We all know that as cars get older they tend to develop problems and become less reliable.
But new data shows that even as cars reach an age where third-party warranty companies don’t want to know, some remain more dependable than others.
What Car?, which regularly rates cars up to five years old, has extended its research to find out which older models - those between five and 20 years old - have stood the test of time and which are storing up a history lesson’s worth of worries for owners.
Polling more than 12,000 owners to find out the frequency, severity and cost of breakdowns, the research revealed that Lexus remains the most reliable brand overall, but also looked at individual models across a range of vehicle segments.
Here we’ve broken down the best and worst performers in each category, each given a reliability rating out of 100.
What Car?, which regularly rates cars up to five years old, has extended its research to find out which older models - those between five and 20 years old - have stood the test of time and which are storing up a history lesson’s worth of worries for owners.
![MPVs are falling out of favour but these three should be relatively stress-free for those families that still need a spacious people-carrier.
Ford C-Max (2011 - present) 91.3%; Vauxhall Meriva (2010 - 2017) 83.0%; BMW 2 Series Active/Gran Tourer (2015-) 78.3%](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjUzZTNhMTAwLTc4ZmEtNDgyYS05MDMzLTMyMjFiNGE2MzVmMzphNmQ2ZWRhOC1mZDRkLTQ3YjQtYThiNC0zYjkwZWI3OWVlY2Y=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
17. MPVs - top 3
MPVs are falling out of favour but these three should be relatively stress-free for those families that still need a spacious people-carrier. Ford C-Max (2011 - present) 91.3%; Vauxhall Meriva (2010 - 2017) 83.0%; BMW 2 Series Active/Gran Tourer (2015-) 78.3%Photo: Ford/Vauxhall/BMW
![The larger of Vauxhall's family SUVs doesn't last as well as its smaller stablemate, with the big Citroen and VW's mid-sized model showing similar levels of fragility.
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer (2008 - 2015) 60.6%; Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (2014 – present) 61.7% ; Volkswagen Touran (2003 - 2015) 63.3%](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI0OTViZmI0LTdiZTYtNGRlMC1hOTM3LWNhZmQyMjA2YjcwMzo2NWRlNWNkZC0yYjRmLTRiMDAtYTNmZC01MjM1ZGE2YzIzYjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
18. MPVs - bottom 3
The larger of Vauxhall's family SUVs doesn't last as well as its smaller stablemate, with the big Citroen and VW's mid-sized model showing similar levels of fragility. Vauxhall Zafira Tourer (2008 - 2015) 60.6%; Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (2014 – present) 61.7% ; Volkswagen Touran (2003 - 2015) 63.3%Photo: Vauxhall/Citroen/Volkswagen
![A double showing for Bavarian's finest and a German lockout of the top 3, with Suttgart's most famous brand topping the table.
Porsche Boxster/Cayman (2012 - 2016) 94.7%; BMW Z4 (2009 - 2017) 94.1% BMW 4 Series Coupe/Convertible (2014 - present) 93.9%](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjJhYWMxMzk0LWJlZWYtNDYxOC1hY2Q3LTcxNGJlY2VhMGEwZjpjZWZlMTA3MS01ZGJiLTRjNDUtYTI1ZC01ODNiMDc5NjM2MTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
19. Coupes and convertibles - top 3
A double showing for Bavarian's finest and a German lockout of the top 3, with Suttgart's most famous brand topping the table. Porsche Boxster/Cayman (2012 - 2016) 94.7%; BMW Z4 (2009 - 2017) 94.1% BMW 4 Series Coupe/Convertible (2014 - present) 93.9%Photo: Porsche/BMW
![Porsche and BMW also manage to tie up the bottom three positions for dependable sports models, with Porsche's flagship 911 proving most problematic in its 997 form.
Porsche 911 (2004 - 2011) 71.9%; BMW 6 Series Coupe/Convertible (2011 - 2018) 73.7%; Porsche Boxster/Cayman (2004 - 2012) 86.5%](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU1MTA3MDhlLTc0NTYtNDI3Mi05NDNkLTlhOGExZjQ0ZjE2NjpmYzI0N2Q0Yy0wYjQ5LTQyMjgtOWI5OS00MmZmYzI5NmM3OGI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
20. Coupes and convertibles - bottom 3
Porsche and BMW also manage to tie up the bottom three positions for dependable sports models, with Porsche's flagship 911 proving most problematic in its 997 form. Porsche 911 (2004 - 2011) 71.9%; BMW 6 Series Coupe/Convertible (2011 - 2018) 73.7%; Porsche Boxster/Cayman (2004 - 2012) 86.5%Photo: Porsche/BMW