Elite Auto Rental Blog

“The speed limit is annoying because it holds up people who have got a job to do,” saidThe Motoring mouth Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear in his confession.

While some of those narrow minded individuals who can’t appreciate the need for speed would be would have him fired for this statement. I on the other hand believe that Clarkson stated outloud what a lot have thought. KUDOS to him.

While our fellow petroheads across the vast ocean deal with increased police patrol for speeders. We over here can enjoy a speed jaunt down the road in one of the five cars in a Drive Your Dream Tour. Don’t just dream about driving a Ferrari at its most capable speed make it a reality.

There is a huge demographic of people that will never have the chance to sit behind the wheel of the worlds greatest super cars. Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Aston Martin’s… they are ‘untouchable’ for the majority because they could simply not afford to buy or lease one. High end rental agencies are slowly bringing that opportunity to more and more people as they are becoming more widely available, easier to actually rent, and a greater variety of cars are being offered.

Up until late, the standard ‘baller’ cars that could be found on rental lots catering to those looking for something a little flashier and faster than the PT Cruiser, were the Ferrari 355 and the 360, and assortments of Porsche’s. That has changed quite a bit over the past year or so, we now have Lamborghini’s being offered, and not just the Gallardo either.

But Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car has truly stepped up the game. Offering the all mighty Bugatti Veyron to the likes of all. Well all who have $25,000 to spend on the car for a 24 hour rental of the mega car. We at CarFront were quite intrigued, and phoned up Beverly Hills to get some more information, and find out answers to pertinent questions like:

Is doing 250mph+ frowned upon?

How many supermodels can fit comfortably and uncomfortably in the car.

I’ll give you my wife, house and first born… how about we call it square?

But unfortunately I didn’t even get the chance to ask my pressing questions as their customer service seemed a tad below helpful, after getting transfered around for information. At my last stop I was told to simply send an email, two days later, I’m still waiting.

Well I was just as intriqued as the ballers from CarFront. So I called and emailed too. Too no avail still can’t get information on this rental.

You won’t find this customer service problem at DFW Elite Auto Rental. They a have a fleet of exotics availble that would make any petrolhead weep with joy. They may not have the Veyron, yet. But with the selection of Lambos’, Ferraris’ and Bentley, one would not have to worry about the little car that’s not available to rent somewhere else.

As the first blockbuster romantic comedy in years, the Sex and the City movie is getting a lot of attention. Based on the popular HBO TV series, the movie picks up four years after the show ended, showing us turning points in the lives of its four main characters: Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha. But the movie is more than just a showcase for flawed female characters and high fashion; it also gives us a glimpse of some great exotic cars.

“I first heard about the film in August last year,” Ferdinand Froning, the head of Mercedes’ Entertainment Liason Office in Los Angeles, told the Telegraph. “I’ve a friend who was a PR for the project and they wanted to work with us. This is so influential, it’s the same cast as the TV series, the same crew, Sarah Jessica Parker is executive producer, we just had to be linked.”

[Photo Credit New Line Cinema for both images.]

Mercedes appearance in the film reflects the company’s real life sponsorship of New York Fashion Week. They also worked out a deal with producers to feature Mercedes automobiles in many of the scenes. Mercedes has also launched a cool minisite dedicated to the film.

“Product placement is a great way to expose people to a car brand,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas exotic car rental company. “Some people may choose to buy a Mercedes based on the company’s film exposure. Others will choose to rent a Mercedes and avoid the hassle of owning an exotic or luxury car.”

Exotic, classic, and luxury car rental may indeed get a boost from the film. Sex and the City is all about brands. Carrie wears Manolo Blahniks. Samantha famously sacrifices her integrity to get a Hermes bag. Charlotte had an engagement ring from Tiffany and Co. And you can bet Miranda’s business suits don’t come from the nearest Dress Barn. If the girls drive the lastest Mercedes, women everywhere will want to do the same.

However, wanting to ride in a Mercedes and actually plunking down $90,000 for a luxury car are two very different things. Most of us just don’t have the bankroll to run down to our nearest Mercedes dealer and drive away in the new Mercedes SL500. That’s where exotic, classic, and luxury car rental comes in. You can afford to splurge on those Manolos and still drive the exotic car of your dreams.

“I’m sure the film will be a major influence,” says Sturgeon, who also owns a Dallas exotic car club and a company that provides automotive dream tours. “Exotic car rental is a really popular alternative.”

Froning told the Telegraph that product placement is a delicate art. “If you are too blatant, the audience will realize it is a commercial,” he said. “You have to trust the director and the creative people.”

Only time will tell whether Mercedes sales and Mercedes rentals will increase due to the exposure they receive in Sex and the City or on their Mercedes minisite dedicated to the film.

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.

By Kirill Ougarov

638. That’s the number of SAE-certified horsepower packed into the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1’s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, along with 604 lb-ft of torque. The supercharger has a displacement of 2.3 liters with a maximum boost pressure of 10.5 psi. The most powerful production engine to ever come out from a GM factory boasts 103 horsepower per liter and will propel the “Blue Devil” to a top speed that is well over 200 mph.

GM expects the Corvette ZR1 to be the most fuel-efficient 600-horsepower-plus car on the market, which isn’t an outlandish statement considering the near-single-digit fuel economy numbers posted by the likes of the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 and others. GM took measures to ensure that the engine would have reliability comparable to the rest of the small-block family. According to GM powertrain engine engineering executive director Sam Windgarden, “Developing the LS9 involved more than simply striving for a great horsepower number. Endurance and reliability testing have shown the engine to be robust and low-maintenance, just like other engines in the small-block family”

LS9 Need to Know:

* Aluminum cylinder block with iron cylinder liners that are finish-bored and honed with a deck plate installed
* Forged steel crankshaft with a nine-bolt flange
* Titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons
* Stronger, cylinder heads with 2.16-inch (55 mm) titanium intake valves and 1.59-inch (40.4 mm) hollow-stem, sodium-filled exhaust valves
* Camshaft with 0.555-inch (14.1 mm) lift for excellent idle and low-speed driving qualities
* A dry-sump oiling system with 10.5-quart (9.9 liters) capacity
* Integrated oil cooler and piston-cooling oil squirters
* Intercooler cover visible through the hood window that features ZR1-unique blue accents and “LS9 SUPERCHARGED” embossed on the left and right sides

Check out the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 First Look to get the full story on this landmark American supercar and its over-the-top powerful LS9 engine.

This latest supercar is the creation of Scottish design studio Dowdeswell & Hardie and has been named the Falen after a demon from folklore. The design shares a striking a resemblance with the Lamborghini Gallardo and, like the Italian exotic, the Falen is also powered by a high-rev V10 engine.

The proposed specs for the car include a mid-mounted 5.5L V10 that develops over 800hp (600kW) and is mated to a five-speed transaxle gearbox. Engineers are still deciding on the final powertrain but the potent engine, a Judd GV5 S2, is confirmed for production. The same engine has already been used by a number of teams in the LMP1 racing class.
Engineers at Judd are currently fine-tuning the engine for road use. The entire V10 unit weighs a total of 130kg and when combined with the Falen’s carbon-fiber monocoque and body shell should see the car tip the scales at just 1,000kg.
Only four examples will be built all up and the first prototype will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next March. The car will be smaller than a Porsche 911 and is targeted at track enthusiasts after a unique race car. You will eventually be able to see the progress of the car at the project’s official website, which is scheduled to launch on the first of June.

 Back in 2006 most Porsche fans were rubbing their hands in anticipation of the new Porsche 911 Targa but some were left disappointed to discover the 911 Targa only had a large sliding roof rather than an actual removable roof. ( WCF )

VeloTech of Paso Robles, California in the USA has the solution for roughly USD 10,000 and can transform your current 911 Convertible to be a true targa. The new carbon fiber roof can be partly removed to reveal the roll-cage / B pillar and wrap-around rear window. VeloTech, a Euro brand turbo-charger firm, announced at last year’s SEMA show that if they can drop the price to USD 6,000 the demand will follow.

The targa came about after US government set some strict safety regulations in the 1960’s about top-down driving which made it impossible car manufacturers to continue making traditional cloth-top convertibles. In due time manufacturers raised the safety of their soft-top convertibles to meet the new safety regulations resulting in the return of the cabrio.

Forbes.com recently released a list of the most expensive homes currently on the real estate market, and that list was topped by $165 million mansion in Beverly Hills, once owned by newspaper magnate William Randolf Hearst. The Hearst Mansion, which was featured in the movie The Godfather, boasts six buildings and 29 bedrooms, three swimming pools and a state-of-the-art movie theater.

Although most of us cannot afford the price tag of the Hearst Mansion and other extravagant homes, we can still experience some of the lifestyle perks of the rich and famous. Among the fastest growing segments of the car rental business in the United States, exotic car rental allows car aficionados to drive exotic cars such as the Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley Continental, or new 600 HP Dodge Viper.

Other mansions on the Forbes list are similarly luxurious. Fleur de Lys, a home that is also located in Beverly Hills, is on the market for $125 million. The 45,000-square-foot palatial estate is aptly named because it was modeled after Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles, complete with shaped hedges and a grand courtyard. Fleur de Lys also boasts a nine-car garage, plenty of room to store a few of the world’s top performance cars.

Some of the exotic cars that might reside in the garage at Fleur de Lys are also available for rent at a variety of exotic car rental businesses. If you dream of driving a Lamborghini Gallardo, there’s no need to consider that goal as far out of your reach as owning Fleur de Lys or the Hearst Mansion. Finding a car rental agency that specializes in exotics is simple using an online directory, such as www.rentexoticcars.net.

Also at $125 million, Forbes.com lists Dunnellen Hall in Greenwich, Connecticut. The estate features 40 acres of woods and meadows and a 21,897-square-foot Jacobean manor with 14 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. The interior of the home is no less grand with elaborate wood paneling, travertine floors, and even a 52-foot indoor swimming pool. It was her attempt to write off lavish rennovations of this residence as business expenses that got the late Leonna Hemsley in trouble with the IRS.

Those living the wealthy lifestyle also have at least one additional home, and at $100 million, Tranquility in Lake Tahoe, Nevada is a contender for those with the bankroll to support it. The 210-acre property includes a 20,000-square-foot main house with a wine cellar that has room for 3,500 bottles of the finest wines. Add to that the indoor swimming pool and 19-seat movie theater, and you’re all set to enjoy your vacation.

If you are interested in driving a car that makes almost as much of a statement as the mega-mansions featured on Forbes.com, look no further than renting a Lamborghini Gallardo. The exotic car, which has an MSRP of $225,000 can accelerate from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and boasts a 520-horsepower engine. Exotic car rental is the best way to drive a Lamborghini Gallardo if you want to feel like a tycoon for a day.

Other homes on the Forbes.com list include Maison de L’Amitie in Palm Beach, Florida, Hillandale in Stamford, Connecticut, BootJack Ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and the Portabello Estate in Corona del Mar, California.

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.

As gas prices continue to climb, more travelers are choosing to fly and rent a car at their destination, rather than drive over this Memorial Day Weekend.

For those keeping score, CNN reports that the nationwide average for the price of gas is now at $3.875 per gallon, a significant increase from a year ago when gas averaged $3.23 per gallon.

The rising cost of fuel has made travel of all kinds more expensive. “Travelers this Memorial Day have to redo the math on the cost of driving,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Fort Worth car rental company. “We have had some luxury car rentals for Memorial Day from out-of-towners flying in to DFW,” reports the owner of DFW Elite Auto Rental.com.

According to CNN, an estimated 12% of Americans will be traveling for Memorial Day weekend, but it seems that 23% of Americans traveling will be altering their plans – either driving shorter distances or using other forms of transportation.

The current fuel price of $3.875 is the 16th consecutive record-setting nationwide average. The price at the pump has risen every day for the last 17 days, leaving motorists wondering when fuel prices will level off.

Amtrak is taking advantage of the increase in demand by offering discounted fares for families. Children ages 2 through 15 get to ride the train at half price, and students, seniors, veterans, and many other groups can also travel at a discount.

The Amtrak website directly addresses the topic of high fuel prices, saying, “Shocked by outrageous prices at the pumps and sky-high airfares? This year, do something different — take your vacation by train, on Amtrak.”

“We are still a nation that loves driving and loves the freedom of the open road,” says Sturgeon. “I’m confident that Americans will find a solution to rising prices at the pump,” said the owner of a Tarrant County car rental company.

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.

The concept of America as the land of opportunity has been memorialized in stories, songs, poems.  It is great to live in a country where anyone can become anything.

Hyundai must be relying on this premise to introduce the Hyundai Genesis.  Introduced as a concept car in 2006, the Hyundai Genesis will hit showrooms in 2009.

Hyundai has grand expectations.  With the Genesis, Hyundai expects to take on Lexus, Infiniti, BMW, and Mercedes.

For its part, the Genesis will give buyers three engine options with horsepower ratings ranging from 264 to 368.  Add to this the exterior styling and interior appointments that a car buyer would expect of Lexus, Mercedes, or another top tier luxury carmaker, and Hyundai may have enough to get in the luxury car game.

Perhaps the best feature on the Hyundai Genesis is its sticker price.  At around $40,000, it is priced well below competitively equipped luxury cars from top makers. They are about 20k higher.

Perhaps the biggest drawback of the Genesis is its brand name.  Although America is a land that allows people a great deal of upward social mobility, the same principle may not hold true for economy car makers.
 
Many commentators predict that despite the overall quality of the Hyundai Genesis, Hyundai will have a tough time convincing luxury car buyers to shell out $40,000 for a Hyundai, regardless of what they get for the money.

“The luxury and exotic car markets are the toughest segment of the automobile industry to break into,” claims Fort Worth-based small business consultant Ron Sturgeon.  “It is even more difficult when a car company starts out in the economy segment and then tries to make the leap.  Even Toyota, Honda, and Nissan had to establish new brand names for their luxury lines,” stated Sturgeon.
 
Sturgeon knows a thing or two about luxury car brands as the owner of an exotic car rental company in Fort Worth, TX. His DFW Elite Auto Rental.com is famous as the best place in DFW to rent a Dodge Viper or rent a Lamborghini Gallardo.
 
Among recent arrivals at the DFW exotic car rental company are a Venom Red 600 HP 2008 Dodge Viper Convertible and a pair of 2008 Lamborghini Gallardos.
 
“When people come in to rent an exotic car, the WOW factor plays a major role in their decision.  Many folks want the exhilaration of driving a dream car, but they also want to be noticed.  That’s what driving a Ferrari, Bentley, or Aston Martin gets you,” continues Sturgeon.

Time will tell if Hyundai can change consumer perceptions enough to join the elite car makers with its Hyundai Genesis.

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.

Here is my advice.  Read the headline to this article about ten to fifteen times.  Then go slam your head through a window, take some aspirin and re-read the headline a few more times.

At some point throughout this prescribed process, your brain should successfully navigate the intellectual mine field that is this headline.

 
What we know is that man dressed as Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise and sporting a garbage bag for a cape, interrupted the proceedings at an England-based church that practices the Jedi Religion by hitting the leader of the Jedi church and his cousin with a metal crutch. 

Apparently his light saber was in the shop.

As if the story needed any subtext, the Darth Vader character claimed not to remember the incident as he had engulfed the better part of a two and a half gallon box of wine.  I’m guessing that would drive anyone to the dark side of the force!

Still want more?  How ‘bout the fact that the whole event was caught on the Jedi Church’s video camera that was set up to record an impending light saber battle demonstration.  I’ll bet George Lucas could create more than six movies with this material.

Truth, once again, a bit stranger than fiction.

All of this got me to thinking, just who is more bored in this scenario, the people (30 members are claimed to exist) who profess to practice the Jedi religion, or the guy who drinks a kiddie pool’s worth of boxed wine and tries to take them out? 

If that question doesn’t send you spiraling into an existential crisis, God help you!

I can’t help but think that if I could just get to these people, perhaps I could save them.

Perhaps I could introduce some level of entertainment into their lives that could spare them being the subject of future articles like this one.  Emboldened with all of the purpose of a U.N. relief worker, I set out to find the perfect diversion. 

And I just might have.

Seeing how all, or most of the players in this ugly scene were men, it would have to be a manly pursuit.  Also I wanted something that could hook them quickly and leave them wanting more.  Then it hit me.

What if I could take all of these guys on an exotic car tour.  Seem far fetched?  Let me explain.  The exotic car tour would keep them entertained for a full day.  It would involve them in an activity where drinking large amounts of bad wine is not permitted, and it could hook them into the whole exotic car thing.
 
For example, they may wake up in the middle of the night wanting to rent a Ferrari in DFW for the weekend instead of channeling Yoda for life advice. 

And if they get really hooked, they could even join an exotic car club for unlimited exotic car usage.
 
I pitched this idea to my friend Ron Sturgeon who owns a company that provides exotic car tours in Texas, a Fort Worth exotic car rental agency, and a Fort Worth exotic car club.  His reaction, “Our car club members tend to be very straight-up folks who just love exotic cars. They’re more into channeling Enzo Ferrari.”
 
Apparently Ron doesn’t share my burning desire to save these people from themselves.
 
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.