Car Club Blog

When you think of Las Vegas you think of lights, gambling, excitement, and the 2009 Corolla?  Probably not.  After all, the Toyota Corolla has stood for responsibility and thriftiness for around forty years. 

It is unwise, however, to so quickly judge the 2009 Corolla.  Starting under the hood, the 2009 Corolla has some significant improvements.  For starters the XRS model has a 2.4-liter engine capable of generating 158 horsepower.  For a car the size of the 2009 Corolla, that is some significant power.  This power translates to zero to sixty mph in 8.1 seconds.  “This acceleration is better than Camry,” proclaimed Mike Michels, spokesman for Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. 

This engine doesn’t forget that its buyers crave efficiency.  The souped-up 2009 Corolla still gets 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.  This may seem like a downgrade from years past, but actually it is an improvement on both power and fuel efficiency.  The EPA changed its rating methods which leads to the anomaly. 

As for the aesthetics of the car, the 2009 Corolla received a lower profile to help the overall sportiness of the appearance.  Additionally, the XRS model features spoilers on both the front and rear of the automobile.  As for the interior, the 2009 Corolla managed to increase the cabin size relative to earlier models while achieving a sportier look.  Not always an easy task. 

The 2009 Corolla should be available in February 2008. 

So maybe, even the sportier 2009 Corolla is not quite enough car to satisfy your fine-automobile craving, but the option of indebting yourself for life in order to purchase or lease an exotic car is not to attractive either.  One potential method of solving this problem is to join a car club.  These car clubs put their clients behind the wheel of some of the most exotic sport and luxury cars in the world for prices far below typical purchase or rental rates.  These clubs exist all over the United States.  Here is a directory for exotic car clubs around the country.
 

One such club in Texas has taken a different approach to exotic car clubs.  DFW Elite Car Club of Dallas/Ft. Worth has modified the traditional car club model to allow for clients to purchase tiered memberships.  DFW Elite Car Club (dfwelitecarclub.com) also has a great assortment of exotic cars.  Here’s an exotic car sharing club video with more information.  To find an exotic car sharing club in your neighborhood, check out an online directory dedicated to the niche such as www.exoticcarclubs.com.
 

To enjoy one of these fine exotic automobiles with less commitment attached, an exotic car rental service may be just the right fit.  DFW Elite Auto Rental (dfweliteautorental.com) provides this service for individuals and businesses in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.  This exotic car rental service features a stocked garage and daily exotic car rental specials in Dallas and the other cities throughout Texas. 
 

Finally, if you or someone you know would like a day filled with sampling various exotic cars on designated routes, an exotic car tour may be appropriate.  DFW Drive Your Dream features fabulous cars and several tour packages.  DFW Drive Your Dream allows participants the opportunity to drive 5 exotic cars on different tours throughout Texas for a whole day.  For those not located in Texas, similar full day fantasy car driving experiences are offered in Las Vegas, New York, and Chicago. 
 

Written by 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.

For more of the latest exotic car headlines, check out our exotic car news page!

 

The tradition of Trick or Treating originated in Ireland, where the Celtic holiday of Samhain was celebrated on October 31.  The ancient Celts believed that on Halloween night, spirits and ghosts walked among the living.  To blend in with the undead, the Celts began wearing masks and disguises. 

As All Hallow’s Eve approached, townspeople in Ireland would knock on the doors of their neighbors and ask for a contribution to the village harvest festival.  Wealthy land owners would give food to the poor villagers, hoping that ghosts would look favorably upon their good deeds and not visit mischief upon them.  

Combined with the costumes originated by the ancient Celts, this tradition became modern Trick or Treating.

We all like treats like candy corn and M&Ms, but there are some treats that are more fun.  For car enthusiasts, the ultimate treat is a sports car rental from DFW Elite Auto Rental or a membership in DFW Elite Car Club.  Many car fanatics also enjoy a dream tour from DFW Drive Your Dream.  Dream tours allow sports car fans to drive five amazing exotic cars in a single day.

For those who associate Halloween with more conventional treats, there’s always good old-fashioned candy.  As the second most commercially successful holiday (behind Christmas), Halloween is responsible for a big spike in candy sales.  Americans spend over 2 billion dollars annually on Halloween candy, the highest candy sales of any holiday.  One quarter of the entire year’s candy sales occur between September 15 and November 10, with the average U.S. household spending $44 each year. 

Americans consume over 24 pounds of candy each year, and much of this candy is consumed by children on and around Halloween.  The most popular Halloween candy bar for trick-or-treaters is Snickers.  When polled, over 80% of children list gum or chocolate as their favorite Halloween candy.  The ever-popular candy corn also makes a good showing with 20 million pounds of the confection consumed annually.

With all of this candy consumption comes an excess of calories.  It seems like there are very few calorie-free Halloween treats, but for car lover DFW Elite Auto Rental has over 45 different auto-related treats. And the adrenaline rush of renting a Ferrari F430 in Dallas or any of the other cities we serve is a great guilt-free way to burn off some extra calories! To find a reputable exotic car rental agency in your city, consult an online directory such as www.rentexoticcars.net.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities.  Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.

 For more articles by freelance writer Kate Miller Wilson, visit our exotic car news pages! Happy Halloween for everyone at DFW Elite Auto Rental.com!

If you’re skeptical that nostalgia is an effective marketing tool for selling automobiles, perhaps you’ve forgotten about the success of such neo-classics as the Volkswagen New Beetle and the Mini Cooper. Then there’s Ford’s upcoming new Mustang Bullitt, a handsome reincarnation of the 1968 original and a ponycar that pulls at Hollywood heartstrings.

BMW is banking on similar sentiments when it introduces the all-new 135i and 128i coupes to the U.S. this spring. A so-called “contemporary rendition of the 2002,” the 1 Series does a stellar job of incorporating the hallmarks of the 2002 Series-rear drive, powerful engine, and space for four-into a modern, attractive package.

I decided I needed to feed the addiction and rented a Dodge Viper SRT/10 from DFW Elite for the weekend. What a rush. I’ve rented it several times before. Some people have eating addictions, drug addictions, alcohol addictions, sex addictions - But my addiction truly is the VIPER! And now they’re telling me the 2008 Viper will be there very soon! I’m putting in my reservation now, I WILL be the first one to drive it!

Ford Announces that the 2008 Bullitt Mustang will be officially introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show

Ford has announced that they will be officially introducing the 2008 Bullitt Mustang at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The Bullitt will be available in dealerships in early 2008.

The 2008 Bullitt package includes:

- Ford Racing Power Pack
- High Performance Calibration
- Ford Racing Strut Tower Brace
- Serialization label on strut tower brace
- Sport tuned suspension with upgraded shocks, springs, and stabilizer bar
- Tire inflation kit in lieu of spacer-saver mini spare
- Modified H-Pipe
- 3.73:1 limited slip rear axle
- Dark grey brake calipers
- 18-inch euro-flange Bullitt wheels w/ charcoal satin finish
- 3.5-inch packed exhaust tips
- New upper grille w/o fog lamps or pony badge
- Bullitt emblem on faux fuel cap
- Black interior with upgraded steering wheel
- Sport leather seat appearance
- unique IP finish (gunmetal engine turn pattern)
- Aluminum interior accents (ball shifter/sill plate/pedal covers)
- Spoiler delete
- Available in Highland Green or Black exterior paint

( Worldcarfans ) - Lamborghini already had an SUV for sale more than 25 years ago and today Porsche’s Cayenne is a global success. Ferrari hesitated for a long time but has now decided to develop the world’s fastest SUV, or so says our Italian contact with insider info. Our DTP expert than set to work with this information and produced the following renderings. The project has been coded the “Ferrari FS 599 Fuoristrada” and its supposed world debut target date is the Geneva Auto Show 2010.

While the five-door will feature four-wheel drive its off-road capabilities are not among the top priorities of the Ferrari development team. Two-thirds of the engine’s power is rumored to be transferred to the wide 22-inch high-performance street tires in the rear.

The engine is familiar and hails from the Ferrari F599 Fiorano, albeit in slightly modified form. Its maximum power output of more than 600 hp and 600 Nm of torque will be a challenge for the size 315 tires front and back.

Despite an empty weight of around 2.2 tons the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is supposed to take less than five seconds, thanks to Formula 1-type shift paddles on the steering wheel. Targeted top speed is 300 km/h.

With a top speed such as this the Ferrari FS 599 Fuoristrada would easily eclipse the performance of a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, just as easily as it would eclipse its price at projected 250,000 Euros plus.

 

While the name of this show car is a mouthful, Audi’s goal is simple — to develop a hybrid city car with the cachet of BMW’s Mini. The A1 isn’t as huggable as the Mini, but it’s cute in a more manly way, thanks to its large open grille, muscular stance and aluminum-colored roof pillars.

Under the hood is a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a compound supercharger/turbocharger, which makes 150 bhp. That power is delivered to the front wheels via a DSG twin-clutch sequential shift semiautomatic gearbox. Mounted on the rear axle is a 41-bhp electric motor powered by a battery pack that can be recharged through the engine, regenerative braking or when plugged into an electrical outlet. In addition to providing more boost when accelerating and all-wheel drive in low-grip conditions, the A1 can also motor around in pure electric mode for up to 62 miles.

Another neat feature is an iPhone-inspired hand-held device that provides vehicle recognition (like those key fobs enabling keyless ignition). It combines a phone, music player and portable navigation with a control system that mimics Audi’s Multi Media Interface (MMI) control system.

The plug-in hybrid portion of the package is probably much further off in the future. Instead, the A1 will likely see production near term as a new entry-level car for Audi with the task of siphoning off sales from archrival BMW in both the Mini and 1 Series segments.