Even in the midst of the deepest economic recession America has experienced since the Great Depression, car lovers have dreams. Most, even in good times, won't see the day when they can drop $200,000 on a new Ferrari, but a couple of grand to pretend for a weekend? That's more likely and it's that fantasy on which the exotic car rentals industry counts for its livelihood. Some customers just want to show up at their class reunions in a luxury car, maybe a nice Mercedes, but others long to feel the power of one of the world's elite genre of supercars.
 
A new, popular service, pioneered by a New York exotic car rental company, allows drivers to do just that. Participants get behind the wheel of multiple exotic rentals for a 150-mile, six-hour fantasy. At an opening price of approximately $600 (up to $1000 depending on company and event), these passionate car enthusiasts buy themselves roughly half an hour each piloting cars like the Ferrari 360 Spyder, Ferrari F430 Spyder, Maserati Quattroporte, Lamborghini Murcielago, Lamborghini Gallardo, and Lambroghini Gallardo Spyder.
 
Often participating drivers have received the experience as a gift to mark a special occasion. Others save all year just to feed their lust for cars they will never be able to afford. Gotham's most expensive car, the Saleen S7 (price tag $400,000) rents for $2,750 a day ($13,000 a week.) It's most popular exotic rental, the Lamborghini Gallardo, goes for an affordable $995 a day ($4,990) a week. DFW Elite Auto Rental near Dallas averages $620 per day on its rentals with a contract duration of about 2.25 days. (They did have one person who took out a Bentley Continental GTC convertible, and drove it to Florida. Opening rental price $5,500. Charge per mile after the 100 free miles a day - $3.)
 
Customers are responsible for all citations or moving violations as well as any fees and associated costs for towing or impounding while the car is in their possession. Because insuring these cars would be cost prohibitive, most drivers take out liability policies only or rely on the physical liability clause of their own automotive insurance, meaning that in the event of an accident, the driver foots the bill. (Expect to be asked to provide insurance information and to have that coverage verified via telephone before being allowed to rent an exotic. Prices for additional liability coverage at the dealership vary widely by make, model, and driving record.) Additionally, the DFW operation has the ability to remotely kill their cars' engines if theft-in-progress is suspected and they get speed reports to monitor how the vehicle is being operated.
 
Not surprisingly, participants in "dream car" events prefer to be out in the countryside away from situations where expensive damage is likely to occur. While accidents do happen, they are relatively rare in the exotic rental industry. Even drivers who love speed are more than aware of the financial consequences of a wreck or even a minor repair. Fixing a scraped wheels on one of these beauties can easily run to $2000. Spending upwards to a thousand dollars a day to indulge a fantasy may seem like insanity to the normal driver, but the owner of DFW Elite Auto Rental, Ron Sturgeon, recently told John Austin of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that his business was down less than 10 percent for 2009. Maybe in bad times, dreams are more important than ever.