It is believed that a car is an extension of one’s self. The rich and the famous take this belief to heart and so they purchase premium vehicles, which make them the envy of the common man. The meaning of luxury cars varies depending on whose point of view is being considered. For the masses, anything beyond their price threshold for a car is considered a luxury car. To the privileged few, it’s about the brand.

There are car brands that conjure up images of sports cars zooming around a racing circuit burning rubber, while other brands are much more connected to royalty and the ruling class. Automobile manufacturers like BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, and Mercedes Benz have car models that specifically target wealthy individuals. The pricing scheme is rather oppressive, but such is the appeal of prestige cars, at least to the insanely rich.

It is a given that cars that command high prices between $60,000 and $100,000 are beyond the reach of the members of the middle class, so the most they could do is gawk and dream of cars that only a few people have the resources to own. But beyond pricing and social class status, luxury cars are pretty much the same with vehicles in other segments in terms of usability and drivability. The difference is largely in safety features and customization. Safety has always been an important factor in deciding on which car to buy. Evidently, the more safety features in place, the higher the standard retail price. » Read more: Luxury Cars – Paying a Premium for Safety Features