Know What You're Getting Yourself Into When Buying A Bugatti Chiron

With Rimac Automobili taking over the majority stakes in Bugatti, it is almost certain that the brand will incorporate some form of electrification in its powertrain in place of its iconic W16 engine shortly. The Bugatti Chiron ended production in 2022 with a total of 500 units built which also includes special editions and a few one-offs. While it is impossible to buy a brand-new Chiron now, a few sellers are willing to let go of their car for the right price. Regardless of how much the car is selling for, buying the vehicle is only half the task as owning the car is what eats up most of the money and time. Considering it to be impossible to spend below $3 million for a used Chiron, there are a few key aspects to consider before depositing the car.

10. Ensure that the car has its speed key 

While it is regular to receive your car with a spare set of keys, things at Bugatti work differently. The car comes with a regular key fob along with something called a Speed Key with no spares for each. This key sits in a slot between the driver seat and the door sill but why do we need another key you may ask? The Speed Key helps unlock the maximum speed of 261 MPH, which otherwise is locked at 236 MPH, after all, speed is one of Bugatti's main forte. In case you don't find the key and would like to order a replacement, expect a bill of $13,550 in your mailbox. This price also applies to the regular key of a Bugatti Chiron.

9. A tire change on the Chiron is cheaper than on the Veyron 

Its predecessor, the Bugatti Veyron was a car way ahead of its time and used components that were specially designed for the vehicle. One such aspect was the tires which were the Michelin Pilot Sport PAX that cost $42,000 for a set. However, Chiron owners can let their breath out (kinda) as it costs just half of that to replace the tires, which needs to be done every 5,000 miles.

8. Maintenance on the Chiron can cost you a Mustang Ecoboost

You can not expect a car that costs well over $3 million to be serviced by your local mechanic and hence, the Bugatti Chiron requires some high TLC. Bugatti offers free service for the first 4 years from the initial delivery date. However, owners are expected to pay for consumables like fluid change and key fob battery replacement which in total would sum up to $11,500. Wait, that cannot get you a brand-new Mustang, can it? Bugatti would say “Hold my beer” to that as post the 4 years, the car demands a service worth $34,000 but this major expense would happen only once in 10 years.

7. Can you handle the celebrity status?

Everyone these days seems to be craving attention, especially on social media. There are numerous ways of achieving it ranging from positing your fancy vacation pics, carrying the Balenciaga shopper tote on the streets of NYC, or buying a Chiron and positing a reel asking “What color is your Bugatti?”. Jokes aside, it is almost impossible to drive a Chiron without a bunch of people following you with cameras to try and get that perfect shot. For people who enjoy popularity, this might sound like a dream but for the reserved ones, this sure is a nightmare.

6. You better not lose the Bugatti Macaron on the grill

While Bugatti is known to keep everything insanely expensive, tiny things like the brand logo on the grill shouldn't be all that pricey right? Made using hand-enameled sterling silver, the Bugatti Badge would cost you $550 which is enough to dine at a Michelin restaurant. This makes up about 0.02% of the overall cost of the car and hence, it's ideal to not prefer Chirons with a logo delete.

5. Virginians and Californians would need to spend extra

Are you from the state of Virginia or California? Well, we’ve got news! Just when you think you've managed to finance the car from its full deposit, maintenance cost, and all the other expenses tied to it, you get a notice of $50,000 as property tax. This is a strict rule laid out by the state government and the only way to skip shelling out $50K is to move to your 4th house (which we’re sure all Chiron owners do) and get your car registered there.

 4. You will be monitored 24/7

While regular car owners receive notifications about something wrong with their car on the driver's display, Bugatti phones their customers apart by displaying warning lights to inform the owners about what exactly is wrong with the car. Bugatti calls it the Telemetry system that monitors around 10,000 signals from various components. They send one of its expert technicians, dubbed the “Flying Doctors” to wherever you are on the earth to get your car fixed according to Bugatti standards.

3. More cylinders do not mean better-sounding 

The debate for the best-sounding cars and engines has existed ever since the extinction of dinosaurs. Over the years, manufacturers like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, and even Lexus have discovered that higher cylinders meant better symphony from the pipes. As Bugatti entered the market with its massive 16-cylinder engine, it was only sensible to think that the car would sound obnoxiously beautiful. However, the Chiron sounds like a loud Dyson with the only exciting note being its turbo spool from the quad-turbo setup.

2. Skyview is a fancy $62,000 option

When on the hunt for a Chiron, it's possible to notice some cars with a dual glass pane on their roof. Skyview as Bugatti calls it is an optional add-on that the initial buyers could pick for a whopping $62,000. This figure made a lot of buyers skip the option but if you manage to find a Chiron with it, consider it to be a super rare find. However, if you drive around in a sunny area, this sunroof is certainly going to turn the cabin into an over.

1. Some Chirons were recalled 

It is evident that Bugatti makes its cars with sheer brilliance and utmost perfection but mistakes are inevitable. A handful of Bugatti Chiron from its early years of production was recalled due to a faulty seat bolster which leaves the occupants in an unsafe position when the seats reclined. The Chiron also had a programming error with its Electronic Stability Control, making the car unsafe to drive. Although Bugatti called each of the affected car owners to inform them about the issue, it is important to have valid documentation that confirms the car was fixed through recall.