As Cash for Clunkers fever sweeps the nation, auto buyers in Dallas are no exception. In fact, Texas car buyers may even have an advantage over the rest of the US, whether they are buying an exotic vehicle or a simple commuter car.
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
