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2013 might be your year to finally invest in that new sports car. You've worked hard and saved up, you've researched intelligently, and you feel confident to make an investment in motoring pleasure.
Thankfully, automakers the world over are all waiting and ready for you and your fellow shoppers, offering a variety of products for sports-car enthusiasts from all walks of life. Virtually all price ranges, countries, performance and technological capabilities are represented in today's sports car market.
This means that Canadian shoppers have plenty of selection, as well as plenty of things to consider in their shopping process. As such, we present you some food for thought when considering which new sports car model you'll make your own this year.
Fuel Efficiency: With unstable fuel prices, fuel efficiency is often top-of-mind for sports car shoppers, despite the carefree nature of sporty motoring. Thankfully, many sports cars are inherently good on fuel due to slippery aerodynamics, lightweight engineering, and powerful engines that use little fuel when not being used to their full capacity.
Some models (like the Honda CR-Z and Lexus CT 200h F Sport) even offer up a sporty package driven by a gas-sipping hybrid powertrain. On the other side of the spectrum, sports car models with big V8 engines (like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro) turn in surprisingly agreeable highway mileage during cruising.
Check with current owners, perhaps in an online forum or on Facebook, to see what sort of mileage the model you're considering gets in real life. Also, consider the presence of the market's latest fuel-saving features, like direct injection, cylinder deactivation, and a dual-clutch or CVT transmission, and auto start/stop -- all of which can keep fuel consumption to a minimum.
Residual Value: Smart sports car shoppers know that a good deal goes beyond simply getting heaps of feature content at a good price. A good deal extends to the long term, and should include some consideration of the residual value of the model in question. The higher the residual value, the more of the car's original worth it retains when you sell it down the line. Consider both purchase price and residual value when making your decision. Honda, Subaru, and Toyota make sports cars with some of the highest residual values on the road, as reported by authorities like Automotive Lease Guide, Kelley Blue Book, and Canadian Black Book.
Motorsports Prepped: Many sports cars offer pre-preparation for track racing via an add-on package or some track-ready hardware available for an extra cost. Some examples include the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis, and Dodge Challenger. Look for upgraded brakes, differentials, suspension components, and more. Brembo brakes, Bilstein shocks, and Torsen differentials are common, as are upgraded tires.
A sports or track package is a good investment for shoppers planning on participating in motorsports. For the average driver not planning on track activities, the higher up-front pricing, higher down-the-line replacement costs, and limited benefits while driving on a public road may prove a waste of money.
Thankfully, automakers the world over are all waiting and ready for you and your fellow shoppers, offering a variety of products for sports-car enthusiasts from all walks of life. Virtually all price ranges, countries, performance and technological capabilities are represented in today's sports car market.
This means that Canadian shoppers have plenty of selection, as well as plenty of things to consider in their shopping process. As such, we present you some food for thought when considering which new sports car model you'll make your own this year.
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Fuel Efficiency: With unstable fuel prices, fuel efficiency is often top-of-mind for sports car shoppers, despite the carefree nature of sporty motoring. Thankfully, many sports cars are inherently good on fuel due to slippery aerodynamics, lightweight engineering, and powerful engines that use little fuel when not being used to their full capacity.
Some models (like the Honda CR-Z and Lexus CT 200h F Sport) even offer up a sporty package driven by a gas-sipping hybrid powertrain. On the other side of the spectrum, sports car models with big V8 engines (like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro) turn in surprisingly agreeable highway mileage during cruising.
Check with current owners, perhaps in an online forum or on Facebook, to see what sort of mileage the model you're considering gets in real life. Also, consider the presence of the market's latest fuel-saving features, like direct injection, cylinder deactivation, and a dual-clutch or CVT transmission, and auto start/stop -- all of which can keep fuel consumption to a minimum.
Residual Value: Smart sports car shoppers know that a good deal goes beyond simply getting heaps of feature content at a good price. A good deal extends to the long term, and should include some consideration of the residual value of the model in question. The higher the residual value, the more of the car's original worth it retains when you sell it down the line. Consider both purchase price and residual value when making your decision. Honda, Subaru, and Toyota make sports cars with some of the highest residual values on the road, as reported by authorities like Automotive Lease Guide, Kelley Blue Book, and Canadian Black Book.
Motorsports Prepped: Many sports cars offer pre-preparation for track racing via an add-on package or some track-ready hardware available for an extra cost. Some examples include the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Hyundai Genesis, and Dodge Challenger. Look for upgraded brakes, differentials, suspension components, and more. Brembo brakes, Bilstein shocks, and Torsen differentials are common, as are upgraded tires.
A sports or track package is a good investment for shoppers planning on participating in motorsports. For the average driver not planning on track activities, the higher up-front pricing, higher down-the-line replacement costs, and limited benefits while driving on a public road may prove a waste of money.
