Many people will likely want to own a sports car. Thanks to their speed, agility, and power, sports cars offer something that regular vehicles can’t.

As alluring as a sports car might be, it’s crucial to acknowledge its limitations. A regular family sedan can handle specific tasks, but a sports car simply can’t. This awareness can help you make a more informed decision based on your needs.

This list charts 13 reasons you should never buy a sports car, although some might not stop you from doing so!

Sports Cars Are Less Practical

For those of us who have a family or like to go on holiday, sports cars are not the most practical vehicles to own. Most, but not all, will only have two seats for the driver and a single passenger, while many rear seats are seriously impractical due to their limited space.

Then, there is the space in the trunk, which is again likely to be very limited. Storing more oversized luggage items is challenging, and you may need to place some items in the car, which could take away seating space for your passenger. The lack of practicality is one of the most significant downsides for any sports car.

Poor Fuel Economy

Almost going hand-in-hand with a lack of practicality is that a sports car won’t have the best fuel mileage. By design, they are not meant to be economical vehicles. Sports cars are about performance in the corners and then providing the power out of them, so you are unlikely to get great fuel mileage in a Porsche 911.

There are a few exceptions to the rule. You could get up to 42 MPG in an Audi TT, but if you have a Porsche 911, you are lucky to achieve between 22 and 24 MPG combined. Economical sports cars are rare, so using one for long-distance driving isn’t recommended.

Sports Cars Are Expensive To Buy

Another apparent reason not to buy a sports car is the cost. Thanks to their enhanced performance and the money spent on their development, sports cars are costly, with the current generation of Porsche 911 Carrera starting at $114,000 and rising to over $120,000 for other versions.

Compare this to the range of practical cars you can buy for $30,000 upwards, perhaps less, such as the Nissan Sentra, which retails for around $25,000. With money tighter for everyone, being able to buy a sports car is a real luxury, and it’s an investment you will have to be sure of before you commit to it.

Sports Cars Are Expensive To Maintain

In addition to buying a sports car, maintenance is also a cost. If you drive the sports car regularly and hard, regular maintenance will become more frequent, and you might find more things that need replacing or working on. You may also take your sports car to a specialist, which could add to the cost.

There is also the cost of insuring a sports car, which is much more expensive than insuring a regular sedan or saloon. Insurance companies will want you to pay a higher premium because of the vehicle and cover you and them in case of an accident. Most of us would drive a sports car safely, but a few might not.

Loud Noise Can Have Its Downsides

Many people buy sports cars because of the noise they produce and how exciting they sound. What could be wrong with that? It is only sometimes good, as the sound can have downsides. For example, trying not to wake the family up if you leave the house early is tricky in a car with a loud soundtrack.

Even driving through town, the noise can annoy neighbors and pedestrians. Depending on where you are in the world, you could also be in breach of noise violations, which will cause a whole host of issues for yourself. It is just something to be extra wary of to avoid getting caught off guard when it does happen.

Ride Quality Is Sometimes An Issue

Sports cars are often lower to the ground, have stiffer suspension, and are also firmed up for the best performance possible. While that will make them faster, it won’t make them any more comfortable, and typically, sports cars are less comfortable than regular family cars or daily drivers.

This is fine per se if you take your canyon blasting or on shorter, quicker drives. However, an extended period in the car and more prolonged distance running can result in a numb rear end, and you may find yourself needing to stop off a few extra times to stretch your legs and feel a bit more comfortable. Many who own a sports car will likely have a second car for such long ventures.

An Increased Risk Of Speeding

It might sound wild, but driving a fast car can sometimes mean taking a few more risks, even subconsciously. Modern sports cars are so effortless that what might feel like 70 mph could well be 100 mph, and there are few places in the world where that is legal.

There is a temptation to keep one foot planted and see how far one can push the car. Thankfully, the vast majority will not succumb to the temptation and will keep an eye on their speed. However, some will give in, which could lead to a higher chance of an accident, potentially putting lives at risk and incurring a fine for the driver.

Sports Cars Can Depreciate Quickly

This isn’t true in all cases. Some sports cars will become more valuable over time, mainly if they are highly limited editions in lower quantities or are very well received by the public and the automotive press. According to Carvana, however, sports cars can lose up to 48 percent of their value over the years.

For some, this is fine. The sheer joy of owning a sports car and getting to experience it is enough to keep many of us happy. Plus, if the vehicle is well looked after, it should quickly sell. But if you are looking to recoup some of your investment in your sports car, that is one reason to think twice before purchasing one. You might find you sell it for much less than what you paid.

Sports Cars Are Targets For Theft

A fast, expensive car may become the target of thieves. They offer performance that a regular car doesn’t, and if the thief gets away with their crime, they may even be able to sell it for some extra cash. A flashy, premium car will always attract more attention in a parking lot than a daily driver.

Cars.com looked at the most stolen vehicles for 2019-2021; the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat was at the top of the list, followed by the Dodge Charger HEMI. The Dodge Challenger was fourth on the list, highlighting how sought-after performance cars are by thieves. Ensuring it is also parked securely at home or when you are out will massively reduce the theft risk.

Tire Wear Can Increase

While not everyone will burn rubber in their sports car, tires can burn out quicker when driving a performance car. Many of us will, by nature, drive a sports car harder than our regular daily driver because a sports car is for throwing around the corners and for full-throttle driving.

That will increase the wear on the tires and cause them to need replacing much sooner. This has the knock-on effect of increasing the repair bills for the car and the overall cost of a performance vehicle, which can all play critical roles in deciding if we buy a sports car or not.

A Fear Of Crashing A Sports Car

Sports cars are faster, more powerful, and often more expensive than most other vehicles. So, there is likely to be a natural fear for many drivers that they might crash their sports car, endangering themselves, others, and the vehicle.

This could lead some to drive more carefully. Meaning we can’t experience what a sports car is truly like. But the other side is that, if driven too hard, you could end up in a severe accident. If you have a crash but are okay, repairing the car could cost a lot of money.

Increased Police Attention

This might sound unfair, as only some people who drive a sports car will drive them correctly. However, the chances are higher that a cop will ask you to pull over or take an interest in you because you are driving a sports car. This could lead to drivers getting pulled over for ‘checks,’ especially as sports cars are hot targets for theft.

For the most part, the police will simply be doing their job. The one time they don’t check a car out is when it is actually stolen. However, it can be frustrating for those careful and safe drivers enjoying a run out in their prized possession. This could put people off buying a sports car in the future and be annoying enough that a sports car owner will sell their vehicle to someone else.

Unwanted Attention

While we might like admiring glances and looks as we drive our sports car, sometimes the attention can be too much. The attention could also become uncontrollable, such as people constantly asking about your vehicle, bothering you, or even beeping their horns at you while you are driving.

It can be simple things, too, such as people stopping to take photos of you driving your car when you are simply trying to enjoy your day. Thankfully, incidents like this rarely get out of control, and most of us can enjoy driving our sports cars without people pestering us.