Drive Your Dream Blog

American automobile companies must feel like the Joads in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Their journey must seem like one misfortune after another. If the flagging U.S. economy and foreign competition weren’t enough, the recent run-up in fuel costs has delivered yet another setback to the carmakers.

Carmakers have tried many techniques to get customers buying again. Chrysler rolled out a $2.99 gas price guarantee to purchasers of certain models. Ford has delayed the redesign of larger trucks and refocused itself on marketing its highest MPG models.
Still, despite innovative designs and more fuel-efficient vehicles, many buyers are keeping their wallets closed.

In an effort to get buyers into showrooms, GM has started offering six-year interest free financing on some slower moving models. “We’re really just trying to spark the market,” said Mark LaNeve, GM’s vice president for North American sales and marketing in an article in the International Herald Tribune.

Some auto loan providers are also increasing their programs aimed at college students about to enter the workforce. However, with a slowing economy translating into fewer high wage jobs, these new loan programs could be ill advised for both lender and graduate.

Although it’s taking more to get people into the showroom at car dealerships, not all segments of the auto industry are hurting.

Exotic car sharing continues to be a popular alternative to owning high dollar luxury and performance cars. “Car sharing is an excellent alternative for car connoisseurs looking to drive a variety of the best cars in the world without owning them,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of DFW Elite Car Club in Dallas Fort Worth.

With the capacity to deliver exotic cars nationwide, the club is a great alternative to ownership for many Texas business owners and executives. To lean more about DFW Elite Car Club, visit http:wwwdfwelitecarclub.com. To find an exotic car sharing club in your city, visit a directory of car sharing clubs at http:wwwexoticcarclubs.com.

For car aficionados who just want to experience and compare the best exotics, Ron Sturgeon has a creative answer: DFW Drive Your Dream. Offering both full- and half-day supercar driving tours, the company puts car buffs at the controls of five supercars back-to-back on some of the best driving roads in Texas. For a complete list of dream car driving tour dates and cites, visit http:wwwdriveyourdream.com. Thanks to DFW Elite Car Club and DFW Drive Your Dream, fun is much more affordable.

Written by freelance writer 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.