torque: 590 LB-FT
- Driveline: All-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 2.6 seconds
- Top Speed: 205 MPH
Regular maintenance for the Porsche 911 Turbo S includes frequent oil changes, brake servicing, and tire replacements due to its high-speed capabilities.
The car’s precision engineering and advanced performance components necessitate expert servicing and premium parts, driving up maintenance expenses.
Its inclusion on this list is well justified given the investment required to maintain its peak performance.
While Porsche officially claims a 0-60 mph time of 2.6 seconds, Car and Driver recorded an even more impressive 2.2-second sprint, further emphasizing the vehicle’s extraordinary capabilities.
8. Audi R8
Annual Maintenance Cost: $3,100
The Audi R8 is a supercar that blends breathtaking performance with an eye-catching design. However, with this level of high performance comes equally high maintenance costs.
The R8 demands meticulous care to ensure its V-10 engine and advanced drivetrain systems remain in peak condition.
The $3,100 annual maintenance cost reflects the specialized attention required at the dealership, ensuring that this Audi supercar remains a dominant force on both the road and the track.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 5.2-liter V10
- Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
- Horsepower: 602 HP
- Torque: 413 LB-FT
- Driveline: All-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 3.2 seconds
- Top Speed: 205 MPH
Owning an Audi R8 means committing to high-dollar oil changes, brake servicing, and frequent tire replacements, along with periodic checks of its suspension system.
The high-performance V-10 engine requires premium synthetic oils and regular valve adjustments to ensure all 600 horsepower is ready at any given moment.
Unlike the average commuter car, which may require a valve adjustment every 100,000 miles, the R8 requires this service every 15,000 miles a testament to the meticulous upkeep that contributes to its steep annual maintenance cost.
Also Read: 10 European Car Engines That Have Proven Their Worth Over Decades
7. Ferrari F40
Annual Maintenance Cost: $5,000
The Ferrari F40 is an iconic supercar, celebrated for its raw turbocharged performance and legendary design. However, maintaining an F40 is no small feat, as it requires regular and expert care to preserve its classic status and high-performance capabilities.
This involves specialized dealership technicians and a strict list of Ferrari-approved maintenance parts.
The $5,000 annual maintenance cost is a conservative estimate based on various owners’ experiences, factoring in labor expenses and the high cost of scheduled oil changes, tire replacements, and brake servicing.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8
- Transmission: 5-speed manual
- Horsepower: 471 HP
- Torque: 426 LB-FT
- Driveline: Rear-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 4.2 seconds
- Top Speed: 201 MPH
Beyond routine servicing, the Ferrari F40 requires frequent inspections of its highly tuned turbocharged engine, which sometimes necessitates the well-known “engine-out” service.
The use of specialized parts and the labor-intensive engine-out procedure contribute significantly to ownership costs, bringing the total maintenance expenditure to nearly $50,000 over five years.
Keeping a classic supercar roadworthy is a major challenge, and when that supercar is an F40, the financial commitment is just as legendary as the car itself.
6. Koenigsegg CC850
Annual Maintenance Cost: $9,000
The Koenigsegg CC850 is a hypercar that pushes the boundaries of extreme performance and cutting-edge technology. However, with such advanced technology comes a steep financial commitment.
The CC850 requires extensive and highly specialized care to ensure its intricate systems function optimally. This includes crucial maintenance such as replacing the carbon fiber wheels every few years to prevent stress fractures and potential cracking.
The $9,000 annual maintenance cost reflects the level of upkeep needed, but that figure only scratches the surface.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
- Transmission: 9-speed Koenigsegg Light Speed Transmission
- Horsepower: 1,160 HP
- Torque: 1,000 LB-FT
- Driveline: Rear-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 2.7 seconds
- Top Speed: 248 MPH
Maintaining a hypercar is a responsibility that most car owners will never have to experience, but for those who do, the Koenigsegg CC850 almost seems like a bargain compared to some of the other vehicles on this list.
The carbon fiber wheels and massive Michelin tires must be replaced every few years, costing an eye-watering $110,000. For those who own a multi-million-dollar hypercar, this cost is equivalent to what a regular commuter might pay for standard service on an economy car.
Aside from tire and wheel replacements, regular oil changes and system checks will still cost roughly $10,000 annually. However, when you consider that you’re getting 9 horsepower per dollar, every cent spent on maintenance feels well worth it.
5. Lamborghini Murciélago
Annual Maintenance Cost: $18,500
The Lamborghini Murciélago is a high-performance supercar, famous for its bold styling and monstrous V-12 engine.
However, these early V-12 Lamborghini engines are notoriously difficult to work on and require constant attention to ensure optimal performance.
The $18,500 annual maintenance cost reflects not only the substantial labor requirements but also the high markup for official Lamborghini parts, making upkeep a costly affair.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 6.5-liter V12
- Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automated manual
- Horsepower: 631 HP
- Torque: 487 LB-FT
- Driveline: All-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 3.3 seconds
- Top Speed: 211 MPH
As the Murciélago lineup reaches the two-decade mark, the required maintenance can involve some major service jobs. For instance, it is recommended to check the clutch every 7,500 miles, with a full service needed at 27,000 miles.
The clutch service alone can cost thousands of dollars just for the fluid replacement in E-Gear models, while a manual transmission clutch replacement will set owners back $15,000.
Despite the exorbitant upkeep costs, the joy of experiencing a screaming Lamborghini V-12 engine more than makes up for the expenses.
For Murciélago owners, the thrill of driving one of Lamborghini’s most iconic supercars is worth every penny spent on maintenance.
4. McLaren F1
Annual Maintenance Cost: $30,000
The McLaren F1 is widely regarded as the first true hypercar and held the fastest production car record for nearly two decades. However, maintaining this engineering marvel requires constant and meticulous upkeep.
Essentially a racecar built for the road, the F1 is so finely tuned that there is only one certified mechanic in the United States authorized to service it.
The car’s maintenance process relies on 1990s software and even perfectly flat quartz blocks to ensure that components are torqued with absolute precision.
Due to these specialized procedures and the exclusive tools required, the annual maintenance cost for an F1 is approximately $30,000.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 6.1-liter V12
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Horsepower: 627 HP
- Torque: 479 LB-FT
- Driveline: Rear-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 3.2 seconds
- Top Speed: 240 MPH
The McLaren F1 is so cherished by the company that they offer a “flying spanners” program, where a McLaren-certified mechanic can travel directly to the car’s location for servicing.
However, most F1 owners opt to ship their car back to the factory for a complete restoration when necessary.
While routine maintenance was originally recommended every nine months, many owners now service their cars once per year, further adding to the costs.
One of the most expensive maintenance procedures is the fuel cell replacement, which must be done every five years and requires McLaren’s infamous “84-hour service.” Given the intensive labor costs, it’s easy to imagine just how expensive that process can be.
3. Bugatti Veyron
Annual Maintenance Cost: $42,500
Widely regarded as one of the most significant supercars ever built, the Bugatti Veyron became famous for its record-breaking performance and engineering achievements.
However, the Veyron is also known for something else insanely high maintenance costs. The most eye-watering expense? The oil change.
A Bugatti-certified technician must remove 16 drain plugs, drain the old oil, and then refill the engine with 16 quarts of oil. The total price for this routine fluid change? A staggering $25,000.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16
- Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
- Horsepower: 1,001 HP
- Torque: 922 LB-FT
- Driveline: All-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 2.5 seconds
- Top Speed: 253 MPH
Beyond oil changes, the Veyron requires extensive maintenance to keep it running at peak performance. One of the most expensive service procedures is a brake system replacement, which can cost over six figures.
Even replacing the wheels alone not just the tires every 10,000 miles will set owners back $50,000. Given the Veyron’s ability to reach speeds of 253 MPH, such maintenance is absolutely necessary to ensure safety and performance. If Bugatti says the car needs it, who are we to argue?
2. Aston Martin Valkyrie
Annual Maintenance Cost: $113,500
For those who spend millions of dollars on a hypercar, annual maintenance costs are often an afterthought. But what if keeping the car on the road cost as much as buying a brand-new Porsche 911 GT3 RS every year?
According to a report from Bloomberg, the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which has a $3 million price tag, will cost owners an astonishing $450,000 in maintenance over just three years.
That breaks down to an annual maintenance bill of approximately $114,000, making it one of the most expensive road-legal vehicles to maintain.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 6.5-liter V12
- Transmission: 7-speed single-clutch automated manual
- Horsepower: 1,160 HP
- Torque: 664 LB-FT
- Driveline: Rear-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 2.5 seconds
- Top Speed: 250 MPH
As with many ultra-exclusive hypercars, the Valkyrie requires a dedicated team of specialists to service and maintain the car.
Owners can opt for an official maintenance package, which reduces the three-year service cost to $340,000 a steal compared to the full price.
Given that the Valkyrie was designed by Adrian Newey and developed with Red Bull Racing’s F1 expertise, the engineering complexity of this vehicle explains the astronomical upkeep costs.
However, for those who can afford this track-inspired beast, the cost is a small price to pay for one of the most extreme road-legal machines ever built.
1. Mercedes-AMG ONE
Annual Maintenance Cost: $1,000,000
The Mercedes-AMG ONE is a technological masterpiece, representing one of the most ambitious automotive engineering projects in history.
With Formula 1-derived technology, this hypercar delivers an unparalleled driving experience, but that experience comes at an unbelievably high price.
The AMG ONE was first conceptualized in 2017 to celebrate AMG’s 50th anniversary, and after five years of development, the final product emerged a road-legal car featuring an actual F1 hybrid powertrain.
However, keeping this highly complex machine in peak condition comes with a maintenance bill unlike anything else on this list.
Performance Specifications
- Engine: 1.6-liter V6 and Electric Motors
- Transmission: 7-speed sequential
- Horsepower: 1,063 HP
- Torque: N/A
- Driveline: All-wheel drive
- 0-60 MPH: 2.9 seconds
- Top Speed: 219 MPH
Unlike most road cars, the AMG ONE requires Formula 1-level maintenance. Every 31,000 miles (50,000 km), a full check-up is mandatory, with potential costs reaching an unbelievable $1,000,000 if the entire powertrain needs to be replaced.
Routine service must be performed annually or every 3,106 miles, though Mercedes-AMG has not disclosed the exact costs for these smaller maintenance procedures.
Given that the AMG ONE essentially uses a Formula 1 engine, it’s easy to assume that even a simple oil change is astronomically expensive.
Those lucky enough to own this incredible machine might as well buy an actual F1 racecar because the cost of keeping the AMG ONE road-ready is just as outrageous.