What Gran Turismo Doesn’t Teach You About Real Car Ownership

Gran Turismo itself is a blast. You can tweak suspension settings, fine-tune your aerodynamics, and race million-dollar supercars across a digital version of real-world tracks. It’s every car nerd’s dream in high definition. 

But once you step outside your living room and get behind the wheel in real life, things get a lot less glamorous. And a lot more expensive as well. 

Here are the real-world things Gran Turismo doesn’t prepare you for when it comes to actually owning a car.

1. Fuel Isn’t Free (Or Cheap)

In Gran Turismo, you’re driving all day long without refueling or any expenses. Do you think that’s similar to the real world? Think again. 

With fuel costs touching $3.50 per gallon in the U.S., that weekend car could cost you more in fuel costs than your groceries for the week. So, make sure you’re only going full throttle in the game and not in real life if you’re on a budget. 

2. Car Insurance and Claims

In real life, there’s no respawn. If you crash your car, that comes with consequences. But you can also save up on these repairs by having reliable auto insurance. It can actually save you thousands of dollars in unexpected car repairs. 

Gran Turismo doesn’t cover this aspect, and neither does it cover how you can compare different insurance quotes and find the one that suits you. 

3. Cars Depreciate in Value

Winning a Ferrari in the game is a real flex. But in real life? Not so much. The minute you drive a new car off the lot, it loses approximately 20% of its value, and around 60% over the first five years. 

You don’t see that in the career mode. That’s why it’s better to go for a couple-year-old car instead of going all out if you’re looking for a budget-friendly car. 

4. Real Maintenance = Real Money

You don’t need oil changes or brake replacements in Gran Turismo. But in the real world, regular maintenance is non-negotiable. 

A new set of tires? That’s $800 and so on. Welcome to the grow-up mode. You can save on these costs through a simple car maintenance schedule that costs significantly less than replacing the entire part. 

5. You Can’t Skip Paperwork

In Gran Turismo, you buy a car and hit the track. In reality, there’s registration, title transfers, emissions tests, and a solid hour at the DMV (on a good day). This shows that owning a car isn’t as fast and easy as it is in the video game. 

6. Not All Roads are Tracks

Video game circuits are usually pristine, if you aren’t playing the hard mode. However, that’s not the case in real life. You’ll have to face potholes, traffic, construction zones, and left-lane hoggers as your everyday opponents.

Summing Up

Even though Gran Turismo teaches us about precision driving, it doesn’t teach us how to read a contract, check tire pressure, or navigate rush hour. And it definitely won’t warn you about your next insurance premium.

Just know that while the game lets you live the dream, the real world comes with a bill. 

And possibly a parking ticket.