Elite Auto Rental Blog

The market for exotic cars has been hard hit by the current economic crisis, and the same is true for regular cars. Chrysler, which has been ailing for several years, recently allied itself with Italian automaker Fiat in the hopes that the combined forces of both carmakers will bring Chrysler back into the black.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Chrysler and Fiat must quickly produce a new line of vehicles. The first of these cars are expected to reach showrooms in the early part of 2010, but most of the new designs will begin appearing in 2011. The focus of these vehicles will be on fuel efficiency.

(Fiat 500 photo by British classic car fan Dave7. See more of Dave’s photos in his Flickr photostream. Fiat 500 image licensed under Creative Commons.)

Fiat is known for its retro styling and its 500 minicar. Its famous Alfa Romeo exotic cars may also begin shipping in 2010. For fans of exotic automobiles, this is great news.

While the new models of the Alfa Romeo may not be available for almost a year, exotic car lovers are still finding ways to drive their dream cars. Exotic car rental, exotic car sharing clubs, and automotive dream tours are all great ways to experience the thrill of driving an elite automobile. All three options avoid the hassle and expense of owning an exotic vehicle.

In addition to the high MSRP of most exotic cars, there are several other associated expenses. Maintenance of an exotic vehicle must be performed by fully qualified mechanics who know about the car, and insuring an exotic vehicle can be costly. In addition, many exotic car owners struggle to find secure storage for exotic vehicles.

For Chrysler, the salvation it’s looking for is more likely to come from the compact cars than the Alfa Romeo. Americans are more interested than ever in fuel economy, and as the global economic crisis continues, the initial purchase price is also important. People want to know that they aren’t paying too much for their cars.

Rather than importing the cars from Europe, Chrysler expects to convert many of its current North American plants to produce the new models. Those models produced here are expected to begin rolling out of factories in 2011, and the auto industry workers will be glad to see the new production.

Michigan, which was once the center of the auto industry, has the highest unemployment rate in the country. 12.6 percent of Michigan workers are currently unemployed.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance web content writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.

DFW Elite Auto Rental has been providing cars to Fort Worth-based exotic car photographer Josh Davis for his venture allowing woman and couples to pose with some of the world’s most exotic supercars.

(Photo by Josh Davis Photography. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)

Josh’s venture has attracted significant press. He’s been featured in the Fort Worth newspapers and on WFAA. Today, he, his venture, and the delicious exotics from DFW Elite Auto Rental.com landed on Motor Trend’s website! Check out “Fashion Meets Horsepower” by Nate Martinez on their site.

“Josh has been the professional car photographer we use to provide our Drive Your Dream participants with pictures of themselves with our exotics for quite a while,” said DFW Elite Auto Rental.com and DFW Elite Drive Your Dream owner Ron Sturgeon. “He’s creative and takes outstanding photographs. We’re very pleased that Motor Trend is featuring him and his business and our cars.”

Drive Your Dream is an exotic car driving experience that allows those who have always wondered what it’s like to unwind a 520 HP Lamborghini Gallardo on the open road — to get in the driver’s seat and find out.

The signature 2000HP Tour features seat time in the Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 360 Spyder, Porsche 911, Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible and the Audi R8.

“Because of how well Audi Racing has done, the R8 has made a lot of people’s must drive lists,” said Sturgeon. “A half-day Drive Your Dream tour gives participants a chance to drive the Audi and four top-tier sports cars back-to-back on a scenic open road course.”

The supercar driving tours are offered in Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, and Austin TX. To reserve a spot, call 817.838.7368.

This post written by SEO Web Content writer Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent projects include content for a Tampa florida Mortgage broker and content for a Dallas exotic car rental website.

Okay, I know that it’s a stretch to call the Ford Fusion an exotic car, even a Ford Fusion Hybrid doesn’t qualify for much more than the moniker eco-sedan extraordinaire.

(Photo credit Ford Motor Company Flickr photo stream. Licensed under Creative Commons. Check out more photos of the Fusion on Flickr.)

Regular readers of this space know that of American automakers, I am a Ford fan. With GM being run by a labor economist and Chrysler being sold to Fiat, I would love for one American carmaker to survive.

Especially, if it’s the one that President Obama credited with inventing the automobile….

Yes, Ford lost money in Q1, but they are building cars that people want to buy, and the way they are marketing the Ford Fusion Hybrid with the 1000 miles on a tank quest is inspired.

They are doing the 1000 miles on a tank effort as part of a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Hey, it’s for da kids….

They have charted a 1000-mile course from Mount Vernon, VA to Washington, D.C. From a PR standpoint, that route will probably edge out arriving in chartered corporate jets to beg for bailout billions….

Yes, I’m still bitter about that. Not the arrival, but the decision to give them the money to save them from bankruptcy. That’s worked out well.

The drivers of the 2010 Ford Fusion are to be NASCAR’s Carl Edwards, hypermiler Wayne Gerdes, and a host of the new Ford hybrid’s engineering geniuses. The hypermiler seems like a bit of a ringer, but they are keeping it real. The car is unmodified, running on standard 87 octane, and must maintain an average speed of 57 MPH.

For those interested in the fuel economy ratings for the Ford Fusion Hybrid and more on the 1000 miles attempt, check out coverage by Ralph Hanson at Motor Authority. Ruth Manuel-Logan from Examiner.com also wrote an excellent article on the Fusion Hybrid 1000 mile attempt.

This post written by professional seo content writer Eric Anderson from PDQ Web Copywriting. Eric’s recent writing projects have included content for a Tampa FL English Tutor blog and a Dallas TX classic car storage website.

Sure the photo from the KOMO News makes it look like a supercar driving tour like the ones organized by DFW Drive Your Dream Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

(Oregon State Police Photo via KOMO news website.)

Actually, this was a group of auto enthusiasts who travel south from Canada through Oregon together on their way to an annual exotic car event.

Unfortunately, drivers in the group were re-enacting a portion of The Fast and the Furious when they blew by Oregon State Trooper David Peterson.

To quote the one and only Jim Rome: Uhh-O.

The cars were racing at high speed along Highway 18 near Grand Ronde. Trooper Peterson nabbed all six.

As if one ticket were not enough, a driver in the group got clipped a second time two hours later for a speed violation in the Columbia River Gorge – according to a story written by a KOMO staff writer.

Yeah, they use radios.

One of the nice things about doing a 2000 HP drive your dream tour is that the route is preplanned and suitably equipped lead and chase vehicles accompany the convoy of exotics.

As for our group of exotic car drivers, they might be experiencing higher insurance rates or hitting Google to see if they can do an online speeding ticket class to get rid of the points….

Check out the KOMO exotic car story.

This post written by blogger and web content writer Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent projects have included copy for a Dallas exotic car rental site and business mentoring site for entrepreneurs.

For exotic car enthusiasts, celebrating Earth Day means reading up on the latest eco-friendly exotic car news.  With the focus on eco-conscious living and the high cost of gas last year, many exotic cars are now going green.  Check out some of the most exciting developments in eco-friendly exotic cars!

Tesla Roadster

A celebrity favorite, the Tesla Roadster marries serious performance with environmental responsibility.  With a chassis based on the Lotus Elise, the Tesla Roadster is undeniably attention-grabbing.  And it’s green too.  The car, which goes from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds, gets the equivalent of 120 miles per gallon.

Photo credit to Tim in Sydney. Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution Only. See more of Tim’s photos on Flickr.

Saab Aero-X

This beautiful concept car runs on pure ethanol, and its 2.8L Twin Turbo V6 engine will impress any exotic car fan.  The Aero-X can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, and it boasts an impressive 400 horsepower.  Even more remarkable is the futuristic design; the entire driver’s compartment opens up.

Venturi Fetish

Even though this electric car tops out at around 100 mph, it makes up for its lack of speed with an incredible futuristic-looking exterior.  It can also go from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds and is capable of getting about 150 miles per charge.  The charge time is about an hour.

Audi R Zero

Even though it’s only a concept car, the Audi R Zero is pretty exciting.  With four electric motors (one for each wheel), this exotic vehicle gets 1091 total horsepower.  All that power contributes to some pretty impressive performance.  The Audi R Zero can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.

Toyota FT-HS

The name of this car is an acronym for “Future Toyota Hybrid Sport,” and the car does what it’s designed to do.  It’s both green and impressively sporty.  A hybrid that produces 400 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds, the FT-HS is also aimed at regular people.  The starting MSRP is expected to be in the neighborhood of $30,000.

Ronn Scorpion

Based right here in Texas, Ronn Motors has built an impressive hydrogen hybrid vehicle.  The Austin car manufacturer uses fuel injection to boost the performance of the car using “hydrogen on demand” technology.  The car’s exotic exterior makes it a fierce competitor in the green exotic vehicle market.

Even though some of these vehicles won’t be available for years, you can still drive your dream car today.  Exotic car sharing clubs are a great way to be eco-friendly and still drive a Mercedes or Lamborghini.  You only drive the car when you need an exotic vehicle, so sharing an exotic car might be even more green than owning one of these beauties.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.

Very interesting story in the WSJ about a redesigned engine created by a WW II veteran named Carmelo Scuderi. The son of Italian immigrants, Mr. Scuderi devoted countless hours to his attempt to improve the internal combustion engine.

Somehow, he did it without billions in taxpayer money.

He worked alone in an office at home after retiring in 1994. According to the article, Scuderi announced to his family that he had redesigned the internal combustion engine on Easter of 2001. Mr. Scuderi died in 2002, but his family has continued his work.

Eventually, the design was turned into a real engine with help from the folks at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX.

Although Mr. Scuderi made numerous attempts to interest American automakers in the design. The company that seems most interested in what may be a far more efficient internal combustion engine is Honda Motor Company.

A prototype was shown in Detroit on Monday.

It would be ironic if a lone American inventor turns out to have created a technology that dramatically improves the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and lessens America’s dependence of imported oil.

As a great fan of the American entrepreneurial spirit as the real source of our country’s strength, I am pulling for the Scuderi family.

Today’s internal combustion engine achieves an efficiency of about 33%–the Scuderi engine should achieve 40% with fewer emissions. I wonder what kind of exotic car performance might be possible with a more efficient internal combustion engine.

(Photo Credit Josh Davis of Josh Davis Photography of Fort Worth, TX.) All rights reserved.

I know, I should focus on saving the planet, not supercar driving experiences, but I can’t help it.

If the engine technology works, it would be even better if it were licensed by the company that was the first to mass produce automobiles for consumers.

It is amazing the ingenuity of entrepreneurs when they are determined to do what seems to most to be impossible. Serial entrepreneur Ron Sturgeon has created an opportunity for top business owners within the same industry to come together to compare metrics and share tactics for growing market share.

Although many entrepreneurs belong to business round tables, few belong to groups that are industry specific.

The strategies and tactics gleaned in an industry specific entrepreneurs’ group have been tested by people running similar enterprises.

Industry specific peer benchmarking review groups have been schedules for various industries including auto salvage, buy here pay here car dealership, insurance agents, real estate agents, and web design firms. to learn more about collaborating with peers to accelerate the growth of your entrepreneurial enterprise, visit http://www.MrMissionPossible.com.

Check out Neal Boudette’s Scuderi engine article in the Wall Street Journal. Visit the Scuderi engine prototype page for more on how their engine works.

This post written by freelance SEO content writer Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent projects have included pages for a vintage jewelry website and a Dallas collector car storage company.

Fortune magazine released this year’s list of the 500 publicly traded companies with the highest revenue, and Exxon Mobile came out on top.  The recent economic downturn has seen Wall Street replace big oil as the perceived arch villains of the American consumers.  This shift was reflected in the Fortune 500 list.

Most of us don’t have the dream of being a CEO of a Fortune 500 company.  With all the recent economic woes, the stress and headaches that went along with the job just wouldn’t be worth the big paycheck.  Of course, CEOs also get the luxury lifestyle with beautiful custom homes and exotic vehicles.

Image courtesy of DFW Elite Auto Rental in Dallas, TX. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

American consumers are beginning to realize that they don’t need the paycheck of a Fortune 500 company CEO to drive a Mercedes or other luxury vehicle.  Exotic car rental and exotic car sharing clubs make it possible for regular people to drive their dream cars.  And that’s especially good news if you’re not in the mood for a high-stress job.

The Fortune 500 list was released Sunday.  The list showed that Exxon Mobile edged out Wal-Mart Stores for the top spot this year.  Exxon Mobile is the world’s largest oil company and had revenue of $442.9 billion for 2008.  Wal-Mart, which is based in Arkansas, reported revenue of $405.6 billion for the same period.

Wal-Mart has topped the Fortune 500 list for five of the last six years.  Even though the retailer reported increases sales as consumers tried to save money during the recession, Wal-Mart did not make enough money to beat the oil giant.

Exxon Mobile and other energy companies reported record profits last year due to high energy prices early in 2008.  Third place on the list went to Chevron Corporation with $263.2 billion in revenue, and ConocoPhillips received fourth place with $230.8 billion in revenue.

Not surprisingly, financial services companies took some hard hits last year.  Several companies, including Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, and Wachovia Corporation, were no longer included in the Fortune 500 list.  Others, like Bank of America Corp and Citigroup Inc, were no longer included in the top ten.

The Fortune 500 list reflects some significant changes in the American economy.  There have been big changes, both on the list and in people’s lives.  Many consumers are more cautious about spending large sums of cash, especially if they have to finance the money, as they would with an exotic car loan.

Instead of purchasing exotic cars, exotic car rental is continuing to emerge as an excellent alternative.  It’s still possible to drive a Lamborghini; we just have to get more creative about how we do it!

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.

Wow. It looks like a Pepsi product promotion went seriously wrong, and well, New Yorkers being the forgiving kind, gave Pepsi a big Bronx cheer. Allegedly Pepsi promised Yankee fans 250 tickets and a chance to meet legendary closer Goose Goosage at a Pepsi event.

Naturally, Yankee fans lined up like exotic car enthusiasts at the New York Auto Show…

Pepsi then moved the event to a venue three blocks away which caused a scene that looked like a Walmart on the day after Thanksgiving. When Goose Gossage appeared, it wasn’t to greet fans and sign autographs, it was to wave from the window of a passing limousine. The tickets, which many of the gathered expected to be for O.D., turned out to be for a game in June.

There is a pretty funny video of the gathered New Yorkers and their vocal reaction to this Pepsi PR fiasco.

http://www.break.com/index/pepsi-promotion-backfires-with-yankees.html

Check it out here. For car enthusiasts willing to make the trip to Texas, DFW Drive Your Dream has an exotic car driving experience called the 2000HP Tour. It lets Lambo and Ferrari fans get behind the wheel of five exotic sports cars and reach Gossage-like fastball speeds.

Image by exotic car photographer Josh Davis. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

The current line up of cars includes these dream drives: The Ferrari 360 Sypder, the Lamborghini Gallardo, the Porsche 911 Cabriolet, the Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible, and the brand new Audi R8. No matter where you live, renting a Ferrari or Lamborghini isn’t an impossible dream. Car rental has gone upscale from the days when premium luxury meant an Escalade. Most major cities have a number of car rental companies specializing in six figure automobiles.

One of the easiest ways to fine one is to use an online directory of exotic car rental companies such as http://www.rentexoticcars.net. After the Pepsi promotion, some New Yorkers may need to have a Coke and vent some frustration.

This post written by Tampa FL English Tutor Eric Anderson. If you would like to see more of Eric’s writing visit, PDQ Web Copywriting.com.

For many exotic car enthusiasts the Autobahn is a dream roadway.  The German controlled-access roadway is similar to a freeway here in the US, but with no set speed limit, it allows motorists to travel at speeds we would ordinarily never dream of.

What we think of as “the Autobahn” is actually a 12,200 kilometer network of freeways in Germany, many of which of which have a posted recommended speed of 130 kilometers per hour (81 miles per hour).  However, these roads are famous for not having a blanket speed limit.

(Photo Credit Adam Hicks, Fort Worth, TX.) All rights reserved.

Being able to drive a Lamborghini on these German highways is a dream for many people.  With a top speed of over 300 miles per hour, this car could easily quadruple the posted speed limit on many US freeways.

The autobahn network has some speed limits.  Road junctions, construction areas, and other dangerous spots have a posted speed limit.  Also, temporary speed limits are imposed when weather conditions make high speeds unsafe.  When this happens, monitors above the road display the temporary limit.

Even when there isn’t a general speed limit, the autobahn roadways are not without rules.  The “Rechtsfarghebot” rule requires motorists to use the left lane only for passing other drivers.  Unless they plan to pass, drivers are expected to remain in the right lane.

The autobahn construction was actually officially begun during the 1920s and 1930s.  The autobahns are considered the first limited-access, high-speed network of roads.  Many of the autobahns were originally paved during World War II to help provide secret airports in tunnels and nearby woods.

However, the autobahns were not used extensively as roadways until the 1950s when most of the roads were repaired.  Some sections of the autobahns were not repaired until after the German reunification in 1990.

Since many of us cannot really realize out dream of driving a Lamborghini on the Autobahn, we can at least make the Lamborghini part a reality.  There are several options for exotic car fans, including renting a Lamborghini or joining an exotic car sharing club.

Another option is to participate in an automotive dream tour.  Those who participate in dream tours get to drive five high-performance cars in a single day.  The cars total about 2,000 horsepower.  One of these cars in a Lamborghini Gallardo.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance Search engine content writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.

As GM struggles to remain a financially viable company and continue to qualify for Federal bailout money, the ailing automaker has been selling off assets.  These assets include vehicles from its extensive collection of classic cars.

The largest American automaker held a similar auction in January, when it sold off almost 200 classic and exotic vehicles.  Most of the cars in the January auction were models from the 80s and 90s.

A recent story on NPR’s Marketplace interviewed Rick Carey, auctions editor of Car Collector and Victory Lane magazines.  Carey is adamant that the classic car market is holding steady, despite the current economic crisis.  He said that GM’s auction in January was a success.

“The collectors showed up with dollar bills falling out of their pockets to buy [the cars],” Carey says. “And they paid some very serious money for them.”

The current auction includes over 100 classic cars from GM’s private collection, and the fun begins today in Palm Beach, FL.  The carmaker is selling the cars to raise additional funds and to avoid the warehousing fees for the vehicles.

Finding exotic car storage can be a challenge.  While your minivan might have no problem with the conditions in your garage, exotic cars are a major investment and require specific storage conditions.  Exotic car storage must be climate-controlled, and the storage facility must also be secure.

With a collection the size of GM’s, the cost of storing of these classic vehicles can add up.  And since the classic car market seems to be one of the few areas in the economy that is holding steady, it’s a good time for GM to sell off parts of its collection.

Included in today’s auction are a 1920 Chevrolet Model T truck, a 1999 Camero Z/28 that was used in the film “Runaway Bride,” and a 1978 Corvette pace car from the Indy 500.  The Corvette pace car was one of only four vehicles ever produced.

While not all of us can afford to head to Florida and participate in this exciting auction, we can still drive a classic car.  For instance, it’s possible to rent a 1959 Mercedes 190SL right here in Dallas.  Exotic car rental is a great way to drive your dream car without the hassle and expense of ownership.

Rick Carey says that classic cars can be a solid investment in difficult economic times.  While new cars are notorious for depreciating as soon as they are driven off the lot, classic cars often only increase in value.

“The collector car market has been remarkably solid,” says Carey.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.