You scrimped, saved, and shopped around for months, waiting for the right deal at the right moment. That moment has finally arrived; you’re the proud owner of the sports car of your dreams.
If it’s a make and model you’ve been eyeing for a while, chances are you’re purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. While the used sports car market is vast – ranging from classic models to modern motorsport – buyers share a common desire to treat their pre-owned vehicle as if it were brand new. That’s because – to them – it is.
The last thing you want is to fail to take adequate care of your newly acquired sports car. At the same time, you want to have fun taking it out for a spin now and then. Otherwise, what’s the point?
With this in mind, let’s take a look at six ways to get the most out of a used sports car:
ECU tuning
Short for the engine control unit, the ECU is an electrical component designed to ensure optimal performance. Automakers rely on ECUs to keep vehicles from going beyond their original design limits. However, for sports car owners, ECUs often get in the way of achieving peak performance. That’s where ECU tuning devices come into play. Aftermarket BMW tuning and similar technologies help to unlock the power that is being held back by conservative factory settings. With high-resolution screens featuring full color and a smooth interface, modern ECU tuning puts you in the driver’s seat in ways you never thought possible.
By-the-book maintenance
Every vehicle has a recommended maintenance schedule. It’s typically tied to the mileage. For instance, most automakers recommend oil changes every 5000 miles. Those who recently bought the used sports car of their dreams are encouraged to abide by the maintenance schedule provided in the vehicle manual. Doing so will keep your dream car running longer.
She needs premium, dude!
Sports cars – by definition – have high-performance engines. As a result, premium fuel is the recommended grade. That’s because premium fuel consists of higher-octane gasoline. The higher the octane, the more stable the combustion sequence, and the more stable the combustion sequence, the greater the performance. What’s more, using lower-grade fuel can lead to increased engine knocking, which can damage your sports car over time and limit its performance.
Weather wariness
Sports cars are designed and engineered for fair weather conditions. They do not perform well in wet, snowy, or icy conditions. With this in mind, be wary of the weather and think twice before taking your used sports car out for a spin if there’s precipitation in the forecast. The last thing you want to do is lose control and crash. Not only will that likely mean a totaled car, but it could also mean serious injuries or worse.
Covered parking
Part of the allure of owning a sports car is having a stylish-looking vehicle. But when a car is left outside, exposed to the elements, the paint will fade, the rubber will crack, and the rims will get coated in greasy soot. With this in mind, sports car owners should take steps to keep their beloved vehicles shielded from the elements as much as possible. While keeping it parked in a garage is ideal, that option isn’t always available. Covered parking of any kind is better than nothing, whether that means a gabled carport, exterior coverings, or a combination of the two.
Spare no expense (within reason)
Sooner or later, a part of your sports car is going to fail and require repair or replacement. While it might be tempting to opt for the cheapest solution in the form of aftermarket parts assembled by third-party manufacturers, these options are often ill-advised for sports cars due to the high tolerances. Simply put, the typical sports car is built with exceptional precision, to the point where any deviation from the original design could disrupt the performance. With this in mind, spare no expense when it comes to repairs and replacements. With that said, it’s equally important to avoid falling for the cost-sunk fallacy and pouring thousands of dollars into a car that keeps breaking down. At that point, you’re better off cutting your losses. As hard as it is to admit defeat, it’s even harder to recoup the thousands lost by refusing to give up.
That dream car is finally yours. Congratulations! Now comes the hard part: taking good care of your sports car so you get as much fun and excitement out of it as possible.
Sean Dalton is a freelance writer from Southern California. He enjoys writing about cars, law, and real estate.