Is there a reliable Ferrari? That depends on who you ask – Jalopnik

It may seem like a stupid question: is there a reliable Ferrari? In the automotive industry, reputations are earned, not given, and this is especially true when it comes to reputations for reliability. Toyota, for example, is unstoppable in Consumer Reports’ reliability rankings. The Japanese automaker has spent decades producing hardy workhorses that can see the odometers roll past the magical million-mile milestone.

So when you hear that Italian sports cars are unreliable, it’s because Italian sports cars are generally unreliable. The ‘Top Gear’ guys once bought three Italian sports cars for less than £10,000 (back when this was still possible) and attempted a relatively short journey from one city to another. Electrical problems, oil leaks and overheating were themes of the day, and these are likely occurrences that owners of classic Italian sports cars are well familiar with.

Such unfortunate occurrences are not exclusive to classic Italian models either; Remember when Ferrari’s 458 Italias kept catching fire? The truth is that all cars have their common problems, but a highly strung sports model like a Ferrari probably has more. They simply aren’t built for long distances and daily commutes; they are specialized machines that require meticulous maintenance and an extra level of care and attention.

And yet there are countless Ferrari owners who have actually experienced the opposite. They’ve been able to use their prancing horses for thousand-mile-plus road trips without any problems, and in some cases the maintenance has proven to be quite to swallow – even if the bills are still a far cry from what you’d find on a Camry.

The first step in searching for a used car probably starts with a quick query in the search engine of your choice. If you type in ‘which Ferrari models are reliable’, you usually get responses like the 308, or more modern ones, like the aforementioned combustible 458 Italia and the earlier F430. But is there any truth in this? And if so, why are these models likely to be more reliable?

In chronological order, let’s kick off with the 308. This mid-engine V8-powered ‘Rari’ marked a significant change in the way the Italian brand operated. It was designed as an entry-level model, and although this concept had existed before, the 308 was also produced in relatively large numbers with the Dino models: a total of 12,149 were produced. Being an entry-level model, there was less focus on performance: power ranged from 205 to 255 hp, and less power means less stress on mechanical components. Less stress means less wear, and less wear means fewer failures.

Moreover, production, with more than 12,000 units, would have been a lot more uniform than the previous handmade one, one of the few models that preceded it, which would make maintenance and repairs a lot easier. Spare parts would also be easier to find. So choosing a 308 is a good starting point, but classics always have their problems, which is why modern models like the F430 and 458 Italia also make sense.

The main difference with these is that they were chain driven, which meant expensive and often-disabled belt changes were a thing of the past. This simplified maintenance, lower operating costs and improved reliability, as a metal chain is more durable than a rubber belt. For a more modern ownership experience, consider some of the F430 further.

It’s one thing to say that Ferraris can be reliable, especially those built in larger numbers, and those with chain-driven engines that don’t push the limits of what’s possible with a performance car. But does anyone actually live in the reliable supercard room?

Yes, they are. Jalopnik’s own Doug DeMuro reportedly says his 360 Modena was the most reliable car he’s ever owned, even though that was ten years ago, so maybe he’s found something else that tops the list. Either way, that’s a bold claim about an aging Italian supercar. Then there’s YouTuber Sam Fane, perhaps better known as Seen Through Glass, who took a 360 Modena and later a 360 CS on many European adventures, covering thousands of miles.

We’ve also seen several examples of the chain-driven 458 Italia with close to or even north of 100,000 miles, and there’s no better evidence than a six-figure odometer to prove the naysayers wrong. Then there are people like Kevin Enderby, who have really gone out of their way to prove how reliable these cars can be. He owns a few prancing horses, including an F430, F355 and 308, all with mileage that could put them on our short list of cars over 200,000 miles. His 241,000+ 308 is largely considered the highest mileage Ferrari in existence.

The truth is, any car can probably be reliable if you keep up with maintenance, make repairs as they occur, and make improvements to known weaknesses. Yes, you’ll need a deeper wallet to get a Ferrari with six-figure mileage, but that’s just part of owning a supercar, and fastidious maintenance doesn’t necessarily equate to poor reliability.