What to Look for in Sport Cars

When it comes to sport cars there are a variety of models to choose from. There are small two-seat car to coupes and hatchbacks. The make can range from a Saturn to a BMW. There are many things that go into choose which is the best for you. There are the top sports cars, but sometimes these may not be the best sport cars for you. Consider the following factors which choose with sport car to purchase.

What’s Under the Hood?

Whether classic sports cars or new sports cars, everyone who wants to buy a sports car is doing so because they want to have fun driving. Therefore, the most important aspect to consider with sport cars is the engine and transmission. Sport cars can have four-cylinder engines to the powerful V8 engine.

For the best balance of fuel economy and power you should choose sports cars with a six-cylinder engine. While a four-cylinder engine will have better fuel economy they lack the power and refinement of larger engines. For fast sport cars a V8 engine offers you the most power, but you lose a lot of gas mileage. Engines can also have turbo and super charge which give you extra power but again at the cost of gas mileage.

Nearly all sport cars have an automatic transmission. However, some sport cars will have a five or six speed manual transmission. You will get better fuel economy with a manual transmission and many drivers find manual to be better to drive since they give extra shift control. Some automatic sport cars are now offering a manual shift mode that works like a manual transmission, but without the clutch.

Should You Get a Convertible Top?

Some sport cars offer convertible tops, but are these really a good idea? Having a soft top on sport cars can make them less secure against theft. If you live in areas with extreme temperatures these covers won’t protect you as well against road noise, wind or extreme temperatures. You can find some models that have layered headliners that offer added insulation, but these can be expensive so you wouldn’t want these if you were look for cheap sport cars.

There are some sport cars that come with removable hard tops. These don’t have the same issues as soft top convertibles, but they are heavy and cumbersome when you remove them. Then you have the added issue of finding a place to store them when you aren’t using them. The more expensive sport cars offer a power operated hard top that will retract just like the soft top. If you can afford these models this is the best option since it offers the best of both the soft and hard tops without the drawbacks.

Interior Issues

Perhaps the biggest area that you need to consider when it comes to sport cars is the interior. Since many sport cars are low to the ground they have small doors and little head room. This makes it difficult to get in and out. There are a few coupe models that offer wider doors and better head room. If you want excellent access and more room then you can consider the sedans and four door hatchbacks or a coupe with small rear hinged rear doors.

The size of the sport cars you choose will determine whether there is seating for two to five people. Even if you get a five seat sport car the middle rear position is going to be tight and uncomfortable for any adult, even a small individual. Before choosing sports cars you should sit in each seat to determine their comfort level. All seats should have a three-point safety belt and not a lap belt. Some coupes have such an uncomfortable seating arrangement in the back that is would even be difficult to fit a small child.

If you need a car with cargo space then you may not want sport cars. There are only a handful of sport cars that offer a small amount of trunk space. If you have anything relatively large you may want to consider another type of vehicle. For medium sized objects like golf clubs or luggage you should bring them with you or at least write down the dimensions. This way you can make sure the sport cars you choose have enough cargo room.

Safety

All new sport cars come with the standard dual front air bags and should have three point safety belts on all seats or at least the outboard seating areas. There are additional safety features offered by certain models such as side air bags and head protection side bags. Antilock brakes are either standard or optional on sport cars. Other safety features that would be good to have include electronic stability control, traction control, tire-pressure monitors and daytime running lights.