You've finally done it! You somehow managed to get your first sports car. You can finally enjoy sporty driving, the wind briskly blowing in your hair – you do have a convertible don't you? You can now breathe a sigh of relief when you want to pass someone. You have the power to do it safely and not wonder if you can gain enough speed to pass and still make it back in the lane without a problem.

In time you will experience many thrills, from the exhilarating ride, the smiles and waves you get, to the not so thrilling high insurance cost for your so-called high risk vehicle. If you have never owned a sports car you may miss some of the excitement.

The High Cost of Insurance

If you are living on a tight budget or no budget at all, insurance for your car can often be a real strain. The unusually high insurance premiums that are inherently associated with sports cars are not easy to take. There isn't much you can do about this onerous act of giving your money to the insurance company except shop around to find the best rates you can. In some situations you might be able to do as I do and purchase your car insurance from the same company as your house insurance. This can potentially save you some bucks due to a discount they may offer.

Exhaust in your Face

This is something I didn't think about, or expect, when I purchased my third Corvette a few years ago, after having gone several years without a sports car. I was anxious to have a powerful car again after suffering for a number of years with a small pick-up truck and some "economy cars". To my utter dismay I found that since my car was so low and so very many pick-up trucks and SUV's have their exhaust pipes up high that most were pointing right at my driver's side window. That is a very real gas hazard I haven't yet found a way to avoid if my top is down. Keep this in mind when you get your sports car – you must try to avoid pulling up next to a SUV, most full-size pick-up trucks and busses and a few other vehicles, especially if you are not in the far left lane.

Just another Sports Car

I live in Southern California. It must be the sports car capital of the world since there are so many sports cars. It used to be you were special (or sort-of) if you owned a sports car. Not anymore. It seems like everyone has one. Because of the generally nice weather here you see sports cars the year around, unlike some other parts of the country. However, the high costs of some sports cars are putting a damper on some younger and even older folks. Even the long-time Corvette, now not so popular like in the sixties and seventies, are way up in price near and well past $50,000. Those high prices are putting some would-be owners off as they cannot afford or justify the high price for a car. And that's not considering several thousands more for insurance.

Traffic, Traffic, and More Traffic

Maybe you do not have this problem, but if you live in a highly populated area you surely must. The traffic is often horrendous here where I live and isn't getting any better. Fortunately I don't live near a big city, but it's still bad. It's not only a pain in the neck, but its outright dangerous driving in a low slung sports car. It's easy for other drivers to miss you, depending on where you are and what type of vehicle they are driving. Your car is low and sometimes invisible in the blind spots of other cars mirrors. You must drive defensively in most cases if near other cars.

Your Fast Sports Car is Slow

You've got a fast car. But wait. Your car is not the latest model and is not so fast anymore. It used to be a rather fast car but now there many models of cars that have more horsepower or are just faster accelerating than yours. Many are not even sports cars, which are usually considered to be fast. If you are younger this is probably more important to you. However a fast pickup is important when you want to pass someone or get out of a potential trouble situation. Unfortunately it can get you into trouble easily if you don't watch it.

Excellent Target for Cops

Even though there are a lot more sports cars on the road now than in previous years they are still in the minority compared to other vehicles. If you are driving one you can still stick out like a sore thumb as far as cops are concerned. Often its in self defense you are driving fast, to avoid problem situations such as small car size compared to SUV's trucks, and some larger or otherwise risky vehicles to be next to. Myself, when I am driving in my sports car, I prefer to be in front of everyone, if possible. That way I am clear of potential problems. Being in front usually means driving fast and that can lead to more tickets. Once in a while I try to stay behind everyone, but it usually does not work too well. I believe you are more of a target for a ticket if you are in a sports car. I could be wrong but I don't advise you to test my theory.

Try One Out for Size

There are more untouched upon joys and thrills you will experience if you own a sports car. They are not for everyone, however. Some people cannot imagine ever owning one. They are too flashy for others. In spite of this they are a lot of fun and can bring some thrill into your driving. If you don't have one or cannot afford a sports car you might try renting one for a weekend to see if one is in your future.