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Archive for the ‘Luxury Cars’ Category

Rent A “Cool Car” For The Day

We talk a lot about cool cars, but in the real world most people are too practical to actually own one. But there is no reason that you can’t take one out for a spin. In case you didn’t know, Avis has a program out that allows customers to roll in style with their rental needs.

They offer a series of “Ultimate Rides”, plus what they call “Joy Rides”. For around $100+ a day, you could settle yourself into the drivers seat of sweet ride and nobody will ever have to know that you were “impractical” for a day, and why not… you deserve it!

Let’s take a look at a few of the “Cool Cars” Avis has to choose from for the coming year:


2008 Chevrolet Corvette
- First on a lot of peoples dream car lists has got to be the infamous Chevy Corvette. While not everybody’s fancy, for around $169.00 a day, you could experience exactly what it feels to have 430 horsepower resting comfortably underneath your right pinky toe! Each Avis Corvette will come complete in the convertible model with the standard 6.2 liter V-8, cruise control, active handling system, and power everything. The Corvettes have already been sold out through Spring in many areas, so if you want to get your hands on one, you better act quick.


2008 Cadillac CTS
- If class and style are a little more what your caviar dreams are made of, then the Cadillac CTS offered through Avis will be a welcome change from the average practical car. The Cadillac does not feature quite the brawn of the Corvette, but its 304 horsepower 3.6 liter V-6 (coming this August), is very smooth and capable, and can see MPG’s in the range of 25-26 on the highway. But what you really rent with the Cadillac is not its engine, but its luxurious seating, sound system, 40 gigabyte navigation system, and bullet-proof six-speed transmission.


2008 Hummer H3 (Alpha)
- If you have never driven a Hummer before, it is without a doubt an experience of its own. There is something very commanding about being behind the wheel of an infamous military vehicle sporting a 5.3 liter V-8 with 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. The H3 is not just cosmetic either, the new Alpha has been designed to go off the beaten path with its standard 4.10: 1 gear ratio and climb and play with the best of them. But if style among the city streets is what you are after, the Hummer is just as comfortable in the city and highways as off-road, and thanks to the new V-8, it can actually pass slower vehicles without the labor and groans of the old inline-5.


2008 Ford Mustang
- While perhaps not the infamous Shelby Hertz GT-H, a Mustang is a Mustang and they are all fun to drive, especially this most recent body style. The Mustang GT offers noise, 300 horsepower, more noise, and an image of youth and vigor. While not quite as refined as most of the other cool cars in the Avis line-up, there is a kind of charm that goes along with the rough edges of the Mustang. It is not meant to be a smooth running, luxurious, technological marvel as much as it is a tribute to the days when loud engines and the smell of burning rubber were what defined high performance.


2008 Nissan 350Z
- A little more refined than the Ford Mustang, the Nissan 350Z is a classic example of what a sports car should be. For 2008, the 3.5 liter V-6 has been boosted from last years 280 horsepower to its new 306 and 268 lb-ft of torque. Whether you like the standard coupe or Roadster models, Avis has you covered. Part of the beauty of the Nissan Z is its sporty interior, which, let’s face it, is where you will be spending the majority of the time anyway. Unlike the Mustang, the Z also has the sophisticated suspension you’d expect from an import, which means that if you like to do more than go fast in a straight line, then you’ll be in for a treat!

Beyond these popular favorites among renters there is also the choice of a Cadillac STS, Infiniti FX35, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, and Lincoln MKX.

 

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Three Flavors of Mercedes GL Class

According to Edmunds.com’s editor, Karl Brauer, in the $45,000 and above range, three of the top flavors of SUV are the Mercedes-Benz GL Class.

The lowest version, or I should rather say “versions” starts with the Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI (Controlled diesel injection) and the GL450. The biggest difference here between the two are whether you are into “green” living, or prefer spending it.


The 2008 Mercedes GL320 features a “green” biodiesel 3.0 liter V6 with 24 valves. On the vegetable juice, this beast can still pull 215 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 398 lbs torque at 1,600 rpm while offering about 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. Base price on one of these will run on the low side of $50 grand.

 


The 2007 Mercedes GL450 on the other hand features a hefty 4.6 liter 32 valve V-8 (150 lbs more than the V-6) with 335 horsepower and 339 lbs torque. Toting around its hefty 5,500 lb body, you’ll be lucky to see 15 mpg on average. Although you will be able to reach 0-60 in just over 7 seconds and pull a quarter mile in 16.

The Mercedes GL450 starts at $55,000, but you can find yourself up to $70,000 in no time with just a few pricey options. Such options range from a power tailgate and off-road package ($2200), DVD navigation and ear-seat DVD entertainment ($2650), BlueTooth capability ($4500), climate-control ($1320), dual sunroof ($1500), metallic paint ($700), leather ($1650), rearview camera ($500), and adaptive headlights ($900).

Both the 2008 GL320 and GL450 feature a 7 speed automatic transmission, front and side dual stage air bags, and an optional “parktronic” parking sensor system.

 


The premium GL of 2008 is however the Mercedes GL550 coming in at around $75,000. With a 5.5 liter 382 horsepower, 392 lbs torque V-8, this Mercedes will at least be able to give the 403 horsepower Cadillac Escalade a run for its money at a stoplight. The GL550 is capable of 0-60 times in the 5 second range and quarter miles in the 15’s.

While the GL550 is basically a beefed up Mercedes GL450, they do throw in a few features to make you feel better about forking over the extra $20 grand. The GL550 comes standard with 21-inch rims, a revamped grill, giant badging, and around $10,000 in Mercedes confidence and a buyer’s necessity to own the best!

All in a days work for Mercedes-Benz!

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