For me adrenaline rush means getting behind the wheel of a car that I have had serious desire to drive: the Audi R8. Not since the Ford GT and later the 600HP Viper were in the paddock at DFW’s premier exotic car sharing club–have I had such a desire to drive one car.

Here’s a hint as to why I’ve got serious auto envy:

Anyone else have a dream car that they have been seriously lusting to drive? For me, driving an R8 with a heavy foot would be the ultimate adrenaline rush!

This post by SE friendly content creator Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent projects include content for a Clearwater Mortgage broker’s website and an online vintage costume jewelry store.

Difficult times are forcing automobile dealers to get creative in overcoming buyer resistance. Korean automaker Hyundai has even begun to offer a new type of loan that allows car buyers to return their automobile if they get laid off or are forced to file for bankruptcy.

“A tighter economy means businesses are going to be more innovative in generating sales,” says Tom Warren, GM of a Dallas exotic car sharing club.

“Hyundai has been in the midst of reinventing itself in the American market and they have done very well in changing American consumers’ minds about the quality and desirability of their cars,” says Warren.

Warren notes that some American exotic car buyers are also changing their minds about car ownership. In an era of belt tightening, many affluent consumers are electing to join exotic car sharing clubs rather than purchase an exotic car.

Membership in an exotic car sharing club like DFW Elite Car Club allows for members to experience driving different exotic cars without maintenance, depreciation, or the hassle of finding a place to store an exotic car in Dallas.

Hyundai’s return program, called “Assurance,” gives strapped consumers a way out if they lose their jobs or file for bankruptcy. In addition, the program covers overseas deployment for servicemen and provides protection in case of illness or accident.

The program covers automobile consumers for 12 months following the purchase of their new Hyundai. If the vehicle is in good shape and payments have been made on time, Hyundai owners can walk away from their loan owing no money. In addition, buyers’ credit will be unaffected.

The  is not for everyone, though. Hyundai officials caution that in order to qualify, buyers must provide proof of a layoff or other qualifying event. Simply racking up too much debt or quitting a job does not give buyers the option to return their Hyundai.

The Assurance program covers as much as $7,500 in negative equity on a loan and is available to all buyers.

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.

The Economist visited a British car auction and noted the steep decline in the sales prices of used Rolls-Royces, Bentley Continentals, and Range Rovers as well as falling prices for models from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

Citing figures from Autodata, a research firm, The Economist article about falling luxury car prices adds some numbers to the scores of stories about the hardship of commissioned salespeople in U.S luxury car showrooms. The research firm reported the sales of new luxury cars are down 39% from the November figures of a year ago. Declines in new car sales at luxury car showrooms are even steeper according to the article with Mercedes down almost 50% and Porsche down over 50%. Discounts and incentives on new cars have hurt resale values on used luxury cars.

The declines in resale values has made life hard for automakers finance departments as they seek to borrow money to finance new cars and for car leasing companies who will likely see fewer people exercising the option to their off lease vehicles.

“The falling resale value of luxury cars make membership in car sharing clubs an even more attractive option for people who might otherwise purchase a Bentley or other high end car,” said DFW Elite Car Club.com General Manager Tom Warren.

“Another compelling reason to consider membership in a car sharing club is that it affords a person a wide variety of exotic car driving experiences without ever having to swallow the costs of depreciation, repairs, or storage,” continued Mr. Warren.

The members of our Dallas exotic car club can drive a 2009 Audi R8 a Bentley GTC, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari F430 and 16 other exotic and luxury vehicles for a flat monthly membership fee,” noted Warren.

According to the article in The Economist, the cars holding their values the best in Britain are the Diesel Mini Cooper, Toyota Prius, and the Citroen C1; however, a few exotics also made the list of cars which hold their values well in the UK: the Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Murcielago, and Porsche 911 Carrera.

The experience of driving some exotic cars is so legendary that it keeps their resale values high.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, real disposable personal income, that is, the money a person has left after taxes have been taken out, is down for the third straight month.  People have less money to spend, so in order to the cars they aspire to drive, they need to think creatively.

Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas exotic car rental company, says that creative thinking is what exotic car rental is all about.

“People just don’t have the money they used to,” he says, “so finding a way to make dreams come true means thinking outside the box.  People with significant disposable income used to spend the money to buy a Lamborghini, but now a tighter economy makes the wealthy more hesitant about doing that,” said Sturgeon. 

That doesn’t mean they can’t drive a Lamborghini, though.

For many people, driving an exotic car is one of those life dreams.  But owning an exotic car comes with the high initial price tag, exorbitant insurance fees, pricey secure storage, and the significant cost of maintaining an elite vehicle.  In other words, when the true cost of owning an exotic car is tallied, ownership isn’t realistic.

However, there are several other options for those who want to drive cars like the 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo and still remain solvent in these difficult financial times.  One of those options is joining an exotic car club.  Members of exotic car clubs share an entire garage of unbelievable exotic cars.

“Basically, car clubs bring together people who love cars,” says Sturgeon.  “Members can then drive the cars they love without having to worry about the price tag, storage, and all the other hidden costs.  It’s a great deal,” insists the Texas entrepreneur.

Exotic car rental is another great deal for car enthusiasts.  Rather than committing to a single, expensive automobile, renting exotic cars allows people to drive several different luxury, classic, or exotic cars.  Driving your dream car does not require owning your dream car in the same way that you can enjoy a round of golf without owning the club.

The US Census Bureau reports that while there has been a slight increase in median household income in the last year, many families still aren’t making as much money as they did in the late 1990s.  Part of making the best of this difficult situation is finding ways to still get what you want without paying crazy amounts of money.  Exotic car rental and membership in an exotic car sharing club are two practical alternatives to buying an exotic car.

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