You will already know that a supercar is a high-performance, road-legal car. There isn’t a set list of parameters that define supercars; they’re just really powerful automobiles and typically come fully loaded with an array of features and creature comforts.
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The reason you are here today is that you want to buy a supercar. You’ve probably decided that you’d like to treat yourself to something sporty, powerful, and eye-catching. However, you’re unsure what to look for in your next supercar.
If this is your first time buying a supercar, you are probably realizing a childhood dream. But, you want to make sure you don’t end up with the wrong car. With that in mind, the following tips and suggestions will ensure you make the right choice; here is what you need to know:
Supercars: Performance
Let’s face it: you’re not buying a supercar because you want optimal fuel efficiency. You want to buy a car that gives you instant power at the tap of your foot on the gas pedal! As you can appreciate, the performance in supercars differs according to the vehicle’s make, model, weight, and, of course, the engine and drivetrain fitted to the car.
Take the Audi R8, for example. It features a 5.2-liter V10 FSI engine that’s also used in a couple of other models under sister brand Lamborghini (the Gallardo and the Huracan) and delivers between 533 hp and 602 hp, depending on the model.
If you’re not a fan of European supercars and prefer the look of JDM cars instead, you may want to consider the Nissan GT-R Track Edition. It features a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 that delivers an impressive 562 hp.
Transmission
Manual or automatic? Those are literally the two choices you face when buying any car, and the same question applies to supercars. There was once a time where manual transmissions were the gold standard of the supercar world.
However, that’s no longer the case. Today’s automatic transmission choices include dual-clutch examples with six or more forward gears and boast razor-sharp gear changes.
Such automatic supercars also come with steering wheel paddle controls, giving you another way to shift gears up and down. These days it’s all about convenience when you own a supercar, and dual-clutch gearboxes meet that requirement perfectly.
The only downside to dual-clutch transmissions, such as the DSG unit from the Volkswagen Group, is how they require periodic servicing and maintenance. Still, that can get incorporated with your supercar’s regular service schedules.
Driver aids and features
One final point of consideration when selecting a new supercar is the driver aids and features. As you might expect from such a vehicle, you’ll have an array of creature comforts at your disposal.
Sure, you get the usual features like ABS, power steering, and stability control. But when you buy a supercar, you also get other cool things. For example, you can select from pre-set driving modes to suit your driving styles.
Moreover, you can enjoy other features like braking assist and parking assist. Now that you know what to look for in a supercar, it’s time to go supercar shopping! Porsche Cayman, anyone?
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
