Justifying a Six-Figure Car

Why So Much?

But for most whose hearts have ever leapt at the sight of the lines of a magnificent Italian sports car or whose veins have pulsed with excitement when sitting behind the wheel as the speedometer rapidly ticks over 100 mph, the only reason for not buying that Aston Martin, Lamborghini, or Maserati is pecuniary. No matter how much you might hunger to own a car capable of racing from 0 to 60 in five seconds or less, there's no getting past the sticker price. On top of that, with insurance, maintenance, and gas, keeping an exotic car on the road can cost around $80,000 a year. 字串4

For some lucky people, including a few readers, I hope, such an expenditure is of no concern. Maybe you've already got the kid's college tuition paid for, as well as the mortgage on your first and second homes, have a balanced portfolio, a great accountant, an understanding spouse, annually support several charities, and currently at least one practical car in the driveway. Why can't you blow some dough on your ultimate dream toy?

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By this point, you may be wondering just what makes a luxury car so expensive. Is a $350,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom so superior to, say, a Toyota (TM) Camry that it should cost roughly 17 times as much? Well, that depends on your point of view, but as anyone who has ever driven, or been driven in, the Phantom can attest the two have about as much in common as a Savile Row suit and a pair of Dockers.

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Parking Wizard

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Only 1,000 Rolls are made each year at its relatively new, €100 million factory in Goodwood, Britain, whereas Toyota sold nearly 450,000 Camrys in the U.S. alone last year. Moreover, the Rolls is almost entirely handmade and can be built to the owner's specifications. It also features such state-of-the-art technology as an aluminum space frame body, aluminum panels, composite front fenders, and a modified 6.75 L, 48-valve BMW V12 engine capable of 453 horsepower and 531 ft. lb. of torque, which can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds. (Not bad for a car that weighs 5,622 lbs.) Inside, the car is upholstered in 450 pieces of leather cut by a computer-guided knife, lamb's wool rugs, and perfectly matched exotic woods.

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It might not be for everyone and, yes, is a bit on the pricey side. What if you fancy something a little more down to earth? For the 2007 model year, Lexus debuted a never-before-seen feature for its Lexus LS460 L: automatic parallel parking. The NP Navigation sensors detect the position of surrounding cars and the direction of the vehicle's wheels, while a control module power-steers the auto into tight spaces. The LS460 L's base MSRP is $71,000, and this feature is an option for only about $1,200 extra. The carmaker has patented the technology, but expect to see variations on automatic-parking systems appear in other super-luxuries in coming years.

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While cool gadgets like the LS460's auto-parking technology are one reason people are willing to spend big on high-end cars, there are other factors as well. Despite their size and weight, luxury cars can also be a kick to drive. If you're eyeing a road-rocket like the Koenigsegg CCX—which can cost around $722,000—a luxury car may be too refined for your tastes. But luxury cars, as opposed to sports cars, deliver in terms of both power and performance, and the comfort level is high. 字串4

A Good, Safe Ride

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The general rule of thumb is that the more expensive a sedan is, the more comfortable it will be—especially in the back seat, where most big shots tend to spend their time anyway. (The astonishingly fast Bugatti Veyron, which lacks a back seat, actually has a surprisingly plush interior, but considering it costs around $1 million, that's the least they could do.)

Not only is there more leg- and head-room but there are also such amenities as rear-seat entertainment systems and climate controls. While the same may be said of the average minivan, a luxury sedan also can offer sweeteners such as adjustable rear-seats, picnic trays, refrigerators, even champagne-glass dispensers. The Rolls offers pop-out umbrellas stored in the rear door in case of a sudden downpour. 字串9

Luxury cars also tend to be safer. They're often heavier and come with more standard safety features than moderately-priced cars. (However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration don't rate most high-end luxury cars because they sell in such low volumes.) 字串2

Of course, all machines are susceptible to breaking down, and wear and tear—and cars driven at higher speeds tend to need more time in the shop. Whereas you can just drop your Ford (F) Fusion off at the local dealership and usually be on your way soon after, if your luxury car's spare parts have to be ordered from Britain or Italy, it can take a while and usually costs a lot more.

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