Auto Safety: Disadvantages of Driving High Perfomance Car

Of the many tempting attributes of high performance cars, speed, sleekness and desirability are among the reasons cited for people wanting to own one. A big part of the American way of life involves the automobile. Many if not most drivers have fantasized at least once about being behind the wheel of a Ferrari or Porsche. Imagining the power, top speed and how you must look to people you pass is enough to make even the most sensible driver wonder "what if?" The reality of owning a high performance car is, however, a far cry from the fantasy of it. There are disadvantages to driving the fastest, sleekest, most desirable cars on the road, and you should be aware of them before you consider taking out a second mortgage so you can purchase one.

Low Gas Mileage

Going from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds may be quite an attractive feature for some car shoppers, but the reality is that it takes an awful lot of gasoline to maintain that kind of performance. A top speed of 180mph, likewise, may be the determining factor for those drivers who require cars that can reach excessive velocities, but their cars get very poor gas mileage. High performance cars may have a lot of flare, but they are not very practical. Most of them get worse gas mileage than an SUV. The truth may hurt, but they are built for one thing: performance. And that is not compatible with practicality.

High Insurance Costs

Another disadvantage of driving a high performance car is the high cost of insurance. Insurance companies take many factors into consideration when determining rates. One is car safety. High performance automobiles, because of their ability to travel at high speeds, are not deemed to be the safest vehicles. Insurance companies know that people who drive them tend not to be the most defensive of drivers either. For both of these reasons, high performance vehicles require higher insurance rates. Additionally, due to the desirability of many high performance cars, there is a greater risk for car theft or vandalism. This fact, too, leads insurers to demand higher premiums.

Expensive Repair Costs

High performance vehicles tend to be manufactured overseas, but even when they are made domestically you should expect to pay higher rates for mechanical work. High performance vehicle makers usually make fewer automobiles which leads to more expensive parts and service. Because there are fewer mechanics licensed to work on the cars, the price goes up. Thus, the high cost of repair for high performance vehicles is yet another disadvantage to driving one.

In addition to the three disadvantages already listed, a final but most often overlooked disadvantage of driving a high performance vehicle is the expense of the car itself. The cost of an expensive auto—whether luxury, high performance or otherwise—is usually taken for granted. It is typical to think of a car's price as a measure of one's financial worth, but it is not thought of as a disadvantage. When you consider auto cost, high insurance rates, the high cost of repair and low gas mileage all together, though, it seems that driving a high performance automobile is disadvantageous all the way around.