(Photo by Josh Davis, exotic car photographer Fort Worth, TX. All rights reserved. Used with permission.)

Originally founded as a “different kind of car company,” Saturn became part of General Motors and went on to be a popular brand of automobile.  However, the actual vehicle sales never met the aggressive targets, and the last Saturn vehicles were produced on Thursday.

As part of its general restructuring plans, GM will be ceasing production on Saturn vehicles.  In 2004, the automaker stopped making Oldsmobile vehicles, and the Pontiac brand will also be eliminated in 2010.

It was originally thought that Saturn would be purchased by the Penske Automotive Group, but when that sale fell through, the brand was slated for a 2010 shutdown.  Saturn dealerships will be closing in 2010, and Saturn factories in Michigan, Kansas, and Mexico have ceased production.

“2008 and 2009 have been hard years for the auto industry,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas exotic car rental business.  “No one’s sure when things will turn around, but hopefully it will be soon.”

Sturgeon’s business offers a way for exotic car fans to drive their dream vehicle without dealing with an astronomical car payment.  Exotic car rental is becoming a popular alternative to owning an exotic vehicle.

“One thing that I like about it is that you don’t have to be a millionaire to drive a Ferrari,” says Sturgeon.  “You can just be a regular guy or girl.”

Beside exotic car rental, there are other alternatives for driving your dream car.  You can join an exotic car sharing club or participate in a dream tour.  Exotic car clubs offer members access to a wide selection of luxury and sports cars.  Dream tours provide a one-day adrenaline-fueled driving experience.

Exotic car fans may be saddened to learn that the Saturn Sky Roadster will be affected by the demise of the car brand.  While it wasn’t exactly considered exotic, the Sky Roadster was an affordable convertible sports car.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer living near the Twin Cities.

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.

Tata Nano Image licensed under Creative Commons attribution only. Image created by bbjee. See more of his photos in his Flickr photostream.

The release of the new Tata Nano proves that exotic cars don’t have to be expensive.  The tiny automobile is the cheapest car in the world, and it just hit the streets in India, where demand for the auto has been high.

The Nano, which has a MSRP of just under $2500, is now available to customers in India.  Over 203,000 people registered to buy the car, and 100,000 vehicles will be delivered in coming months.

Tata is the number one auto manufacturer in India, but the global economic crisis has affected sales of the company’s cars.  The Nano is designed to be an affordable car for the people, and advance sales indicate that it will be very successful.  The vehicle has also been touted as eco-friendly.

However, some reviewers have concerns about the safety of the tiny car.  In India, over 90,000 people are killed every year in automobile accidents.  The Nano’s small size makes safety a concern.

There are several cost and space saving design features that make the Tata Nano unique, including a trunk that is accessible only by folding down the rear seats, three rather than four wheel lug nuts, a single front windshield wiper, and a single side mirror.  The car also has no power steering.

The Tata Nano differs from the Smart Car and other new small vehicles in that it is powered by gasoline.  Environmentalists are concerned about the popularity of the Nano because more vehicles on the road may mean increased pollution.

Currently the Tata Nano is only being sold in India, but it is expected that the company will expand to other countries as well.  If you want to drive a car that will turn heads, the Nano may be for you, but the vehicle’s performance is unlikely to impress US drivers.

For those who enjoy impressive performance and head-turning good looks, exotic car rental is a great option.  You can drive an exotic vehicle without the hassle and expense of ownership.

Another great option for exotic car enthusiasts is joining an exotic car club.  Members of exotic car clubs have access to an entire garage of exotic vehicles, including Lamborghinis, Bentleys, and BMWs.  It’s the ultimate way to drive your dream car without having to worry about insurance, maintenance, and exotic car storage.

Tata is expected to continue production of the Nano to meet customer demand.  The initial production target for the car is 250,000 units.

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.

For many Dallas visitors, a great weekend is topped off with an exotic car rental.  Dallas is a fun town to explore, especially when you drive a Lamborghini.  Many visitors like to rent a convertible or other exotic car for their fun weekend in Dallas.

“The Taste of Dallas festival is a great event, and it’s for an awesome cause,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas exotic car rental company.

This year’s festival will benefit the North Texas Food Bank.  The North Texas Food Bank is committed to ending hunger in North Texas.  Concerned citizens can help in many ways, including volunteering and donating food and money.

The Taste of Dallas festival will feature foods prepared by local restaurants, as well as a variety of family-friendly activities.  There will also be live entertainment and displays by local artists.  It promises to be a very exciting weekend activity for Dallas visitors.

“It’s a fun event every year,” says Sturgeon.  “It’s great when there’s an event like this that is a good time for the whole family.”

After checking out the Taste of Dallas, some families may want some other fun Dallas activities to keep them occupied.  The DFW Elite Toy Museum is a great way for kids to check out the automotive toys of the past and spend quality time with the family.

For automobile enthusiasts, there’s more to do in Dallas than enjoy the festival.  Why not rent an exotic vehicle to explore the city.  Exotic car rental makes an excellent alternative to owning an exotic vehicle.  It allows regular people to drive a Bentley or other exotic car.

The Taste of Dallas 2009 kicks off Friday and continues through Sunday evening.  Entry to the festival is free, but visitors should bring cash to buy food and drinks while there.  There are fun carnival rides for the kids, and tickets can be purchased at various ticket stands.

Hours for the Taste of Dallas 2009 are as follows:

Friday 11:00am to 11:00pm

Saturday 11:00am to 11:00pm

Sunday 12:00pm to 8:00pm

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.

Add to this the economic downturn that has hurt every major sector of the economy, especially the credit markets (which, of course, makes it especially hard to finance purchases like cars) and you have the perfect blend of circumstances to obliterate the automobile industry. 

It is against this rosy backdrop that Nissan is announcing the release of the 370Z.  The 370Z is reminiscent of its cousin, the 350Z, but with notable stylistic changes.  It is hard to say what the full force of the new features will be as little more than some pictures have been released.  But it is obvious that many things were borrowed from Nissan’s Infiniti line.  This is especially true of the interior and the 3.7-liter, V-6 engine.

Meanwhile, the folks at Chevrolet are pinning their hopes on the new 2010 Camaro.  The 2010 Chevy Camaro will feature a powerful V8 and a six-speed manual transmission.  There is also said to be a slightly tamer version of the 2010 Camaro available in V6.  So far, although consumers have to wait until next year to start purchasing them, indications are good because an EBay auction fund raiser saw one of the Camaros go for over $70,000. 

Whether either of these, or similar cars will help the auto industry steer out of its spiral is hard to say.  But one thing is for certain, many fans of sports cars cars are choosing alternative ways of driving them.

“The 2010 Camaro and new Nissan are both exciting cars that we would love to add to our collection of sports cars,” states Ron Sturgeon, owner of the DFW sports car sharing club.  

Written by web copywriter 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.