Posts Tagged Exotic
The Dos and Don’ts of Renting an Exotic Car
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 20, 2010
As the exotic car rental industry grows, more consumers are flocking to this exciting and accessible trend in the luxury automotive space. Gotham Dream Cars, a leader in the industry with locations in New York and Miami, has released some useful tips for those enthusiasts who seek a “dream day” in a favorite luxury or super car. Unlike when renting from a traditional car rental company (such as Hertz or Avis), knowing what to ask of your exotic vehicle provider can help protect you from the unknown factors that come with renting an extremely expensive and powerful piece of machinery.
“As a car guy, I loved the idea of trying out the latest super car but I couldn’t find a reputable company to rent from! It was then that I decided to start Gotham Dream Cars and solve that problem,” states CEO Noah Lehmann-Haupt. “Renting a Ferrari or Lamborghini for the weekend is quite different from rental a normal economy car at the airport. It’s important for those thinking about taking the plunge to do their research and know what questions to ask up front.”
Lehmann-Haupt offers these important tips to discuss with any exotic rental company prior to utilizing their services:
Avoid the fly-by-nights: Make sure the car you are renting is actually owned/leased by the rental company and not a private owner’s personal toy. Several fly-by-night operators use privately-owned cars as ways to get around the legalities and difficulties of insurance and financing. If you rent a car that isn’t legally insured as a rental, you could be held liable and possibly sued for damages by the owner – and your personal insurance carrier won’t cover you. Furthermore, private owners rarely respect customers’ reservations, and your car could be taken back from the owner at any time. Not a good thing to happen the night before your big rental!
Beware of the stock photo: Make sure the car you reserve is the car you’re getting. Many small/start-up rental companies trade cars with other companies or list cars on their website that they do not own in order to appear bigger and more established. You may make a reservation based on a pretty picture online and get a different color, different model, or no car at all!
Ask for an on-site walk through of your car:Â Luxury/super cars are generally rare and exclusive vehicles and may have extremely advanced technology. Each can also have a unique driving personality and varied handling characteristics that can take hours, if not days, to get used to. Ask your rental company to give you a proper introduction to your vehicle and make sure you know how to use all the safety features, how to operate the transmission, and how to avoid a potentially dangerous drive.
Terms and conditions: Know the terms and conditions of the agreement prior to arranging for your rental: Exotic and super cars can be vastly different to rent than your standard rental. How many miles are included in the agreement? (Exotic rental companies rarely, if ever, give unlimited miles.) What happens if the car breaks down? What about roadside assistance? Are there refueling requirements?
Locations: Ask about delivery to your home or office and what the full service range of your rental provider is. Some rental companies offer different points for pick up and drop off as an added value.
Check the vehicle’s condition: Many startup and fly-by-night firms act only as brokers or middlemen, renting you a vehicle that’s been borrowed from another firm or a private owner. When this happens, the “buck never stops” and mechanical failures may not get fixed, tires may get dangerously worn, warning lights can get ignored, and the vehicle’s paint may get tarnished and dull from lack of care. Make sure your chosen exotic rental company has adequate staffing and someone who is responsible for the vehicles’ maintenance – both aesthetically and mechanically.
BUT, have realistic expectations: Even though the vehicle you’ve chosen to drive for the day may the be car of your dreams, it’s still a rental car and will inevitably have been driven by other enthusiasts, so normal wear and tear should be expected. Unlike the traditional rental companies, exotic rental firms rotate their fleets less frequently (usually every 2 – 3 years). The most reputable firms will give great attention to providing you with a great-looking and great-driving car, but be realistic about your expectations – just because the car is expensive doesn’t mean it will be coming straight from the showroom floor. And if the renter immediately before you puts a scratch in the bumper, there probably won’t be time to repaint it before it’s your turn, so you might have to face the choice of scratched car or no car.
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Things to Know About Exotic Cars
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 19, 2010
An exotic sports car can be defined as a vehicle with limited production, exclusive, made by foreign car companies and a borderline race car. They tend to have sleek attractive looks and yield high performance from their exquisitely designed engines. The prestige they carry alone makes them exclusive and a looker for everyone.
Exotic cars are legendary an they include the McLaren F1, Lamborghini and Ferraris. These cars are highly followed and establish your status as a person with more than adequate funds. However, even if you can afford to purchase one, is it the right car for you?
The temptation, the stories and status are enough to make you want to own an exotic sports car. It is extremely hard to resist if you have the chance and the means to own such a car with a timeless design. But your status is not defined solely by a beautiful car. Your status is made by being objective and making wise investment decisions.
There are a couple of aspects one needs to think over.
Exotic Cars Are Expensive
The high sticker price does not stop once you make the payment. The recurring cost for repair and to maintain the fine tuning of an exotic sports car should logically be considerably more costly than a standard automobile. It is recommended that you know what type of costs you’ll encounter to keep the car in running at its peak.
Since the car is in limited production, the parts are probably going to have a limited stock. Do not be surprised if some parts have to be custom made. It is even more prevalent in older exotic cars where the original manufacturer has ceased production
Obviously, you’ll need to have a mechanic who specializes in exotic car repair and is certified accordingly. More than likely they will be based in major cities or luxury suburbs where these exotic cars are driven. Otherwise, you will have to ship your car or travel to find the proper mechanic. Although an exotic sports car may symbolize the high performance, you cannot predict that it will also be reliable, especially with older “classic exotic cars”.
Driving an Exotic Car
It is not uncommon when driving high performance cars that it will take some time to get comfortable and familiar with such a vehicle. Driving a high performance vehicle like a professional comes in time, and will depend a lot on the motorist’s skill. Inexperienced drivers may become overly frustrated with the learning curve. A person needs to be patient and consider the risks involved.
Therefore, if you are seriously in the market to buy an exotic sports car, you will need to overlook the love affair and excitement of actually being an owner of a prestigious high performance car. Be prepared to deal with obstacles so you can enjoy the most highly sought after designed vehicles in the world.
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Exotic Car Owners – Sexy, Ego Or Both?
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 18, 2010
Exotic car owners are a unique brand of people. They are movie stars, sports athletes, successful business men and women and rich. They all have several things in common. Money, egos and usually the thought of showing off their supposed sex appeal. They are everywhere to be found from big cities to rural America. They have been around since Henry Ford first introduced his Model T. The most important common thread is that they have the money.
To some people, owning a Ferrari or a Lamborghini or an Aston Martin is the American dream. Only a select few however fulfill those dreams. A new Lamborghini might run you $250,000.00 or more. A new 2007 Ferrari model 612 will set you back about $270,000.00. That 2008 Aston Martin Volante you have been eyeing will run around $185,000.00. Ferdinand Porsche once said I could not find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself. Was that ego, money or both? How about this for sexy by the comedienne Rita Rudner, To attract men I wear perfume called New Car Interior. The fact is people are mesmerized by cars, especially exotic cars. So, whether economic conditions are good or bad, people who can afford them still want their sexy exotic cars whether they are new or even used.
If you have the money, you buy the exotic car that appeals to you the most. The really interesting thing I have noticed is many of the exotic car buyers grow tired of their exotic cars very quickly. They bought their new toy and satisfied their ego. Then something happens. What it is I’m really quite sure. Apparently the thrill of that new Ferrari has worn off. After about one year or less they want something different. They want something newer with more bells and whistles. Something sexier or faster. Something that will satisfy that new ego itch that needs to be scratched.
That common thread they all have – money, makes it easier for them to buy what they want, when they want. It is a unique trait that most of them have. It definitely is an asset for the exotic car dealerships because they know it happens and they have these clients coming back every year or so to buy something new. Some of the exotic car owners look to sell their cars privately rather than just trade it in for a new one. Having lots of money doesn’t necessarily mean that you know how to sell your car privately or where to go to do it. Most usually turn to one or both of the biggest online car marketers in the country. Both are excellent companies; however they market every make of car and model.
That is why there are some very good online car marketing companies who specialize in luxury and exotic cars only. They bring together the exotic car sellers with the exotic and luxury car buyers. These sites offer a unique variety of luxury and exotic cars for the discriminate owner.
So whether you are rich and famous or just rich, you still need to know that you should use an expert to help you sell your exotic car.
