10 German Sports Cars With Bulletproof Reliability

A Deutschland badge does not necessarily equate to reliability, but these sports cars are testaments to the revered German car engineering prowess.

Many automotive industry experts and historians regard German engineer and designer Karl Benz as the father of the first modern automobile. Since the Benz Patent Motorcar Model Number 1 was patented in 1886, Deutschland's automotive industry grew dramatically, eventually making Germany a "country of cars."

Today, German carmakers have a solid reputation for making well-engineered cars. After a century of making cars, many German brands like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have made their mark in the premium or luxury vehicles segment. Although their offerings today include practical yet luxurious sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs, many German carmakers are still avidly showcasing their penchant for performance vehicle perfection – particularly with their sports cars.

Because German performance vehicles often command some of the highest price tags even in the luxury segment, many exotic car fans in America scour the used car market to get the best deals on used German sports cars. Luxury vehicles often depreciate faster than mass-market models do, so the pre-owned market makes sense for many buyers. However, aside from the best prices, reliability is also very important to consider when buying a used car. Vehicle reliability may vary with different models, model years, or generations, even if the cars have German badges.

If you're planning to get a used German sports car, then this article will help you shortlist your candidates.

We used cross-referenced vehicle reliability, maintenance, and pricing data from J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book (KBB), Edmunds, RepairPal, CarEdge, and Consumer Reports (CR) to give you 10 of the most reliable used German sports cars on the used car market today.

The Audi A6 is a midsize luxury car that directly competes with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series. Camouflaged behind the 2017 A6's elegant and luxurious design is the Audi S6 – a performance-tuned A6 variant that draws power from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine (450 hp, 406 lb-ft).

The 2017 Audi A6 lineup received a "great" 85/100 quality and reliability rating from JD Power, and on its own, the 2017 Audi S6 earned a laudable 4.6/5 expert review score from KBB. Today, the 2017 Audi S6 has a fair market price range of $30,500 to $33,200 in the used car market.

Produced from 2002 to 2008, the E85 convertible and E86 coupe variants of the BMW Z4 succeeded the popular Z3. Powered by a naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter I6 engine (215-255 hp, 185-220 lb-ft), the 2007 BMW Z4 was a much faster and more premium alternative to the Mazda MX-5, and it can match up well against other rivals from Nissan, Pontiac, and Porsche.

The 2007 BMW Z4 currently has a fair market price range of $10,000 to $12,500.

The Audi A7 line is composed of high-performance midsize luxury models that include the entry-level A7, the mid-range S7, and the top-spec RS 7. The standard A7 is already an exhilarating ride with its 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine (340 hp, 325 lb-ft), but the 2017 Audi RS7 dominates the lineup with its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 (605 hp, 516 lb-ft).

The 2017 Audi A7 lineup garnered an 85/100 quality and reliability rating from JD Power while the RS7 received a perfect 5/5 consumer review rating from KBB. Currently, the 2017 Audi RS7 commands $51,266 to $66,070 on the used car market.

Since its 1996 debut, the Audi A3 rose in popularity in the luxury compact car class, especially in its sporty coupe and cabriolet formats. For 2020, the Audi A3 lineup didn't have the 2-door variants anymore, but it included the performance-oriented S3 sports sedan and Sportback trims. Using the A3 family's 2.0-liter turbo-four engine at its best output (288 hp for S3 against 184 hp for the standard A3), the 2020 Audi S3 could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

The 2020 Audi S3 earned a "great" 86/100 quality and reliability score from JD Power and a decent 4.6/5 expert review rating from KBB. Currently, a used 2020 Audi S3 sports sedan still sells for $31,000 to $35,000.

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, which debuted in 1954, is one of the carmaker's revered nameplates for the sports car and touring categories. For 2007, the Mercedes-Benz SL offered the following engines:

The 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL, which received a 4.7/5 consumer review score from KBB, still has a fair market price range of $13,500 to $25,321 today.

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Although the BMW 5 Series midsize luxury car distinguishes itself as a sporty "executive" sedan, it also includes touring and performance trims. The 2016 BMW 5 Series came with 4 powerplant options, including a base 2.0-liter turbo I4 (240 hp, 260 lb-ft), and more notably, a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 (445-560 hp, 480-500 lb-ft) for the M550i and M5 models.

Today, the 2016 BMW M550i xDrive sports sedan has a fair market price range of $19,300 to $21,600.

The 2016 BMW 5 Series received an 88/100 quality and reliability score from JD Power and a 4.4/5 consumer review score from KBB.

Introduced in 2014, the BMW 2 Series is the 2-door compact car spin-off from the 4-door BMW 1 Series. For 2017, the BMW 2 Series came in coupe and convertible variants. The base 230i models were already decently powerful with a 2.0-liter turbo I4 engine (248 hp, 258 lb-ft). However, for those who want more grunt but not the tuning (and price tag) of the M2 variant, the 2017 BMW M240i was a great performance option with its 3.0-liter turbo I6 powerplant (335 hp, 369 lb-ft).

The 2017 BMW M240i received an 88/100 quality and reliability score from JD Power and the 2017 BMW 2 Series lineup garnered a 4.8/5 consumer review rating from KBB. Currently, a used 2017 BMW M240i still sells for $25,000 to $31,000.

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Like the smaller 2 Series, the BMW 4 Series was also originally a spinoff from the 3 Series Bimmer. Eventually, however, the BMW 4 Series also welcomed 4-door models to the lineup.

For 2017, the BMW 4 Series came with two upgraded engines: a 2.0-liter turbo-four mill (248 hp, 253 lb-ft) for the base 430i models, and a 3.0-liter turbo I6 powerplant (320 hp, 330 lb-ft) for the higher 440i variants. The BMW 440i xDrive coupes and convertibles were ideal options for performance and styling, especially with the BMW M Sport Package (not to be confused with the fire-breathing M models).

JD Power gave the 2017 BMW 4 Series lineup a 90/100 quality and reliability score, while KBB's consumer reviews returned an excellent 4.8/5 rating. Today, a used 2017 BMW 440i xDrive still has a fair market price range of $24,000 to $28,000.

Before the Porsche 911 was redesigned in 2020 (codenamed the Porsche 992), the 2019 Porsche 911 held the fort for the German nameplate's 991 series. Perhaps most importantly, this model year came with the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster 991.2, which is arguably one of the most special Speedsters in Porsche 911 history.

With a 4.0-liter flat-6 engine (502 hp, 346 lb-ft), the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster 991.2 could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 192 mph.

2019 Porsche 911 Reliability

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Topping this section of reliable German sports cars is the Porsche 911 – one of the most iconic sports cars in history. The Porsche 911 is lauded for its near-perfect blend of power, handling, and compatibility for everyday use. For 2015, the Porsche 911 offered 20 different variations (e.g. Carrera, Targa, GT3, Turbo, and their respective sub-trims) that were powered by the following engines:

Currently, the 2015 Porsche 911 has a fair market price range of $68,000 to $112,000, depending on the trim.

Ron has worked in the strategy and marketing departments of a few automotive brands. When he's not writing about cars, he likes to analyze auto industry data to share with fellow enthusiasts.. or his pet dogs.