Car Talks: Vintage Luxury or Modern Technology?

What type of car is your dream car? Are you a vintage type of car enthusiast or a vintage luxury enthusiast or more of a modern-tech everything enthusiast? True car aficionados have respect for all types of cars, from the ultimate luxury vintage classic to the modern tech-heavy machines. Deciding where you are making your next car investment can be a challenge when you love them all. The information below can help you to make the right choice.

Unexpected Costs

From 1962 to 1968, Carroll Shelby built the 654 small and some of the big block versions of the Cobra. These classic gems are every gear head’s dream. They are fast, beautiful, and give you that low rumble you just cannot find in today’s high-tech cars. Of course, they are gas-guzzling money pits as well.

Sure you may expect to have to pay a handsome sum upfront to purchase one of these world’s darlings but that is not the only expense you may have to cough up. You may incur some yearly extra tax costs on these vintage luxury muscle cars. In Oklahoma, you will pay 4.5% sales tax when you buy your new baby, and then you may get hit with auto property taxes every year, which is a lot higher for a muscle car than for a new modern electric car.

Taxes are structured almost as punishment in some states for owning a gas guzzler. California, for example, will charge you less in taxes for an electric car than it will for an older vintage luxury car. This “environmental” tax can make owning a vintage vehicle more expensive.

Modern Tech Cars

While you may be dreaming of owning that vintage luxury car do not discount the real value of the newest high-tech autos on the road. They can deliver quite the value, keep you connected to everything, and in some cases drive you where you need to go with very little input from you.

High tech vehicles are doing it all today-from parking assist to self-driving. They are safer than cars were even a decade ago, get amazing gas mileage, and are better for the environment. Of course, if you choose total electricity then you can kiss paying for gas goodbye.

Mustang aficionados even have an option for total electric today. The Mustang MachE5 is totally electric and delivers those muscle car vibes. Of course, you will not get the rumble that you want, but you will find plenty of reasons to choose this new car.

Watch Out For This

Whether you are looking for luxury, muscle, tech, or vintage, know who you are buying your car from. Today, most people start their search online for a new car, which is convenient and will give you plenty of choices, but there are a few caveats.

Internet crime, especially when it comes to selling cars, is on the rise. An internet crime is any crime that uses false representation or fraudulent representation. It is a crime against consumers. In the case of auto internet crimes, there are some red flags that you should look for.

Never send anyone a deposit for a vehicle via one of the money-sending services without seeing the car and reviewing the documents. Never, ever buy a car sight unseen. No matter how good the deal seems, don’t do it. Thieves know that car lovers are always looking for that from the barn find. They will exploit the urban legend of the soldier’s muscle car left in the barn when he went off to war and his family never had the heart to sell it for 50 years.

Anyone that wants to sell their car legitimately will expect that you will want to see the car. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it is likely. Pass on it. Do your due diligence before you buy any vehicle from anyone.

Featured Photo by Samuele Errico Piccarini on Unsplash