Luxury car sales have suffered more than sales of less expensive cars during this recession. That’s no surprise. People are watching their pocketbooks and spending less. Conspicuous consumption is out of vogue. Auto makers, too, are looking at their spending and cutting out less profitable brands, like Pontiac and Saturn. Why aren’t they trimming their luxury car brands? Because luxury cars continue to offer value.
Luxury cars offer the latest and greatest safety features. Manufacturers of luxury cars spend the extra money to research and design new safety features. Indeed, many of the safety features found in the general car market today, like air bags and anti-lock brakes were first introduced in luxury vehicles. The cost of developing these innovations drives up the price of luxury cars, but they consistently have higher safety ratings than less expensive cars.
Luxury cars come with more and better standard features. After all, buyers who are willing to pay for a luxury vehicle don’t want a stripped down model. Additionally, luxury car manufacturers offer a wider variety of options. You can get heated leather seats, headrest mounted dvd players and surround sound Bose stereo systems that work with your iPod. You can get plush interiors including soft leather and real wood trim. Keyless entry and ignition, night vision displays and integrated child booster seats are some of the newer available options.
The performance offered by a luxury car is better than other cars. The manufacturer spent more time and used better materials to make sure that their top of the line cars have superior handling and enhanced aesthetic value.
Luxury automakers offer longer and more comprehensive warranties. Coupled with better reliability, it could be said that the luxury car owner pays more upfront to save on repairs later. Dealership service departments offer a first-class experience too. You’re more likely to enjoy free wi-fi and gourmet coffee while waiting for your car. If it needs to stay in the shop for a few days, you’re likely to get a luxury car for a loaner.
Even in these difficult times, prestige and image are still valuable. People who want their car to convey their status and exemplify their success will want to be seen in a luxury car. Even those who just want the very best available, and can afford it, will always gravitate toward the luxury car market.
Like the rest of the automobile industry, luxury carmakers are seeing decreased sales and tough times. But in the long term, luxury cars will survive and thrive because they do offer real value to the consumer. Whether you’re looking for a top of the line sports car with excellent handling, a professional looking car with comfort and safety, or a combination of the two, you’ll always be able to find it.
If you live in Southern California, start at these places. Infiniti CA, Infiniti G35 Riverside and
Costa Mesa Cadillac.
