Elite Auto Rental Blog

Americans are addicted to slang.  As recent examples, I would offer up “cool” which doesn’t have anything to do with temperature or “bad” which actually means good.
 
As the environmental movement rolls through our society, it too is adding words to our everyday parlance.  Consider the use of the word “green” to describe practically everything.  I recently came across a new slang term that I wasn’t actually sure what it meant. 

The term is hypermiling.
 
A little research enlightened me to the fact that hypermiling is the practice of incorporating extreme automobile driving techniques in order to get more MPG out of the old family battle wagon.
 
These hypermiling techniques are not just gimmicky; they can be effective.  For example, putting your car in neutral and coasting downhill, drafting closely behind other cars on the highway, and gentle acceleration can all add up to a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency.  Since nowadays a 30% increase in fuel economy can prevent your having to get a second mortgage…hypermiling is hot!

Although this is all fine and good, I must admit that when I first saw the term “hypermiling” I instantly thought of breaking the sound barrier in a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo.  Imagine my surprise when I found out the real meaning of the word.

 
Armed with this knowledge, I had to contact my friend Ron Sturgeon to get his thoughts. Sturgeon is the author of Green Weenies and Due Diligence, a book that catalogs the meanings of some of the more colorful phrases in use in America’s boardrooms.

“Hypermiling sounds like it should mean driving really fast,” said the author and owner of a DFW exotic car rental company.

Good, I’m not crazy.
 
This just demonstrated that people’s perception of the meaning of words depends in part on their backgrounds.  I’m sure that if you start talking about hypermiling at an Al Gore rally, the eco-conscious crowd will instantly chip in with their own tales of high-mpg driving in their Priuses.

Hang around with Sturgeon and his friends and mention hypermiling and you may get an earful about the latest V12 or the new 2008 Viper SRT-10 that just arrived at his Tarrant County exotic car club.  Sturgeon is also apt to start making suggestions for exotic car rentals in Dallas TX that he can set you up with to increase your hypermiling experience.
 
Whatever you think of hypermiling, just make sure you don’t show up to Gore’s Earth Day rally in Sturgeon’s Ferrari 360 Spider rental because the lack of fuel efficiency may not be “green” enough to earn you “cool” status and that would be bad.

 
Written by G.D. Gregory.  If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.

Wow, have you heard of this new thing called the internet where you can, uh, buy stuff from your house?  Okay, I realize that I’m not breaking any Earth-shattering news with the notion that items may be purchased on the world-wide web.

But I am ever intrigued and surprised by the pure range of items that are available for purchase.  In this pursuit, I am always drawn to both the quirky and the over-the-top.  With that in mind, I offer you Candy Direct. 

Now everybody knows that candy is available almost anywhere.  Just try checking out of a grocery store with your kid and you’ll learn just how readily available candy is.  So why would I need to go online to order the stuff?

The folks at Candy Direct aren’t just selling your typical fare; they are going all out to offer anything anyone could ever want that is candy related.  Looking for hard-to-find candy, they’ve got it.  Looking for bouquets made out of candy, they’ve got it.  Looking for retro-candy from eras past, they’ve got it.  And on and on it goes.
 
Candy Direct will take you back to the simpler times of Jujubes, Jujyfruits, and bubble gum cigars.  What better way to develop cavities and life threatening lifestyle habits simultaneously!
 
My search for internet quirkiness has also led me to some somewhat grander discoveries.  Take for example Ron Sturgeon’s family of exotic car businesses that he operates with a strong online presence.
 
“In this day and age, you are really a dinosaur if you don’t have a strong Internet presence, regardless of what business you’re in,” opines Dallas sports car rental company.
 
Sturgeon appears to be trying to turn “kick the tires” into ”click the tires” when it comes to his exotic car businesses.  Perhaps his strongest internet presence is seen in his exotic car rental agency.  This company boasts an impressive garage of exotic cars that can all be reserved online by the day.  Additionally, the company’s website offers weekly internet specials that allow customers to choose from a changing menu of DFW exotic car rental special deals.

For those for whom cars are like candy, Sturgeon’s exotic car club allows members to drive a garage full of exotic cars for far less than the price of direct ownership.  This Dallas TX exotic car club accepts online applications and communicates with all of its members via the company’s website. Exotic car sharing is an excellent way to drive exotics without taking out a second mortgage.

Finally, Sturgeon operates a Texas exotic car tour company where participants are treated to an eight-hour sampling of an assortment of five exotic cars.  Again, the company’s website offers exotic car tour route descriptions, videos of past tours, and allows for exotic car tour reservations.

Whether you’re into licorice or Lamborghinis, the Internet has you covered.

 
Written by G.D. Gregory.  If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.

The federal government announced recently that the initial tax rebate stimulus checks would be mailed about a week earlier than originally planned.  In fact, some direct deposit stimulus check recipients will get their money as early as next Monday.

The Bush Administration is claims that mailing the checks ASAP will help American households deal with rising fuel and food prices.  Economists and business owners hope that the tax rebate checks will stimulate the economy in the same fashion that previous tax rebate programs have. 

Unfortunately, some observers feel that a significant boost to the economy isn’t likely because the prior tax rebate coincided with Bush’s semi-permanent tax cuts, but the current tax rebate is a stand alone measure.
 
Assuming that costs for food and fuel continue to rise, the tax rebate stimulus checks will only postpone Americans feeling pinched in their pocket books.

What will the reduction of real purchasing power do to the spending habits of Americans? Experts forecast tough times for luxury goods makers ahead.

Some luxury retailers, however, are bucking the trend. Tapping a loyal client base and the power of their brands, some top tier luxury retailers are still finding a way to thrive. For example, Neiman Marcus defied the trend and posted much better than expected earnings for this fiscal quarter.

“Sometimes small businesses that develop a deep relationship with their customers can weather economic storms, even when their goods or services are not considered ‘needs,’” says entrepreneur Ron Sturgeon.  Sturgeon operates a Texas-based family of exotic car businesses that cater to higher-than-average income earners.

“In a way, our exotic car club actually saves our clients a great deal of money when you compare membership versus the cost of direct ownership,” reports Sturgeon.  “Membership in a car club can be a very cost effective way to drive a variety of the world’s best exotic cars,” says Sturgeon.

Members of the club pay a flat monthly fee that ranges from $750 to $3,000 for a set number of driving days in the Dallas car sharing club’s vehicles. Membership is capped so that their will not be more than five members per vehicle. “The point of the club is to enjoy the cars, so we have to keep the number of members low so that members can reserve our cars when they want them,” says General Manager Tom Warren.

“Membership has let me scratch my exotic car itch without plunking down the six figures for a Lamborghini Gallardo,” explains Derek Chase, a DFW-based audio engineer and DFW Elite Car Club Member. “Once you get started driving a Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo, it’s not hard to find other club cars that you want to take for a spin.”

To learn more about car sharing clubs, check out an excellent article that appeared in a recent issue of the Robb Report Collection. If you are in the DFW area, check out http://www.dfwelitecarclub.com for a peak at the club’s exclusive collection of cars. If you’re outside of Texas, consult an online directory of exotic car clubs, such as www.exoticcarclubs.com, to find a car sharing club in your city.

“With one phone call, the car I want is delivered—fueled and ready for me to drive. It’s fantastic not to have to worry about depreciation, maintenance, or any other exotic car ownership hassles. All I have to do is enjoy the experience of driving the newest 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo,” says Mr. Chase.

Written by G.D. Gregory.  If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.

If you own a Hyundai Sonata from 2006-2008, you might be taking your vehicle back to the dealer for a repair to the car’s air bag system.  Over 390,000 automobiles will be recalled to fix a defect with the front passenger air bag system. 

While your Hyundai is in the shop, why not go rent a luxury sedan to drive during the repair?  Your car will be back on the road in no time, but you might as well enjoy the chance to drive a luxury car while you’re waiting for Hyundai to fix the air bag system in your vehicle.

The affected Sonatas were equipped with a special feature to disable the front passenger air bag system when the car sensed the presence of a small child or a child restraint system in the front seat.

A great idea, poorly executed.

Hyundai began receiving complaints that the car was misclassifying a smaller adult as a child and disabling the passenger air bag system.  In a state like Texas, famous for having some of the best-trained tort lawyers around, Hyundai is smart to be proactive in fixing the problem.

Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas, Texas luxury car rental company, had this to say about the recall: “Hyundai has come a long way in improving how consumers perceive their cars. I’m glad to see them acting quickly to take care of the airbag issue with the Sonata.”

Although no one likes to have to be without his or her car, it can sometimes be fun to drive something different. “For Texans who love driving luxury cars, it’s nice–every once in a while–to drive something different,” said Sturgeon.

“I encourage people to rent a car they have always wanted to drive,” said the Tarrant Country luxury car rental company executive. Among the more exciting recent arrivals at DFW Elite Auto Rental are a Lamborghini Gallardo and a 600HP Dodge Viper Convertible.

“The new Viper is a beast,” said DFW Elite Auto Rental GM Tom Warren. “It’s a blast to drive, but quite a transition for someone who is used to the tamer road manners of the Sonata. For a look at all of the luxury and performance rental cars at DFW Elite Auto Rental.com visit (www.dfweliteautorental.com).

To find an agency that specializes in performance car rental in your home city, visit (www.exoticcarrental.com), on online directory devoted to helping performance car fans interesting in renting a fun and fast car in Texas and beyond.
Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer in the Twin Cities.  Visit her website for information about her freelance writing services.

If there’s one thing that we should all know by now it is this, secrets are hard to keep in the digital age. Just look at YouTube. Pick your nose and within seconds the whole world is laughing at you.

Although it is hard for individuals to keep anything secret, imagine how difficult it is for large corporations, particularly car companies trying to keep the lid on new models.

Ford found out just how difficult a task secret keeping can be can with respect to their 2010 Ford Taurus. Apparently, pictures of the Ford sedan have been leaked on the Internet.

The good news for Ford is that most of the reactions to the pictures are positive. Ford put both American and European designers to work on the Taurus project, but it appears from the leaked Taurus photos that the Europeans had the most influence.

The posted photos reveal that the 2010 Ford Taurus borrows heavily from Ford of Europe’s Mondeo sedan design. If you’ve never seen the Mondeo, its styling calls to mind the Volvo S60 or the BMW 3 Series.

If nothing else, I am pleased to see that Ford is trying more adventurous styling. Only time will tell if American car buyers will return to take another look at Ford. “I have high hopes for Ford and am encouraged by the steps they are taking to make their cars more exciting,” says Ron Sturgeon, the owner of a Dallas, TX luxury car rental company.

With the recent demise of the Ford GT and a possibility that the new owners at Chrysler may not continue the Viper, sports car fans have to be concerned about the future of American muscle cars. “We’ve got a new 600HP Dodge Viper for rent in Dallas and we’ve got a Corvette Z06 that has been among our most popular Dallas muscle car rentals,” said Sturgeon.

As someone who appreciates the experience of driving exotic cars, Sturgeon has developed a venture to make the best cars more accessible to the people who want to drive them the most.

With tour dates in cities across TX, DFW Drive Your Dream gives car enthusiasts a chance to drive the newest 600HP Viper, a Bentley GT Convertible, a BMW M6 Droptop, a Lamborghini Gallardo, and a Ferrari F430.

This day of fantasy car driving guarantees every participant a minimum of a half hour drive time with each of the five cars, full driving instruction, and a gourmet lunch. Visit DFW Drive Your Dream to learn more about a tour in a city near you.

Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.

Remember the days before SUVs roamed the planet with the authority of their distant dinosaur cousins? I have vivid memories of piling into the old wagon for a cross-town or, God forbid, cross-country trip.

Well, as history played out, once all of those grocery shopping soccer moms caught a glimpse of the new SUVs, it was over and just like that the station wagon seemed to go the way of the buffalo.

Well, a funny thing may be happening. With gas prices soaring and the economy generally heading into the tank, people are starting to cut back. One way this is playing out is that folks are looking to spend less on cars and less to fill those cars up with gas.

In an effort to take advantage of this, Toyota offers its new Toyota Venza. What’s this bring to the table you ask? Well, the Toyota Venza is described by Toyota as a “crossover sedan.”

Rather than the slightly lower SUVs put out by Chrysler, the Toyota Venza interprets the term “crossover sedan” to mean “station wagon.” Although it would probably be marketing suicide to actually refer to the Venza as a station wagon.

The initial reviews are mixed with some calling the Venza a timely addition to the Toyota lineup that “looks like a winner.” Still others claim that the Venza is what happens when you take a “Camry Wagon and cross it with ugly.” Still, given Toyota’s reputation and levels of customer satisfaction, it is hard to bet against them.

It is still to be determined how the current economic and energy climate will affect those who love their cars exotic and fast. Many car enthusiasts are wealthy enough to be bothered by a few extra bucks at the pump. But others may find that owning their dream car is put further out of reach by these developments.

“There are a lot of people who have an unlimited amount of love for cars, but a limited budget to spend on them,” notes Ron Sturgeon, a man famous for renting Ferraris in Dallas, “These are the people that tend to make their way to our businesses,” continues Sturgeon.
Sturgeon operates an exotic car club, exotic car rental agency, and an exotic car tour company.

The exotic car club allows members to enjoy a loaded exotic car garage without the costs and inconveniences associated with direct ownership. Membership terms are flexible so that members can buy just the right amount of drive time to fit their tastes and their budgets.

“For car enthusiasts looking for an alternative to expensive exotic car ownership, car sharing is a fantastic alternative,” says Mr. Sturgeon. “Our Dallas car sharing club just added its thrid Lamborghini and we also just received the new Dodge Viper,” said Sturgeon. Find out more about membership in a car club by visiting http://www.dfwelitecarclub.com.

Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.

If you’re the sort of person who likes to wait until the last minute to file your income taxes, today is a very busy day for you. Income taxes must be postmarked by midnight tomorrow night to avoid late fees.

If you need more time to get your tax materials together, tomorrow night is also the deadline for filing for a tax extension. Filing for an extension will give you an extra six months to get your paperwork together, but any taxes you owe are due now. On the other hand, if you know you’ll be receiving a refund, it makes perfect sense to bite the bullet and get those tax papers together now.

According to an article in USA Today, “…the impact on the U.S. economy when about $230 billion in tax refunds starts hitting the streets in March, April and May is so great that it’s known as the ‘April problem.’”

“Although our business isn’t too sensitive to tax refund time, we do see a small up tick in Dallas luxury car rentals around the time tax checks start arriving,” says DFW Elite Auto Rental.com GM Tom Warren.

“However, I’d say we do get some business for our fantasy car driving tours around tax time,” says Warren. A division of the Fort Worth-based rental car company organizes full day fantasy car driving tours. “Every year we have one or two people that decide this is their year to experience driving a Ferrari F430 and four other dream cars in a single day,” insists Warren.

Recently introduced standby ride along passes mean that a car enthusiast can get in the passenger seat for a dream car tour for far less than the full fare when seats are available on a drive your dream ticket. “It’s great for couples or as an anniversary or birthday gift for a car buff,” says the Dallas rental car executive. “The standby seats aren’t guaranteed, but if you happen to hit a tour that doesn’t fill up, they’re the fantasy car bargain of the century,” says Warren.

Check out tour dates, videos and pictures for recent DFW Drive Your Dream Tours on their website (www.dfwdriveyourdream.com)

The IRS website has a special note for taxpayers who do not usually need to file returns: “For tax year 2007 only, many taxpayers who would not normally need to file a federal income tax return will need to file one in order to ensure that they receive an Economic Stimulus Payment (commonly referred to as “rebate”).”

In other words, no file, no free money. Seems strange that folks that don’t normally file still can get money back. But why quibble when the government is buying support for incumbents during an election year stimulating the economy for the good of the common people?

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services. She is a regular contributor to our exotic car blogs.

I hate taxes. I loathe taxes. I truly think the devil created taxes just to torture us. I get so upset about taxes, I just have to get in my car, drive on an Interstate just passed the fire station and police station until I get to a nice National Park and relax. Oh wait, those all require taxes. Curses.

Anyway, most people approach Continue Reading »

Despite a cult following for several of their models over the years (e.g., Beetle, Rabbit, Golf) Volkswagen has seemingly always been bedeviled by engineering, maintenance, and customer service issues.

Unfortunately, news of a voluntary Passat recall for models built from 1999-2005 will do nothing to reverse this trend. To add to the typical bad news of a recall is the fact that Volkswagen actually announced the recall based on three separate mechanical issues.

The first issue involves gasoline powered Passats with automatic transmissions. Those models will require inspection of the heat shield to determine if there is any damage present that could compromise the exhaust system.

Secondly, all Passats with a 1.8-liter engine will have their fuel line inspected, and potentially replaced, because of damage that may exist.

Finally, all Passats with the 4Motion all-wheel drive need to have their fuel tank ventilation valves inspected for damage.

Passat owners are invited to go to any VW dealer to have the problems addressed, but official notices aren’t scheduled to be released until May 30. Thus far, no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of any of these issues.

No one company can or should be overly picked on for recalls. All car manufacturers have had their brushes in manufacturing imperfections. In fact, maintenance issues in general are one of the primary headaches of all car owners. This is especially true for exotic car owners.

“If you think getting your Volkswagen or Volvo worked on is stressful, imagine taking in your six figure exotic sports car for work,” states Ron Sturgeon, the owner of a Tarrant County car rental company.

“The general rule is that the more expensive the car, the more expensive the work that will ultimately have to be done on that car. That is big factor in why our clients come to us for Fort Worth luxury car rentals the first place,” says Sturgeon.

Sturgeon runs several exotic car businesses including a exotic car club in Fort Worth. “Our club allows members to enjoy the driving aspect of the exotic car experience without dealing with the inconvenience and high costs of buying or maintaining performance cars. Not to mention that DFW Elite Car Club members can drive a different exotic car whenever they choose,” says Sturgeon.

To find an exotic car sharing club in your area, check an online directory such as http://www.exoticcarclubs.com.

Sturgeon also owns an exotic car rental agency and an exotic car tour business. “Some people want to have access to an exotic car for a fun weekend or special occasion, so renting from us is a great opportunity. Others like spending a day behind the wheel of five exotic cars on scenic tours, so the exotic car tour is great for them. We just try and give each customer the best performance car driving experience for them.”

An excellent place to find a reputable exotic car rental company is an online directory such as exoticcarrental.net. “It isn’t nearly as expensive as people suppose to upgrade your next rental to something truly exciting to drive,” says Shane Atwood,owner of Precious Metals Cars, a luxury car rental company serving Hilton Head and Savannah, GA. Nothing completes a historic tour of old Savannah better than a little highway driving in a Convertible Dodge Viper rental,” insists Mr. Atwood.

Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.

According to AutoWeek, GM is going to launch a new OnStar system that features MapQuest driving directions.   “The OnStar operative makes it look fairly easy: MapQuest a destination, and, with a few clicks, it’s sent to your car. No problem.  It’s called eNav, and it’s another way the directionally challenged have of arriving at the right place on time.”

GM continues to work hard to keep OnStar competitive with other navigation aids according to Auto Week: “General Motors showed off the technology and another new OnStar feature, Destination Download, in late March and is formally rolling them out on Wednesday, April 2. They’re part of GM’s strategy to make OnStar more competitive against cheaper portable navigation systems and emerging technologies from other automakers.”

This technology could prove useful in unfamiliar places, such as when you are on vacation in Texas.  However, it will be two years before the new navigation system is available on all of the automaker’s vehicles.  Currently, the feature will be available on 22 different 2009 GM vehicles, for a total of 325,000 automobiles.

If your plans include a trip to Dallas for fun or business, DFW Elite Auto Rental, the premier luxury car rental company in DFW, can make sure you never get lost. Most of the exotic and performance cars in our collection have built in navigation,” said Tom Warren, GM of the car rental company.

“The navigation system in our new Bentley GTC is exceptionally easy to use, although I suspect the on-board navigation system isn’t the primary reason we have so may requests to rent a Bentley GTC in Dallas. More likely people rent it because it’s arguably the best 4-door convertible in the world and a gorgeous car,” said Mr. Warren. 

With several amazing automobiles to choose from, auto enthusiasts shouldn’t have any trouble finding things to do in Texas.  Another great vacation activity is participating in a dream tour from DFW Drive Your Dream.  Dream tour participants drive five exotic cars back-to-back on a pre-selected scenic route over some of DFW’s best driving roads.

“I couldn’t stop smiling,” said a recent DFW Drive Your Dream Tour participant. “It’s an amazing experience to drive a Lamborghini Gallardo, 600 HP Dodge Viper, and Ferrari F430 all in a single day,” said the local car buff. “The driving instruction, staff, and lunch were excellent, but there is no substitute for experiencing the magic of driving five exotic cars for yourself,” said the Dallas web design company owner. Learn more about these fantasy car driving tours at www.dfwdriveyourdream.com

The Detroit Free Press has further details about the addition of MapQuest driving directions to OnStar-equipped GM vehicles:  “In addition, the in-car navigation and safety system also announced a new option that will allow OnStar customers with screen-based navigation systems to download their directions straight to the map screen if they choose.  Until now, OnStar turn-by-turn directions were available only as written directions in the instrument panel or on the radio display. They are also broadcast over speakers in the vehicle.  Both new offerings are in response to driver requests and will not add to the cost of an OnStar subscription.”

While this news may excite technology enthusiasts, it may not be what GM needs to reclaim its lost share of the automobile market.  Although GM was the auto sales leader for the last 75 years, Toyota is poised to take over the position of number one.
Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities.  Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services. She is a regular contributor to the exotic car rental blog.