If it seems like your car insurance costs are rising faster than the cost of living, you’re not alone—and you’re not wrong. In fact, car insurance rates have been rising steadily throughout 2021; the average cost to insure a vehicle in the USA is now $1451 per year.
Of course, those of us who own sports cars and other high-performance vehicles can expect to pay even more for insurance (for example, the average rate to insure a Corvette is $2220 annually). But what makes insuring a sports car so much more expensive, why are rates continuing to rise—and most importantly, what can you do about it?
Factors that Contribute to Car Insurance Costs
Generally, the following factors tend to have the most influence on auto insurance costs throughout the United States:
How old the owner of the vehicle is
The type of vehicle being insured
The owner’s credit history
Where the owner lives
However, some of these criteria—in particular, the type of vehicle being insured and the state it’s being insured in—are far less straightforward than they might seem. Let’s take a closer look at how tricky pinning down your car insurance costs can be.
We already know that sports cars are more expensive to insure than sedans and other commuter vehicles, but what makes it that way? Moreover, why does the gap seem to be widening?
The easiest and most obvious answer has to do with the intrinsic value of newer and more expensive vehicles. Simply put, new sports cars tend to just be worth more than other cars, and having a higher Insured Declared Value (IDV) tends to make their premiums more expensive. So if you’ve recently purchased a late-model sports car, you’re obviously going to be paying more than someone whose car is a few years old. However, even that doesn’t explain things completely.
There’s also the cost of repairing a sports car to consider. You obviously can’t take your Lamborghini Huracán or Porsche 911 992 Turbo S to the nearest Jiffy Lube for service, and the same goes for repairs—fixing a sports car requires specialized skills and experience, specific parts, and particular tools that most garages just don’t have. That means any insurance you purchase for a sports car is going to have to cover much higher repair costs, and you’ll more than likely pay higher premiums as a result.
How the State You Live In Affects Car Insurance
Then you’ll have to consider where you want to insure the car. It would be a mischaracterization of near-criminal proportions to say that insurance rates vary arbitrarily from one state to the next. In fact, insurance rates in each state depend on numerous details.
For starters, there’s the average cost of medical care in your state. Remember, insurance isn’t just about covering damage to your car—it can include injuries as well.
Most insurers will also consider the rates of vehicle theft or vandalism in your state—specific to the type of car being insured. Which is to say, expensive cars that are more likely to attract the wrong kind of attention also increase your insurer’s risk and drive up premiums.
And of course, the likelihood and severity of accidents for your vehicle will play a role in determining your insurance, too. For the last few years, sports cars have been the type of car with the highest highest rate of fatal accidents—4.6 cars per billion vehicle miles.
While we don’t see owning a sports car as inherently dangerous, many insurers might be hard pressed to agree in the face of that statistic. This, more than any other factor, likely explains why insuring a sports car appears to be getting more and more expensive as time goes on.
Strategies for Controlling Your Car Insurance Costs
So, what can you do to avoid ridiculous insurance premiums for the cars you love to drive? Here are a few ideas:
Consider Pay-Per-Mile Insurance
If you own a sports car but don’t drive it on an everyday basis, you might consider trying to find mile-based insurance coverage. This type of insurance (also called pay-per-mile) allows you to pay for car insurance based on the number of miles you drive in a given billing period.
Mile-based coverage differs from a low-mileage discount, in that it doesn’t come off your regular premiums when you stay under a certain distance. Instead, your insurance company will use telematics to track how far you drive in each billing cycle and charge you a per-mile-rate at the end (on top of a standard base rate).
However, be advised that tracking your usage this way can tell your insurance company other details as well—for example, how often you engage in risky behaviour like rapid acceleration or abrupt braking. So if you only drive your McLaren 720S a few times each month but you act like a demon behind the wheel, this might not be the best choice for you.
Maintain a Clean Driving Record
Remember, every factor that goes into calculating car insurance is based on one thing: the perceived risk to the insurer. So in many cases, safe driving can actually save you money on your premiums.
Many insurers offer discounts of 10% or more for drivers who have been accident-free for a long enough period of time. You might also get your premiums slashed for taking safe or defensive driving lessons.
Compare Insurance Companies
Finally, remember that you’ll get different insurance rates from different companies—so there’s no need to accept the first quote you’re given. Instead, try shopping around at different companies for the best available rate.
How Much Car Insurance Do You Really Need?
Another way that vehicle owners often try massaging their car insurance rates is by removing certain types of coverage from their policies—but this isn’t always a good idea. Having insurance isn’t much good if it isn’t the right kind of insurance, and the more limited your coverage is, the less likely it’ll be to protect you when you need it most.
Besides, insurance helps you avoid financial risk. For example, trying to settle a car accident without an insurance policy can be a disaster—you might agree with the other party to leave the incident unreported, but there’s no way of knowing if they’ll honor that promise. Check out Hassbrook & Hassbrook’s post to read more about why car insurance matters and how to make the best use of it.
December 16, 2021 / Comments Off on Why Insurance Costs are Rising
No matter what type of car we are talking about, auto accidents usually include common denominators, such as recklessness, negligence, intoxication, and speeding. In some cases, all the above.
All vehicles are prone to be involved in traffic accidents. However, the costs in your and other’s physical integrity, material damage, and often in legal expenses increase proportionally to the type of car involved in an accident.
Many people say that high-performance are magnets for legal trouble, and we can’t blame them. These expensive machines tend to be driven at high speeds because they were designed precisely for that. But is it the case? Are supercars magnets for lawsuits?
Another factor to consider is the psychological effect of driving a supercar. In most cases, the average enthusiast who has access to a vehicle of these characteristics does not know the car or has the skills to “control” a machine with such performance. These individuals usually don’t take the time to educate themselves about their new purchase in a controlled environment to know the car’s limits.
And let’s not forget the ego factor; showing off these expensive boy’s toys increases the risk of an accident with all the consequences we have just described. So, more accident proneness means more legal consequences.
Via: YouTube
Statistics from the Institute for Highway Safety show some car models are more prone to accidents and, in supercars, more expensive accidents and, in some cases, more expensive lawsuits.
Despite being a rarity, since high-performance cars are driven faster and often with less caution, they are more prone to accidents and legal consequences.
According to studies conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute on accident frequency and cost, although supercars represent a small percentage of all cars on the streets, they are more likely to bear the brunt of an accident.
Via: The Times of Israel
Luxury brands like Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati, Audi, and BMW each have at least one of their models in the ten most accident-prone cars list. For example, in the case of the Ferrari 458 Spider, it is at the top of the list for having an accident susceptibility index almost six times higher than the average car.
With high-performance cars, even a minor fender bender can result in thousands of dollars worth of repairs. And in more severe accidents, become the most expensive car crashes ever. So, yes, we can confidently say that supercars are lawsuit magnets.
How Common Is To Get Sued If We Are Involved In Car Accident?
When we are involved in a car accident, we must start a claim process, have our car inspected, and get back to our lives. That is the usual process. However, it is not uncommon to receive a notification couple of months down the road, letting us know that the other party involved in the crash is suing us.
Not all accident claims lead to a lawsuit. In fact, in most auto accident cases, a lawsuit does not apply, especially if there were no fatalities or injuries among the involved.
But when we do get sued, we want to find out why someone is suing us for this accident.
Understandably, we are uncertain about what we are up against or how to solve it.
This requires understanding how the negligence laws of our state work and seeking the legal advice of a professional to represent us. Someone with the experience and knowledge to assess the circumstances of the accident.
Via: Sora Shimazaki / Pexels
Establishing who is at fault is essential to determine if we are eligible to be sued after an accident. In rear-end collision accidents, it is not that difficult to determine who was at fault. But there are other scenarios where liability in a car accident is not easy to decide on, especially if several vehicles were involved.
If you are found at fault for the accident, the first thing to do is contact your insurance company. Preferably do it with the person who processed your claim from the beginning. In most cases, our insurance policy covers any expenses to be paid to the other party.
Suppose someone else caused your accident and, therefore, your injuries. In that case, you can file a claim with your insurance company to collect compensation. However, before you can make this claim, you must prove fault.
Via: California Business Journal
To obtain compensation through a car accident lawsuit, you must establish that a responsible party caused the accident. Other sources of liability can be:
Other Driver’s Employer
If the accident occurred in the scope of the other person’s usual work, the employer could share the responsibility.
Owner of the Other Car
If they knowingly allowed an unsafe driver to use their vehicle or in cases where the at-fault driver was a minor, the owner may share the blame.
Maintenance Workshop
The person or entity in charge of maintaining or repairing the vehicle may share the blame if the lack of maintenance caused the accident or if they performed maintenance incorrectly.
Manufacturer or Vehicle Part Supplier
Suppose a defect in vehicle parts caused the accident. In that case, they can share blame for causing the accident and the injuries.
Other Unsafe Drivers
Sometimes, other drivers contribute to the crash but avoid getting involved in the actual accident. Still, they are eligible to share responsibility for causing the accident.
A Government Entity
Government agencies that must maintain the road can share the blame if a road defect causes the accident. But, again, you must prove negligence before receiving any compensation.
Typical Car Accident Lawsuits Scenarios
It is not uncommon for an insurance company to deny a claim due to an auto accident. Sometimes insurance companies offer a settlement that might be insufficient. Or the worst-case scenario is the insurance company refuses to negotiate. If you are in any of these situations, then you should consider filing a lawsuit.
It is worth emphasizing that every state has its statute about the time you must wait to sue after a car accident. Once that statute has expired, you no longer can sue for damages.
Most Common Injuries Involved In Auto Accidents Lawsuits
Suffering an injury resulting from a car accident, especially if we were not responsible for causing it, is a valid reason to sue. There is no specific type of injury that is more justified than others. Although, there are more recurring types of injuries involved in lawsuits.
Via: Applied Physical Medicine
The most common injuries involved in car accident lawsuits are:
Torso and Chest
These include thoracic or abdominal trauma that may affect the respiratory tract and internal organs
Brain
This is traumatic brain injury (TBI), where the loss of consciousness and skull fracture occur at the accident
Head, Neck & Face
We refer to scratches, abrasions, and fractures
Limb
These include fissures or sprains of the wrists, knees, etc., open fractures, and even amputations
Spine (Vertebrae injuries)
These include cervical sprain (often called whiplash) and headaches, dizziness, neck pain, or even alterations in mood
Spinal Cord
Unlike the injuries of the vertebrae, in this case, it is the nervous tissue that is affected. Spinal cord injuries can cause paraplegia, tetraplegia, or hemiplegia
The seat belt must be below the anterior/superior iliac crest and above the femur to function correctly. In addition, it must be tight enough to stay in place during the movement of the impact.
When misused, the seat belt can cause rupture of the viscera by entrapment of organs between the anterior wall and the spine.
Most Common Types Of Car Accidents
Among the typical auto accidents where it is common for those affected to file a lawsuit are:
Frontal Collisions
This is the impact with another car or object in front, which abruptly reduces the speed of the vehicle(s) affected in the crash
Side Collisions
It is the collision against the side of the vehicle and accelerating the occupant away point of impact (acceleration as opposed to deceleration
Rear-End Collisions
It usually occurs when a vehicle is stopped and hit from behind by another car
Rollover
When the occupant of a car that rolls over, is not wearing a seat belt, can hit any part of the interior of the vehicle compartment
Hitting a Pedestrian
It means striking or running over someone with a vehicle
The interaction between the victim and the vehicle depends on the type of collision that occurred.
Via: MLive
How Much Is The Average Claim For Each Type Of Crash & Injury?
Several factors determine the value of a car crash claim, for instance, insurance policy values, comparative fault, and your current and future medical expenses, to name a few.
According to The Patel Firm, In Texas, drivers are required to carry liability insurance. Their policy must be worth at least:
$30,000 of coverage for injuries per person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident
$25,000 of coverage for property damage
This is also known as 30/60/25 coverage. Some drivers opt to carry more.
Knowing all this information helps determine how much our claim is worth in advance. However, it is always advisable to consult an attorney to advise us and obtain the best possible result.
September 23, 2021 / Comments Off on Are Supercars Lawsuit Magnets?
There are thousands of fender benders every day in the US alone and in most cases, the vehicles involved can easily be replaced. When it comes to supercars and hypercars alike, they can be irreparable or even irreplaceable should they be crashed.
Owning a supercar for most people is an honor and a privilege. For others, it is just another object among many others they own. In any case, we come across some horrific crashes that end in the destruction of some of the most sought-after vehicles on the planet.
The prices of the cars listed may vary but that doesn’t make it any less painful to read for us auto enthusiasts. Crashes like this can result in significant injuries so if you’re ever lucky enough to drive an exotic but unlucky enough to wreck such a beauty of a machine, you’re likely dealing with at least whiplash or some sort of muscle strain. Whether it was you or the other party at fault, it pays to have a legal professional who specializes in car accidents that can walk you through the process.
Without further ado, let’s look at some of the most expensive accidents to rock the supercar world.
Pagani Huayra Roadster – $3.4 Million
Photo Credit: GG Exotics
In November 2020, a 17-year old YouTuber crashed a Pagani Huayra Roadster while out for a drive with a friend. Gage Gillean took his father’s 3.4 million dollar hypercar and unfortunately lost control before colliding with a tree.
Gage walked away from the crash with minor injuries while the hypercar was completely destroyed beyond repair. Not to worry though, Gage’s father, Tim Gillean still has many other exotics in the stable including a Ferrari LaFerrari, Bugatti Chiron, McLaren Senna just to name a few.
I’m sure Gage was taught a very valuable lesson throughout the ordeal while he continues to drive his rich father’s multi-million dollar cars.
Bugatti Veyron – $1 Million
In 2009, supercar owner Andy House took his 2006 Bugatti Veyron for swim…literally. While on a Texas road, House was driving beside a lagoon where he says a pelican flew into his path causing him to swerve into the lagoon.
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According to the video taken of the crash, there were no birds in sight, leaving House to deal with an unsuccessful insurance claim. Despite already losing a million-dollar supercar, he was ultimately sentenced to 1 year in federal prison in 2015. That sentence was among the $600,000 he paid back to the insurance company along with three years of supervision once he was released.
In this video, Tavarish explains the horrible undertaking of repairing the flooded 2006 Bugatti Veyron.
German investment banker, Steffen Korbach was driving his rare, $2M hypercar on a wet Italian highway at low speed before hitting a puddle and hydroplaning into a road barrier in 2011. Both Korbach and his passenger were able to walk away from the collision while the 1 of 25 Zonda looks completely destroyed.
As luck would have it, Korbach was on his way to Milan to see a Pagani Huayra he had on order to replace his Zonda F Clubsport. Though he never made it to Milan, he wasn’t left without a nice set of wheels. He also owned two Bugatti Veyrons, Lamborghinis, and a Gemballa Mirage.
SSC Tuatara – $1.6 Million
Photo Credit: TheDrive
In May 2021, TheDrive reported SSC transporting a Tuatara to Florida for another high-speed record attempt but unfortunately, it never made it to the destination. The car carrier used to transport the $1.6M, 1,750 horsepower twin-turbocharged V8 hypercar was tipped over as a result of strong winds during transit.
Lots of damage to the delicate cargo is set to be repaired as the chassis, drivetrain, and suspension were unharmed in the car carrier topple. This car is chassis number 001 and was due to set a high-speed record of well over 300mph, but that will have to wait until it’s back in shape.
Rimac C_Two – $2.4 Million
Though this isn’t an “owner crash” per se, it still hurts to watch. In this video, Rimac performs crash testing on the Rimac C_Two to collect data on safety restraints and real-world crash safety results.
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Regardless of the accidental crash testing performed by Richard Hammond in 2017 while filming an episode for The Grand Tour, Rimac still needed to perform formal testing on their latest prototype. For those of you who had forgotten Richard’s 3rd near-death experience, here’s a video to bring you up to speed.
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Once it’s released, the C_Two will cost $2.4M and while it seems like a lot of dough, it will have the power to back it up. The C-Two comes with a heart-stopping 1,887bhp and 1,696lb-ft of torque along with a 0-60mph time of 1.97 seconds and a 0-100mph time of just 4.3 seconds.
August 4, 2021 / Comments Off on These Are The Most Expensive Car Crashes Ever
It seems that every week for the past few years, there has been another story on an all-new EV company hitting the market. Even the pioneers of the supercar world are jumping on the wagon to show off their latest EV creations.
Niche companies like Rimac, Aspark, Nio, Dendrobium and many others have all announced electric supercars to be unveiled in the next couple of years.
But the smaller companies aren’t the only ones getting a taste of the EV action, EV auto giant Tesla has just released some sobering numbers surrounding the Roadster, and we couldn’t be more excited.
Yet with all of the spotlights put on the EV world lately, it’s only appropriate we switch gears to make mention of the almost forgotten team at Trident Sports Cars. Trident was responsible for developing the Iceni and Iceni Magna – two beautifully crafted grand tourers that boasted supercar-like power figures. But they ran on something far cooler than power out of heavy rectangles (batteries). Tridents run on the same fuel found in every big, bad, American truck found on the road – DIESEL! – and a few other things as well.
Today we take a look at the world’s coolest diesel GT supercar that has yet to step into the limelight.
The World’s Lost Diesel Treasure: Trident Iceni Magna
The Trident Iceni is a stylish, limited production, 2-seater reminiscent of a TVR Tuscan mixed with a Jaguar F-Type – but instead of being powered by a dinky-sized V8, it comes toting a giant front-mounted 6.6L turbodiesel V8 Duramax. This same engine can be found in a Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra – both trucks known for towing heavy payloads but not necessarily being fast by sports car standards.
The Iceni is advertised in three different levels; standard, PH1, and PH2. The standard model alleges an output of 397 bhp and 700 ft-lbs of torque. According to Trident’s website, “figures of 430 bhp with 950 lbs/ft of torque and 660 bhp with 1050 lbs/ft are attained with performance package upgrades” – these figures are insane considering they run an engine found in heavy-duty trucks. Despite the fact that these cars could also run bio-diesel, palm oil, and linseed oil, they still manage to hit a 0-60 time of 2.9-seconds (PH2 model) and a top speed of 190mph.
The initial press releases on the 2-seater Trident Iceni date back to 2008 and noted a base price of 96,000 GPB (136,000 USD) – not an unreasonable amount for a limited, made-to-order sports car.
Fit to Go Anywhere for Anything
Not only is the Iceni marketed as a high-performance sports car, but it’s also advertised as having amazing fuel efficiency and perfect for long trips. The Iceni allegedly maintains 50 mpg at 70mph – roughly the same MPG as a Toyota Prius. Trident has claimed to have “a driving range of over 1,500 miles on a single tank of fuel”.
In addition to Trident’s promise to deliver a green-friendly option with loads of power, they also highlight the touring possibilities with the Iceni – capable of holding “Four suitcases, four soft holdalls plus a suit carrier or two sets of golf clubs” in the trunk.
What Happened to Trident?
Initial announcements of the global availability for the Trident Iceni came in 2014 and while everyone waited patiently, not much news came from the British carmaker until a report from TopGear in 2017 revealed the reason behind the hushed delays.
Following the inquiry from Top Gear, a prompt response from the company’s Managing Director, Phil Bevan shed some light on the drawn-out production delays. According to Bevan’s response, the company’s funding takes place in-house and is not held to any bank or third-party investor. This is not an uncommon occurrence with small-scale automakers and while some find ways to succeed and rise to stardom, others, unfortunately, fade into the darkness of ‘what could have been’.
What’s Happening with Trident Now?
There has been little heard from the Trident team in a few years and this means they are leaving the field open for a Ford fanatic to come out of the gate running a Powerstroke engine in their Mustang-Esque prototype. Though the major difference between the two theoretical cars would be the amount of Powerstroke oil the 7.3L would guzzle on a weekly basis.
Trident Cars Ltd is based out of Norfolk in the UK and to this day, they still have the figures and specs on their website for the Iceni model. They even have a spot for you to arrange a test drive of their models – giving us further hope that one day the Trident lineup may officially hit the streets. But until then, I have sent an email to the Trident team hoping for an update on any news on the horizon for the British innovators. When and if I hear from them, you’ll be the first to know.
May 26, 2021 / Comments Off on Trident Iceni Magna: The World’s Lost Diesel Sports Car
There is a fairly infamous saying about speeding, one that both highlights and makes light of the simple facts of physics: “Speed never killed anyone. It’s the sudden stop when you hit the tree that kills you.” Despite being a little bit of dark comedy, it’s also true. Speed has never killed anyone in and of itself.
That isn’t to say, however, that speed has no part to play in accidents that cause injuries or fatalities. Speed affects multiple parts of driving, each of which can be a contributing factor to the severity of any injuries or accidents.
This is especially true with performance cars, supercars, and now hypercars. These vehicles are capable of speeds that even 10 years ago were thought unreachable. The Bugatti Chiron 300, for example, is able to reach 300 MPH. The Koenigsegg Jesko 500 is another, designed to go over 500 KPH (310 MPH). We are getting to a time in automotive history where the cars are starting to be able to go at speeds that the common driver may not be able to control.
What Role Does Speed Play With Respect to the Severity of an Injury in an Auto Accident?
Speed played a factor in causing this car to roll over. Notice the firefighters having to use the jaws of life to get to the diver, who is trapped upside down with a potential neck injury.
To first understand how speed can injure, we have to define exactly what speed does to a large piece of plastic and metal with a sentient watery sack of flesh inside of it. When you accelerate, you are combating inertia to obtain velocity. You and the vehicle move together, as you are supported by a full back seat, which pushes you at the rate of acceleration.
Now, when you’re going 30 MPH or so, you are covering 44 feet a second. In case that doesn’t sound that bad, take into account that the average American small car is only about 14 to 18 feet long. You are literally covering 2 to 3 car lengths per second, which is why during driver’s ed, the 2 second rule for following the car ahead of you is emphasized.
Now double that to 60 MPH. 88 feet per second. Now accelerate past the national limit and hit 90 MPH. 132 feet per second. It’s an exponential amount of inertia and distance covered that continues to build, and that speed is transferred into your body.
So what role does speed play in severity? Assume that you come around a bend and see traffic at a dead stop about 100 feet in front of you. At 30 MPH you can hit the brakes, engage the ABS system, and will more than likely be thrown forwards into your seatbelt but be able to stop in time. All you’ll get then is possibly a bruise, maybe a sore collarbone.
At 60 MPH, no matter how fast you react or how hard you brake, unless the brakes are carbon ceramic and the car is superlight carbon fiber, it’s almost inevitable that you will crash into the back of traffic. How much speed is dispersed before impact helps reduce the chance of injury, but if you hit at full speed, expect at least a facefull of airbag and possibly a concussion from your brain sloshing around, hitting the front of your skull from the sudden deceleration, and then smacking the back of your skull as you are recoiled into your seat.
Coming around that corner at 90 MPH is where things can get serious, even deadly. Since you are covering 100 feet in less than a second, probability states that your foot may not even be pressing the brake pedal yet. In this case, crumple zones, seat belts, and airbags can quite literally save your life, although the force of deceleration, countered with the force of the car crumpling until it’s reached its limit before transferring the deceleration to you, can easily be enough to snap bones. Collarbones are common with seatbelts, ankle and lower leg breaks are also common due to bracing or pushing against the brake pedal or floor.
The force of the crash can cause your brain to hit your skull so hard you are rendered unconscious, as well as your internal organs can be decelerated so violently that they can tear off their muscular and skeletal mount points, and even tear open vital blood vessels. If you manage to tear your aorta somehow, there is little to no chance of survival. Not to be dramatic, but the faster you go, and the more sudden the stop, the higher the chance of death or permanent injury is.
Are Some Cars More Likely to Result in Injury Than Others?
If your windscreen is filled with a motorcycle rider, come to a gentle stop so they can get off. These Smart Cars are quite prone to injury accidents
In a word, yes. The fact of the matter is that the shorter the car is, the smaller its energy dissipation via crumple zones is, and unless there is a safety cell and energy transfer design in the cabin area, the more force is transmitted to the driver.
In order of most to least severe, microcars like the Smart brand are the most likely to result in injuries, as there quite literally is no crumple zone, and the cars rely on energy dispersion around the vehicle to bleed off as much force as possible. Small four door hatchbacks and small family sedans are the next most severe, again because of the forces involved not having much area to disperse. Ford, GM, Fiat, BMW, and Porsche all have worked around this by making their cabins very strong and allowing the deceleration force to pass around the car, crumpling the roof and side panels, without affecting the actual cabin structure and safety cell.
Next most severe are actually CUVs and SUVs. This is not because of them not having a large crumple zone, but because they have a tendency to flip if they cannot dissipate their speed before the vehicle goes sideways. You will often find in crash videos where an SUV is struck in any way other than head on or tail on, the CUV/SUV will tip up on two wheels, and if there is enough inertia, roll over. These rollover accidents do not so much disperse the inertia as allow it to cycle about the vehicle, and as seats are often not bolstered or protected on their sides, the humans inside might fling about in their seatbelts, hitting their heads on door jambs, their arms potentially flying out an open window to be crushed by the vehicle as it rolls.
The least severe in terms of injury are heavy duty trucks, pickups, and large commercial vehicles. With these vehicles, it is mostly weight that reduces the chance of injury, as they are often several tons compared to a small sedan that might be 2,400 lbs in a generous world. Basically, it has way more inertia than whatever it hits, so unless it’s a solidly built brick wall, whatever it hits is going to take the brunt of the impact.
What Steps Can Someone Take to Reduce Their Risk of Serious Injury?
Don’t do this in a car. Texting and driving, or more generally distracted driving, is now the leading cause of fatal motor vehicle accidents in the USA, surpassing drunk driving.
In all honesty, drive within your limits. Something else to consider is that, according to the injury lawyers at Batson Nolan, your insurance company may void your claim or fight to prevent payout if excessive speed is found to be a factor, even if you are ruled not at fault.
It is quite concerning how many accidents occur in our modern times from people being distracted from the road. Smartphones are the #1 distraction, with many fatal accidents being caused by texting, recording a video or taking a selfie, or simply speaking on the phone without using a hands-free device, which is basically unacceptable in 2021 as most cars in the past decade have some form of bluetooth hands-free connectivity. The better option is to put the phone in your pocket or center console, on silent mode, and have your voicemail recording say something along the lines of “Hey, I can’t come to the phone right now because I’m either busy or driving…”
Road rage is another contributing factor to accidents. It is far too common for someone to feel cut off, even if they were not, and to fly into a rage that causes them to speed up and chase down the “offender.” Sometimes, they are so angry that they want to physically hit the other person’s vehicle with their own, causing a motor vehicle accident where speeding could very well be involved. Honestly, before boiling, take a few deep breaths. By the time you’ve done that, you’ll probably have realized that the person that cut you off may not have seen you, and is it really worth potentially dying over?
As well, drive the speed limit. Speed limits are there for a purpose, not just a suggestion. On long, straight freeways, you’ll often find speed limits around 70 MPH. This is because you can see well ahead what’s happening on the road, and it is expected you’ll leave the 2 seconds between cars as taught in driver’s ed. Notice, however, that off-ramps from the freeway often have a speed limit way below 70 MPH. This is because unless you have the world’s stickiest tires, going around that bend at 70 MPH will result in you being flung off the road due to loss of traction.
And if you are going to do the speed limit, while it’s not effectively a law on the road, don’t take the left lane. Let those who want to speed risk themselves in the HOV or left lane. Stay safe in the middle or right lanes. The common guidance is “slower traffic keep right,” and with how impatient some American drivers get, driving the speed limit can sometimes be seen as driving slowly.
So, in sum: Don’t be distracted, focus on the job of driving above all else. Let go of rage, realize that the “offense” is really not worth being injured or killed over. Drive the speed limit, and let those that don’t risk themselves at their own peril in the left lane of the freeway. Always wear a seatbelt. Drive to survive, not to get there quickest.
And if you are lucky enough to own a supercar or hypercar, realize as well that while they are performance cars, you could damage or destroy that car by being too exuberant with your speed. They’re beautiful vehicles, drive responsibly and let yourself, and those around you, enjoy them as the rolling pieces of art they are.
April 2, 2021 / Comments Off on The Factor Speed Plays In Accident Injuries
Lawyers. They are either your best friend, or your worst enemy, depending on what type of attorney you need. There are as many different types of law as there are lawyers willing to work in those fields. So, we thought it would be a fun exercise to try and pick out the perfect supercar (or even hypercar!) for each type of lawyer.
This is in no way meant to be an authoritative list. As well, since a lawyer probably will read this, we are not liable, accountable, or responsible if you either a) disagree with our choices and b) actually end up buying one of these supercars and not liking it!
Corporate Lawyer
Car: 2018+ Bentley Continental GT W12
This lawyer is the one that understands the finer points of contracts, trades, intellectual property, and the risks associated with any inter- or intra-corporate negotiations. This lawyer is either part of a firm of partners, or is working in the legal department of the company in question.
So why is the Bentley Continental GT the perfect corporate lawyer supercar? Consider its looks for a moment. It’s smooth, slick, even a little understated. Yet hiding under that body is a twin-turbocharged W12 that produces 626 HP and 664 lb-ft of torque.
A corporate lawyer also usually wears a nice suit, can talk smoothly, and often looks unassuming. Yet their knowledge of corporate law, and the ways to attack those infringing on their client’s intellectual property or trying to pull a fast one on a contract, can be downright scarily powerful. A powerful car for a powerful lawyer.
Personal Injury Lawyer
This and many more photos of Lamborghinis are available on www.LamboCARS.com
Car: Lamborghini Urus
Personal injury lawyers are often the common layman’s best friend. When you are injured at no fault of your own, these are the attorneys that you retain to research your case, determine what, if any safety guidelines and OSHA laws have been infringed on or broken, and then take your case to a court of law to get you a proper settlement. They know everything about safety, what rules and laws need to be followed, and are fierce litigators.
So, why not give them a supercar that also knows all about being safe while also being fierce? The Lamborghini Urus is one of the few super-SUVs out there in the world with a perfect 5 star rating from the NHTSA and Euro NCAP safety tests. It has multiple driver aids to keep the SUV on the road, in a whole slew of conditions that the AWD system can adapt to.
And it’s fierce, with a low-mounted 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 that bellows out 650 HP and 627 lb-ft of torque. It has active torque vectoring and four wheel steer when needed, and active roll stabilization to maximum comfort and surefootedness. The 8-speed semi automatic gearbox also actively senses the way the Urus is being driven, and sends signals to the torsen locking center differential to make sure that at all times, the Urus is safe.
Criminal Lawyer
Car: Koenigsegg One:1
Criminal lawyers are the ones that either defend or prosecute those charged with everything from local misdemeanors all the way through to felonies at the federal level. Their knowledge of the specific laws involved in the charges must often be quickly gained on a per-case basis, and their defense or prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect awaiting trial is either guilty or not guilty. Despite how long criminal cases can take, it’s often a fast paced job, with attention needed to every word spoken by any witnesses or other lawyers to be able to seize any opportunities to object or call testimony into question.
This rapid fire, on demand knowledge needs a hypercar that is just as fast, just as able to seize opportunities to call that corner coming up into question. The ultimate expression of that in the past twenty or so years has to be the Koenigsegg One:1. For quite a few years, it was the most powerful hypercar in the world, and had a power plant capable of producing 1 megawatt of power.
That is the 1 part of the One:1. The One part of the name comes from the fact that the car has an equal weight to its HP. 1,360 kgs being powered by 1,360 HP. And that is the final power to weight ratio, as the third reason for the name. 1:1, or One:1. It is also insanely quick, able to sprint to from 0 to 400 KPH (249 MPH) in 20 seconds. A quick hypercar for a lawyer that needs to be equally quick in the courtroom.
Automobile/Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Car: 2021 Type 992 Porsche 911 Turbo S
Auto accident lawyers are a special breed. They know local and federal insurance laws inside out, upside down, and front to back. They’re the ones that will fight the insurance companies tooth and nail to get you every penny you deserve. Often, insurance companies have a very sour taste in their mouths after you tell them that you are retaining an auto accident attorney and not accepting their quickly offered settlement.
One thing auto accident attorneys also know better than most are the supercars that are out there on the road, which are the ones you need to treat like fragile art and which ones that can be wrung out to within an inch of their specifications. The 2021 Type 992 Porsche 911 Turbo S is the latest and greatest of those durable, usable, and fast supercars that you don’t really need to wrap in bubble wrap whenever you want to go for a drive.
Consider: A reliable 3.8 liter boxer-six engine with two variable turbine geometry turbochargers that change their impeller pitch depending on demand from the right foot of the driver. 640 HP and 590 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel-drive, all the time. Active suspension. Active aerodynamics that won’t snap the first time you introduce them to wind. And it can clear speed bumps and entry/exit ramps because Porsche knows that the real world exists, and builds their cars to fight in the real world, not solely on the track.
Immigration Lawyer
Car: Ferrari 488 GTB
Immigration lawyers have the unenviable task of having to know immigration law, and all its sub-sections, intimately at all times. They need to be able to present cases before USCIS, the immigration board of appeals, and even immigration courts, often with very little preparation time and under immense time pressure. They really only have one chance, one swing at the bat, to win their cases, and in legal terms, are at the razor’s edge of litigation.
It would make sense, then, that an immigration lawyer would want their supercar to also be a razor’s edge weapon of performance and handling. The Ferrari 488 GTB is just that car, with a nearly telepathic steering wheel that combines with a drive mode switch to allow the driver to carve a perfect apex on the track while the rear end steps out just enough to make it fun.
It’s not the fastest, nor the most difficult to drive, nor the most legendary Ferrari. But with a 3.9 liter twin-turbo V8 singing Italian opera behind your head, 670 HP at your right foot’s command, and 560 lb-ft of torque to get you going, it is one of the most exciting Ferrari cars in many years. And if you turn the drive mode selector all the way to “off,” everything really is off, and it’s up to you to handle the fury and the razor sharp handling all on your own. And to come to US shores, the Ferrari also needs to immigrate, although it goes through an entirely different set of laws.
Estate Lawyer
Car: 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Estate
Estate lawyers have to deal with one of the few most unpleasant duties of life. Their entire job revolves around death and/or disability, and handling someone’s personal effects and affairs once that person has passed on. They also deal with both living wills and last wills, and may be instructed to pass a “do not resuscitate” order to a medical professional should someone request it in their living will. It is a heavy burden, but there are laws regarding the passing on of property, assets, and even businesses to descendants or named parties.
For someone with so much darkness to deal with, a comfortable, fun, powerful supercar with the ability to carry a lot of boxes in the back certainly makes the duty a bit more enjoyable. The 2015 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate is just that car, and not because it has the word Estate in its name.
A reliable and bulletproof 4.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 produces 510 HP and 516 lb-ft of torque. What makes it special, however, is that it handles corners beautifully and flat, and is, as expected from a Mercedes, incredibly comfortable. Folding down the rear seats, you can also fill it up with any number of boxes of files you may need. And it will get you to your clients with a NHTSA 5 star safety rating, ensuring that you don’t need your own estate lawyer!
Bankruptcy Lawyer
Car: 2020 Corvette C8 Stingray
Bankruptcy lawyers deal with way more than just bankruptcy. Insolvency, personal and corporate bankruptcy, creditor and debtor litigation, contract disputes, consumer proposals to creditors… if it has to deal with money, these are the lawyers that handle it. While all bankruptcy lawyers need to be familiar with bankruptcy law, almost every single one also specialises in a derivative field, such as reparation law, or creditor/debtor litigation and dispute processes.
Seeing as these lawyers know the dangers of bankruptcy and insolvency, they also want to get the most supercar they can for their money. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray, as has been stated by almost every reviewer, is the bargain of a generation. Well equipped in 2LT spec, it won’t cost much over $75,000.
And by well equipped, we mean the carbon appearance package and the Z51 performance package. All versions of the Stingray (1LT, 2LT, 3LT) are powered by a 6.2 liter V8 that punches out near-as-makes-no-difference 500 HP. It will hit 60 MPH in 2.8 seconds using the available launch control. It is built strong, with a next generation dual clutch transmission that is damned near telepathic. It handles well, will corner hard, and produces a great American roar from the exhausts. And, as stated, it’s probably the least expensive, easiest to finance American supercar ever!
Tax Lawyer
Car: McLaren 720S
Tax lawyers are a necessary evil, if you believe the adage of “only two things are certain in life: death and taxes.” What they are in reality are specialists in the field of tax law, which is surprisingly in-depth in the USA. These are the lawyers that will fight for you in relation to paying back taxes, stop your wages being garnished by the IRS, and even go to court to fight the IRS if you are being egregiously over-taxed or over-garnished by them. They deal a lot with over-the-top and sometimes unfair treatment of their clients, and can help settle things amicably with the IRS.
So for a lawyer that deals with over-the-top a lot, how about a bonkers over-the-top McLaren 720S? Coming out just a few years ago, these ridiculously fast cars come with a twin-turbocharged V8 that puts out 710 HP and a bucketload of torque in a carbon-fiber body and chassis that is shaped to pierce the air as efficiently as possible.
And to take over-the-top literally, the 720S stops with a ferocity few cars can match. As the air flows over the top of the car, it passes over a low spoiler that keeps the rear planted. When you engage the carbon-ceramic brakes, however, that spoiler flips up, becoming a massive air brake that does up to 30% of the total effort in slowing the car down. It also handles beautifully, and can accelerate faster than some hypercars. It really is the perfect car for the over-the-top lawyer!
Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Car: Pagani Huayra
While medical malpractice technically falls under personal injury, it is such a diverse and deep field that it has been splintered off into its own specialized section of law. More succinctly “medical malpractice and negligence law,” these lawyers are the ones that will pursue restitution and settlement if you become injured or disabled due to a doctor performing his or her duties incorrectly, or through negligence caused you medical difficulty or harm. These lawyers are often extremely specialized and may even be former doctors themselves.
In that case, why not have a hypercar that is just as specialized? The Pagani Huayra, from the insanely genius mind of Horatio Pagani, is a car that is dedicated to taking the laws of physics and manipulating them to make the car do the nearly impossible. No Italian hypercar, when it came out in 2011, cornered as hard, nor accelerated as brutally, as the Huayra did. Even today, it’s an exceptionally specialized car.
It is the first car to use carbo-tanium, a weave of carbon fiber with titanium threads interwoven. It means that less of the material was needed to make the car as strong as if it was pure carbon fiber. This resulted in a vehicle that weighs only 1.350 kg. Then throw a highly tuned, Mercedes-AMG M158 V12 twin-turbo in the back on a bespoke, sculpture-like engine mount, and make it dish out 750 HP and a barely believable 738 lb-ft of torque. And on top of all that, add four major active aerodynamic flaps to control the air passing over the body, and you have a car that is worth its multi-million dollar price, if for no other reason for being so incredibly specialized.
April 2, 2021 / Comments Off on Are You A Lawyer? We Pick The Supercar For You!
While driving, it is often left out of one’s thoughts that the only things giving you any turning ability and acceleration and braking are four small patches of vulcanized rubber that are in contact with the pavement beneath you. Yet, these four contact patches are quite literally what you are staking your life on. Traction, or the ability of these four contact patches to grip against the pavement, plays a huge role in controlling your vehicle.
There are many different types of tires out there. Racing cars on specialized tracks will use slick tires, with no grooves, to maximize their contact with the tarmac. On the road, you can get everything from “summer tires,” which are more rationally semi-slicks with some water displacing grooves, to full all-season tires, to off-road and mud/snow specialized tires.
What is important is that you know where you drive as well as you can, and make an informed decision on the best tires you can get.
How Rain Reduces Traction
You’ll have to pardon us, we’re going to do a little science talk here. A tire grips the road due to three specific forces acting upon it.
The first is gravity, which pulls the weight of the car down, through the suspension, into the tire. This is combated via pressurized air preventing the tire from literally being flattened by the weight. In terms of physics, at a full stop, this balance of air pressure resisting the weight of the car is called “normal force,” or more properly the overall weight the object is exerting on the ground, and is expressed as N in formulas.
The second force is inertia. When a tire spins, inertia acts upon the tread of the tire, increasing the diameter of the tire slightly. This inertia also transfers its force into the ground, pushing against the pavement that wants to resist it, and moving the car forward. This can be seen in quite dramatic fashion if you look at the rear tires of a top-fuel dragster.
Notice how the rear tire is “standing up,” due to rotational force and the soft sidewalls.
These tires are normally quite squat, with extremely flexible sidewalls. When the driver lets all the power of the engine out through them, they expand their diameter to almost double the diameter while at rest, and become as narrow as the compound of the rubber allows, literally “Standing up” the tire so it gets maximum grip and acceleration.
The third force acting on the tire is friction, which is roughly the amount of resisting force a surface has, expressed in physics as “f.” This friction is what causes you to scrape your palm if you trip and fall on the sidewalk vs no scrapes on your palm if you trip and fall while skating on ice. Ice, by definition, has a much smoother surface than pavement, and doesn’t act as quickly on your skin.
There is an important equation that determines that, known as the coefficient of friction, expressed in physics as “µ.” This equation takes the normal force acting upon an object, and the friction of the surface it is pushing against, and comes up with a number between 0 and 1 that expresses that coefficient. General use pavement, for example, in a dry and clean condition, often is rated as having a coefficient of friction of around 0.7, which is quite grippy. Teflon, on the other hand, has the lowest coefficient of friction of any man-made substance at 0.05.
This is expressed in the formula: = fN
This diagram also expresses how all these forces interact:
With the understanding of these forces, namely normal force, rotational inertia, and friction and the relationship between the normal force and friction expressed as the coefficient of friction, we can finally start to delve into just how rain reduces traction.
Rain & Tires
Your everyday standard low profile sport tire
On dry pavement, with a normal coefficient of friction of 0.7, your tires stick well to the road because the maximum amount of normal force, inertia, and friction are allowed to exist between all parts of the tire. However, when it rains, something happens to these forces.
Water, in sufficient amounts, acts as a lubricant. Effectively, what happens between the normal force and friction is that a new surface is introduced between the tire and the pavement. This new layer has a very low coefficient of friction, and while thin enough that the normal force can push down through it in a few milliseconds, it introduces enough of a lubricating force that the coefficient of friction drops.
This drop can be affected by the volume of rain falling and the amount of standing water on the pavement. Often, a heavy rain can drop the coefficient of friction to 0.4, or almost half of what it normally is on dry pavement.
The most dangerous situation is where there is enough standing water at enough of a depth to cause your tire to completely lose contact with the pavement, immediately dropping the coefficient of friction to 0.0. This is also known in general parlance as hydroplaning.
Tire Grooves & What They Do
Groovy! And, if you’ll allow us, sipey!
If you went out to your car right now, you will see that your tires have two or three major grooves in the middle or offset to the interior side of the tire. You will also see multiple angular groves that almost make an arrow shape leading towards those central grooves. These are called, respectively, water displacement grooves and tire sipes.
What the central grooves do is quite literally in the name. With water on the road, these grooves are there for the water being acted upon by the normal force of the tire to have somewhere to go, or, in more scientific wording, they allow for the water under the tire to be displaced into an empty volume.
Sipes, on the other hand, are very interesting. There two types of sipes, known as hard sipes, or the grooves that are cut into the tire that are large enough to put your little finger into, and soft sipes, which you will see if you run your finger over a section of a mud & snow tire and see little gaps appear in the solid part of the tread.
These sipes are shaped so that the moment the leading edge of the tire contacts water, it first displaces that water into the groove of the sipe, and then, using rotational inertia, fling it towards the outer or inner edge of the tire until it departs from under the tread. Soft sipes can help by allowing the tread in contact with the pavement a little extra grip without needing to displace water.
Why You Need Good Quality Tires in Good Condition
With the sciency bit out of the way, let us now focus on what actually happens in the real world. Scott Kirk, auto accident lawyer at Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, says that many of his clients are surprised by how little traction they have when they drive in the rain. This can be contributed to by a number of factors, the least of which is an important part of your tire, the tread depth.
Tires have a certain tread depth that, once reached, means the tire must be replaced. In the USA, this is federally mandated as being 2/32 of an inch, or 1.6mm if expressed in metric. Any tread that is lower than this is technically an illegal tire and can end up with you being fined for having it on your vehicle.
But the far more serious implication is that in rainfall, you will not have enough water displacement to effectively gain traction against the pavement. This, in the worst case scenario, means that you will not have any friction to work against your tires while braking, and even with ABS, you could lock your wheels and hydroplane into another car.
Another consideration regarding tires is that they need to be in good condition. Tires do have specific life cycles, even if they are not at the minimum tread depth. Things to watch out for here are sidewall rot, tread rot, and small bubbles appearing in the sidewall of your tire. If you see any or all of the three, your tires need to be replaced.
This is what sidewall rot looks like from the tire being too old and underinflated
Something that helps massively in traction and keeping your tires healthy in the long run is something that also helps fuel efficiency and is the most often overlooked part of the tire. This is, surprisingly, correct tire inflation. Your tires should realistically be checked weekly for correct pressures, and air added or bled off to make sure that your tire is precisely on the recommended inflation in your vehicles owners manual and on the driver’s side car information sticker.
By following these simple steps, as well as leaving a little more space between vehicles in the rain, you can maximize your traction in the wet. But keep in mind, no matter what you do, physics can’t be beaten with happy thoughts. Leave space, brake progressively, accelerate progressively, and take corners at reasonable speeds, and you should be fine!
April 2, 2021 / Comments Off on How Much Does Rain Reduce Your Traction?
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Whether you are an exotic car fan or you just want to get yourself something you can really show your personality, buying a supercar will do just that.
Whether you’re looking at a 911 GT3 or a Lotus Evora GT, buying an exotic is a very exciting feeling but it can also come with a lot of stress. Buying an exotic car doesn’t have to be as stressful as you may think, by following this guide, you can buy your first supercar with confidence!
1. Look at the Dealer Referrals
When looking for an exotic or luxury car online, there are tons of dealer options to choose from, pick a reputable dealer when deciding where to purchase. These referrals can be found online or through a friend.
Purchasing through a reputable dealer is just as important as finding the perfect luxury exotic, this will ensure you have a positive purchasing experience.
2. Show Good Intentions with Your First Impressions
When going into a high-end car dealership, you should be presentable, wearing clean clothes, and no sandals. Doing this will ensure that you look approachable and that you mean business!
Another piece of advice when going to a dealership is ensuring you bring a good attitude. Having a great attitude will let the dealership know that you are someone they want to work with. This does not mean you have to be naive but it does mean you treat everyone in the dealership with respect.
Photo Credit: CNBC
3. Do Your Research Before You Show Up
Luckily in this day and age, we have the luxury of the internet. This means you can browse online to get a better idea of what you have a taste for and what you can afford.
You should be looking for something real to your overall budget and something you can see yourself driving. Whether you want to take the car to the race track, to the movie theatre, or even to work on a Friday, you must look at something that will meet your needs.
Once you have narrowed down your supercar search, you can begin to compare prices on the web. Keep in mind that not all vehicle models are the same.
Below we list some of the things to be conscientious of when comparing cars of the same model.
Options list
Overall condition
Vehicle history
Special editions
Color combinations
Mileage
If you are visiting a dealership, do so with a goal in mind. If you would like to visit with the intention of gathering information, let them know that. But if you are going in ready to purchase, do not be afraid to hold this information from your salesperson. At the end of the day, you want to feel good about your purchase and this includes being shown respect by everyone in the dealership. If you do not feel comfortable at any time, it is completely acceptable to walk away.
4. Make Sure the DEALER Knows Their Stuff
Do not be afraid to ask the sales representative questions about the vehicle. Reputable dealers will be happy to tell you the history of the vehicle along with specifications. If you are dealing with someone who does not know the answers to your questions or makes no effort in getting them, this is another red flag, walk away!
5. Check Vehicle History!
Getting the vehicle history is arguably one of the most important steps of purchasing a vehicle, let alone a supercar. Carfax is one of the most popular services to provide vehicle history reports. However, these can also be requested from the dealership as well.
Vehicle history reports will give you a ton of information about the vehicle in question. It will the obvious things like previous owners, original sale date, warranty activation date, and accident claim history.
If a vehicle has an accident claim, no matter how small the claim was, it can actually reduce the resale value of the vehicle by 20% to 30%. It is extremely important to check for accidents prior to serious talks of purchasing any car.
Photo Credit: Porsche Lauzon
6. Get an Inspection!
According to the Director of Sales at Grand Touring Automobiles, Mario Cipollone, not all pre-purchase inspections (PPI) are alike and therefore, prices may vary. Depending on the brand of vehicle, each one with its own inspection terminology and practice, inspections can have over 1000 items checked and take up to 10 hours to complete before it can be certified by an OEM dealership.
For a “standard” inspection, these will take significantly less time to complete but will still give a ton of information surrounding the condition and possible issues with the vehicle. You can expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $800 for one of these inspections at an OEM dealership for a 3rd party vehicle.
When we spoke to automotive accident attorneys at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, they advised us that not only can accidents result in lifelong injuries, sometimes accidents are not revealed in a vehicle’s history report. As such, this is why it is crucial to get a PPI performed as it can tell you if the vehicle has been repainted or in an accident, so you can make an informed decision.
If a luxury dealership does not allow a PPI then walk away! This is a big red flag as it does not allow you to have full transparency of the vehicle before purchasing.
7. Financing
Now we are at the “fun” part of the exotic vehicle purchasing journey, financing! In the case where you aren’t paying for the vehicle in full, you will need to apply for financing. Financing can be handled through the bank or directly at the luxury dealership.
When applying for financing, the interest rates will be based on your credit score and history. The best way to ensure you are getting the best financing is to have a great credit score with a credit history in addition to a healthy downpayment (usually 10%).
Some dealers may offer a “buyback” program which entails them purchasing the car back in 12 months for example. This can be a great offering as it allows you to either upgrade or downgrade while taking care of the fine print way ahead of time.
Photo Credit: Scott Graham / Unsplash
8. Post Purchase (Proper coverage) and What Happens Without It
Now that you’ve purchased your first exotic you need to ensure you have the proper insurance coverage. You can expect to pay anywhere from $6,000 to $30,000 per year for full coverage. A small price to pay if you want to ensure your $150,000+ investment is protected.
January 18, 2021 / Comments Off on The Guide To Buying Your First Exotic Car
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The 24 Hours of Nürburgring is one of the most challenging motorsports races in the entire world. The track itself is a fabled place for motorsports fans and the proving ground for manufacturers of sports cars and race cars alike. The 24-hour race that is held every year is the ultimate test of engineering, teamwork, and racing skill.
Automakers aren’t the only manufacturers who use the Nürburgring as a proving ground. Tire companies also do. One company that will take their product to the extreme at the upcoming race is Giti Tire. This will be the third year that the company has competed in the race, and it hopes this to be the most exciting year yet.
The Cars Racing
The company has four cars set to compete in the race. The first is an Audi R8 LMS Ultra that comes with a 5.2-liter V10 engine that makes 570 hp. The car will be driven by Henzel Bernhard, P. Lefterov, and F. Schickler. The second is another Audi R8, this one a GT4 car, that has a 5.2-liter V10 engine tuned to 495 hp. It will be driven by Rainey He, Sunny Wong, Andy Yan, and Li Fei.
In the past, the company has used the Lamborghini Huracán for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. This time around, the company thought it would be better to utilize the Audi R8 instead. “The Audi R8 offers a great combination of power, reliability, and technology that goes together very well with how Giti positions its tires,” said a representative of Giti Tire. These are the two cars that many racing fans, spectators, and others in the industry will be focused on.
The VW Golfs will also run the race. One of the golfs will be an all-female team, including the drivers and crew. According to Giti Tire, this is the first time in the race’s history that this has happened.
“The 24 Hours Nürburgring race is a great natural choice for [us],” said a Giti Tire representative. “From one vehicle in 2017 to two in 2018 and four this year, Giti is truly committed to making an impact on the race and further utilizing the results and lessons to continue making both our racing and everyday driving tires the best they can be.”
The Tires to be Used
Speaking of the tires used, the company plans to use its GitiCompete GTR1 tires for the race. Those tires are a track-only variant that have proved to be very popular among a wide variety of racers. The GitiCompete GTR1 tires have been used at a wide variety of well-known motorsports events and races, including the 24 Hours Nürburgring race, as well as Formula 3 Asian series, and Pikes Peak Hill Climb among others.
The latest iteration of the GTR1 tires come after years of research and development. The top grade compound has been designed for racetracks. It should help the Audi R8s compete well in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race this year. While race is an important test for Giti Tire, the company isn’t just concerned with racing. The lessons it learns on the track will trickle down to road-legal variations of its tires, ensuring the best performance for all kinds of vehicles.
It will be exciting to see how the Audi R8s and the VW Golfs put out on the racetrack by Giti Tire perform at the race. The race will occur this weekend in Germany.
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