This just in; the average price of a ‘luxury’ car in 2019 totals a whopping £53’150. But how do you define luxury? It’s certainly a tough term to pin down. Where once it was a case of throwing some gold at it, sprinkling over some sparkle and harnessing the power of the prohibitively expensive, now it’s a whole new notion. Some place a particular emphasis on space and size. Others value speed above all else. Others still are simply happy with an ostentatious show of opulence sitting in the driveway. Whatever your reasons for wanting four wheels in the flash lane, read on; our 4 IDEAL tips for buying a luxury car.
BEWARE LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
It’s easy to lose your head when your heart has fallen for the car of your dreams. Sometimes, in the first flushes of love, our sense of judgment goes out of the (faulty) window. Rash decisions are made and before you know it you’re lumbered with a car that doesn’t give you nearly as much pleasure as your first few whirlwind spins suggested it might. Sometimes, a little voice in your ear is needed to keep you on the right side of the road. So, while a car purchase can be a very personal thing, it’s probably best you seek a second opinion, from a loved one or trusted confidant, to keep your feet grounded and thoughts in your head not heart.
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
A luxury car is one hell of an investment; those are some serious numbers for something which will essentially be decreasing in value from the moment you first drive it home. It’s best, then, that you do everything you can to protect and preserve it. That starts by driving it with a caution that might feel counterintuitive when you have such power in your hands. And with such a beautiful bit of kit in your possession, you’d be crazy not to get every eventuality covered. Insurance is great and all, but will generally only cover you against accidental, sudden damage. Model specific warranty on the other hand – mercedes warranty for Mercs, BMW warranty to beemers…you get the picture – will have your back should car failure or breakdown occur, too. Vital.
BUY USED
That £53’150 we mentioned? That was for a brand new set of wheels. If you’ve your heart set on a luxury car but simply don’t have the cash right now to buy one, then consider a used model instead. The cost will be drastically reduced, but the swagger will be the same. Some luxury cars, of course, age better than others. Here are four which always seem to stand the test of time. Check it out!
LUXURY VS. LONGEVITY
There’s been a lot of talk in recent months of the world being on the cusp of an autonomous, self driving car revolution. Within 10 to 20 years, it’s predicted that just one in five will own one, the rest of us relying on ride-sharing, ultra cheap ubers or self-driving numbers.
It’s vital to be realistic about what the future may hold, then, in terms of your investment. Taxes on bigger, gas guzzling motors will likely be huge in the future, and perhaps driving one will even be taboo. There’s two ways of looking at this; now is the chance to drive one with freedom before the lay of the land changes (and it could be a real investment as such luxury cars get rarer). Or, that investment is simply frivolous and folly. It’s up to you whether you fall into the former or latter camp.
