I have never owned a supercharged or turbocharged car, and have never heard anything about supercharger failure, but I DO remember someone telling me several times to NEVER buy a used TURBOcharged car, as turbos break and are expensive to fix. I understand the mechanical differences between turbos and superchargers, but how is the supercharger system going to hold up over time? Are they fragile or sensitive systems?

thanks

 

Have no worries - all factory supercharged or turbocharged cars will hold up well over time. From the factory standards, they are very conservative in power and do not push the limits of the blowers capabilities.

Most warranties will cover factory turbos or blowers as long as they have not been modified, etc.

And yes, somewhere around the 80-90K mark, your turbo or blower *may* need an overhaul, but it is not as complex as replacing the engine or tranny.

Now, if you were looking at a 1983 turbo'd Renalt - I'd pass on that one