According to Yahoo Autos, some of the cars with the worst fuel economy include the Lamborghini Murcielago, the BMW M6, and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.  With miles per gallon rates that are sometimes in the single digits, it can be expensive to own and operate these exotic vehicles.

In addition to paying for gas for their cars, exotic car owners need to track down a secure car storage facility, get a great deal on insurance, and find a qualified mechanic.  For some, the hassle of owning an exotic vehicle is just too much.

That’s where exotic car sharing clubs come in.   These clubs offer a way for exotic car enthusiasts to drive the cars of their dreams without all the worries and expense that go along with owning a luxury or exotic vehicle.

Since car club members aren’t driving these cars for their regular commute, exotic car sharing clubs offer a great way to save gas and be green.  Car clubs and exotic car rental are a way to make driving exotic cars practical.

Some SUVs like the Land Rover Range Rover and Infiniti QX56 are seeing an increase in sales from this time last year.  Both vehicles have gas mileage rates in the mid-teens, but slightly lower gas prices have helped to boost sales.

For exotic carmakers like Lamborghini, the road to recovery may be a little longer.  After a record year in 2007 and impressive sales figures for 2008, the Italian exotic carmaker will be lucky to get simply decent sales statistics for 2009.

Gas prices are expected to remain low as the U.S. pulls out of a recession, and low gas prices mean less focus on fuel economy.  Interestingly, many experts predict that gas prices will return to previous highs after the economy recovers.

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

(Photo credit Ford Motor Company Flickr photo stream. Licensed under Creative Commons. Check out more photos of the Fusion on Flickr.)

Regular readers of this space know that of American automakers, I am a Ford fan. With GM being run by a labor economist and Chrysler being sold to Fiat, I would love for one American carmaker to survive.

Especially, if it’s the one that President Obama credited with inventing the automobile….

Yes, Ford lost money in Q1, but they are building cars that people want to buy, and the way they are marketing the Ford Fusion Hybrid with the 1000 miles on a tank quest is inspired.

They are doing the 1000 miles on a tank effort as part of a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Hey, it’s for da kids….

They have charted a 1000-mile course from Mount Vernon, VA to Washington, D.C. From a PR standpoint, that route will probably edge out arriving in chartered corporate jets to beg for bailout billions….

Yes, I’m still bitter about that. Not the arrival, but the decision to give them the money to save them from bankruptcy. That’s worked out well.

The drivers of the 2010 Ford Fusion are to be NASCAR’s Carl Edwards, hypermiler Wayne Gerdes, and a host of the new Ford hybrid’s engineering geniuses. The hypermiler seems like a bit of a ringer, but they are keeping it real. The car is unmodified, running on standard 87 octane, and must maintain an average speed of 57 MPH.

For those interested in the fuel economy ratings for the Ford Fusion Hybrid and more on the 1000 miles attempt, check out coverage by Ralph Hanson at Motor Authority. Ruth Manuel-Logan from Examiner.com also wrote an excellent article on the Fusion Hybrid 1000 mile attempt.

This post written by professional seo content writer Eric Anderson from PDQ Web Copywriting. Eric’s recent writing projects have included content for a Tampa FL English Tutor blog and a Dallas TX classic car storage website.

Basically a cross between a scooter and a small car, the Scoot Coupe appears comfortable on its three wheels.  It offers many important safety features like emergency flashers, rack and pinion steering, seat belts, overhead bars, and disc brakes on all three wheels.

In addition, Panther Motors calls the Scoot Coupe “easy to operate” and “the coolest scooter you’ll ever own.”

The coolness factor is definitely high with this vehicle.  Just as renting an exotic car will turn heads, so will the sleek looks of this scooter.  It can really only be described as “cute.”

The Scoot Coupe is available in four very bright colors:  red, blue, yellow, and the aptly named “mantis green.”  Other cute features include a small trunk for luggage or groceries, a car-shaped front end with slanted headlights, and fancy colored stripes on the upholstery.

Despite its small size, the Scoot Coupe claims to be comfortable for drivers as tall as 6’3”.  Two passengers can fit comfortably in the vehicle, but there is no back seat.

Technically, the Scoot Coupe has many advantages over typical commuter transportation.  Its 4-stroke, 1-cylinder engine is capable of speeds up to 45 miles per hour and gets about 70-80 miles per gallon.  In addition, the small size of the vehicle, just 96” long, makes for easy parking and remarkably easy car storage in Fort Worth or wherever you may reside.

There are two models of Scoot Coupe available:  the P50 and the P150.  The primary difference between the two models is the maximum power of the engine.  The P50 gets 1.9 horsepower at 3000 RPM, and the P150 gets 9.28 horsepower at 7000 RPM.

While these stats don’t even begin to compare to the horsepower you get when you rent a Lamborghini or other exotic car, the vehicle would still make a decent and head-turning commuter car.  The gas savings alone would help pay for a classic car rental like the BMW Isetta if you want to experience driving a gas saver from the post WW II era.

Panther Motors, the manufacturer of the Scoot Coupe, is a Florida-based company that began in 2004.  The company is devoted to producing high-quality three-wheeled scooters for commercial and private use.

The Scoot Coupe is manufactured in the United States and retails for $6300 to $6600.

Although most of us cannot afford the price tag of the Hearst Mansion and other extravagant homes, we can still experience some of the lifestyle perks of the rich and famous. Among the fastest growing segments of the car rental business in the United States, exotic car rental allows car aficionados to drive exotic cars such as the Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley Continental, or new 600 HP Dodge Viper.

Other mansions on the Forbes list are similarly luxurious. Fleur de Lys, a home that is also located in Beverly Hills, is on the market for $125 million. The 45,000-square-foot palatial estate is aptly named because it was modeled after Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles, complete with shaped hedges and a grand courtyard. Fleur de Lys also boasts a nine-car garage, plenty of room to store a few of the world’s top performance cars.

Some of the exotic cars that might reside in the garage at Fleur de Lys are also available for rent at a variety of exotic car rental businesses. If you dream of driving a Lamborghini Gallardo, there’s no need to consider that goal as far out of your reach as owning Fleur de Lys or the Hearst Mansion. Finding a car rental agency that specializes in exotics is simple using an online directory, such as www.rentexoticcars.net.

Also at $125 million, Forbes.com lists Dunnellen Hall in Greenwich, Connecticut. The estate features 40 acres of woods and meadows and a 21,897-square-foot Jacobean manor with 14 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. The interior of the home is no less grand with elaborate wood paneling, travertine floors, and even a 52-foot indoor swimming pool. It was her attempt to write off lavish rennovations of this residence as business expenses that got the late Leonna Hemsley in trouble with the IRS.

Those living the wealthy lifestyle also have at least one additional home, and at $100 million, Tranquility in Lake Tahoe, Nevada is a contender for those with the bankroll to support it. The 210-acre property includes a 20,000-square-foot main house with a wine cellar that has room for 3,500 bottles of the finest wines. Add to that the indoor swimming pool and 19-seat movie theater, and you’re all set to enjoy your vacation.

If you are interested in driving a car that makes almost as much of a statement as the mega-mansions featured on Forbes.com, look no further than renting a Lamborghini Gallardo. The exotic car, which has an MSRP of $225,000 can accelerate from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and boasts a 520-horsepower engine. Exotic car rental is the best way to drive a Lamborghini Gallardo if you want to feel like a tycoon for a day.

Other homes on the Forbes.com list include Maison de L’Amitie in Palm Beach, Florida, Hillandale in Stamford, Connecticut, BootJack Ranch in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and the Portabello Estate in Corona del Mar, California.

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.