Deciding What You Want

Four Things To Consider When Shopping For A Luxury Vehicle

5 February 2019 by Alex Hale

Owning a luxury vehicle can be a status symbol, and it can also give you access to some features not available on standard cars, trucks, and SUVs. Knowing what to look for can help you get the most for your dollar. Before you visit a luxury car dealership, it's a good idea to research the brands and models so you know exactly what you want. Here are some things to consider as you begin shopping for a luxury vehicle.

Look At The Drivetrain

When it comes to luxury sedans, you may find a lot that come with rear-wheel drive. This option is ideal for everyday handling, but it may not be the best choice if you live in an area that sees a lot of snow and other forms of severe weather. Rear-wheel drive can make it difficult to navigate icy, snowy streets. You may want to consider a luxury SUV with front-wheel drive. Some luxury SUVs may also come equipped with all-wheel drive, which is ideal for both winter driving and hauling your boat or camper on extended family vacations. Four-wheel drive vehicles let you switch seamlessly from front-wheel to rear-wheel drive depending on the road conditions.

Ask About Safety Features

Luxury vehicles come with a lot of different safety features that make them appealing to buyers. Collision warning systems, collision mitigation, blind spot detection, and lane departure avoidance systems are all key features that can help prevent accidents and keep you safe on the road. However, just because commercials for the car you are interested in advertise these features doesn't mean they come standard. Be sure to ask which features come with the base trim and which you will need to purchase an upgrade package for.

Research Maintenance Costs

In some cases, luxury cars with big sticker prices also come with high costs of ownership. Some of the parts for a luxury car may be more expensive to replace than those of standard vehicles. High-end headlights and tires are two examples of parts that might be more expensive to replace on a luxury car. You'll also want to check to see how widely available replacement parts are for your new luxury vehicle, particularly if you are planning on purchasing a foreign car. You may be limited to using only certain repair shops in your area that carry these parts, but you may find that your dealership's service department can handle most repairs for you.

Once you have these basics down, you can begin looking at high-end amenities. Think about the features that are most important to you, such as heated seats and a heated steering wheel, Wi-Fi connectivity, and premium leather upholstery. If you have the budget, you can purchase a stunning vehicle with all the bells and whistles you could ever want.

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