ECLIPSE 500 IS FAST, BUT IS COMPANY SINKING FASTER?

There is little doubt about it, the Eclipse 500 is fast.  The only problem is that if you want one, you may have to be quick on the purchase or the company disappear first. 

First about the speed.  The Eclipse 500 set new records for both speed and economy for planes in its weight class earlier this year.  It is a significant feat to accomplish either of these tasks, but to accomplish both is truly newsworthy.  Interestingly, Eclipse Aviation did not break any barriers using new propulsion technology or some alternative fuel. Instead, the Eclipse 500 is constructed with much lighter components.  The difference in efficiency from the prior record holder is staggering.  The Eclipse 500 uses about 25% less fuel than the Cessna Citation Mustang. 

Unfortunately, this good news is tempered by some economic realities for Eclipse Aviation.  According to reports, the company badly needs an additional $30 million of capital to maintain its operations.  How can a company that is making such innovative aircraft in a period where the aviation industry is booming, have gotten themselves into such a mess?  Apparently, Eclipse Aviation became the victim of their own business plan.  It seems that the company projected huge production numbers that were bolstered by a too-low target price.  As the price became unrealistic, the production numbers dropped. 

It is an interesting time for the small aircraft market.  Many small plane owners are looking to have access to personal aircraft without taking out a second mortgage. The answer: shared ownership programs or airplane club memberships.  This trend in air transport is mirroring what is happening in the luxury car market.  www.exoticcarclubs.com is a nationwide listing for exotic car clubs and number of newer sharing clubs listed demonstrates the popularity of this concept. 

For those living in Dallas, DFW Elite Car Club (www.dfwelitecarclub.com) offers the chance to play Gatsby and have access to the keys to a paddock with more than 40 head turning classic, luxury, and exotic cars.  The club offers members all of the driving pleasure of showroom new exotics without the costs and hassles of ownership.  The club offers several tiers of membership for both businesses and individuals seeking the fun of an exclusive club for motoring fans.  One of the best recent articles car sharing clubs appeared in the Robb Report Collection. The article by Marco R Della Cava profiled five of the top car sharing clubs in the United States.

If you just want to drive a Bentley GTC for a day, you will be glad to learn that among the fastest growing of all car rental companies are those renting exotic cars. If  your occasion calls for something with a dash more excitement than a beige Ford Taurus (Think Ferrari F430 F1, Nissan Z, or classic Corvette) you’ll want to make sure that you bookmark www.rentexoticcars.net, an excellent online directory of car rental companies specializing in exotic and hard-to-find cars.  DFW Elite Auto Rental (www.dfweliteautorental.com) offers an excellent collection of luxury cars for rental in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  They even offer easy online car rental reservations and weekly car rental specials.  One of our favorite exotic car rental agencies is in Savannah, Georgia. If your better half insists on a romantic bed and breakfast get away to this city known for Southern hospitality, you can catch the sights from behind the wheel of Precious Metals (www.preciousmetalscars.com) beautiful convertible Viper sports car rental.

Similar to flying tours, there are exotic car tours for those that simply want a one-day fling with their exotic cars. DFW Drive Your Dream (www.dfwdriveyourdream.com) allows participants to drive five exotic back to back on a single day of high adrenaline fun.  If you’ve always wondered what it’s like to be an auto reviewer for Car and Driver but somehow their HR Department misplaced your application, these tours allow you to experience the simple pleasure of driving the cars that grace the covers of auto magazines. To see what a Drive Your Dream Tour is like, take a peak at a video of a recent full day tour.   

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. Find more stories by Garrett on our exotic car rental news page.