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.

Anyway, most people approach tax day with a great deal of trepidation. This year, however, the tax deadline comes with a bit of a deal sweetener.

This year, for those filers that qualify (generally, singles with adjusted gross incomes under $75K and married folks with adjusted gross incomes under $150K) there is a tax rebate check waiting for them once they file their tax return.

There is a catch though. You have to file on time to get your rebate check in May. If you do like so many others do this time of year and file a tax extension (IRS Form 4868), you may be left waiting for your rebate check.

It’s important to distinguish between your tax refund (what you get if you overpaid your taxes throughout the year via withholding from your paycheck) and the tax rebate (which is a government giveaway meant to boost the economy).

For those getting a tax refund, there is extra incentive to file their tax returns timely so that they can get the tax rebate around the same time they get their refund.

Then comes the fun part, the patriotic duty of stimulating the economy. There will be no shortage of retailers and other businesses offering to help you spend that found money from the government.

Sure you could do something boring and responsible like pay down debt or invest in a mutual fund. But that’s not too much fun to describe to your co-workers. Instead, why not treat yourself a little bit.

One idea that I’ve got my eye on is joining an exotic car club in Dallas. These clubs are loaded with exotic cars of all kinds and they allow their members to access them without going into bankruptcy trying to buy and maintain such precious automobiles. With the economy slowing and fewer people buying expensive luxury items, these car sharing clubs are sure to be a viable alternative to direct ownership.

If you live outside my beloved Texas, take a peak at www.exoticcarclubs.com, a directory to clubs that can help you find one in the city where you live. Most larger cities have at least one exotic car sharing club.

For just a quick fling, it’s also fun to rent exotic cars for the day or weekend. Nothing is cooler than surprising your significant other by rolling up in a Bentley for your Dallas dinner date. Renting a prestige car can also help you out for important business engagements where a little style may help you close the deal. In any case, it may be an allowable business deduction—consult your tax professional… One of my favorite exotic car rental companies is Precious Metals Cars in Savannah, GA. Whether you’re going to see the Masters or visit old time Savannah, renting a Viper from Shane Atwood is a sure fire way to stimulate more than the economy.

If it is a truly gluttonous exotic car experience you seek, consider an exotic car tour in Dallas-Fort Worth. These tours allow drivers to get behind the wheel of several exotic cars for a whole day of driving throughout scenic Texas countryside. It might even be a sweet enough experience to purge the horror of taxes from your mind until next year.

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.

“In a slowing economy rocked by increasing prices for staples such as gasoline and food, the willingness to spend on big-ticket items took a dramatic turn in March, when new-vehicle sales plunged 12 percent from a year ago, confirming skittishness among consumers and pointing toward more difficult days ahead.  This is shaping up to be the worst year for vehicle manufacturers in at least a decade, and analysts don’t see a return to form until 2010 at the earliest.”

Although luxury car brands tend to feel the pinch a little less during a downturn, the awareness of costs have been driving changes even at the top of the car market. For several years, car enthusiasts in Dallas with a desire to drive the latest exotic cars have been doing it in a financially sound way: by joining DFW Elite Car Club.com, a car sharing club in Dallas-Fort Worth dedicated to luxury and high performance cars.

“With an increasing variety of exotic cars costing well over 200k, it makes sense for those with a passion for driving the best cars in the world, to join a car club,” says Tom Warren, General Manager of the two-year-old DFW car club. An excellent online directory to exotic car clubs (http://www.exoticcarclubs.com/) can help you find a car sharing club near you.

“I don’t believe that the economic downturn will cause the typical Lamborghini Gallardo buyer to consider a used one,” says Mr. Warren. “The high cost of maintaining such cars and the value of the dealer’s coverage that comes with a new exotic car makes a new 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo attractive to those who might otherwise buy a used one,” says the Dallas car club executive.

“We’re very fortunate to have a clientele that appreciates that value of the innovative products that we have created for car enthusiasts throughout Texas,” says Mr. Warren. “Our full day exotic car driving tours continue to sell out in Dallas, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio,” reports Warren.

DFW Drive Your Dream tour participants get a chance to drive five supercars in a single day. For upcoming tour dates call 214.247.4700 or visit http://www.dfwdriveyourdream.com/

The trend toward used vehicles isn’t doing anything to help the ailing American automakers, says the Chicago Tribune article: “New-vehicle sales were down 8 percent in the first quarter, to 3.6 million vehicles, and J.D. Power predicts calendar year sales of 14.95 million, the lowest since 1995. Power’s original forecast for 2008, issued in December, was for 15.7 million sales.”

Read the rest of this story by freelance writer Kate Miller Wilson on our exotic car rental news page.