While cool gadgets like the LS460's auto-parking technology are one reason people are willing to spend big on high-end cars, there are other factors as well. Despite their size and weight, luxury cars can also be a kick to drive. If you're eyeing a road-rocket like the Koenigsegg CCX—which can cost around $722,000—a luxury car may be too refined for your tastes. But luxury cars, as opposed to sports cars, deliver in terms of both power and performance, and the comfort level is high.
A Good, Safe Ride
The general rule of thumb is that the more expensive a sedan is, the more comfortable it will be—especially in the back seat, where most big shots tend to spend their time anyway. (The astonishingly fast Bugatti Veyron, which lacks a back seat, actually has a surprisingly plush interior, but considering it costs around $1 million, that's the least they could do.)
Not only is there more leg- and head-room but there are also such amenities as rear-seat entertainment systems and climate controls. While the same may be said of the average minivan, a luxury sedan also can offer sweeteners such as adjustable rear-seats, picnic trays, refrigerators, even champagne-glass dispensers. The Rolls offers pop-out umbrellas stored in the rear door in case of a sudden downpour.
Luxury cars also tend to be safer. They're often heavier and come with more standard safety features than moderately-priced cars. (However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration don't rate most high-end luxury cars because they sell in such low volumes.)
Of course, all machines are susceptible to breaking down, and wear and tear—and cars driven at higher speeds tend to need more time in the shop. Whereas you can just drop your Ford (F) Fusion off at the local dealership and usually be on your way soon after, if your luxury car's spare parts have to be ordered from Britain or Italy, it can take a while and usually costs a lot more.
Vanity Factor
The main reason for buying a luxury car is, and there's no reason to be ashamed of this, vanity. Successful people take pride in their success. They like to keep up with their neighbors. They get a kick out of tooling up to the valet at the country club in the most gorgeous car in the parking lot and tossing him the key. They don't want to look, or drive, like anyone else. Now the only question left is: Which one should you buy?
Depending on where you live, some cars just don't make a whole lot of sense. If you lived in Germany, you could take just about any car you wanted to the autobahn and put it through its paces while the local polizei sit in a nearby cafe munching on strudel. In other parts of the world, however—notably the U.S. and, increasingly, Britain—driving 85 mph would land you in traffic court.
It's tough to keep a car like a Saleen S7 in first gear while crawling through the traffic on Rodeo Drive or the Long Island Expressway, when it was meant to be driven on a race track. Fortunately, the cars on our list, with the exception of the Veyron, are all as comfortable in rush-hour congestion as they are on an open road. Sort of makes you want to rush out to your nearest luxury auto showroom and go for a test spin, doesn't it? We know that's where we're heading.
A Good, Safe Ride
The general rule of thumb is that the more expensive a sedan is, the more comfortable it will be—especially in the back seat, where most big shots tend to spend their time anyway. (The astonishingly fast Bugatti Veyron, which lacks a back seat, actually has a surprisingly plush interior, but considering it costs around $1 million, that's the least they could do.)
Not only is there more leg- and head-room but there are also such amenities as rear-seat entertainment systems and climate controls. While the same may be said of the average minivan, a luxury sedan also can offer sweeteners such as adjustable rear-seats, picnic trays, refrigerators, even champagne-glass dispensers. The Rolls offers pop-out umbrellas stored in the rear door in case of a sudden downpour.
Luxury cars also tend to be safer. They're often heavier and come with more standard safety features than moderately-priced cars. (However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration don't rate most high-end luxury cars because they sell in such low volumes.)
Of course, all machines are susceptible to breaking down, and wear and tear—and cars driven at higher speeds tend to need more time in the shop. Whereas you can just drop your Ford (F) Fusion off at the local dealership and usually be on your way soon after, if your luxury car's spare parts have to be ordered from Britain or Italy, it can take a while and usually costs a lot more.
Vanity Factor
The main reason for buying a luxury car is, and there's no reason to be ashamed of this, vanity. Successful people take pride in their success. They like to keep up with their neighbors. They get a kick out of tooling up to the valet at the country club in the most gorgeous car in the parking lot and tossing him the key. They don't want to look, or drive, like anyone else. Now the only question left is: Which one should you buy?
Depending on where you live, some cars just don't make a whole lot of sense. If you lived in Germany, you could take just about any car you wanted to the autobahn and put it through its paces while the local polizei sit in a nearby cafe munching on strudel. In other parts of the world, however—notably the U.S. and, increasingly, Britain—driving 85 mph would land you in traffic court.
It's tough to keep a car like a Saleen S7 in first gear while crawling through the traffic on Rodeo Drive or the Long Island Expressway, when it was meant to be driven on a race track. Fortunately, the cars on our list, with the exception of the Veyron, are all as comfortable in rush-hour congestion as they are on an open road. Sort of makes you want to rush out to your nearest luxury auto showroom and go for a test spin, doesn't it? We know that's where we're heading.
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