Buying a luxury vehicle can be a strain on the wallet. No matter whether the car is brand new or used, there’s still a possibility that it’s going to cost a lot of money. For many people, the luxury of having a luxury vehicle surpasses the dent that it puts on the wallet, however, as having a luxury car has a significant amount of benefits.

If you think buying a luxury car is out of the question for you because of the costs associated with it, think again. Buying a luxury car doesn’t have to mean that you’re forced to eat nothing but rice for a year, as finding deals is definitely a possibility. If you’re looking to save some money on the purchase of a luxury vehicle, check out these tips.

Buy Salvaged
If you’re really looking for a deal on a luxury vehicle, consider buying a salvaged vehicle. Vehicles with salvaged titles were often in wrecks, and sometimes they were repaired and sometimes you will do the repairs. You can buy a salvaged vehicle for a fraction of the cost of what it would cost with a clean title, and sometimes the damage won’t even be noticeable. Check AutoBidMaster to bid on salvaged vehicles, and you’ll be able to find a great deal.

Stolen vehicles that were recovered after three weeks are often automatically salvaged, even if they don’t have a scratch on them. If you’re able to find a luxury vehicle that fits this scenario, you’ll likely be able to get a great deal on it. When you do buy salvaged, be sure that you get a pre purchase inspection on it, so you know exactly what’s wrong with it and if you need to spend any money on repairs.

Buy Used
If you don’t want to deal with the potential hassle of buying a salvaged vehicle, you can still save a lot of money on purchasing a luxury vehicle by buying used. Buying used is significantly cheaper than buying new, and you can even buy a used car with only a few thousand miles on it for far cheaper than the cost of a new vehicle. Some car companies are even starting to offer certified used vehicles, which are used vehicles that are certified to perform like new, and thus have warranties that are better than new vehicles.

Searching the used lots for a luxury vehicle can no doubt save you lots of money. It’s still recommended that you get a pre purchase inspection, even if you trust the dealership, just to be safe.

Opt to Go Older
If you go back a few years on your desired car’s model line, there might be big savings in store. Even just a few model years before the current year could potentially offer insane savings, and this is especially true with luxury vehicles.

Luxury cars depreciate in value much quicker than economy cars, which means finding a deal on a luxury car that’s a few model years older will save you tons of money. Obviously the older you go, the better deal you’ll find, but consider just going a few model years back and you’ll probably find something good.

Image credit: http://www.shopforauto.com

You finally just purchased that Aston Martin you’ve been wanting since you could drive, and it’s on its way to your garage!

Unfortunately, exotic cars usually take a long time to get delivered, but that gives you more time to get ready for your new toy’s arrival. It also gives you lots of time to learn how to take care of a special car, since the requirements are quite different than your average sedan.

Taking proper care of your exotic is important in making sure that it always sparkles and shines, while running great too. Repairs to luxury cars can be expensive, which is why it’s important you take great care of it to ensure repairs aren’t often needed. If you just bought your dream car, check out below on tips to make sure you keep it in tip top shape, both cosmetically and mechanically.

Keep it Garaged
This should be an absolute no brainer, but you’d be surprised by how many people treat their luxury sports car just like any other. Keep your new toy in the garage, not out on the street or in your driveway and drive your used car. Not only will it remain safe from harsh weather while inside, luxury cars are also the target of thieves. Even something as tiny as a hood ornament could be ripped off your car by leaving it out overnight.

If you’re forced to leave it out overnight, make sure it has a top of the line cover over it and the alarm system is on. Better yet, keep it in the garage whenever you’re not driving it!

Constant Details
Caring for your exotic car should start the second you take it home from the CT new car dealership. To keep your beautiful car in tiptop shape, you should detail it at least twice a year. While you should still wash your car often (typically every other week), adding a detail twice a year will make sure it stays cosmetically beautiful. Opt for the full treatment, including a hand wax.

If you prefer to detail your car yourself, then do it, but if not then you should make sure you take it to a detailing shop that you trust. Ask around to find out where other owners of luxury cars are taking their toys, and follow them. It should be a spotless car wash, where microfiber cloths are used to dry after the wash. Simple rags could end up scratching the paint, which is something that you definitely don’t want.

Keep the Engine Sound
With a high priced car comes a high priced engine, and you’ll want to make sure you’re taking perfect care of that engine. Make sure that you get the oil changed at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals, and make sure you’re keeping the fluids at recommended levels too. If you have a turbo or direct injection engine, you should be using the high quality gasoline. It may cost you a few bucks every time you fill up, but it’s worth it for performance. Lastly, rotate your tires frequently to make sure you’re getting good performance from your exotic vehicle.

Image credit: exoticcarsinfo.com

If you’re driving a Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Maserati, chances are you can probably afford paying sky-high insurance prices. It’s not a myth that car insurance providers charge through the roof for providing coverage on exotic cars; it’s a widely accepted practice in the industry for a number of reasons.

If you have an exotic car, you will always be paying more for insurance compared to that of a more common vehicle. However, there are definitely ways that you can reduce the cost of insurance even if you’re driving an exotic vehicle.

The reason car insurance is so much for exotic vehicles is because these vehicles are so expensive themselves. Any sort of repair to an exotic car is going to be pricey, regardless if it’s just a scratch or windshield crack. Exotic car parts are very expensive and if there’s any damage that is covered by insurance, your prices will guarantee to increase.

One way to potentially reduce the price of your auto insurance coverage on your exotic vehicle is to take a driver’s training course in your area. For most cars, taking a driver’s training course usually doesn’t result in cheaper insurance prices. But the chance that it does for an exotic car is a lot higher, primarily because they drive a lot different than more common cars. More skills are needed to drive high performance vehicles, so taking a course can greatly reduce your insurance prices. If you purchase an exotic car, check with your insurance provider for different courses in your area that could qualify you for a discount on your auto insurance.

If you’ve owned an exotic car before, you also may be able to save some money on your car insurance. You will most likely be guaranteed to save money if you never had an accident or any sort of insurance claim on your previous exotic car. If you have a clean driving record with your previous exotic car, you’ll also probably save substantial money on your insurance. Car insurance providers will see that you successfully are able to drive an exotic car problem free, and will reward you with discounts on insurance.

Probably the best way to go about finding car insurance for an exotic car is to compare rates with a provider like 21st Century Insurance. You’ll likely be able to find the cheapest insurance if you compare, since the providers will be fighting for your business. Be sure to shop around to find a good value, but make sure whatever you choose has the adequate coverage you need because if you ever find yourself in a situation that requires insurance for your exotic car, you want to make sure you’re not paying out of pocket for what could be thousands and thousands of dollars worth of repair.

Having an exotic car can be fun, exciting, and a little bit dangerous. Make sure you always obey the speed limits because if you get pulled over for a speeding ticket, your car insurance rates could go through the roof. Highway patrol has a special eye out for exotic cars, so be safe when you finally upgrade to the ride of your dreams!

Everyone knows that great GT racer of the sixties, the Ford GT40. But does anyone remember the car that made it possible, the Lola Mk VI, or GT as it was more commonly named?

In the early years of that decade, makers of GT racers were slow to follow Formula 1 in designing mid-engined cars and Eric Broadley, founder of Lola Cars, decided to give it a try. The result was the Lola GT, the car that caught everyone by surprise in 1963. It was so good-looking and promised great performance too.

Lola entered it late for Le Mans that year and their rushed preparation meant that it failed to make the distance, although it was running amongst the leaders when it broke. The potential was obvious and we looked forward to the car challenging and perhaps beating the dominant Ferraris.

But it was not to be. Ford wanted to have a go at Le Mans and were working on a mid-engined design; but, when they saw the Lola, they dropped everything, bought the car and the services of its designer. Out of that deal came the Ford GT Mk I, a car that owed much to Broadley’s Lola GT. And the Mk I evolved into the GT40, of course.

So we never found out how good a racer the Lola would turn out to be. But it remains one of the prettiest cars ever to see the light of day!

Clive Allen