When you’re shopping for a new luxury vehicle, there are many factors to consider, which vary from person to person. But one factor that remains the same across the board is a need for reliability. At 1st Class European Authorized Coachworks, we know why people choose luxury vehicles over normal cars: incredible features, cutting edge technology, and impeccable design are just a few good reasons.
But being an auto repair shop in Pompano Beach has taught us that luxury doesn’t necessarily mean reliability. So, when shopping for your luxury car, make reliability a qualification.
How exactly do you know if the luxury vehicle of your dreams is also reliable?
For starters, don’t believe the marketing campaigns of the car manufacturer – do your own research to ensure that you’re getting luxury as well as peace of mind.
What makes a car reliable?
This is a very good question with a few different answers, but for us, a reliable vehicle won’t cause trouble after normal repairs were performed. In other words, if you change the oil when needed, have it tuned up, and maintain your brakes and tires, the vehicle will be as good to you as you are to it.
An unreliable car, on the other hand, will have frequent problems and will likely cost you a fortune no matter how well you care for it. Features may fail, the car may break down unexpectedly, and you’ll soon realize you’ve purchased a headache rather than a reliable luxury vehicle.
It should be noted that a car’s reliability is completely dependent upon how properly the driver cares for it. Even if you do your research beforehand and purchase Consumer Reports’ most reliable vehicle of the year, if you don’t perform the normal repairs, the car won’t last as long as it should.
Do Your Research
Before stepping foot in a car dealership, make sure you’ve done your research beforehand, so you have a good idea of what vehicle(s) you’re interested in, and what they offer. To make your research easier, many lists have been compiled after years of testing and surveying the most reliable luxury cars on the market. For example, U.S. News & World Report has its own list of the top luxury cars that can meet consumer’s standards for reliability. The vehicles listed have been ranked using data by J.D. Power’s predicted reliability ratings and is updated constantly to provide the most up-to-date information.
Many credible websites perform their own surveys and compile lists to help consumers make the right decisions, so scope the web to find these sites and read up on what cars they suggest.
You don’t have to stop your search there. When you have a good idea of what vehicle you want, read reviews from previous car buyers. Additionally, if you know someone who has the same car you want, pull their ear and ask them what they like most about the car, what they dislike, any unforeseen problems it has, and whether they would recommend it to a friend.
Buying Used?
If you’re buying a used luxury car, you’re definitely spending less. But when buying used, there’s a new set of questions to ask and issues to look out for. Here’s what you should do to ensure your used luxury vehicle will be reliable.
- Order a car title history report from the federal government’s National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. Although a Carfax is comprehensive, it doesn’t include everything that occurred in the history of the vehicle.
- Ask for a service or maintenance history to see what normal repairs were done to keep the car running longer.
- Check inside the car. While most people look for scratches and dings on the outside of the car, what’s inside says (almost) everything you need about the car’s reliability. Check the fluids and make sure they look good, make sure they haven’t fitted the vehicle with a worn-out engine, etc.
Choose 1st Class
We hope you make the right decision when choosing a reliable luxury car. Once you have the car of your dreams, bring it to 1st Class European Authorized Coachworks for auto repair in Pompano Beach. We also do vehicle detailing, collision repair, and car paint touch-ups in Pompano Beach. Call us today.