Elite Auto Rental Blog

Driving an exotic car in Florida just got more expensive.  On Tuesday, September 1, drivers will begin paying more money to renew driver’s licenses and car tags.  Getting an  initial driver’s license will go from costing $27 to $48, and the price of renewing a license will more than double.

Florida drivers are flooding into the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to renew their tags and licenses.  In fact the DMV Florida website has been overwhelmed and has shut down for online renewals.  A highlighted message greets website visitors.

“In order to efficiently process transactions in local field office, Virtual Office online services are unavailable at this time,” the message reads.  “We apologize for the temporary inconvenience.”

For owners of exotic vehicles, this is just one more hassle that comes with exotic car ownership.  In addition to renewing tags, exotic car owners need to find qualified auto maintenance professionals, high quality car storage, and an affordable exotic car insurance policy.

“For a lot of people, it’s simply too much of a hassle,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Ft. Worth car storage facility.  “They turn to other ways to get their exotic car fix.”

Those other ways include exotic car rental, exotic car sharing clubs, and automotive dream tours.  Fans of exotic vehicles are learning that ownership is not the only way to drive your dream car.

Exotic car rental is increasing in popularity.  With exotic car rental, you can rent a car for a day, a weekend, or even an entire week.  This option is perfect for business professionals and DFW area visitors.  It’s also great for impressing a date or celebrating a special occasion.

Another option, joining an exotic car sharing club, is ideal for people who routinely enjoy renting exotic vehicles but don’t want the commitment and expense of owning a car.  Exotic car clubs offer the ultimate in driving variety.  Members have access to an entire garage of exotic vehicles.

For those who enjoy a truly impressive automotive experience, automotive dream tours are an excellent choice.  Participants in dream tours get to drive several incredible cars in a single day.  This is a great bachelor party activity and a unique gift for many exotic car fans.

Many Florida residents are not happy about the rate increase at the DMV.  Lawmakers expect to raise at least $800 million with the fee, but Florida drivers are complaining about timing the fee hike during a national recession.

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.

Mazda has been getting the attention of exotic car enthusiasts in recent years due to its zippy cars with decent performance statistics.  Most of Mazda’s vehicles are more commuter cars than exotic vehicles, but they do hold some appeal for those who like to drive Bentleys or Lamborghinis.

The all new Mazda 3 is getting a lot of attention.  The car has been totally redesigned for the 2010 model year and features four doors, a 2.5-liter, 165-horsepower engine, and a price tag just over $16,000.  While 165 horsepower may not seem like much to driving a 520-horsepower Lamborgini Gallardo, it’s still pretty good for a commuter car.

When it comes to fuel economy, the Mazda 3 is pretty reasonable.  It won’t win any records for gas mileage, but it will save you money at the pump.  Typical fuel economy for the base model gets about 25 miles per gallon around town and 33 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2010 Mazda 3 4-door is expected to be popular with young adults and young families.  The practicality of the sedan designs means it will be easy to get kids in and out of the backseat, but the performance and styling still make it fun to drive.

According to Edmunds.com, “No other car… provides as much performance and driving fun for the money.”  Most reviews of the car are positive, citing its stylish body design, impressive performance, and attractive cabin interior.  Overall, it is a serious contender in the small family sedan market.

“Driving an economical family car is a great way to save money and gas,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Ft. Worth exotic car storage facility.  “Saving money on your basic transportation gives you more money for luxuries.”

For some car enthusiasts, those luxuries include automotive dream tours.  In the space of a single day, you can drive some of the most amazing cars on the planet over some of the most beautiful roads in West Texas.  It’s an auto enthusiast’s dream come true.

“It’s nice that there are options that are practical but mean you don’t have to compromise on performance,” says Sturgeon.

Even used models of the Mazda 3 are popular among used car buyers.  The 2010 model of the Mazda 3 has just hit dealerships, and sales promise to be impressive.

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.

Even though last summer’s high gas prices have dropped significantly, gas mileage is still a major consideration for Dallas residents purchasing a new car.  Whether DFW consumers are buying an exotic vehicle or a simple commuter car, gas mileage is no longer just a number on the window sticker.  That’s where the Chevy Volt comes in.

Image of Chevy Volt at the Detroit Auto Show by Kevin Ward. See more of Kevin’s photos in his Flickr Photostream. Image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Only Share A Like License.

General Motors recently announced that the new Chevy Volt will get the equivalent of 230 miles per gallon.  This announcement immediately drew criticism from some auto industry analysts.  The math used to reach the figure has come under fire, and a new system for determining gas mileage will be required to get an accurate number.

Yahoo Autos recently ran a story on this new Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) and the method for computing fuel economy.  The EPA has refused to back up GM’s claim of 230 miles per gallon.

To understand the difficulty, you first have to have a handle on how the Chevy Volt operates.  The car functions on electric power until that power is used up.  The expected battery range for the Volt is about 40 miles.  At that point, the vehicle transitions to the gasoline engine, experts predict will get about 35 miles per gallon.

All of this means that figuring gas mileage for the Volt is going to be somewhat problematic.  A mile per gallon rating will have to take into account the number of miles the car is driven.  If you drive 40 miles, you’ll get infinite gas mileage, since you’ll be using all battery power.  When the gasoline engine comes into play, things get trickier.

Regardless of the official number, there’s no doubt that the Chevy Volt and other EREVs offer an interesting alternative to gasoline engines and standard hybrid technology.  No matter how the mileage is computed, these cars will help Dallas residents save gas while driving.

Besides driving a new hybrid or EREV, Dallas residents can save gas in other ways.  You can drive a commuter car to work and then rent an exotic vehicle on the weekend.  This scenario represents a significant gas savings, since you are only driving the exotic vehicle for part of the week.

Another alternative to owning an exotic car is joining an exotic car sharing club.  Member of exotic car clubs share an entire garage of exotic vehicles and can use membership points to drive the exotic cars whenever they wish.  Inventory can include Lamborghinis, Bentleys, and other amazing cars.

For Dallas residents, fuel efficient options like the Chevy Volt may help make it possible to drive an exotic vehicle.

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.

There’s no doubt that the world of automobiles is changing.  With increased focus on fuel efficiency and low prices, the last couple of years have been hard for automobile manufacturers.  Even exotic vehicles have seen design changes as part of the new emphasis on fuel efficiency.

British steam car media photo. Used with permission.

The British Steam Car Challenge is all about changing car design to save fossil fuels.  The team is working to create a car that can set a new speed record for steam vehicles.  Officially launched in 1999, the project has seen many ups and downs over the years, but they have made significant progress toward their goal.

Last week, the team beat the current world record for steam vehicle land speed, but the feat has not yet been officially recognized.  The team will be conducting official testing next week to record a new land speed record.

The steam car traveled at 131 miles per hour during last week’s test.  The official record for a steam car is currently 127 miles per hour and was set back in 1906.  The team feels that breaking is record is an important step toward making steam a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

For fans of exotic vehicles, these new technological changes are truly exciting.  If you’re driven a Lamborghini down winding Texas roads or enjoyed the power and luxury of a Bentley, you know how exciting new technology can be.

Few people know that you don’t actually need to own an exotic vehicle in order to drive your dream car.  Exotic car rental is becoming a very popular alternative to ownership.  Owners of exotic cars face high purchase prices, expensive maintenance, costly insurance, and a host of other hassles.  When you rent an exotic vehicle, you get the joy of driving without the worry of ownership.

Another difficulty for exotic car owners is finding secure car storage.  Exotic car storage is available in the Fort Worth area, but in other areas of the country, it can be very difficult to find a safe, climate-controlled storage facility for your exotic vehicle.

In addition to renting exotic vehicles, there’s the option of joining an exotic car club.  As a member of an exotic car sharing club, you share an entire garage of exotic vehicles with other members.  Members use points to drive the vehicles of their choice.

If everything goes smoothly at next week’s test session at Edwards Air Force Base, the British Steam Car Challenge team will be well on its way to breaking the world record for land speed in a steam powered vehicle.

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.