For individuals who had posters of race cars and supercars on their walls as children, the idea of owning a sports car such as those is a dream. For those who achieve it, it’s very tempting to daily drive these cars, which can be both good and bad.
There are multiple positives and negatives when it comes to daily driving a sports car. Whether it be related to the maintenance of such an expensive toy or the simple joy one gets from going fast the desire is always there to get your worth out of the car.
So, that being said, here’s the main pros and cons of daily driving a sports car.
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10PRO: LESS TAILGATING
In a sports car, a lot of interested car enthusiast sharing the road with you may be tempted to get a closer look or even snag a few photos. The car may draw more attention, but can easily get away from it; it is the same case for tailgaters.
Any angered or jealous drivers might tailgate someone with a nice car to upset them, however, (if the conditions are safe) a sports car can effortlessly gain some distance between each other.
9CON: THEY’RE GAS-GUZZLERS
Although some brands of sports cars are breaking the stereotypical mold of being gas guzzling track monsters (such as Tesla and Ford), most do not have the same luck. In terms of miles per gallon, the best, excluding electric, usually stay in the 20-range, with the rare exceptions being much higher.
Companies like Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren have recently been developing hybrid technology for a large portion of their model lineup. It mostly helps in the power department rather than the miles per gallon, but is noticeably getting better and better as technology moves fourth. Hopefully a “gas-guzzler” tax will be a thing of the past before too long.
8PRO: OUTSTANDING LOOKS
One of the largest deciding factors behind why someone buys a car is its appearance and sports cars are certainly no exception. Companies all around the world strive to make rolling works of art that drop the jaw of any passer-by or fellow driver. These cars are delicately crafted for exactly that purpose and often succeed.
Pagani, Lamborghini, and Ferrari (to name a few) are the perfect examples of just how good looking a car can be, especially Italian ones. Though these manufacturers are top of the line, more affordable businesses like Mazda and Chevrolet have put exceptional effort into producing aesthetically pleasing sport vehicles.
7CON: BAD IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
Sports cars were created to go fast. Some even born for the race track at first, but later modified and sold to consumers. Either way, the best circumstances for a high-end sports car to thrive is definitely not going to be found in a place like downtown Chicago.
Driving back and fourth in the city or populated environments can be taxing on the driver and the vehicle with constant stop-and-go traffic. This also hurts the fuel mileage too and that’s already an issue. Along with this, sports cars with a manual don’t make anything more manageable.
6PRO: THE PRESTIGE
One component that a lot of enthusiast do not often think about when buying a sports car is the history behind it. Brands of sports cars that sell worldwide usually have a track record of race wins, good looking classics, and outright performance.
Some manufacturers that appear small and relatively new might have a pedigree and prestige that is unknown to the common motorist. For instance: Hennessey has a long-term relationship with Ford among others to modify their cars for years before they began to produce the Venom GT.
5CON: EXPENSIVE
This negative is obviously the one on most consumers minds. If money wasn’t an issue, not much would stand in between a middle-aged man and a new Lamborghini. However, with the ludicrous speed and visuals comes a price tag to match.
Although the “best of the best” are well beyond that of the average middle-class family, there is still a market for somewhat inexpensive sports cars like Mustang, Corvettes, Mx-5s, and more. Nevertheless, these models are no match for the multi-million dollar masterpieces from Europe.
4PRO: THE EXHILARATION
For anybody who’s felt what it is like pushing the limits of speed, you one hundred percent understand this sentiment. No run-of-the-mill daily driver could possibly compare to the feeling of the g-forces pushing you back into your seat from a well produced sports car.
This experience can best be achieved on a track where the laws of the road don’t apply and the car can truly test its metal. It should be obvious to most, but (although going fast is amazing) do not do it on public roads or put yourself/others in danger.
Perhaps some consider the exhilaration as a negative for this aspect alone, but the benefits and joy seem to outweigh any negative repercussions from foolish motorists.
3CON: MAINTENANCE
Daily driving a sports car can cost a lot and not just in terms of the initial M.S.R.P.. Unlike a typical Civic or Nissan, higher-end sports cars have parts that exceed the cost of the normal version for the exact same thing. This is due to the advanced nature of the vehicle’s internals and expensive materials used to craft it.
Regardless, those who choose to drive a performance vehicle daily will experience break downs at some point. These failures will need to be fixed and can significantly damage anyones budget when the maker is exclusive. To put it into perspective: Bugatti tires can cost over $35,000 for a single set of tire.
2PRO: HOLDS ITS VALUE
Compared to a common sedan or SUV, sports cars hold their value, even when daily driven. That is to say, their value is of course limited with the more miles put onto the odometer, but has the potential to rebound.
The Ferrari 348 is currently experiencing this exact pattern with its price dropping into the low $30,000 range in the past few years. This all-time low was proceeded by an incredible leap in value to just under $100K.
1CON: POLICE LOVE SPORTS CARS
Car lovers see fun and beauty in sports cars, while police officers see a paycheck. Sports cars are more likely to get pulled over for a few reasons: louder exhaust, seem like they are going faster than the actually are, and so on.
People like to point to jealousy or grumpiness to these routine stops and, although this may be the case for some circumstances, the odds are that something about the car set the officer off and warranted further investigation. With either situation, an attention-drawing sports car isn’t going to help much.
[“source=hotcars”]