If you love hitting the open road on a Sunday afternoon and driving with no destination in mind, you’ll probably want a nice car to do it in. People that love the finer things in life often spend their money on a luxury car. After all, why drive around in an old rust bucket when you could be enjoying the smooth ride and lightning fast acceleration of a sports car?
For a lot of people, luxury cars are a collectible item and they can even be considered an investment for the future because many vintage cars will hold their value as long as they are looked after. But is buying a luxury car really all it’s cracked up to be? The short answer is, yes, if you are a gear head and you love driving, luxury cars are definitely worth it. However, the long answer is a bit more complicated because there are some hidden dangers that people don’t always consider.
If you are thinking about buying a luxury car, it’s important that you look at the downsides as well as the many positives. These are some of the hidden dangers of luxury cars that you need to think about.
They’re Fast
You might be thinking that this is one of the main reasons you’re buying an expensive sports car in the first place. You want something with a bit of power behind it. But even though it’s true that it’s great fun to take it to a track and see what it can do, having an incredibly fast car on the roads does have its downsides.
Most luxury cars are made for speed and performance. These types of cars aren’t really meant for the everyday driver. It’s easy to get carried away with all that power under your foot and end up having an accident, or worse!
When you have that much power behind you, it’s so easy to slip over the speed limit. The acceleration is so high that you can easily find yourself breaking the limit by quite a lot and if you get a ticket, it won’t just be a simple case of paying the fine. When you exceed the speed limit by a large amount, it becomes a criminal offense. In that case, you will need to hire somebody like the Jackson White Criminal Law Team to defend your case. This can be a lengthy process and it’s a lot more expensive than a standard speeding ticket.
Driving at high speeds also makes it more likely that you’ll get into an accident. So, if you are going to get a luxury car, it’s vital that you take extra care on the roads and always pay attention.
They Can Be Difficult To Repair
Your average person is probably driving around in a popular car that mechanics see all of the time. So, the chances are, they have spare parts lying around and, if they don’t, they can easily get hold of them. But if you’re driving a luxury car that only a handful of people have, it’s a different story and your running costs could be much higher.
If something goes wrong with your luxury car, it can be very hard to find the parts. As a result, it can take longer to fix your car and the maintenance costs will be much higher. A standard mechanic won’t have much experience with luxury cars either, which can lead to even more problems.
It’s important that you look for a mechanic that is qualified enough to fix your car and has experience with the make and model. Ideally, you should deal directly with the manufacturer but this will cost you a lot more.
The Insurance Will Be Higher
As you would probably expect, the insurance costs on luxury cars are usually much higher. This is because they’re high end and there is more of a risk that you will get into an accident or have your car stolen. The cost of repairing the car or replacing it is also much higher, meaning that the risk is greater for the insurance company. This will be reflected in your monthly insurance premiums.
The good news is that if you do get a luxury car, there are ways to make it cheaper on your insurance. Make sure you take advantage of any discounts and deals available to you. Also, make sure you shop around because different companies will have different premiums for the same model car. It may be worth taking out a black box insurance policy as well. They will measure your driving ability and then change the premiums accordingly. If you show that you’re a careful and considerate driver, then your premiums will go down.
They’re More Likely To Get Stolen
Theft is unfortunately a fact of life, no matter what type of vehicle you have. However, that doesn’t mean that all cars are as likely to be targeted as one another. Luxury cars have been known to get stolen more often than others because they’re usually worth a lot of money and there’s a thriving black market for them. A luxury car will be worth a whole lot more than a standard family car, so they are naturally targeted by thieves. Also, the parts of the vehicle will often be sold separately for an even higher price.
So, it’s important that you take steps to prevent car theft if you are going to go for a luxury option. First of all, make sure you get a car alarm and install it correctly. You should also consider getting a steering wheel lock and tire locks in order to make the vehicle harder for thieves to steal. They’re not foolproof but they will definitely help.
Having a garage to store your car in will also prevent theft. However, be aware that this could mean criminals are more likely to break into your home to get the keys. If you own a luxury car, it’s vital that security is a top priority.
They’re Not The Most Practical Option
Having a luxury car is great if you want to show off. But, they’re not always the best option for people who have families and need something more practical. Luxury cars will be better suited to singles or couples without children because they lack space. While it may seem fun to get a convertible sports car, it’s not the best choice if you have kids that need to use car seats.
On the other hand, most luxury cars do come fitted with excellent safety features. They are also well built and have good handling to increase your confidence when you’re driving. If you decide to go for a luxury car, think carefully about your needs so that you don’t regret your choice later on.
In most cases, people will have an everyday car for their normal driving and then buy a luxury car for them to use themselves at weekends or for solo drives. That way, you can have the best of both worlds, just don’t rely on a luxury sports car as your main family car.
After reading this, you might be second-guessing your decision to buy a luxury sports car, but you shouldn’t. They are still so much fun to own and drive, especially if you are a car enthusiast. However, you need to see them for what they are and know what you are getting yourself in for. As long as you are aware of the downsides and you have considered them before making your purchase, you should be fine.