Drive Your Dream Blog

For most of us the name “Tesla Motors” conjures up images of the incredibly cool Tesla Roadster.  The ultimate green exotic car, the Tesla Roadster stays green while getting incredible performance, but it has an exotic car price tag in the six figures.

Ferrari 360 Spyder rental from DFW Elite Auto Rental.com

Now, Tesla Motors will begin work on a much more affordable family sedan.  The project is receiving funding from the US Department of Energy as part of the Reinvestment and Recovery Act.  Tesla Motors will be receiving $465 million in low-interest loans to help speed the production of the new sedan.

The sedan, called the Model S, is expected to have a base price under $50,000 after customers apply a $7,500 tax credit for green vehicles.  However, the sticker price of the Model S is misleading, since ownership costs are expected to be significantly lower than a conventional vehicle.  Lower ownership costs put the sedan’s real price at around $35,000.

The Model S is completely electric and has a range of up to 300 miles, making it a viable alternative to the gasoline-powered family car.  The sedan will seat up to seven people comfortably and will emit nothing at all from the tailpipe.

It’s expected that driving the Model S will cost a little over 2 cents per mile, making it far more cost effective than even the most fuel-efficient gasoline engine.  It will be possible to recharge the car at any conventional outlet.

The Model S will also qualify for numerous tax credits and incentives.  In addition, owners will be eligible for free parking at many locations and will be able to use the commuter lanes in many cities.  Maintenance on the vehicle is minimal, since there are fewer working parts than in a gasoline-powered engine.

For fans of exotic vehicles, the developments at Tesla are very exciting.  Soon, it will be possible to commute in a car like the Model S and drive an exotic vehicle on the weekend.  Exotic car rental makes it possible to drive your dream car without the hassle and expense of owning an exotic vehicle.

Owners of exotic cars complain of difficulty finding certified maintenance, expensive exotic car insurance, hard to find exotic car storage, and host of other hassles.  For many, it’s simply more efficient to rent an exotic car or join an exotic car sharing club.

The Tesla Model S is expected to debut in 2011, and Tesla is currently taking reservations online.

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.

A new bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the President Obama will give American consumers up to $4500 for trading in their old gas-guzzling used cars.  The “Cash for Clunkers” bill will provide the money in the form of a voucher.  The voucher could then be traded in to buy a new, more fuel-efficient car.

Many consumers have already discovered the benefit of driving a fuel-efficient vehicle.  You can save money on gas during your commute, and that savings can be put toward driving your dream car on the weekend with exotic car rental. 

In addition to putting more fuel-efficient cars on the road, the bill would possibly be a shot in the arm for the ailing auto industry. However, some opponents point out that with credit scarce and money still tight, consumers may continue to wait to buy a new car.

Some reports say that potential auto buyers have been waiting for the bill to pass before they buy a new car.  85% of dealers reported that they felt the “Cash for Clunkers” bill would spur sales of new cars after it is passed, but they are eager to see the bill enacted into law.

Driving a fuel-efficient car is good for both the environment and your pocketbook.  Gas prices continue to climb as the summer travel season increases demand.  It’s expected that fuel prices will reach an average of $2.70 per gallon in coming months.

Many exotic car fans find that driving an exotic car on a regular basis can be too costly.  Instead, they choose to rent an exotic car and drive a compact or hybrid car for the daily commute.  If you drive a Honda Fit during the week, you can drive a Bentley Continental for the weekend.

Another great alternative to owning an exotic car is joining an exotic car club.  Exotic car clubs give members access to an entire garage of exotic, classic, and luxury vehicles.  Members share the vehicles as they need them.

The new website for the “Cash for Clunkers” program has been launched, but it is still short on details.  Lawmakers say that creating the rules for the program may take up to a month, and this delay is likely to affect car sales this summer.  Many consumers buy cars during June and July, but potential buyers are waiting for the program to begin.

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

As obscure holidays go, National Leave Work Early Day certainly sounds like a fun one.  In fact it sounds even more fun than yesterday’s obscure holiday:  National Go Barefoot Day.  Also called “National Leave the Office Early Day,” National Leave Work Early takes place on June 2.  For the most part, the holiday seems pretty self-explanatory.

So if you’re lucky enough to have a boss who understands that you’re only celebrating a national holiday, not skipping out on that important afternoon meeting, how are you going to celebrate National Leave Work Early Day?  One great option is exotic car rental.

Exotic car rental is a great way to explore the ins and outs of some of the most enjoyable exotic cars on the market.  If you’re thinking of buying an exotic car in the near future, you can take the ultimate test drive when you rent an exotic vehicle.

Renting exotic cars is also a great alternative to ownership.  You get all the fun of driving a Lamborghini without the expensive maintenance, elusive exotic car storage, or costly insurance.  Many people consider exotic car rental to be the best of both worlds.

It’s a beautiful day in Dallas, and if you’re planning to take off early, why not do it in a convertible rental or other exotic vehicle?  You can enjoy the scenery with the top down, or even go on a romantic afternoon outing in a luxury car rental.

If exotic car rental is something you really enjoy, a great option might be joining an exotic car club.  Members of exotic car clubs share an entire fleet of gorgeous exotic vehicles, allowing them to drive a Mercedes for a business meeting and then take their date out in a Bentley Continental.

Created by Laura Stack, an acclaimed author and expert on productivity, National Leave Work Early Day is designed to help people make good use of their non-work time.  It’s hard to imagine what would constitute better time usage than renting an exotic car.

Stack suggests that American workers need to put energy into creating a healthy work-life balance and that having this balance will actually help people be more productive.  Some of her suggestions include the following:

• Don’t think about work when you aren’t at work.
• Get help from other people.
• Limit the use of electronics during downtime.
• Don’t stay late at work on a regular basis.
• Spend time doing things you love like hanging out with family and enjoying your hobbies.

For exotic car fans, National Leave Work Early Day presents a great excuse to hit the road with an exotic vehicle that will turn heads and impress other drivers.  If you’re an exotic car fan, celebrate today by renting an exotic car!

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.

There is plenty of bad news for Dallas car dealerships — news about lists of car dealerships targeted for closing in DFW.

Instead, I thought I would write about something happy. I recently discovered the website of a North Texas Car Club dedicated to all 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevrolets — cars, trucks, and Corvettes.

I love the cars of the 1950s, the chrome, the fins, the V8s, and the dreamlike styling.

Every month, the Dallas Chevy club features a car of the month. This month it is a 1957 Chevy Sedan owned by Glenn and Betty South of Fort Worth, TX.

(Photo Credit for Chevy photos to Dallas Area Classic Chevy Club website.)

It wasn’t easy to get this beautiful classic Chevy into the pristine shape that it is in. Glenn describes a little of the work in the featured car listing for his car: “I replaced the firewall, engine, transmission and rear end, gas tank, brake lines, wiring and everything else except the body and frame. Everything on it is either new or rebuilt from the frame up.”

What a stunningly beautiful classic Chevy.

Learn more about the Dallas Area Classic Chevy Car Club on their website at http://www.dallasclassicchevy.com.

See a photo gallery of Glenn and Betty’s 1957 Chevy: http://www.dallasclassicchevy.com/FeatureCar.htm

If your tastes run to newer cars, check out DFW Elite Car Club — a Dallas TX car sharing club for exotic cars located in DFW. Still for me, it’s hard to beat the style of an American classic like the 1957 Chevy.

This post written by freelance blogger Eric Anderson. Eric is a regular contributor to the Dallas exotic car rental blog of DFW Elite Auto Rental.com.

According to a story just posted on Motor Trend, Caterham claims that it is getting calls from owners of top tier exotic cars wanting to trade in on Caterhams.

A press release issued today by the company claims that some wealthy car enthusiasts are downsizing their horsepower and opting for the ultralight Caterhams. The company claims to have taken a F430 and Porsche 911 in on trade for Caterham models last month.

(Caterham photo courtesy of Caterham media library.)

The attraction isn’t creature comforts. After all, Caterhams lack doors, roof, trunk, backseat, and fine hand-stitched Italian leather… They aren’t meant to be daily drivers, but rather rollickingly fun track cars.

Caterham claims that its most popular model is the SCR260, a lightweight version of the Caterham 7. Part of the attraction, according to Motor Trend, is the price — even new the Caterham SCR260 starts at a paltry $46,125.

I sure hope the cat trading the Ferrari got at least two Caterhams and some cash back. The F430 F1 is still the top exotic car driving experience on my list but, I have to admit, that Caterhams look like a boatload of fun. If you live in Dallas Fort Worth and want to drive an F430 without owning one, check out the bevy of Dallas sports car rentals from DFW’s PlatinumExotics.com.

(Dallas sports car rentals - Dallas Ferrari F430 F1 rental from PlatinumExotics.com)

The key is that the Caterham SCR260 weights only 1270 pounds and so the Cosworth modified 2.3L Ford Duratec that powers this glorified go cart can push it from zero to 60 in 3.7 seconds. Sounds like snap your head clean off territory… See the MT post by Carlos Lago here.

More on Caterhams on the official Caterham website. More on finding a sports car rental agency in your neighborhood at rentexoticcars.net.

Post written by feelance web content writer Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent projects include content for a Dallas sports car storage website.

The website Exotic Spotter has a unique approach:  Members share photos of exotic cars seen on the streets of cities all over the globe.  There are photos of Bentleys and Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, Mercedes and Aston Martins, and dozens of other exotic vehicles.

The theory behind Exotic Spotter is that dream cars need to be appreciated in real life, rather at car shows and dealer showrooms.  They’re not looking for staged photos of exotic vehicles; instead, they want real photos of real exotic cars on real city streets.

“It’s a really interesting idea,” says Marissa Collins, an employee at a Dallas exotic car rental business.  “You really don’t get a feel for an exotic car when you see it at a show, and this site is a great way to show exotic vehicles in the real world.”

And when Exotic Spotter claims to have photos from all over the world, they really aren’t kidding.  For instance, there are currently 659 photos of Bentley Continentals, and they come from places as diverse as Moscow, Monaco, Budapest, and Sao Paulo.  There are Bentleys from Germany, China, Kuwait, and dozensof other countries.

(Dallas Ferrari rental pictured outside DFW restaurant Javiers.)

Many people still think of exotic cars as something that belong only to the rich and famous, but you don’t have to be a movie star or a millionaire to drive a Bentley Continental.  There are several options out there that allow you to drive your dream car without the hassle and expense of owning an exotic vehicle.

(Dallas Bentley Rental pictured in Arlington, TX with the Dallas Cowboys new stadium in the background.)

One of these options is exotic car rental.  If you want to be featured in a photo on Exotic Spotter, it might be as simple as renting a Bentley Continental for the weekend.  There’s nothing that says you have to own an exotic car to be caught on camera.

Another great option for exotic car fans is an exotic car sharing club.  Instead of shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars for an exotic vehicle, car club members get to share an entire garage of exotic cars.  This saves on emissions too, making exotic car clubs a great green alternative to exotic car ownership.

If you want to see photos of a Dodge Viper, a Lamborghini Gallardo, or a Bentley Continental, check out Exotic Spotter.  If you want to drive you dream car, check into exotic car rental or exotic car sharing clubs. An excellent directory of exotic car rental agencies across the United States can be found at http://www.rentexoticcars.net.

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.

I am not sure whether to laugh or cry. Fiat and Chrysler are together and the merger has been cemented with a few more billions of taxpayer dollars.

From the standpoint of exotic car rental fans, there may not be a lot to cheer about. The Viper does not appear to be part of the plans of the merged companies. Instead, as Detroit Free Press auto critic Mark Phelan writes today: “The freshly allied Chrysler and Fiat must rush a line of new vehicles into showrooms with an urgency no automaker has ever faced before.”

The fate of the merged companies rests, not on anything with a Hemi in it, but rather the ability of Fiat-engineered, Chrysler badged mini cars to appeal to an American public still accustomed to driving full-sized cars.

(Image of Fiat 500 by British classic car fan Dave7. See more of Dave’s photos in his Flickr photostream. Fiat 500 image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Only.)

“What da hell’s that,” said a die hard Dodge Viper SRT-10 fan when shown a picture of the Fiat 500.

As Phelan points out the key will be hanging on for a while and in maintaining customer confidence in the merged company. He writes “The first few cars from the alliance could hit American roads and Chrysler dealerships early in 2010, but the flood of small, fuel-efficient models Chrysler needs will not arrive before mid-2011.”

Although it looks like the product of intercourse between a Honda Civic and a Mini Cooper to me, the Fiat 500 is supposed to be a good car.

Absent much higher gas prices, I am not sure that it will appeal to most Americans. I hope that I am wrong. I just don’t see Chrysler’s Hemi fans falling in love with the Fiat 500.

I doubt they will be building anything fun to drive with the federal government offering them constructive advice of CEO, board members, and which cars consumers will want 3 or 4 years from now.

(Dodge Viper photograph by Josh Davis from Platinum Exotics.com. All rights reserved.)

Exotic car fans can always hope that Chrysler gets some draft picks from Ferrari and Alpha Romeo, but I don’t see it happening.If you’re feeling a little nostalgic, why not take advantage of a Dallas Viper Rental from PlatinumExotics.com!

This post written by SE content writer Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent projects include pages for a Dallas exotic car storage company and a business peer group website.

In what must be good news in hard times, MSNBC reports that you might be rich.

They even had the dude that was bad news for NY Giants opponents’ defenses–Tiki Barber–deliver the good news to a woman who had helped out an elderly friend 20 years before.

The good news? That friend had left her a tidy sum. MSNBC reported on the substantial amount of property that is being held by state governments on behalf of owners who they cannot locate

It’s unlikely that you will find that the state where you live is holding enough cash to make you rich, but you still might enjoy looking yourself and family members and friends up.

You aren’t likely to find enough to buy a Lamborghini Gallardo, but you might get lucky and find enough to rent a Lambo in Fort Worth.

(Photo courtesy of DFW Elite Auto Rental. All rights reserved.)

Who doesn’t love found money. I was excited to find a $20 in a pair of jeans that I had not worn for a while. A few months ago, my father discovered that his mother had some unclaimed property being held by the State of Illinois.

If you do decide to check yourself out, don’t forget to check states that you used to live in.

You might not be rich as a result, but it sure feels good to put a little money that you did not know you had back into your pocket.

Here’s to hoping that you find enought to get really rich and drive your dream exotic car.

Check out the original MSNBC unclaimed property story and links to the states where you can look yourself up to see if the state is holding any unclaimed property for you.

This post written by freelance web copywriter Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent writing projects include a website for a DFW car sharing club and a Lutz Florida mortgage broker.

Apparently Somalia is not the only place where piracy is rampant. China, known for knocking off DVDs, software, and other consumer goods – has pulled off an alleged act of automotive design piracy.

It seems that at the Shanghai Auto Show – along with the new Porsche sedan and a host of other desirable exotics – there was a car that looked suspiciously like a Rolls Royce Phantom.

While the courts sort out whether the Greely GE really infringes on the Phantom design, it’s worth noting that China’s auto industry has surpassed that of the United States in number of cars sold.

Greely claims the Chinese Rolls, aka Greely GE, is just a concept car and not meant for production in its current form.

I love what Forbes writer Robyn Meredith had to say about the Rolls Royce carbon copy:

“Typically, auto companies set their designers free to dream on concept cars, and the concept cars are a point of pride in the car designer community–a way to cement a designers’ career by showing off his or her creativity, vision and originality. Apparently Chinese designers don’t yet share that tradition.”

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/21/rolls-royce-greely-business-autos-china.html

Still, making a fine copy of a Rembrandt takes some skill – even if it doesn’t win you many friends among Rolls Royce’s German owners or points for originality among top business writers.

If you’re up for a ride in some authentic luxury cars, why not rent a Bentley GTC in Dallas TX for DFW Elite Auto Rental.com!

This post was written by freelance web content writer Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent writing projects include content for a Clearwater FL mortgage broker and a Dallas car storage website.

General Motors, the largest of the “Big Three” US automakers, announced that the company is recalling 1.5 million midsize cars.  The vehicles, manufactured from 1997 to 2003, have a defect that could cause an engine fire.

“It’s hard to imagine a worse time for the recall for General Motors,” says Tom Warren, general manager of DFW Elite Auto Rental.com, a Dallas exotic car rental company.

The recalled vehicles include the 1997 to 2003 model years of the Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, the 1998 to 2003 model years of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the 1998 and 1999 model years of the Oldsmobile Intrigue and Chevrolet Lumina.  Certain models of the 2000 to 2003 Chevrolet Impala are also affected.

The defect in these vehicles might allow oil to drip onto the exhaust manifold.  The manifold’s high temperature might cause the oil to ignite.  The fire can then spread by igniting the plastic spark plug wire channels.  The defect has caused one accident and three incidents.  No fatalities have been reported.

GM has been plagued by financial difficulties, and may be forced to file bankruptcy if its remaining top executives can’t satisfy their Washington, DC-based creditors.

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

The repair for the recalled GM cars will be free of charge and is reported to be a quick fix.

You may want to hurry because there getting the repair done may require long term car storage once the feds start managing GM’s warranty division.

Eric Anderson is a professional freelance writer. E-mail for information on freelance writing services.