Stars and Their Cars - Wheels of the Rich and Famous

Many celebrities confess to having a love of cars and driving; some even spend a considerable amount of time and money building up collections of cars for their own personal garage. So, what are some of the vehicles driven by the rich and famous?

Footballers, it seems, are in the top bracket when it comes to exotic cars, with many of the top earners in the game having what appears to be an obsession with owning the world's most exclusive and expensive cars. Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, for example, can count such vehicles as the Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley Continental GT, Aston Martin Vanquish and BMW M6 among his collection.

Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele is another footballer whose garage is full of hot wheels; a Mercedes McLaren SLR, Ferrari F360 and a Mercedes SL65 AMG convertible are among the cars owned by the Dutchman. Meanwhile Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard can boast a Porsche 911 Turbo, Mercedes SLK, Aston Martin Vanquish and BMW X5 as part of his fleet of motoring muscle. Cristiano Ronaldo has owned an Audi R8, BMW X5 and Ferrari 360 among his cars, and his name features on a waiting list for perhaps the world's ultimate car - the Bugatti Veyron.

However, perhaps the ultimate car fanatic from the footballing world is David Beckham. Having spent in 

excess of £2million on a host of vehicles, Beckham's garage counts the likes of the Ferrari 575 and F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, two Bentley Arnages and a Rolls Royce Phantom among others. Beckham also has an armour-plated BMW X5 and once owned an Aston Martin DB7, with the registration plate 'DB7'. Cars such as these are all a far cry from Beckham's first entry into the motoring world - the humble Ford Escort.

Fame doesn't necessarily give rise to the need to spend lavishly on top-of-the-range cars, however. At the peak of the Spice Girls' fame, band member Melanie Chisholm - also known as 'Sporty Spice' - shelled out on a 1998 Audi A3 which she used to drive herself around as she and the band rose to international stardom, clocking up 79,000 miles in the process. With the Spice Girls going on to become one of the biggest girl groups of all time, it was unlikely that Sporty Spice needed Audi car finance to make her purchase and later the car was sold on the motoring website, Autotrader, having amassed 110,000 miles and a full service history, for a bargain price of £2,995.

Film and TV stars aren't immune to owning top-of-the-range vehicles either. American actor Ben Affleck has owned an Aston Martin DB7 and Dodge RAM, while Brad Pitt can claim to have driven the Mercedes G55 AMG. More modest cars owned by film and TV stars include the David 'The Hoff' Hasselhoff's BMW Mini and Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe's Fiat Punto.

However, no celebrity car is complete without a personalised registration plate. Recently, Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton reportedly paid £200,000 on the personalised registration LEW 1S; but the driver won't be putting the registration onto his Mercedes SLR or McLaren F1, however, with the plate destined to be attached to his Mercedes GL420 4x4 off-roader. Other famous registration plates include magician Paul Daniels' MAG 1C, singer Englebert Humperdinck's EH 1 and business tycoon Sir Alan Sugar's AMS 1 which is regularly seen in the opening sequence of the show 'The Apprentice'.

Having one of the fastest street cars in the world is a dream come true for any car lover. Fast car fans all over the world, demand for newer and faster street cars. The famous car industries like Ferrari, Mclaren, BMW are constantly challenging each other in terms of speed and style. The craze for the fastest cars is undying and manufacturers of fast street cars are providing their customers with some exotic car designs, combined with brilliant acceleration and top speed. The speed of the car is determined by its acceleration RPM and top speed. Other factors like weight design do matter in making a car zoom through roads. Let's have a look at the features of some of the best and the fastest street cars of the world. 1996 Ferrari f 50 1996 Ferrari f 50 is one of the fastest street cars in the world today. This car accelerates from a speed of 0-60 miles in a heart throbbing 3.7 seconds. Its acceleration from 0-100 miles takes at about just 8 seconds. Wonder if this car passes by you. The maximum speed of this Ferrari f 50 is 207 miles per hour. The car is definitely meant to leave the time behind. Buy the one and see your friends and neighbors dying to get a ride. This is one of its type cars. It is placed at a price of whopping $480,000. Well money is never a problem for those who want the best and own the best. This car weighs 2710 pounds and covers 15-23 miles in a single gallon of gas. With 6 speed manual gear transmission you can enjoy the pulsating speed of this car. The engine of the car is at about 4700 cc and it boosts a power of incredible 513 bhp @8500 rpm. So what are you waiting for, don't you want this super fast street car for yourself. 1997 McLaren F1 If you are crazy about speed and want a machine which rides the clouds McLaren F1 is among the best option that you can chose. This one of its kind car has an amazing acceleration of 0-60 miles per hour in just 3.3 seconds, and 0-100 miles per hour in mere 7.7 seconds. This machine is all set to pump your adrenalin to the max. This car is priced at a sky soaring $890,000. Despite a very high price of this car, people fall in love with it. This car consists of a 6 speed manual gear transmission which would take you through as if you were riding clouds. This car produces a power of 627 bhp and its maximum speed 231 miles per hour. With an engine of 6064 cc this car gives a mileage of 12 mile per gallon of gas. 2003 Bugatti 16/4 Veyron A word of caution: Driving 2003 Bugatti 16/4 Veyron can make you leave everything behind. With an acceleration of 0-60 miles per in just 3 seconds, this car is one of the best in the category of the fastest cars available in the world today. It is priced at a rate of $800,000. This car gives you the power of 1001 bhp with a sold engine of 7993 cc. The maximum speed of this car touches a mind blowing 252 miles per hour. Now that is what you call a real fast car. The car gives you the advantage to zoom ahead of all the other cars with a combination of a 7-speed manual gear transmission system.

If you are planning to buy a classic, or even a modern, sports car then one of the crucial parts of the process is to take it for a test drive. The owner is probably only going to let you out for a short run of about 10 to 15 minutes. This may be long enough for you to decide if the car is in good enough condition to buy and that everything is working. But it isn't long enough for you to decide whether or not you can live with it. And if you are planning to spend tens of thousands of Pounds (or Dollars or Euros) on a car then you are in it for the long term. The best thing to do is hire a car of the type you are planning to buy, to see if you 'really' like it and can live with it.

There are now companies in most countries offering either classic or modern sports cars for self drive hire. You can normally take a car for a single day, a few days, or maybe treat yourself to a long weekend in the car you fancy. Whether you are considering a classic or a modern there are a variety of reasons why hire is a good idea.

Many modern sports cars, particularly the top end models could have over 400 bhp on tap, and if you are used to driving a family saloon, SUV or a people carrier, then driving one of these is a completely different proposition. They take some getting used to. I am not suggesting that you hire one to try find the limits as it will get expensive if you have an argument with a tree. But take one out for a proper drive to understand that such a car is about much more than just how good it looks, or how good you will look in it.

While most classics don't have such levels of horsepower, many at the top end; Jaguar E-types, Aston Martin DB6s etc, have more than enough. The key thing to understand with these cars is that they were built, 20, 30 or 40 years ago, and were designed 10 to 15 years before that. Remember that a classic sports car isn't just a sports car in an old body. The engineering is old as well. While Jaguars and Astons were high spec cars in their day, their brakes won't be as good as on modern cars. No ABS, ESP or Traction Control. Gear-changes won't be as slick as on modern cars and most of them have carburettors instead of fuel injection. How many of you remember how to start a car with a flooded carburettor?

If you are looking at more reasonably priced classics like MGs and Triumphs then often these don't even have servo assisted brakes. Most classics don't have power steering and they run on relatively narrow tyres with less grip than modern, wide, low profile tyres. Some are still described as 'hairy chested' sports cars which warns you that they may not be easy for female drivers to handle. Indeed our own Triumph TR4A is positively agricultural in the way it drives. No need for gym membership as driving a classic can be like having a full body workout.

They don't come complete with all the modern goodies either, most don't have electric windows, air conditioning, central locking and don't expect to find an IPod ready radio in a car that listed a heater as an optional extra.

Having accepted the limitations of the technology then you need to consider the practicality of the vehicle. Most sports cars, modern or classic, are very tight on luggage space. So if you are planning to buy a car so that you can treat yourself to regular weekends away, then make sure it can carry enough luggage for two of you for a weekend. This may sound a bit obvious but the boot in an E-type Jaguar is very shallow and won't take a modern suitcase. Your dinner suit and your wife/girlfriend's posh frock may not emerge completely pristine after 8 hours in a squashy holdall, in a boot that smells of oil and exhaust fumes.

Again if the weekend away is your plan you need to make sure that the car is comfortable to sit in and drive for 4, 6 or 8 hours. Morgans still retain their classic 1930s look, but the suspension is so hard, that driving over white lines and road markings is like reading the road surface using braille. What might seem great fun in a 10 minute trip round the block may not be so great if you have backache at the end of the day.

Most of the companies that rent out classic or modern sports cars will be happy to advise you on the servicing requirements of the cars and what to look for when you are thinking of buying one.

To rent a budget classic (MG or Triumph) may cost as little as £100 or £150 per day, but expect to pay 3 times this for a good Jaguar E-Type and even more for a classic Aston Martin. Modern sports or exotic cars can be several hundreds of Pounds, upwards, depending on the value and specification of the cars.

A weekend away may cost you up to £1,000 for a car, a good hotel, a nice meal and all your petrol. But it is well worth it for two reasons:

1) You have a great weekend away

2) Better to spend £1,000 or so and decide you can't live with the car, than find this out after you have parted with £20,000, £30,000 or more of your hard earned cash.

Once you have decided what car you are thinking of buying, have a look through the Marques page on Classic Car Hire World and find a hire company in the right place with the right car.

Treat yourself and hire the right car for a day or so. At best it will re-inforce your desire to buy one, it may help you modify your decision, or it may cure you - but probably not!

The Best Custom Street Cars

Having one of the fastest street cars in the world is a dream come true for any car lover. Fast car fans all over the world, demand for newer and faster street cars. The famous car industries like Ferrari, Mclaren, BMW are constantly challenging each other in terms of speed and style. The craze for the fastest cars is undying and manufacturers of fast street cars are providing their customers with some exotic car designs, combined with brilliant acceleration and top speed.

The speed of the car is determined by its acceleration RPM and top speed. Other factors like weight design do matter in making a car zoom through roads. Let's have a look at the features of some of the best and the fastest street cars of the world.

1996 Ferrari f 50

1996 Ferrari f 50 is one of the fastest street cars in the world today. This car accelerates from a speed of 0-60 miles in a heart throbbing 3.7 seconds. Its acceleration from 0-100 miles takes at about just 8 seconds. Wonder if this car passes by you. 

The maximum speed of this Ferrari f 50 is 207 miles per hour.

The car is definitely meant to leave the time behind. Buy the one and see your friends and neighbors dying to get a ride.

This is one of its type cars. It is placed at a price of whopping $480,000. Well money is never a problem for those who want the best and own the best. This car weighs 2710 pounds and covers 15-23 miles in a single gallon of gas. With 6 speed manual gear transmission you can enjoy the pulsating speed of this car. The engine of the car is at about 4700 cc and it boosts a power of incredible 513 bhp @8500 rpm.

So what are you waiting for, don't you want this super fast street car for yourself.

1997 McLaren F1

If you are crazy about speed and want a machine which rides the clouds McLaren F1 is among the best option that you can chose. This one of its kind car has an amazing acceleration of 0-60 miles per hour in just 3.3 seconds, and 0-100 miles per hour in mere 7.7 seconds. This machine is all set to pump your adrenalin to the max.

This car is priced at a sky soaring $890,000. Despite a very high price of this car, people fall in love with it. This car consists of a 6 speed manual gear transmission which would take you through as if you were riding clouds. This car produces a power of 627 bhp and its maximum speed 231 miles per hour. With an engine of 6064 cc this car gives a mileage of 12 mile per gallon of gas.

2003 Bugatti 16/4 Veyron

A word of caution: Driving 2003 Bugatti 16/4 Veyron can make you leave everything behind. With an acceleration of 0-60 miles per in just 3 seconds, this car is one of the best in the category of the fastest cars available in the world today. It is priced at a rate of $800,000. This car gives you the power of 1001 bhp with a sold engine of 7993 cc. The maximum speed of this car touches a mind blowing 252 miles per hour. Now that is what you call a real fast car. The car gives you the advantage to zoom ahead of all the other cars with a combination of a 7-speed manual gear transmission system.

An Introduction to Car Transporting

There are several ways to transport your car across the country or across the world. Car transporters are identical to other moving companies: they arrange to pick up your vehicle, load it, and deliver it to your final destination. All auto carriers are required to be registered with the Department of Transportation. You can look up a US DOT number or company name from the Department of Transportation's website. Make sure you are dealing with a legitimate business.

The most popular and inexpensive domestic option is by car carrier, the same type of trucks used to deliver new cars. Other more specialized choices, for antique and exotic cars, include enclosed rail car service, open flat bed truck, or enclosed trailer. Some more adventurous individuals will prefer to rent a trailer and pull it themselves. Auto transport companies will give you quotes over the phone or you can easily check online for rates and services.

Car transport companies are usually listed under the following titles: car transport, vehicle shipping, and auto transport. Additionally there are a host of international car transport services that offer worldwide vehicle transportation solutions to individuals. These companies specialize in reliable, efficient service with frequent departures from major U.S. ports. You should try to speak with a highly experienced customer service representative to insure the careful transport of your car.

You will need to make a reservation for your car to be picked up. If you prefer your car to travel flat without being tied down by chains then a flat bed truck, rail service or small open trailer are some your best options. You can also request a covered transport; this method will shield your car from inclement weather and other pitfalls of the road. Cost depends on distance, mode of transport and time of delivery, some car transport companies will deliver within several days of your arrival date others within a few weeks.

When contracting with a car transport company you have to consider some issues specific to vehicle transport, unlike your other belongings cars have specific requirements such as additional car insurance and vehicle inspections.

Be certain that the car mover adequately insures your car. When your car is picked up, the driver will do a condition report (bill of lading). Take photographs of the car, date the photos, and attach them to the condition report. When your car is delivered make sure you check for any new scratches or damage to your car before signing. Reporting damages or claims immediately is advisable. Get the estimated pick-up and delivery dates and times from your car mover or auto shipping company first thing. Make sure to get a guaranteed window for the pick-up and delivery and get everything in writing. Just knowing the basic facts about car transport will make finding the right company a quick and easy task.

Wedding Car - How to Select a Unique Wedding Car

Weddings are typically a time for couples to plan the biggest extravaganza of their lives. One way to ensure a great event, is to use a wedding car transport company that specializes in unique and exotic cars.

Including a unique vehicle in your wedding is a great way to not only add style to your event, but to also give individuals that once in a lifetime chance to drive a vehicle that is normally reserved for the wealthy. Quality wedding car companies can be found on the Internet, a phone book, or through a referral. Typical unique cars include the Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes and many more. Deciding on which car you will go with is the hard part. If you are having a fun sporty wedding, then perhaps a Ferrari will suit your needs. If it is a classy wedding, then maybe a Bentley will be exactly what you are looking for.

When choosing the right wedding car hire company you should get the answer to several questions. What is the reputation of this company? What is the required deposit? How long am I able to contract the cars for? Are there any special insurance policies I need? Do you they have a large selection of cars? The answers to these questions will help you decide which wedding car company to choose.

It is important to note that when you place a deposit to reserve a vehicle, you should make sure that you are providing the least amount of money possible. You may find yourself switching companies due to unavailability or other reasons, and you will want to lose the least amount of money. By having clear terms that are in writing, responsibilities will be outlined and there will be less confusion.

When making your selection, test drive the vehicle first to see if you are comfortable driving such an expensive machine. If you cannot handle driving a manual car, then you should not rent one. Even though you are renting these exotic vehicles for only one or two days, make sure you are happy driving the car because it will be a permanent part of your wedding day. Or make sure you have a competent driver for your special wedding day.

Having the perfect wedding car for your special event will make lasting memories, which will be shared over your lifetime. By choosing the appropriate car, you will have a one-of-a-kind wedding day.

How to Attract the Babes Through Car Tuning

Have you ever visited one of those big time motor shows?

You know, the one where all the brand name car manufacturers come out to showcase their latest and greatest car models? These are usually the occasions when they launch new "concept" cars to the world, to show off potential and revolutionary designs that may make it onto the real world cars sometime in the future.

Without a doubt, these trade shows will also be filled with lots of beautiful girls. Not only do the companies hire these attractive ladies to stand strategically around their cars in order to attract an audience, you will also find many gorgeous ladies walking around the exhibits.

This is no coincidence, mind you. Beautiful cars attract beautiful girls, so that is why it is a common sight to see an exotic car owner accompanied by a pretty lady. So here's the not-so-secret secret -- if you want to attract the babes, make sure you drive a very attractive car. Then you will find it's an ace up your sleeve when trying to get a particular girl to notice you.

Will it work all the time? Of course not. But it will surely go a long way to help. Now, what if you cannot afford to spend so much of your hard-earned cash on the latest and fastest European exotic car? A very good alternative is to invest some money in tuning up your car. Assuming you have a decent car to begin with, you will be amazed by how much difference tuning can make to the end result.

Notice I said that you must start with a decent car -- if you drive a beat-up automobile or an old school Russian Lada, then seriously there is not much you can do. So what do you need to do exactly to tune your car into a babe magnet?

For starters, I recommend you add on a flashy full body kit to make your car more "sporty" looking. This is a simple cosmetic change that makes a dramatic difference towards your car's outer appearance.

Next up, you can try lowering the suspension for a more "aggressive" stance and better cornering performance. And then the next thing you can upgrade is the exhaust system. By changing the exhaust, you will probably get a louder exhaust note, and better top-end performance too.

Once you have done these basic changes and upgrades, your car will definitely turn heads. As for the babe of your dreams, that's all up to you now. Good luck!

Sports Cars

Stylish, sexy, sleek, streamlined, spirited and speed demon are all words used to describe sports cars, which are essentially two-door automobiles that are designed for high speeds, great power and smashing good looks. The manufacture of the modern-day sports car began only after 1945, when the economy started booming, technology developed dramatically and better roads were being built. They came in various shapes like convertibles, roadsters, coupes, grand tourers and sedans. Sports-car lovers are either devoted to timeless classics that have been souped up for current times, or are trendsetters looking for the latest kind of exotic car.

From powerful purring beauties like the Mercedes Benz SLK 350 to thundering thrillers like the Ford Mustang V-8, you can choose a sports car that matches your personality. In fact, sports cars are as much about personality as they are about performance - smooth aerodynamic bodies of carbon fiber, chrome pipes and fittings, rich leather upholstery, wide wheels, shiny wooden panels and snazzy paint jobs.

Different brands of sports cars adopt different principles of design. Some cars may be light in order to achieve greater acceleration, others may boast of extremely powerful engines for better car handling and performance, while still others may stress safety and comfort rather than style. The majority of contemporary sports cars have front-wheel drives as opposed to rear-wheel drives, which were more common in the earlier generation of sports cars. Many cars also have the engine in the center, driving the rear wheels, which is unique to sports cars. In these cars, the engine is placed behind the driver, at the middle of the chassis. Porsche is the only sports car that has the engine mounted at the rear, driving the rear wheels. This aspect is a crucial part of car design, as it affects the maneuverability or handling of the car, which is critical at high speeds.

The most well known brands today are Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Triumph. Companies which manufacture other cars also make some sports models; prominent among these are Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Nissan. Today, the design and manufacture of sports cars is becoming more specialized and competitive, with newer, more attractive designs and a higher degree of technical sophistication being utilized.

Take Your Favorite Movies on the Road With in Car Video

Ten years ago, in car video was still just a dream, one of those "if only we could..." desires. But today, mobile video is among the hottest trends in motor vehicles. Both luxury and more mainstream cars and trucks have factory-installed car DVD players as options, but you don't actually have to buy a new vehicle to experience the exciting realm of mobile video. Your area car audio shop can install an aftermarket car video system for affordable performance and great looks.

While there are a huge number of options in the actual equipment of your car video set-up-from screens to DVD players to gaming inputs-you essentially have two choices: OEM-look or exotic. The OEM look is a great option for family cars and parents looking to entertain the kids without spending huge bucks. This type of mobile video system looks like it came stock from the factory, and usually involves a dash-mounted or fold-down video monitor.

Exotic car video systems tend to be a little more extreme, involving multiple monitors, more innovative screen mounting options (sun visors, headrests, and trunks are all popular candidates), and even custom fiberglass and lighting. More popular among mobile electronics aficionados, exotic mobile video set-ups can be out of this world!

Visit your local car audio retailer to learn more about in car video and your current vehicle. Most shops are more than happy to help design a system that suits your needs and your car or truck. From picking out the car electronics that will bring you top-quality performance to MECP-certified professional installation, your mobile electronics store can hook you up with today's best in mobile video.

Why Your Car May Be a Sports Car in Disguise

Your car may be a distant relative of the latest exotic car on the market.

Yes, that's right. Even if you own a "normal" family car, this surprising little link is still probably true.

The reason is simple -- the vast majority of the high-end exotic cars have the latest technology and engineering advancements encapsulated in its design. That is why they perform the best, and market positioning aside, it is also why they cost the most.

All that research costs a lot of money, so if you want the newest and the best, you will undoubtedly have to pay through your nose to get it first before anyone else.

However, as time passes, what was the latest technology will soon become commonplace as the other car manufacturers reverse engineer and come up with their own versions of the previously proprietary technology.

And expectedly, these technologies and engineering designs will then slowly but surely filter down to the less exotic models in the line-up.

Remember anti-lock brakes (ABS), power steering, power windows, or electronic fuel injection? All these were previously the latest technology of their time, and only the best cars had them. Everybody else were looking on in envy, right?

But as you well know, all these same technologies are now run-of-the-mill. Practically every car comes with these as standard equipment. Most people do not even notice these things any more because they are that common.

The same thing happens in the car tuning market. Whenever something innovative comes out, all eyes are on it immediately, and everyone will try to figure out what makes it tick and will make their own version of it.

This may take a year or two, but sometimes you will get lucky and will be able to have these new technologies made available to you in just a few months after the initial release.

That is how fast things move in the car tuning market. And that is why for a lot of car tuning afficionados, it is a never-ending process of tuning and re-tuning their cars.

If that sounds like you, then you can be sure you will never run out of new things to try on your car. You can count on it!

A Car That Will Soon Be Used by People Traveling to Las Vegas

Irrespective of which part of the world you wish to travel to, one thing that people often forget to make arrangements for is the transportation. There are a lot of car rental companies that operate in different corners of the world that allow people to arrange for their transportation while spending their vacations. It becomes much easier for the people to take cars on rent as opposed to making their way throughout the places they are visiting using the public transportation.

This would allow the people to move around the city without facing any trouble, and would also allow them the independence of choosing a car that suits their taste. Las Vegas is a very popular tourist destination, and this can clearly be understood from the large numbers of people who are found to visit the city every year. These people come to the city with desires to earn themselves good money by gambling away at one of the several casinos that are present in the city.

There are a lot of tourist destinations too at Las Vegas, and this provides the people with a great deal of options for spending their time while on a vacation in Las Vegas. Increased number of tourists need increased transportation facilities, and for providing it there are many car rental companies that are present in the city. The car rental companies in Las Vegas have a large number of cars that belong to different companies and range from sports cars, exotic cars and luxury cars.

People who believe in class can get to choose some really luxurious cars for themselves from the car rental companies that operate in the city. There are already some rental companies that are there in Las Vegas that provide some great car models for rent, which are not present with most of the other companies. In order to provide the people with more choices as regards to the car models that they can rent for spending their vacation in Las Vegas, it is seen that the companies are providing newer models of cars. One such car model that is believed to be available with some car rental companies in the near future includes the 2008 Mustang GT Convertible.

This car will allow moving around the city at great speeds and that too in great style. However it is believed that the car model will be in great demand once it is made available for rent, hence it is suggested that the people should try and get details about the availability of this car from the few rental companies that are seen to be particular favorites with the people willing to spend their vacation in Las Vegas.

There are innumerable sport car rentals, luxury car rentals and exotic car rentals that you will find in Las Vegas. These companies allow the people to move around the city using their favorite car model. As a result people wishing to spend a vacation in Las Vegas can rent a car of their choice and use it to drive around the city whenever and wherever they wish.

Sports Cars

Stylish, sexy, sleek, streamlined, spirited and speed demon are all words used to describe sports cars, which are essentially two-door automobiles that are designed for high speeds, great power and smashing good looks. The manufacture of the modern-day sports car began only after 1945, when the economy started booming, technology developed dramatically and better roads were being built. They came in various shapes like convertibles, roadsters, coupes, grand tourers and sedans. Sports-car lovers are either devoted to timeless classics that have been souped up for current times, or are trendsetters looking for the latest kind of exotic car.

From powerful purring beauties like the Mercedes Benz SLK 350 to thundering thrillers like the Ford Mustang V-8, you can choose a sports car that matches your personality. In fact, sports cars are as much about personality as they are about performance - smooth aerodynamic bodies of carbon fiber, chrome pipes and fittings, rich leather upholstery, wide wheels, shiny wooden panels and snazzy paint jobs.

Different brands of sports cars adopt different principles of design. Some cars may be light in order to achieve greater acceleration, others may boast of extremely powerful engines for better car handling and performance, while still others may stress safety and comfort rather than style. The majority of contemporary sports cars have front-wheel drives as opposed to rear-wheel drives, which were more common in the earlier generation of sports cars. Many cars also have the engine in the center, driving the rear wheels, which is unique to sports cars. In these cars, the engine is placed behind the driver, at the middle of the chassis. Porsche is the only sports car that has the engine mounted at the rear, driving the rear wheels. This aspect is a crucial part of car design, as it affects the maneuverability or handling of the car, which is critical at high speeds.

The most well known brands today are Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Triumph. Companies which manufacture other cars also make some sports models; prominent among these are Ford, Toyota, Honda, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Nissan. Today, the design and manufacture of sports cars is becoming more specialized and competitive, with newer, more attractive designs and a higher degree of technical sophistication being utilized.

Performance Is Married With Style In Exotic Sports Cars

What is it that really defines an exotic car? This is a word that is thrown about by a lot of people and used in describing things as varied as food and even exotic beauty. The naming of a car as an exotic sports car takes a little more consideration.

The sleek and aerodynamic looks of true exotic sports cars are much more than just appearance. The slick look of these beauties also contributes to their speed as they cut through the air with very little resistance or friction. The true high performance exotic sports car is as fast as it looks.

With true exotic sports cars the design is crucial to giving the vehicle that designation and is a must for the serious car enthusiast. The car makers are well aware of this fact and the makers of the high end vehicles pay particular attention to creating standout designs that draw attention and gather crowds of onlookers wherever they are parked.

Car makers such as Ferrari actually outsource the design of their vehicles such as the way that they had Pininfarina design the '02 ENZO. Another newer model that comes to mind which draws crowds is the new Lotus Elise. We saw one outside of a local restaurant last week and everyone who saw it walked over and stared at it.

While design is what makes the exotic stand out from the mere mortal vehicle it is sheer performance that is what the high end auto enthusiast seeks. The speed and handling while maintaining high speeds and hugging tight curves are the factors that truly set them apart. Think about it, the first thing that comes to mind is how fast the car is, how fast is goes from zero to sixty. Beauty really must be more than skin deep when it comes to a true high performance automobile like the 1994 Dauer 962 LeMans which currently holds the record for fastest sports car with a zero to sixty time of 2.6 seconds.

True exotics are limited production automobiles and in many cases there is a waiting list for them. This is another thing that increases the appeal, the fact that you don't see one at every stop light, except maybe in South Beach.

Even people who don't consider themselves to be car enthusiasts can easily name some of the more notable makers such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche and Lotus. Personally, I like the new Lotus Elise since it is a vehicle that is somewhat more affordable at under 50k. If you get a chance to see one up close or you are lucky enough to be able to drive one you will see what I mean. I thought that at 6'3" and 240 pounds I wouldn't be able to get in one but they are deceptively roomy.

Exotic Sports Cars

What is an exotic sports car? Indeed it brings to mind the words, Fast, Expensive and Desirable in all most anyone who thinks of one. But in truth what is it that makes a sports car an exotic spots car, whats the difference?. For me the difference is there's much less exotic sports cars out there, than there is sports cars. An exotic sports car is produced at much less numbers, than its sports car cousin, as an un written rule 8,000 or less in number. 

Where as the lower end sports cars are made in much greater volumes than this. Overall making an exotic car very rare, sought after, and expensive. And in effect making it what it is an `exotic sports car` such as the pagani zonda or Lamborghini murcielago.

 

Lets face it most of us will never own one of them, most of us will never even get to drive or sit in an exotic sports car. We just have to make so with editions of the latest `Top Gear`, to satisfy our desire for these unattainable exotic beasts. Also the crushing weight of the Insurance Premium is enough to put you off, even if you could afford one. But to the brave, lucky and probably rich few who are in the position to purchase one, i say `good on you` quickly followed by `can i have a go!` At sometime or another we all see an exotic sports car that we desire, we can dream.

For the vast majority of us, we are resolved to hire an exotic sports car in order to fulfill our boy hood dreams. Finding the price, insurance and did i forget the ever rising price of fuel to run these gas guzzlers just to much to afford. But it does not stop us wanting one, dreaming of one, and doing the lottery every week in the hope of getting one. But thats what makes them Exotic, and makes them stand alone from a sports car. If everyone had one, they just would not be exotic now would they? I want one im sure you do too, exotic sports cars don't you just love them. Right im off to watch top gear!

Steer Away With the Exotic Autos

Experiencing a ride in an exotic car or owning one is a dream come true for many. The first thing that comes to our mind about an exotic sports car is, either it's expensive or it's fast. They are also known for their streamlined, sleek and elegant design, which make them stylish and visually appealing. Speed is another most important part of an exotic sports car. This is the sole factor that differs an exotic sports car from the rest. These cars are designed for higher acceleration and maintainable road speed.

Exotic cars are engineering marvels designed for speed, handling, comfort and style. These cars are designed to showcase the most advanced technologies a manufacturer has to offer the public. Most exotic cars have a rear mid engine and rear wheel drive for better weight distribution and agile handling. They have high power engines, low vehicle mass for greater acceleration and superb handling. They are built for maximum cornering with super road gripping ability in order to achieve superior cornering speeds.

The craze for the fastest cars is undying and manufacturers of fast street cars [http://www.webridestv.com/searchresults.aspx?searchterms=custom cars] are providing their customers with some exotic car designs, combined with brilliant acceleration and top speed. Exotic cars are not mass produced,but are only made available in a limited number. The rarer and more difficult to acquire, the greater a car's exotic value.

Some of the leading exotic sports car makers are Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ford, Alfa Romeo and recently McLaren has joined this prestigious list. Car makers like Ferrari hire design houses to come up with their car designs. Most of the cars on the list are Italian exotics. But Ferrari remains the best-known producer of exotic cars with some of the popular and fastest makes in its basket like Ferrari 360, F430, Scuderia and the limited-edition Superamerica. Even Lamborghini is not far behind with some of it's world class exotics like Diablo, Murcielago and recently Gallardo.
Own an exotic car and make your own style statement in the society

Super Exotic Sports Cars - What You Should Know, Before Spending Any Money!

Before we start, let's define the term 'super exotic sports cars'. Sports cars, by definition are borderline racing cars; boasting powerful performance and sleek looks. Their prestige makes them expensive, and thus the domain of a select few. With reference to sports cars, the term "exotic" refers to vehicles produced in very limited numbers. This of course increases their exclusivity and by virtue of this, their value. Exotic sports cars will, in all likelihood, be built by smaller manufacturers or perhaps the super high-end vehicles will be created by some of the better-known car companies outside of the United States, as exclusive models.

Many exotic sports cars are the stuff of legend. The world's fastest car, the McLaren F1, for instance is a well-known exotic. Although only around one hundred F1s were produced and the manufacturer is not a household name (outside of the Grand Prix circuits of course), the McLarens are coveted sports cars. All exotic sports cars are highly sought after and, as status symbols, are second to none in the sports car world.

But, assuming that you can afford it, is an exotic sports car for you?

It is easy to be seduced by the allure of owning an exotic sports car. Owning one can be very tempting. Amongst the purists, the cars themselves are often considered the pinnacle of design. Any enthusiast who has the means will tell you that when an opportunity to invest in an exotic sports car presents itself, resistance can be very difficult.

One should try and be objective about the proposition though.

Before making such a major commitment, there are three factors you should consider.

Exotic Sports Cars Are Very Expense

The cost of owning such a prestigious car, does not end when you part with the initial payment. Even if one can afford the initial asking price of an exotic (and not many can), one needs to be aware of the likely ongoing running expenses , which can be significant. The maintenance and repair of an exotic car is certain to be expensive compared to non-exotic vehicles and a buyer should attempt to discover what kind of costs he or she is likely to experience in order to keep the car in running order. There can be no cost cutting on parts for these high end vehicles.

Parts for prestige cars are likely to be in short supply, if they are available at all. The likelihood that the owners of exotic sports cars will need to have some parts custom made during their ownership of the vehicle is quite high. And the cost will be significant. This is especially true of older exotics, many of which will have been orphaned when their original manufacturer stopped making cars. Not only will this prove extremely expensive, one can also expect it to be time consuming as well. And, as time passes, the necessary investment will only become greater.

Your usual mechanic cannot be expected to be able to repair exotic sports cars. You will need specialised mechanics with specialised tools to be able to ensure that appropriate and professional repairs are carried out. Not only will such individuals be, in all probability much more expensive than your usual mechanics, you would be very fortunate if you found one in your town. You should expect to have to do a lot of traveling in order to find suitable mechanical help.

All too often a sports car buff will purchase an exotic, without though to the ongoing costs, and, as a consequence be completely unprepared to handle additional future expenses. A thorough planning of expected costs and the means to meet those costs would certainly be in order.

Reliability Of High End Vehicles

Even though an exotic sports car may represent the ultimate in performance, One cannot assume that it will also be reliable. This will hold particularly true for the older 'classic' exotic cars. As with any high performance machine, exotic sports cars can be quite delicate (temperamental) which will, in all probability, require that you, or someone close to you be regularly on hand to make the adjustments to ensure that the vehicle stays in operating order. Exotic sports cars are well known for the spectacular side of their performance when they running well. However, the other side of the coin is that they are notorious for being among the most temperamental of vehicles that one may encounter.

If you plan to run an exotic sports car on a regular basis, you should be prepared for the highs and los of motoring. The sublime feeling of driving a top car with top performance can often be forgotten if the same car stops and refuses to start many miles from any assistance.

The Drivability of Exotic Cars

Most owners of high performance cars will tell you that such vehicles take 'some getting used too'. Optimum performance comes at a price, and will depend very largely on the skill of the driver. So, if you are relatively inexperienced, then please do not expect to get the best out of your car straight away. This in itself could prove too frustrating for many potentials owners. One should also take into account the relative risk of driving a high performance cars whilst still inexperienced.

For those to whom the additional cost of time in learning to drive a prestige car optimally and safely is not an issue, an additional, problem arises in the adjustment of seats and pedals for example. Small things that are irrelevant in normal cars take on much greater significance when applied to exotic sports cars.

When considering the purchase of an exotic sports car, one must look past the romance and excitement of owning a legendary vehicle. There are real concerns and obstacles to be overcome before the full enjoyment and benefit of owning such a car can be achieved.