Buying a car is a big decision. Many people will spend weeks mulling it over, heading from showroom to showroom trying to decide what car is best for them. But, the industry has come a very long way in the past couple of decades. There are now more choices than ever on the market, not just make and model wise but feature and upgrade wise as well.
The same is true for the luxury car market in particular where buyers may shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars in search for the car of their dreams. Even if your budget isn’t quite that high, though, there are still certain considerations that go along with a luxury car purchase.
#1 Define Luxury
Everyone has a different idea of what a luxury car is to them. For some, it’s a low or mid-range BMW while others would opt for a sports car from a handcrafted European lineup. Figure out what your luxury car looks like in your mind, and its price point.
In the initial “window shopping” phase, you should be considering your budget and your wants/needs in the vehicle you are purchasing so that you can begin researching what’s on the market and start considering what models in your budget may match your desires.
#2 Think About Engineering
Most people purchasing a luxury car place huge emphasis on performance and power. Again, everyone has a different standard. Think about what you are looking for in a luxury car and what car models on the market currently match those wants. Are you leaning more towards design sensibilities of a specific manufacturer or are you thinking about the potential of achieving race car speeds?
Every luxury car buyer is going to care about different things. Some people want the aesthetics, some people want the internal power, some people want it all! How much you can get depends on your price range in most instances.
#3 Establish A Personality
Every luxury vehicle has a very distinguished personality that gives it its own sense of style and pride. Take the time to look at a multitude of options currently on the market and separate out the ones that really seem to match what you are after, and then analyze them for similarities. This will help you figure out what design aspects you appreciate and what internal and interior components you are really after in the car you purchase.
#4 Think Practically
While buying a luxury car may be a less-than-practical decision, there are some practical aspects that will need to weigh in on your choice. Maybe you don’t care about a spacious backseat, but do you need storage in the trunk? Perhaps you care more about speeds than gas mileage, but what about maintenance?
In fact, maintenance is probably going to be a big consideration for any luxury car buyer since authorized service centers for such brands are usually few and far between. You obviously want to maintain your investment nicely, so be sure that you’re aware how far away you will be from such a service center so that you can keep the car in tip-top shape following your purchase.
#5 Consider The Cost of Ownership
Speaking of the distance to the closest service center, you will also want to think about the cost of ownership that will come along with your vehicle. How much will it cost to drive regularly? To park it during the winter season? To upkeep it properly? These are costs you need to be able to pay if you want to keep your investment worthy of its initial price tag.
Finally, as a bonus consideration when thinking about the long-term, you might also want to look into the expected resale value of your vehicle down the road. Does the make and model hold its value well? Is there anything limited, custom, or collector about it that would perhaps give its value a boost in the future?
While not every buyer is concerned with what they can get back out of their car when they are through with it, if you are looking at it as an investment, resale value should be a top concern. With all these things in mind, you’re ready to head out to the showrooms and begin looking over the models you are considering first-hand.
Don’t be afraid to test drive the ones you like and turn down the ones you don’t. You also shouldn’t hesitate to shop around for as long as you feel is necessary until you choose the make and model that is best suited to your wants and needs. Buying a luxury car can be a very enjoyable process with the right sales team, so pick your dealer wisely and have fun shopping.
