MOST RELIABLE
1 Mazda MX-5 (2015-present) What went wrong? Non-engine electrics 7%
Just 7% of owners reported a fault with their MX-5S, but none of those cars could be driven. However, all were put right in less than a week, and although none of the work was free, it wasn’t too pricey, at £301 to £500.
2 Audi TT Coupé/cabriolet (2014-present)
Swift action by repairers bolstered the TT’S score, with two-thirds of cars fixed and back on the road within a day and all sorted out in less than a week. Only 11% of cars played up, with air-con and steering faults. Repair costs spanned a fairly wide range, though: between £301 and £750.
3 Mercedes-benz E-class Coupé/cabriolet (2009-2017) Despite being packed with gadgetry, the E-class remains pretty dependable. Only 20% of cars went wrong, engine issues being the main concern. All could still be driven and were fixed within a day, and repair bills were low for a car that’s likely to be well out of warranty, at £101 to £500.
LEAST RELIABLE 1 BMW 3 Series Coupé/convertible (2006-2013)
What went wrong? Engine 16%, brakes 11%, engine electrics 11%, steering 11%, air-con 5%, bodywork 5%, exhaust 5%, gearbox/ clutch 5%, non-engine electrics 5%, suspension 5%
With faults in 10 different categories and 42% of cars suffering a fault, the 3 Series is the least dependable coupé/convertible. It’s also proving costly to live with: 30% of owners paid out £501 to £750 to get their cars fixed, and the costs exceeded £1500 for 20% of them. The only plus is that repairs were carried out fairly swiftly, with 75% back on the road in less than a week.
2 Volkswagen Scirocco (2008-2017) The main issues for Scirocco owners are bodywork and suspension-related, with 28% of cars suffering a fault overall. All cars were fixed in less than a week and 60% were put right within a day, but no work was done for free and bills were steep: 30% of owners paid out between £501 and £1000 to get each issue sorted.
3 Audi A5 Coupé/cabriolet (2007-2016))
Owners told us 33% of their A5s went wrong, with bodywork and suspension the main gripes. Half were rectified within a day, but half lingered in the garage for more than a week. Although 25% of work was done for free, 25% of owners were stung for more than £1500.