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Should I Buy a Sports Car? Helpful real-world pros and cons list

It used to be easy to spot the bold, aerodynamic look of a sports car, and although many still have that sleek look, the line between the sports car and the daily driver has blurred quite significantly. Still, with more responsive steering, better acceleration, and blistering speeds, the modern sports car still has the upper hand. While they are fun to drive, high-performance vehicles may not be suitable for all driving conditions which leads many people to ask, should I buy a sports car?

If you want a vehicle that favors performance, style, and speed, then you should buy a sports car. However, if you are looking for cargo room and versatility, a sports car might not be right for you.

Keep reading to discover more, including the pros and cons of buying a sports car and things you should know before you buy one.

Ford Mustang Sports car

Reasons People Avoid Buying Sports Cars

Although most people would say that owning a sports car would be a dream come true, many people avoid buying them. If you are in the market for a new car, there may be several reasons that you think you should avoid buying a sports car, including:

  • You are worried about fuel consumption. And that might not be an unfounded fear. Sports cars have historically been known to be gas guzzlers, and while some manufacturers have worked hard to change this, most still use more gas than a daily driver.
  • You are worried about the speed. Sports cars are faster than a typical car and it makes sense that some people are afraid of that. Not only do you have to worry about the safety of yourself and other drivers, but the last thing you want to do is sink a bunch of money into a car that you fear might crash.
  • You believe a sports car might be inconvenient. This is especially true if you have a big family because sports cars are not well known for their size and space. Additionally, while some four-seaters do exist, most sports cars are two-seater cars. Trying to run errands or cart people around might be an issue with a sports car.
  • You are worried about getting pulled over. Sports cars are designed to be comfortable and fast, but riders can easily reach high speeds without realizing it—drawing unwanted attention from the police. Not to mention, accumulating expensive tickets. Additionally, since sports cars are often stolen, drivers may find themselves getting pulled over for frequent “checks.”
  • You are concerned about the expense. Aside from being expensive to buy, sports cars are expensive to maintain. This is especially true for some of the more luxurious brands. Furthermore, repairs may be more costly because their parts need to be ordered directly from the manufacturer.

Reasons People Might Buy a Sports Car

Car dealer

While there are valid reasons why you may avoid buying a sports car, there are quite a few good reasons to buy one as well. Those reasons include:

  • Performance: Instead of focusing on cargo room and versatility, sports cars focus on performance. When you buy a sports car, you know you are buying a car that is going to handle like a dream and give you a high-quality ride.
  • Style: One of the reasons people are so drawn to sports cars, aside from speed, is their look. Compared to bigger vehicles that may look frumpy, sports cars are sleek and sexy. They demand attention and turn heads as you drive down the street.
  • Power: If you are the type of person who has always been drawn to speed, you will love owning a sports car. With faster acceleration and top speeds that beat your average car all day long, sports cars put you in the driver’s seat of your own personal racecar.
  • Personality: You will never be in danger of blending in with the crowd while driving a sports car. Plus, with so many styles to choose from, you can pick something that shows off your unique style.
  • Value: One of the biggest downfalls of buying a car is how quickly they depreciate. Just driving off the lot reduces the value of the car significantly. This content is owned by moc.sotuaytsur. However, sports cars tend to hold their value longer because of their superior design.
  • Fun: Instead of wondering “are we there yet” you will wish the ride never had to end. Driving a sports car is a lot of fun and you might find yourself looking forward to running errands when you own one.
  • Jealousy: Even if you are not the type of person who enjoys being in the spotlight, there is a sense of pride that comes with owning a nice sports car. Although you might get tired of everyone asking for a ride!

Things You Should Know Before Buying a Sports Car

Porsche

If you are in the market for a new car, you might be wondering if you should buy a sports car, but there are a few things you should know about owning a high-performance car.

  • You might spend more on tires. Performance vehicles need performance tires to help them grip the road better at high speeds and they can be a bit more expensive. Additionally, drivers will find themselves replacing their tires more often. Typically, drivers can expect to get around 40,000 miles from a set of tires, but high-performance tires often need to be replaced after just 20,000 miles.
  • It costs more to repair a sports car. There are a few reasons why it might cost more to repair a sports car. First, they may be more complicated to work on. Additionally, it is hard to find refurbished or used parts for many high-performance vehicles, forcing you to buy all new parts. Finally, because sports cars are designed to be lightweight, their parts are made with lightweight materials, which often results in higher costs.
  • Sports cars are not great in the winter. Driving in the snow is never fun, but it can be downright scary in a sports car. Because they are lightweight, and because most sports cars are rear-wheel-drive, they struggle to maintain a grip on winter roads.
  • You will pay more for gas. It is a well-known fact that sports cars are gas guzzlers. Most manufacturers have taken steps to increase the fuel efficiency of their performance vehicles, but they will still burn through gas a bit faster than a typical car. Additionally, because of their special engines, most high-performance cars take premium fuel, which can cost anywhere from $0.50 to $1 more per gallon than regular fuel.
  • There are a lot of places they cannot go. Because of the way they are designed, specifically their low ground clearance, there are a lot of places that a sports car just cannot go. For example, you can forget about driving down that old camp road or across the field for your granddaughters’ soccer game.
  • You might get tired of people commenting on your car. It is common for drivers to be approached by well-meaning people who want to ask about their car. However, if this is happening everywhere you go, it could get tiresome.
  • Plan to spend more on insurance. Insurance companies base your rates on the assumption that they might have to pay out in the event of an accident. Because sports cars cost more to repair, and are often valued higher than other vehicles, your insurance premium could be quite high.
  • Cargo room will become a distant memory. Sports cars sacrifice cargo room to obtain the lightweight design they need for better performance, and this means that you might find yourself struggling to find room for anything. Plus, it’s not like you can stick a box on the roof to make up for the lack of cargo room.
  • Be prepared to drive a really fast car. If you have never driven a sports car before you might be a little uneasy during your first time behind the wheel. It can take a while to get used to the quick acceleration and high speed of a sports car. You should not let this scare you, however, as you will quickly get the hang of it.
  • You might not be able to work on it yourself. While this is not always true, some sports cars require certified technicians to complete certain repairs, and if you are a DIYer, this might be a deal breaker.
  • Expect to get pulled over. While their reasons might vary, most police officers feel compelled to pull over someone driving a sports car. Of course, this could depend on the type of car you are driving as well. For example, if you have tinted windows and a loud exhaust, you will get pulled over more often than if you are in a convertible.
  • It will never be your day to carpool. While there are a few sports cars on the market that can seat up to four people, most seat only two. Additionally, the ones that do seat four will often have a ridiculously small, cramped backseat. This makes it hard to have multiple passengers.

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