exotic cars

#270, Chicago-based business provides automotive Xtreme Xperiences

Adam Olalde is the founder and CEO of Xtreme Xperience. The Chicago-based company provides unique driving experiences in luxury cars mixed with racetrack and lifestyle experiences. Olalde, who began his business after working for a luxury car rental service, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Olalde the fascination consumers have in exotic and high-performance vehicles — from Lamborghini to Porsche to Rolls-Royce. The business began with Olalde renting vehicles for one-hour test drives throughout Chicago. The idea expanded to test drives at a nearby racetrack. Since the company’s debut in 2012, the company reports it has helped more than 300,000 people cross ‘drive an exotic car’ off their

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#215, Ferrari parts business in Sacramento leads industry

FerrParts is a Sacramento business that strives to lead the independent Ferrari parts distributor industry for the international Ferrari community. It’s succeeded so well, the company recently expanded its business to include Maserati, Lamborghini, McLaren and Bentley. Russell Putnam, the owner of the Ferrai parts company, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Putnam his business, from how it started to its expansion into other areas of the exotic car world. Putnam began his Ferrari business following a successful real estate career. He bought a salvaged Ferrari 355. “I had sold 100 rentals and I had enough cash to buy a new one, but there was something about my

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#180, New website thatsanicecar.com showcases exotic cars

It’s easy to hear overt enthusiasm in Bill Mayer’s voice. He’s owned, restored and sold several of what he calls “works of art” — classic and exotic cars. After many years of planning, Mayer is now also the co-founder of the website, ThatsANiceCar.com. It reflects his passion for expensive automotive rarities. Andrew Sparrow is also a co-founder and the site’s technology guru. Launched in January, the website features only high-end exotic cars offered in a unique pricing platform. It’s for buyers and sellers. Mayer is our guest on episode #180 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Mayer the idea for the website and his plans to compete in the online marketplace. Exotic cars

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#55, Farewell manual transmissions except in collectibles

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:45 — 36.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreChris Warren, sales manager for Premier Financial Services in Florida, knows the vintage car market well. He works for the prominent national company that for more than 20 years has provided financing for previously owned exotic, vintage and luxury cars. What Warren has observed is an increasing renaissance among purists who want to buy vehicles with manual transmissions. Warren is our guest on Episode 55 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the automotive industry and the increasing lack of manual transmissions in new vehicles and the increasing importance of manual transmissions in collectible cars. “It’s interesting with the

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2017 Bentley Bentayga: Plush, Powerful, Fit For A Queen

Two friends recently joined me for a weekend morning drive to breakfast in a 2017 Bentley Bentayga. One buddy wore a fedora for the occasion, the other a touring cap. Another friend dressed up for a lunch meeting. It wasn’t for the restaurant’s stature, but for his passenger’s role in the plush sport utility vehicle. (All images © Michael Kahn, https://www.mklibrary.com) Bentley does that to people. It’s the manufacturer of cars for royalty, including the Queen of England’s 2002 limousine. It’s the original car author Ian Fleming selected for his James Bond character to drive while wearing his custom-tailored suits. Beyond its elegance, Bentley has won the 24 Hours of LeMans six times. Key Takeaways Fastest SUV ever built when

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Bugatti Veyron as a police car? Sure, in Dubai

Chevrolet and Chrysler is understood. But a Bugatti and an Aston Martin as police cars? It can’t be true, can it? Turns out it is the United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai. The Emirate of Dubai, including the modern City of Dubai, are wealthy places where excess is the norm — including cars. People in Dubai drive fast and the policemen of Dubai drive past or at least they hope to drive faster than the public considering the cars in their force. There’s a Ford Mustang GT and Camaro SS in the fleet. But both are pedestrian compared to the vehicles. The Dubai police force vehicles also include: a $110,000 BMW M6 Gran Coupe, $190,000 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, $200,000 Bentley Continental

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Ferrari 458 recalled after Italian sports car redefines too hot to handle

A Ferrari spokesman said the source of the problem is a wheel-arch heat shield that comes too close to an exhaust pipe. The adhesive that secures the shield can smoke or catch fire due to excessive heat. Dealers have contacted Ferrari 458 owners, the spokesman said, and have asked them to bring their cars in as soon as possible for modification. The Daily Mail newspaper in England reported five Ferrari 458 Italias have caught fire as a result of the flaw. The Ferrari spokesman confirmed that “four or five” fires had been reported in 458 models but added that only one had occurred in the United States. He said that the destroyed vehicles would be replaced at no charge to

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Lamborghini gets dubious honor: least efficient EPA gas mileage averages in 2010

The Italian luxury car has two of the country’s three most inefficient 2010  cars. The Lamborghini Murcielago with manual and automatic transmission have the top and third worst gas mileage, according to the new cars guide released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Here’s the list: 1. Lamborghini Murcielago (manual) 8 mpg (city), 13 mpg (highway); 2. Bugatti Veyron 8/14; 3. Lamborghini Murcielago (automatic) 9/14; 4. Bentley Azure Bentley Brooklands 9/15; 5. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (automatic) 10/17; 6. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti (manual) 10/16; 7. Maybach 57 10/15; 8. Bentley Continental Flying Spur Bentley Continental GTC 10/17; 9. Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano 11/15; 10. Several BMW, Aston Martin and Porsche vehicles, 11/17. James RaiaA sports, travel and

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