go fast or try and go bankrupt, sports car If you pick a bad one, a potential money hole, pick an even worse UK one. These Brits are at the top of their game for both thrills and reliability.
Still, gearheads should be vigilant. A reliable car is only reliable if it is well maintained. Performance cars can be fussy about service. Skip the service and you’ll regret it later. It’s not just the service that matters. Choose one of several Rover V8-equipped vehicles to increase your chances of trouble-free driving. Unless you’re plump on your TVR, you’re as crazy as the car itself.
Without a doubt, Britain produces some of the best sports cars we’ve ever seen. But like anything, the best covers many areas. So without reliability, there is no speed.
9/9 Lotus Elise S1
Simplicity has made the Elise a spectacular driver success, but complexity and lack of add-ons also make it one of the most reliable British sports cars ever made. With nothing but four wheels, an engine and a sparse cockpit, the Elise is perfect.
Between the anti-corrosion mixture of aluminum and fiberglass is the K-series engine. In a Rover car, it’s a bit of an unreliable dog. But thanks to some Lotus of his magic, other than regular fluid changes, Elise keeps going.
8/9 morgan plus 8
The old-world charm of a sports car that still relies on carpentry skills might sound like a nightmare. In fact, Morgan has always used metal for the chassis of his Plus 8 and wooden formers for the body. Not convinced? Morgan has built the Plus 8 this way since his 1968.
The front line responsible for the car’s whimsical exhaust note, which is none other than Rover’s V8. Over the years, the reliable alloy engine remained in various states of tuning until 2004. The original last took advantage of his 3.9-liter variant that dropped 187 hp and topped out at 125 mph.
7/9 Jaguar F-type S
In the decades since the E-Type’s arrival, Jaguar has had one stumbling block after another. Everything changed with the arrival of the 2014 F-Type. What is the most important Jaguar of all time? it’s a competitor. A return to the brand’s sporty image seemed unlikely, but critics were swiftly silenced.
From a styling point of view, its perfection is reminiscent of past Jaguars. Still, as a daily driver, he’s even better. At any speed, the V6 engine S Coupé is loud and quick enough to make driving an F-Type a special occasion. As far as reliability goes, outside of software fixes in the first model year, it could be even worse.
6/9 Caterham Seven
The throwback style is a Caterham Seven trademark. The basic design reality hasn’t changed since Colin Chapman sold the idea in 1973.
Even after 50 years, Seven continues to sell. With a variety of simplified lightweight specials to accompany the insane 620R series, picking one is harder than you might think. Reliability is always guaranteed no matter what the engine or power numbers are.
5/9 Triumph Herald 13/60
The Herald was another Michelotti design, as has become commonplace on Triumph cars. Debuting in 1964, the Herald produced a range of bodies including coupes, vans, estates and convertibles.
Convertibles were the most popular offerings with good performance on a budget. Under the hood, his standard 1.3-liter engine produced 60 horsepower in his lazy, allowing the crew to reach top speeds of 85 mph.
4/9 MG MGB GT
By 1980, MG MGB was well behind for a large empty parking lot. Built by Rover, MG and others, the basic design dates back to his 1965 and today he still runs B-series engines. Despite the underdevelopment, the MGB is fun to drive with a simple front-to-rear drive setup.
Of course, speed isn’t the car’s forte, and it can hit 99 mph from its 1.8-liter engine. But it takes you where you want to go without leaving you on the side of the road steaming out from under the hood.
3/9 Triumph TR2
Another entry for the defunct automaker Triumph. Now it’s TR2’s turn. For many collectors, it is the brand’s best and most reliable sports car. However, the TR2 and others were manufactured by Standard Motors his company.
The TR2 is a simple construction made from pressed steel panels on top of a ladder chassis fitted with leaf springs and struts. The same basic engineering continued under the hood. His standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with wetliner produced a reliable 90 horsepower.
2/9 Ariel Atom 3
The Atom is sure to scare gearheads unsuspectingly when it unfolds all 245 horsepower for the first time. More than just a sports car, the Ariel has perfected a thrilling ride with a petrol engine like no other on the road.
To be fair, most of the credit goes to Honda, whose Civic-sourced engine does all the talking. It’s also Honda that made the Atom one of the most reliable sports cars money can buy. Aside from the VTEC engine, there is little that can go wrong. And the VTEC engine is better than anywhere else.
1/9 Lotus Elan M100
Criminally overlooked, Lotus kills Elan before he succeeds. Still, Elan is more dependable than you might think. True to Lotus form, the fiberglass body and galvanized chassis eliminate corrosion. As for the engine, Lotus bought this off-the-shelf.
Built on an expanding budget, Lotus chose to use Isuzu’s 1.6-liter engine. It will be available in two flavors, Stock and SE, with the latter adding a turbocharger to the mix. Despite the Lotus’ reputation for being poorly built, the Elan requires little maintenance.
Source: Lotus Cars, Triumph Owners Club, Hemmings