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Worth the Wait

Nearly seven years ago, I made one of the most extravagant purchases of my life. After a couple of years of saving money, I bought a shiny new silver sedan. This beautiful car was fitted with a luxurious custom grill. For the first several months, I constantly looked at my stunning new car through the windows of my back door. My acquisition was definitely worth the wait. I’m glad I waited to save the money needed to make a cash purchase. Now, I can enjoy my car without having to worry about monthly payments. On this blog, you will learn how to shop for the best car for your budget. Enjoy the ride!

Worth the Wait

What To Know When You Decide You Want A Luxury Car

by Constance Bryant

Driving a luxury car can be quite an experience, and you want to be sure you get the full benefit of all the car's features. However, you have to look at more than just whether the car has what you want near the steering wheel and dashboard. You also need to look at how long you want the car for, what sort of restriction you're willing to put up with in exchange for less depreciation, and what exactly you mean when you say you want a luxury car.

Leasing vs. Buying

Leasing a luxury car lets you avoid the problem of depreciation. You're just paying for a few years of using the car, and that's that; depreciation won't really mean anything to you. You can also trade in the car and lease a new one fairly often so that you're always driving the latest model.

Leasing, though, often brings with it a bunch of restrictions, like keeping mileage under a certain amount or ensuring the car doesn't get damaged lest you wind up with penalties. If you buy the car instead, you're the only one who decides what mileage to put on it, and if the car gets damaged, no one is going to fine you.

New vs. Used

Like any car, luxury cars are available new and used. Because luxury cars often depreciate quickly, buying used can help reduce the difference between what you pay and what the car is worth after you drive it off the lot. But used luxury cars may be nearing the time when they need a lot of maintenance in general, just to keep the car running. If you buy a used luxury car that isn't certified and fixed up, you could be facing some expensive work. As Jalopnik notes, a luxury car battery could be three times as much as a regular battery, for example; a spare key could run into the hundreds of dollars.

A new car, though, is going to be in top shape and not have as much looming maintenance work. You'll also have better warranties, which eliminate the fear that the car will suddenly break down.

There's Luxury, and Then There's Luxury

Be sure you know what you want in terms of luxury. The term now applies to everything from the typical high-end sports car to more practical cars that are meant for everyday use but that have luxury features inside. Don't go to a dealership asking to see luxury cars in general because you may end up looking at cars you'd never consider buying. Figure out first, are you buying this car for daily use or for occasional use? Do you want the cosmetic flash, or are you more comfortable with a car that looks like what everyone else is driving (only with way better controls and engine parts on the inside)?

You'd think this would be an obvious step, but you'd be surprised at how wide-ranging the term luxury can be, and how many people aren't really sure of what they want to drive. Start investigating different models first, and then talk to dealerships when you find a few you would consider getting.

Dealerships will always be happy to help you out. Once you figure out the type of luxury car you want, give the dealership a call.

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