It's a bitter wind that's blowing out there. Up and down the country, motor dealers are having the toughest time selling luxury and performance cars. So much so, that those previously unattainable and enormously desirable models are now within our grasp. You want performance? Check. Desire a plutocratic luxury limo? Step this way. How about something with sub-supercar credentials and immense glamour? Of course you do, start her up. There's rarely been a better time to live the motoring dream.
However, be warned. There's one thing you may have missed. One that's dead easy to forget about when buying the car of your dreams: the high servicing costs. It's the sombre, humourless elephant in the room for all car enthusiasts. Want to know about shock and awe? Wait until the dealer lowers the ramp and hands you a big fat bill. It's the reason why many high performance cars are sticking to the forecourts nowadays.
Says who? I do - and from bitter experience. Having run a succession of Audi A8 diesels over the years I got used to big service bills every 12 months. One big and one, well, less big. The smaller bill for routine servicing was around €400, while the major service typically came to €850. Ouch! Factor in brake pads, tyres and other items and it starts to look mighty expensive. Still, it was an A8, so what on earth did I expect?
However, what happened next was a salutary lesson. I exchanged the Audi for a 2007 Porsche Boxster. Blame the sunny day. The look of the thing. Resplendent in black with 19-inch Carrera wheels, what was I ever going to do? After a few weeks, the realisation of running a performance car really hit home. One of the Xenon headlight bulbs went pop. Cost for a genuine Porsche Xenon bulb? €100, to you Sir. I then delved into the car's previous service invoices. One service bill I found (including rear tyres, to be fair) came to nearly €2,400. I needed to sit down. Just imagine having to cough up for that bill with a straight face. And before you ask - no; you can never skimp on the servicing of a performance car. It's vital. Cut corners here or there and you're opening yourself up to something much bigger than a bulb going pop.
Then take a look at the mass market cars like the Toyota Auris or the Volkswagen Golf. They start to become a quite attractive. Admittedly, they won't send your heart racing, but standard servicing costs for an Auris diesel (12 months or 15,000km) is €180, with subsequent servicing costs for years two and three being around €230. Which is fine by me.
Parsimony is not limited to the Japanese, either. A base Volkswagen Golf will cost €130 for its first service and around €160 each year onward. This is naturally dependant on mileage and no major work being carried out. Fancy a Golf GTI? You'll pay around €200 a year for servicing, which really is excellent. Of course, tyres, filters and other major expenses will be extra, but you see a pattern starting to develop. The Golf GTI is automotive royalty. A genuine performance car. One that is practical, beautifully made and heaps of fun to drive. Maybe there's another road to high performance, after all?
Remember, if you are thinking of trading up and going big: do your usual checks. The mechanicals, the history and whether any finance is outstanding (we recommend Cartell.ie). After that, ask for an estimate for the next three years' servicing. Ask the dealer what needs to be replaced and replenished and, more importantly, when. And then, and only then, purchase the car if you're entirely happy. Because, in my experience, the most boring car in the world is the one that gives major surprises and that's prohibitive to run.