Before we start, let's define the term 'super
exotic sports cars'.
Sports cars, by definition are borderline racing cars boasting powerful
performance and sleek looks. Their prestige makes them expensive,
and thus the domain of a select few. With reference to sports cars,
the term 'exotic' refers to vehicles produced in very limited numbers.
This of course increases their exclusivity and by virtue of this,
their value. Exotic sports cars will, in all likelihood, be built
by smaller manufacturers or perhaps the super high-end vehicles
will be created by some of the better-known car companies outside
of the United States, as exclusive models.
Many exotic sports cars are the stuff of legend. The world's fastest car, the McLaren
F1, for instance is a well-known exotic. Although only around one
hundred F1s were produced and the manufacturer is not a household
name (outside of the Grand Prix circuits of course), the McLarens are coveted sports cars.
All exotic sports cars are highly sought after and, as status symbols, are second to none in the sports car world.
But, assuming that you can afford it, is an exotic sports car for you?
It is easy to be seduced by the allure of owning an exotic sports
car. Owning one can be very tempting. Amongst the purists, the
cars themselves are often considered the pinnacle of design.
Any enthusiast who has the means will tell you that when an opportunity
to invest in an exotic sports car presents itself, resistance can
be very difficult.
One should try and be objective about the proposition though.
Before making such a major commitment, there
are three factors you should consider.
Exotic Sports Cars Are Very Expensive
The cost of owning such a prestigious car, does not end when you
part with the initial payment. Even if one can afford the initial
asking price of an exotic (and not many can), one needs to be aware
of the likely ongoing running expenses , which can be significant.
The maintenance and repair of an exotic car is certain to be expensive
compared to non-exotic vehicles and a buyer should attempt to discover
what kind of costs he or she is likely to experience in order to
keep the car in running order. There can be no cost cutting on parts
for these high end vehicles.
Parts for prestige cars are likely to be in short supply, if they
are available at all. The likelihood that the owners of exotic
sports cars will need to have some parts custom made during
their ownership of the vehicle is quite high. And the cost will be
significant. This is especially true of older exotics, many of which
will have been orphaned when their original manufacturer stopped
making cars. Not only will this prove extremely expensive, one can
also expect it to be time consuming as well. And, as time passes,
the necessary investment will only become greater.
Your usual mechanic cannot be expected to be able to repair exotic
sports cars. You will need specialised mechanics with specialised
tools to be able to ensure that appropriate and professional repairs
are carried out. Not only will such individuals be, in all probability
much more expensive than your usual mechanics, you would be very
fortunate if you found one in your town. You should expect to have
to do a lot of traveling in order to find suitable mechanical help.
All too often a sports car buff will purchase an exotic, without
though to the ongoing costs, and, as a consequence be completely
unprepared to handle additional future expenses. A thorough planning
of expected costs and the means to meet those costs would certainly
be in order.
Reliability Of High End Vehicles
Even though an exotic sports car may represent the ultimate in performance,
One cannot assume that it will also be reliable. This will hold particularly
true for the older 'classic' exotic cars. As with any high performance
machine, exotic sports cars can be quite delicate (temperamental)
which will, in all probability, require that you, or someone close
to you be regularly on hand to make the adjustments to ensure that
the vehicle stays in operating order. Exotic sports cars are well
known for the spectacular side of their performance when they running
well. However, the other side of the coin is that
they are notorious for being among the most temperamental of vehicles
that one may encounter.
If you plan to run an exotic sports car on a regular basis, you
should be prepared for the highs and los of motoring. The sublime
feeling of driving a top car with top performance can often be forgotten
if the same car stops and refuses to start many miles from any assistance.
The Drivability of Exotic Cars
Most owners of high performance cars will tell you that such vehicles
take 'some getting used too'. Optimum performance
comes at a price, and will depend very largely on the skill of the
driver. So, if you are relatively inexperienced, then please do not
expect to get the best out of your car straight away. This in itself
could prove too frustrating for many potentials owners. One should
also take into account the relative risk of driving a high performance
cars whilst still inexperienced.
For those to whom the additional cost of time in learning to drive
a prestige car optimally and safely is not an issue, an additional,
problem arises in the adjustment of seats and pedals for example.
Small things that are irrelevant in normal cars take on much greater
significance when applied to exotic sports cars.
When considering the purchase of an exotic sports car, one must
look past the romance and excitement of owning a legendary vehicle.
There are real concerns and obstacles to be overcome before the full
enjoyment and benefit of owning such a car can be achieved.
The article was written by Charlie Cory, who is the owner of Autos Inclusive. Autos Inclusive provides up to date news on all aspects of automobiles and motoring in general.
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