Car Myths Most Drivers Should Really Stop Believing

From warming up engines to premium fuel promises, many car myths refuse to die even though modern vehicles have made them outdated. Believing these misconceptions can waste money, hurt performance, or even cause damage. It’s time to separate fact from fiction.

Toyota Prius

everyone still thinks the Prius is fragile or something. like “oh it’s a hybrid, must be expensive to fix.” nah, dude. half the taxis in the world are Priuses. they’re cockroaches with headlights. even if it breaks, the parts are like pocket change. around $25–30k new and it’ll outlive your lawnmower.

BMW 3 Series

there’s that myth that all BMWs are money pits waiting to explode the moment the warranty ends. okay yes, some do. but not all. i drove a 2010 328i once, hand-me-down from a cousin, smelled faintly of burnt clutch and gym socks, but man it was solid. if you don’t treat it like a race car, it’s fine. price-wise now, maybe $10–15k for a clean one.

Jeep Wrangler

the “Wrangler can go anywhere” thing cracks me up. i’ve seen guys get stuck in parking lots with those. stock Wranglers aren’t indestructible, they just look like they wrestle mountains every morning. still fun though. $35k-ish if you want one that leaks water and personality.

Honda Civic

ah yes, the Civic. “you can’t kill it,” right? well, you can. just give it to a teenager. those poor Civics get more abuse than rental scooters. but still… i respect how they just keep going. i had an old one once, smelled like crayons and oil. maybe $22k for a new one now, but that smell comes free.

Ford Mustang

“muscle cars are terrible in corners.” maybe back in the day, sure. but the new ones? they actually turn. it’s weird, seeing a Mustang not go straight into a wall. they’re about $30–40k now, depending on whether you want loud or louder. i still think they feel heavy, though. like you’re dragging thunder behind you.

Subaru Outback

people treat Subarus like holy relics of reliability. not gonna lie, they’re good, but they’re not immortal. head gaskets are their kryptonite. i love how every Subaru owner pretends it’s “just a little leak.” yeah, okay, sure. you’ll fix it next weekend. about $30k-ish if you want one, plus whatever you’ll spend on coolant.

Tesla Model 3

some folks think EVs have zero maintenance. yeah no, sorry. tires wear, brakes rust, software bugs exist. though i gotta admit, every time i drive one (a borrowed one, obviously, ‘cause i’m not throwing $45k at a tablet on wheels), it makes me feel like i’m in the future. also, the seats smell too clean. like, unnaturally clean.

Dodge Challenger

this is that “real drivers drive manuals” thing. Challenger guys love that line while sitting in their automatics at car meets. i can say that because my old roommate had one. gorgeous sound though, that deep rumble that rattles windows. around $50k new if you want the noise and ego package together.

Volkswagen Jetta

“German cars are all high-end engineering.” okay but the Jetta? sometimes it’s just a car. nothing magical. mine used to smell like warm plastic and misery when stuck in traffic. still, the steering was nice, like butter that bites back. cost me around $20k back then and zero regrets.

Nissan GT-R

oh man, the “Godzilla never breaks” myth. it’s fast, sure, but dependable? not exactly. the transmission alone costs more than my laptop collection. i love it though. something about hearing one fly past makes your bones vibrate. they’re what, $110k these days? i’ll take two. or none. depends on the taxes.