The current economic predicament is causing some auto enthusiasts to choose exotic car rental over buying exotic vehicles. With investments, including those in Ford Motor Company, sliding south, many consumers are cautious about spending six figures to buy an exotic car.

One of the problems plaguing Ford is a question about the company’s credit. Fitch Ratings lowered the Michigan-based company’s credit rating on Monday afternoon because Ford’s revenues have been hurt by slowing auto sales.

For the first time in more than 15 years, September auto sales came in at less than 1 million new vehicles sold. This economy has consumers putting off major purchases.

“With bad news in the financial markets, the drop in the Dow, and news of large businesses closing up shop, car buyers are skittish,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas exotic car rental company.

“Even at the top of the market in sports cars, luxury cars, and exotic cars, sales are off,” insists the Fort Worth luxury rental car company owner, “it’s hard to find any good news in the economic forecasts—the only tiny bit of good news for members of the exotic and luxury car rental industry is that the skittishness about purchasing a high end auto may make people consider rental to avoid the depreciation, maintenance, and storage costs,” noted Mr. Sturgeon.

Few first-time exotic car buyers end up driving their cars as often as they anticipate when they buy them. The prestige of ownership is undeniable, but owning an exotic car costs more than most first time exotic car buyers anticipate. A nationwide online directory of exotic car rental companies is available at http://www.rentexoticcars.net if you decide rental is more your speed and want to experience driving a Ferrari F430 or Ford GT.

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

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.

Although it is hard for individuals to keep anything secret, imagine how difficult it is for large corporations, particularly car companies trying to keep the lid on new models.

Ford found out just how difficult a task secret keeping can be can with respect to their 2010 Ford Taurus. Apparently, pictures of the Ford sedan have been leaked on the Internet.

The good news for Ford is that most of the reactions to the pictures are positive. Ford put both American and European designers to work on the Taurus project, but it appears from the leaked Taurus photos that the Europeans had the most influence.

The posted photos reveal that the 2010 Ford Taurus borrows heavily from Ford of Europe’s Mondeo sedan design. If you’ve never seen the Mondeo, its styling calls to mind the Volvo S60 or the BMW 3 Series.

If nothing else, I am pleased to see that Ford is trying more adventurous styling. Only time will tell if American car buyers will return to take another look at Ford. “I have high hopes for Ford and am encouraged by the steps they are taking to make their cars more exciting,” says Ron Sturgeon, the owner of a Dallas, TX luxury car rental company.

With the recent demise of the Ford GT and a possibility that the new owners at Chrysler may not continue the Viper, sports car fans have to be concerned about the future of American muscle cars. “We’ve got a new 600HP Dodge Viper for rent in Dallas and we’ve got a Corvette Z06 that has been among our most popular Dallas muscle car rentals,” said Sturgeon.

As someone who appreciates the experience of driving exotic cars, Sturgeon has developed a venture to make the best cars more accessible to the people who want to drive them the most.

With tour dates in cities across TX, DFW Drive Your Dream gives car enthusiasts a chance to drive the newest 600HP Viper, a Bentley GT Convertible, a BMW M6 Droptop, a Lamborghini Gallardo, and a Ferrari F430.

This day of fantasy car driving guarantees every participant a minimum of a half hour drive time with each of the five cars, full driving instruction, and a gourmet lunch. Visit DFW Drive Your Dream to learn more about a tour in a city near you.

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.

Unfortunately, news of a voluntary Passat recall for models built from 1999-2005 will do nothing to reverse this trend. To add to the typical bad news of a recall is the fact that Volkswagen actually announced the recall based on three separate mechanical issues.

The first issue involves gasoline powered Passats with automatic transmissions. Those models will require inspection of the heat shield to determine if there is any damage present that could compromise the exhaust system.

Secondly, all Passats with a 1.8-liter engine will have their fuel line inspected, and potentially replaced, because of damage that may exist.

Finally, all Passats with the 4Motion all-wheel drive need to have their fuel tank ventilation valves inspected for damage.

Passat owners are invited to go to any VW dealer to have the problems addressed, but official notices aren’t scheduled to be released until May 30. Thus far, no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of any of these issues.

No one company can or should be overly picked on for recalls. All car manufacturers have had their brushes in manufacturing imperfections. In fact, maintenance issues in general are one of the primary headaches of all car owners. This is especially true for exotic car owners.

“If you think getting your Volkswagen or Volvo worked on is stressful, imagine taking in your six figure exotic sports car for work,” states Ron Sturgeon, the owner of a Tarrant County car rental company.

“The general rule is that the more expensive the car, the more expensive the work that will ultimately have to be done on that car. That is big factor in why our clients come to us for Fort Worth luxury car rentals the first place,” says Sturgeon.

Sturgeon runs several exotic car businesses including a exotic car club in Fort Worth. “Our club allows members to enjoy the driving aspect of the exotic car experience without dealing with the inconvenience and high costs of buying or maintaining performance cars. Not to mention that DFW Elite Car Club members can drive a different exotic car whenever they choose,” says Sturgeon.

To find an exotic car sharing club in your area, check an online directory such as http://www.exoticcarclubs.com.

Sturgeon also owns an exotic car rental agency and an exotic car tour business. “Some people want to have access to an exotic car for a fun weekend or special occasion, so renting from us is a great opportunity. Others like spending a day behind the wheel of five exotic cars on scenic tours, so the exotic car tour is great for them. We just try and give each customer the best performance car driving experience for them.”

An excellent place to find a reputable exotic car rental company is an online directory such as exoticcarrental.net. “It isn’t nearly as expensive as people suppose to upgrade your next rental to something truly exciting to drive,” says Shane Atwood,owner of Precious Metals Cars, a luxury car rental company serving Hilton Head and Savannah, GA. Nothing completes a historic tour of old Savannah better than a little highway driving in a Convertible Dodge Viper rental,” insists Mr. Atwood.

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.

Bloomburg.com reports that O’Reilly will also assume about $500 million of CSK’s debt. CSK gave in to O’Reilly after rejecting the parts chain’s advances since March last year. O’Reilly made its intentions public in February with an $8-a-share unsolicited offer. CSK has been seeking a buyer since hiring JPMorgan Chase & Co. as an adviser in December. Even though the acquisition is no surprise to many, it is good news for investors. 

The Bloomburg.com article reports that the combined company will have about 3,200 stores and revenue of about $4.4 billion based on 2007 totals. O’Reilly said the purchase will add ˜modestly to earnings in 2009. Cost savings may be $100 million annually beginning in 2010.”

CSK runs stores under several brand names, including Checker Auto Parts, Schucks Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts, Murrays Discount Auto Stores, and AutoZone, Inc.  There is as of yet no report on the effect this acquisition will have on the price of auto parts, a major concern for those who do their own repair work.

If you want to avoid the hassle and expense of owning (or repairing) a luxury car, why not try renting a Bentley or other elite car from DFW Elite Auto Rental in Dallas, TX. The cost of upkeep on luxury cars can spoil the fun of driving them for many owners,” says DFW Elite Auto Rental GM Tom Warren. “Renting a dream car in Dallas, TX isn’t as expensive as many people suppose,” insists the rental car company executive.

Nor is it as hard to find a place to rent elite performance car as it once was. An excellent place to start is an online directory of exotic car rental companies, such as www.rentexoticcars.net. “Using a directory is a great way to find a reputable exotic car rental company,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of DFW Elite Auto Rental.com. For those considering a trip to Hilton Head or Savannah, Shane Atwood at Precious Metals Cars has a beautiful Viper Convertible for rent.”In Hilton Head, driving a Viper on the scenic highways is a fantastic way to enjoy a weekend,” insists Mr. Sturgeon.

Another option that is much more entertaining that shopping for auto parts is a daylong fantasy car driving adventure. Picture yourself behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Gallardo, 600HP Dodge Viper, Ferrari F430, Bentley GTC, and BMW M5 Convertible. It’s an ideal gift for an auto enthusiast. Find out more about exotic car driving tours in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio at DFW Drive Your Dream.

According to CSK Auto, Inc., Following the close of the transaction, O’Reilly will be the third largest national auto parts retailer with approximately 3,200 stores located across the United States.

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