Exotic vehicles like the audi r8 can easily cost well over $100,000, putting them far out of the reach of many regular people.  But there are a couple of ways you can drive an exotic vehicle.

In a recent piece on affordable exotics, Forbes.com listed some of the fastest cars under $50,000.  Since the average new vehicle costs just under $30,000, this price tag isn’t too far out of the affordable range.

And these cars may be worth the extra money.  Here are the top five cars from Forbes.com:

• Topping the list was the Chevrolet Camaro SS, which has a suggested retail price of just under $34,000.  The Camaro SS can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of about 160 miles per hour.

• Next on the list was the Audi TTS.  At under $46,000, the car is affordable, and its performance is pretty impressive.  It can do zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 155 miles per hour.

• BMW makes up the remaining part of the list.  All three models have a top speed of 130 miles per hour.  The BMW 135 (about $36,000) goes from zero to 60 in 5.1 seconds.  The BMW 335 (almost $43,000) can go from zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds, and the BMW Z4 ($46,000) can go from zero to 60 in 5.6 seconds.

Not sure if you have an extra $50,000 to drop on an exotic car?  The purchase price is only the beginning.  exotic cars are investments, and that means you need to spend money to take care of them.

Some of the ownership costs include specialty maintenance fees, secure exotic car storage expenses, fuel costs, and insurance premiums.

If you live in Texas, you may be eligible for more affordable insurance rates for your car.  Request a Saginaw insurance quote to find out.

When it comes to driving the car of your dreams, another affordable option is an exotic car dream tour.  These tours give you a chance to get behind the wheel of four exotic cars and drive some of the prettiest roads in the Dallas area.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer, who specializes in web content, editing, and technical writing.

The drop in overall sales has not affected the price of many rare classic vehicles, however.  At a recent Scottsdale, Arizona Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. sale, the first production model of the 1955 Ford Thunderbird brought in $660,000.

The Fort Worth Star Telegram recently quoted Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson, about the high-priced sale.

(image from Autoblog. Read their excellent post about the first production TBird.)

“This purchase is almost like comfort food for someone’s portfolio,” he said.  “When people have seen their 401(k) shrink 40 or 50 percent, all of a sudden this [classic car buying] becomes a very viable option. Now they can justify it as a hedge.”

Similarly impressive classic cars will be on display at the Fort Worth Rod & Custom Show, which starts on Friday.  Organizers anticipate that about 275 vintage cars will be on display at the event, including Mustangs, Corvettes, and Camaros. “It’s always an exceptionally good custom car show,” said Tom Warren, GM of DFW Elite Auto Rental.com, a DFW luxury car rental agency

The cars that seem to be holding on to their value the best are those with a well-documented history.  And because of the hard times, it may be a good time to buy a classic vehicle.

Because classic cars tend to retain their value much better than new vehicles, they are seen as a good investment.  But that doesn’t mean that the business is completely isolated from the economic conditions we all face.

Bobby Mikus is the owner and partner of Fort Worth car restoration shop Kustom Classics, and he told the Star Telegram that he recently had to lay off four of his employees.  He also reports significant payment delays from his customers when they lose jobs or hit hard times.  However, Mikus is optimistic about the future.

“Anytime the weather perks up for a week, phones start ringing,” he says. “We’re doing OK.”

With temperatures in the 60s, 70s, and 80s in Fort Worth in the coming weeks, it looks like Mikus can expect a few calls.  However, springtime weather, with its dramatic temperature and humidity fluctuations, can be hard on exotic and classic vehicles.

To protect something as valuable as a classic car, it’s extremely important to find secure, temperature-controlled Dallas car storage.  After all, in these difficult economic times, we need all the help we can get in protecting the few investments with a reasonable shot at appreciating in value.

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.