Buying a sports car can be one of the most important decisions of your life. You don’t want to be like everyone else, sticking to conventional cars that get you from place to place. You want to be able to stand out from the crowd and travel in style. And the only way you can do that is with the sports car of your dreams.
The process of buying a new sports car is a little different from a regular car, as there are a few finer points of detail you don’t want to overlook. So before you jump headfirst into everything, there are some things you should keep in mind when it comes to purchasing a sports car for yourself.
Before Purchasing
The most important question you should ask yourself is whether you can afford to buy and maintain a sports car for as long as you have it. It also depends on whether you’re going for a sports car that’s fresh off the floor or going for a used model. Either way, it’s going to be a little more expensive than a normal car and you don’t want to end up with an unaffordable car loan.
The costs to maintain a sports car, as well as the cost of the parts, have to be factored into your decision. The last thing you want to do is end up in a lot of debt to the point that you’re stuck eating ramen noodles every day. Additionally, you have to consider the higher costs associated with fuel and insurance premiums, as sports cars are considered to be a risk and a luxury instead of a necessity.
Choosing a Car That Suits Your Lifestyle
Don’t automatically go for the flashiest one. It might look pretty but if it doesn’t suit your lifestyle, then you would have wasted your money for nothing. Do you take a lot of shopping trips with arms full of groceries? Do you have kids that need to be taken to school on a daily basis? Then a sports car is not going to be the best option for you.
Four-door sports cars exist but they’re still a lot smaller than regular four-doors. That doesn’t make them very ideal if you travel with more than two people on a regular occasion.
Checking Insurance Options For a Sports Car
As was mentioned, car insurance is going to be even more expensive but it still pays to shop around. What’s even worse is that you might not even be able to find an insurer who is willing to charge a reasonable premium. And if you can’t find coverage, you’ve just bought a car you can’t drive.
So be prepared to do some research before you make that first down payment on a new sports car. You’ll have much better chances of finding an insurer if you have a good track record on the road already. As a general rule for insurers, the larger the engine of the car, the high the insurance premiums are going to be.
Front- or Rear-Wheel Drive
You can’t equate driving a sports car as the same as driving a regular car. This is because the majority of sports cars come with rear-wheel drive, allowing for sharper turns and better handling. This does take some practice beforehand to get used to so you shouldn’t take your first sports car test run until you’ve experienced what it’s like first.
But you can also opt for a front-wheel-drive instead if that’s what you’re used to. It might mean you may not get your dream car, but being safe on the road is better than being stylish and out of control.
Choosing the Right Car
Secondly, you’ll need to consider what kind of sports car is right for you. They come in all different shapes and sizes, with hundreds of additional features for you to choose from. Do you want a fuel-friendly option? Is the noise level of the engine too loud? How do you want the car to handle the roads? These are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself when looking for a sports car.
One of the most important questions that should be at the top of your list is whether you want a sports car with a closed roof or an open-roof convertible. So what are the benefits and drawbacks to both? Sports cars with closed roofs tend to handle much better and are generally more affordable. Convertibles, on the other hand, looks quite stylish but are more expensive, have more cabin noise, there are leaks to worry about if it rains, and the risk of exposure to the elements and the interior becoming faded.
The choice you make is definitely a matter of personal taste, so it really depends on what you’re looking for and what you want to get out of your driving experience.
Choosing the Specs and Options for Your Car
If you thought you were done, there are even more options for you to choose from. This is more than just gas mileage, we’re talking about the levels of trim, what kind of accessories you want for the interior, and what kind of engine you want other the hood.
These are all important considerations to take into account because they’ll definitely affect the possible resale value of your car in the future. Some options are more desirable than others so don’t go too far outside the box when building a unique car for yourself. If you want to see what features you should be considering, you may want to check out www.EuropeanExoticCenter.com.
Going New or Used
Sports cars alone can be quite expensive, so it may pay to go for used. On the other hand, you may want that fresh car smell and have a beautiful car without any problems. It all depends on how much money you really want to spend.
A new car will have all the bells and whistles with the cost of a mini-fortune attached to it. You know exactly what should be working and there’s no question about its history on the road… because it has none. A new car also comes with a warranty so that if anything breaks within a few weeks, it will be replaced for free.
On the other hand, a used sports car will be much cheaper and there are more options to choose from. However, there can be hidden damage that you’re not informed of that wouldn’t be covered by a warranty if something goes wrong. Just beware that you run the risk of buying a lemon if you don’t do a thorough search and inspection of the car you’re interested in.
What should you be looking for exactly? First, look for obvious signs of repair in the car and ask about them. There might be scratches here and there, but you should really be looking at the wear of the tires and the fluid levels of the car, for example.
Secondly, look at the undercarriage of the car. Sports cars are usually built low to the ground so that they can go faster, but a lower carriage means a higher risk of damage from speed bumps and other hazards.
Thirdly, if you’re getting a convertible, examine the cover, whether it’s a hard- or soft-top. You don’t want to end up getting a car that has a leaky roof. You should also check to see that the converting top actually works properly. Any sign of distress or unusual sound should tell you that the car is not a great buy.
Lastly, you should definitely take the car for a test drive and put it through its paces. Change the gears on a regular basis to see how fluidly they move from one to the next. Test the brakes to see how responsive they are, and see if your ride is actually smooth and comfortable.
Taking Care of a Sports Car
After you’ve purchased your new car and taken it home, you need to know of the right way to take care of it. Washing your car is all fine and good until you realize that making it look as perfect as the way it looked when you drove it off the lot is going to take a lot more work. You don’t want to have to shell out even more money to get the job done by someone else.
Check the fluid levels of the car, including gasoline, steering fluid, coolant, brake fluid and oil. If any of these run dry, then driving around is going to cause damage to some very expensive parts.
Check your tires. Going at faster speeds is going to cause more wear and tear on your tires so that they wear out faster. Check the pressure on a regular basis and look at the depth of the treads to ensure that there are no exposed wires. Use the right pressure to fill your tires with air and rotated them around every 8000 miles.
Clean your car. The elements are going to take a toll on the exterior of your car so you need to wash it regularly and wax it whenever necessary. You don’t want the paint job to fade over time and look dull.
Clean the top of your car if you have a convertible with a soft-top. The material is going to gather a lot of dirt and grime, which can actually damage the fabric over time and create holes. Use a quality hood cleaner and re-proofer to keep it protected against the elements.
Getting a sports car can be a luxurious treat for yourself, but it definitely comes with a lot of responsibility. It’s not a toy that you can play around with. It’s an expensive piece of machinery that you’re going to have to take a lot of care of if you want it to continue running for the long haul.