Drive a Bentley or Rolls-Royce

Enjoy the Ultimate Auto Experience at a Fraction of Exotic Car Price

Jul 17, 2008

Here are some of the exclusive car clubs and rental companies that let motorists drive a Rolls, Mercedes, Ferrari or Porsche without mortgaging the house.

Non-millionaires can drive a Bentley Continental GT Coupe or other exotic car without spending the $100,000 or more that the millionaires pay. The secret, according to GO Magazine, is to find one of the auto clubs or rental companies that specialize in dream cars like the Bentley or the Lamborghini.

Auto aficionados looking for a chance to drive an exotic car can choose from such expensive favorites as these:

Those are prices listed on the Internet. Availabilities of these cars vary with each club and company, but the offerings are usually impressive and sometimes include other exotic vehicles.

Touring Events Least Expensive

The least expensive dream car experience may be provided in one of the touring events conducted by such companies as World Class Drive (WCD) of Los Angeles. Its caravan lasts about five hours, but stops every 30 minutes, allowing drivers to switch cars until they have driven five different vehicles.

The half day cost is about $1500, plus another $300 to bring along a companion. WCD emphasizes that the event is not a race, but an opportunity to drive a beautiful car on a beautiful course "with finesse."

Special half day tours are scheduled in Hawaii March 5-15, 2009 with prices set at $1,995 for two drivers. Drivers can have the experience video taped for an extra fee.

Bentley Continental for $1450 a Day

For guys or gals who want a little more driving time, motorists can rent millionaire cars by the day, weekend or week. Exotic Car Rental Fleet in New York, for instance, offers a $210,000 Bentley Continental for $1,450 a day and $6,450 a week.

The company retains "the right to remotely disable and retrieve the vehicle at any time" if it believes the driver is violating any contract provisions, including speeding, drag racing, towing or pushing. At least one rental company adds a $500 fee if a motorist fills up with any fuel less than 93-octane.

Atlanta Dream Cars offers a Lamborghini Gallardo for $1895 a day and a $5,000 deposit, or a Porsche 911 C4S for $500 a day and a $1500 deposit. Midway Car Rental in Los Angeles has been providing similar service in Los Angeles for 35 years.

Time Share Plans

There is still another option for getting into a super car without buying it. At least one company provides exotic autos the same way that real estate firms sell time share vacation spots—one designated week at a time. These deals allow the driver to go on trips and to impress friends, relatives, clients and prospects.

A firm called Curvy Road offers such service in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago. A $5,000 club initiation fee gives motorists the right to buy a four or eight week share of a beauty such as a Bentley, Mercedes or Rolls.

The four-week annual fees range from $12,000 for a Bentley Continental GT, to $15,000 for a Ferrari 360 Spider, to $20,500 for a Lamborghini Murcielago or Rolls Royce Phantom. Eight week shares are about 50 percent higher. A motorist can select a different car for each of his weeks.

The annual fees include delivery of the vehicle within 150 miles, insurance, maintenance, repairs and a pre-paid toll pass.

The copyright of the article Drive a Bentley or Rolls-Royce in Sports/Custom/Classic Cars is owned by Carroll Trosclair. Permission to republish Drive a Bentley or Rolls-Royce in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.