Texas has a program that also provides money toward a new car.  However, the state’s old car replacement funds for this year have been exhausted, which means car buyers must wait until September to take advantage of the state program.

That could be too long to wait for the Cash for Clunkers program.  Some analysts expect the funds for that program to be exhausted in a matter of weeks, and if interest in the program is any indication, that seems pretty likely.

Automakers are aggressively marketing toward Cash for Clunkers buyers and are offering special incentives and free online calculators.

“We’ve had over 525,000 users of the calculator,” Matt VanDyke, Ford’s director of marketing communications, told the Dallas Morning News.

In any case, there’s no denying that Dallas car buyers and car dealers are excited about this program.  Eligible buyers can save as much as $4500 on a qualifying new car, and for many, this may be the incentive they need to make a major purchase.

“This has been a difficult time for a lot of auto dealers,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Ft. Worth car storage business.  “People are uneasy about making major purchases like automobiles right now.”

One sector of the industry hardest hit by this financial crisis has been exotic car sales.  Debt-nervous consumers are just not willing to take on additional loans for exotic cars, and the “Cash for Clunkers” program may not help.  To qualify under the program rules, the new car must cost less than $45,000, and new exotics are generally well into the six-figure range.

For those who enjoy driving exotic vehicles but don’t want the hassle and expense of ownership, there are other options.  Exotic car rental in DFW is a great way to enjoy a dream drive for a day or a weekend without buying.

Sports car sharing clubs have also attracted more interest as an alternative to exotic car ownership. For less than the payment on a single exotic, DFW residents can join DFW Elite Car Club and enjoy driving more than a dozen of the best sports cars in the world.

“No matter how great an exotic you buy, you only get to drive that one,” says Sturgeon, the owner of the Dallas car sharing club. “Life is about variety and our members get access to a Bentley GT, Audi R8, a pair of Ferraris and a host of other great cars for one flat monthly fee.”

These alternatives to ownership prove that a bad economy can’t stop you from driving your dream car.

More information about “Cash for Clunkers” is available at Cars.gov.

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

Yeah, I know. I’m only going to see 17 Again if the Frau makes me.

For most of the readers of this blog, the wishes to be 17 again may center upon the wish to drive some of the glorious American hot rods of the 1960s. Maybe you were lucky enough to be piloting a Mustang or tricked out Camaro in high school and long to drive something with a mean V-8….

You can’t go back, but you can still indulge you passion to drive a 500HP beast on the the most scenic roads in and around Dallas Fort Worth. Thanks to small business strategic planning consultant and DFW exotic car rental company owner Ron Sturgeon, you can drive five exotic high performance cars back to back.

If Car and Driver magazine had centerfolds, these babies would qualify.

• Ferrari 360 Spyder….drop the top and listen to the sweet engine note as you head for the redline…
• Lamborghini Gallardo…..ever wonder what it would be like to drive a 520 HP go cart. Work out your road rage in a car that devours the asphalt….
• Porsche 911…. As the current Porsche tag line says… “It gives. You take. It’s the perfect relationship.”
• Dodge Viper SRT-10 Convertible…. Drive one before they drive like Fiats…
• 2009 Audi R8….You know you want to.

Full and half day supercar driving experiences available in cities throughout Texas. Supercar driving in DFW, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Want to impress your most important customers or most valuable source of referrals? Why not use DFW Drive Your Dream’s supercars to put on an unforgettable signature corporate event.

Call DFW Drive Your Dream General Manager Tom Warren for complete details at 817.838.7368.

Post written by Tampa English Tutor Eric Anderson. Eric’s recent web writing projects have include content for a Tampa FL mortgage broker and content for a Dallas TX car storage company.

Compared to the figures for last year, the sales of new luxury vehicles have dropped by more than a third.  Experts predict that sales will continue to fall before they improve.

The sharp decline in sales may be due to the dramatic hit that many stock market investors have taken in the last several months. Somehow looking at a 401K that is worth half what it was a year ago does not put many people in the mood to pop for a Bentley GTC or Porsche 911.

Owners of small businesses in many sectors have been affected by the slowdown and even white collar employees are finding themselves with reduced hours or looking for work.

To a certain extent, the trend toward greener cars has also affected the sales of cars that some regard as having too large a carbon footprint. Even Miley Cyrus dumped her Porsche SUV for a cute little black Prius.

Although the Bentley buyer generally isn’t worried about the price of a gallon of gas, certainly Hummer and Escalade have taken a hit because of fears that gas prices have only dipped for the moment.

But just because consumers aren’t buying exotic supercars doesn’t mean they aren’t driving them.  Instead of shelling out the cash to buy high-priced cars, many financially savvy affluent people are choosing to join an exotic car sharing club.

The sharing concept has been tested in vacation time sharing, boat sharing, and even jet sharing. Now it is being applied to exotic and luxury cars by clubs across the nation.

On top of they hefty purchase price, buying an exotic or luxury vehicle requires the owner to find secure, climate-controlled exotic car storage and pay for extra auto insurance and maintenance.

In addition to avoiding these expenses, exotic car sharing gives car lovers a chance to try out a variety of exotic vehicles.  At DFW Elite Car Club.com in Dallas, TX, members can drive a Bentley GTC, a Ferrari F430 F1, and drive a Lamborghini Gallardo and still have a dozen cars left in the paddock to choose from. Memberships start at only $750 per month.

“The club frees members from the hassles of ownership and allows them to enjoy driving a wide variety of the best cars in the world. Cars are delivered to members detailed, fueled and ready to drive,” said Tom Warren, DFW Elite Car Club.com Director.

The concept of car sharing has become popular across the nation. To find a car sharing club in a city near you, check out a nationwide directory of car sharing clubs like http://www.exoticcarclubs.com.

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.

Supercar Life is a company that allows people to get behind the wheel of several exotic cars to test their mettle and experience dream car driving for an entire day. For a fee, of course. Supercar Life’ driving menu features a Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin DB9, Mercedes CLK63, and a Porsche Turbo 997.

In addition, the Massachusetts-based organization holds special supercar driving events from New Jersey to Florida throughout the year. In addition, the events include amenities, such as the opportunity to visit with professional drivers, a catered lunch at the track, and a champagne reception after the fantasy car driving experience is completed.

The cost for this day of high-octane fun starts at around $5,000.

This concept of bringing exotic cars to the people is not new. In fact, several companies provide them to car enthusiasts throughout the United States. Among these are DFW Drive Your Dream in Dallas-Fort Worth and Gotham Dreamcars serving the New York.

“People love the opportunity to escape, and behind the wheel of an exotic car is me and my customer’s favorite place to do just that,” says Ron Sturgeon, author, speaker on entrepreneurship and DFW Drive Your Dream owner.

DFW Drive Your Dream is an exotic car tour organization that offers both full and half day tours that feature five exotic cars. While the Supercar Life sticks to fantasy car driving on tracks, Sturgeon’s outfit lets participants drive the cars on the open roads of Texas. “Our tours follow preplanned routes that have been selected for scenic value and because they allow tour participants to see what the cars can do on the open road,” notes Sturgeon.

In addition to the exotic car tours, Sturgeon offers sports car rentals in DFW, Houston, Austin, and nationwide through his exotic car rental agency. This company offers both weekend and weekday rates.

In addition, the Texas entrepreneur offers car enthusiasts the opportunity to belong to DFW Elite Car Club, Texas’ premier exotic car sharing club. This club allows members to purchase as much drive time as desired in any of the more than 25 luxury, classic, and exotic cars in the club’s paddock.

Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write articles for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.

Today, you can get an even sleeker model with a 6.5L V12 pushing over 600HP! For 2007, Lamborghini even brought out a new Roadster model called the Murcielago LP640 Roadster. This exceptionally beautiful car can be seen briefly in the latest Batman movie, “Batman Begins”.
The coupe’s base price? Starting at only $273,000, which is about $90,000 more than it’s smaller cousin, the Gallardo.

This year’s Lamborghini Winter Driving Academy , offered in early March, gives Lamborghini owners the chance to pilot their toy in various wintry-weather scenarios. The course, Lamborghini says, pits driver and car against some slick surfaces and snow-covered tracks in the shadow of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington. Professional instructors teach winter safety and year-round hints for all included.

The price? A measly $2500; includes an evening at the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in Whitefield, NH.

So, if you plan to drive your new toy in the snow or ice, I’d highly recommend this. Even if you don’t, the training you get here could probably be used on a rain-slick road down the road!