When people think of top-of-the-line luxury sports cars, they often think of car manufacturers Maserati, Lamborghini and Ferrari. People think of these manufacturers as producing cars that feature unparalleled performance, features and style.
Interestingly, however, these luxury sports car manufacturers were absent from a recent list of the top-10 luxury sports cars that was compiled by Kelly Blue Book, Co. In fact, the company did not even include these manufacturers' models when test-driving various luxury sports cars.
If models from Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini did not make the recent Kelly Blue Book list, which vehicles did make it onto the list of the top 10 luxury sports cars?
According to Kelly Blue Book, the top 10 luxury sports cars available in the United States (listed in alphabetical order) are as follows:
While the list above includes impressive models of luxury sports cars, many may still wonder how the Ferrari F430, the Lamborghini Murcielago or the Maserati GranSport were excluded.
The main factor that excluded these models from Kelly Blue Book's top 10 luxury sports cars list was that the company chose to define "luxury sports cars" as only open-top vehicles. By adhering to the classic definition of a sports car, the company did not even consider the above-mentioned models from Lamborghini, Maserati or Ferrari when compiling its list.
In addition to being an open-top car, for a luxury car to be considered for the top 10 list, it had to feature:
When test-driving the luxury sports cars, Kelly Blue Book drivers reviewed the following performance features:
Looking beyond the Kelly Blue Book list of top 10 luxury sports cars, overall, luxury sports cars are vehicles that are small and sleek and that are designed for precision and control at high speeds. With a focus more on performance and power, sports cars are less well-known for comfort.
In addition to the vehicles included in Kelly Blue Book's top 10 list, some of the other top luxury sports cars include:
Automakers that design luxury sports cars keep their focus on performance but also are able to add additional driver comfort. The craftsmanship and design of these vehicles command a higher price.
The manufacturer suggested retail price for luxury sports cars may range anywhere from approximately $44,000 for the Lotus Elise to more than $550,000 for the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo. Other base prices for top luxury sports cars are as follows:
The actual cost of these vehicles, however, depends on dealer incentives, trim and other packages.
Before even beginning to test-drive luxury sports cars, serious consumers should determine if they are going to buy or lease a luxury vehicle. Overall cost, financing options, intended use and other factors need to be considered when looking into acquiring a luxury sports car.
For many, the price tags of new luxury sports cars prohibit them from purchasing a new model. However, benefits of buying a new (or quality used) luxury sports car include:
Some drawbacks to purchasing one of these vehicles include:
There are also pros and cons to leasing that consumers need to think about prior to test-driving luxury sports cars. Some of the benefits to leasing include:
Some of the drawbacks to leasing luxury sports cars include:
Whether you decide to lease or buy a luxury sports car, it is important to shop around and test drive as many as possible to determine which ones best fit your needs and your budget.