If you are thinking of treating yourself to a new vehicle at some point in the near future, and you are wondering what to look for, then it might be tempting to think about the make and model that you want first. You might have a specific one in mind, and that could lead your search.
Related: Coming soon: The DeLorean Alpha5 EV rekindles our love for movie cars
However, this is not necessarily the best approach to take. It can often be far preferable to look for certain qualities that a good vehicle should ideally have, and to then find a vehicle that has those.
If you are taking that approach, you’ll want to take a look at the following. These are some of the signs that you are looking at a powerful vehicle, one that you are going to love driving and which will deliver exactly what you need it to every time. As long as you are aware of the following, you should find that your chosen vehicle is a lot better and more effective.
Engine power
One of the most important things of all here, of course, is the engine power. As long as you have an engine that can deliver a huge amount of power, you are going to find that you’re much more likely to have a powerful car, and one which is going to last a long time too. What kind of size engine you are after is entirely up to you, of course, and it will depend on the size and weight of the vehicle as a whole as well.
But in general, it’s likely that you are going to want to find as big an engine as possible, ideally at least a 2.0 liter. If you have that in your hood, you are going to be driving with a lot more power, and that can be truly enjoyable and a lot more fun than having something smaller.
Photo by Zachary DeBottis/Pexels
Suspension
You also need to think about how the vehicle will cope with all those changes in terrain, however. This is not only important for people traveling off-road – it’s something that every vehicle needs to be able to do to a fair minimum degree, at the very least. So how can you make sure that you are doing this and what kind of suspension should you look for? It’s really up to you, and again it will vary a lot depending on the vehicle type and what use you are going to have for it. But there are some things that you might want to consider at least to help ensure that you are finding the right suspension for your needs.
For instance, you might be in need of some traditional mustang coilovers if that suits your vehicle, as these can be especially powerful. But you might need something a little less instead, it all depends on your vehicle and where you will be taking it. Make sure that you have enough suspension, but don’t worry about overdoing it, as there is little point in doing that.
GMC Hummer
Streamline
If you are looking to be able to go fast, then you might also care about having a car that is pretty streamlined. This is something that can be surprisingly tricky to do right, but as long as it is the case, what it means is that speed is much easier to come by, and that you will be able to go faster without expending as much energy. That is of course good for the fuel and the wallet, as well as being good for the planet, so it’s amazing how much of a difference this can really make.
If you are getting yourself a streamlined car, it’s going to definitely be more powerful and have more speed to it in general, so this is something you might want to look out for right away when you are shopping around for your new vehicle.
Courtesy Barrett Jackson
Grip
Then there is the issue of grip on the tires. This is something that both has a legal minimum requirement, but also a potential minimum that you might want personally in order to ensure that you are getting as much power to the ground delivered as possible.
So it’s the kind of thing you should look into and try to get as much of as possible if you are keen on having a much more powerful vehicle on the whole. You might be surprised at how much of a difference it can really make, and that’s something that you are going to want to consider.
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
But I love writing about cars – check that, luxury cars, a level of superior, engineering sophistication, high performance and style, that transports you not just from one destination to another but also out of whatever you are going through on a particular day, whatever mood you are in, all to another head space. It’s complete and total exhilaration, head to toe.
Check out my stories, and email me direct at mkeast@regardingluxury.com