The sleek, dark-silver Lamborghini Gallardo at Bellevue's Zadart Exotic Car Rentals gathers no dust. In fact, the powerful Italian sports car is more likely to leave other cars in the dust with its neck-snapping acceleration.
"The 2013 Gallardo is our No. 1 rental," says Eric Reiff, client advisor and social media manager at the shop, which boasts one of the Seattle area's largest fleet of exotic, luxury and high-performance cars.
"We found that people in Washington really like Lamborghinis, and just to say that you got behind the wheel of a Lamborghini for a day is an awesome memory for anyone," he says.
Maybe you have a hot date lined up for the weekend or someone special you want to impress. Perhaps you'd like to rent an exotic car as a holiday gift for your significant other. Or maybe you just like fast cars but can't afford to actually own one.
At Zadart, newly located at 11855 Bel-Red Road (as well as in a small showroom on the first floor of Bellevue Square), the focus is on dream cars. The company is dedicated to the car enthusiasts of the Northwest, according to COO Doug Scheppe.
Positioning the ultra-chic cars as rentals puts a once-in-a-lifetime driving experience within reach of even the most casual walk-in customers.
Among the pulse-quickening vehicles in the company's 26-vehicle fleet are a Ferrari 458 Spider, Lamborghini Huracan, McLaren 12C Spider, Bentley Continental GT, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Mercedes SLS and Porsche Turbo.
A ride in the bright-red 2013 Ferrari 458 Spider, a mid-engine two-seater capable of nearly 200 mph, is an exhilarating experience on the backstreets of Bellevue.
The Ferrari's 4.5-liter engine packs 570 horsepower and boasts a zero-to-62-mph time of 3.4 seconds. Paddle shifters control the seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission.
The top lowers in less than 20 seconds, and a rear power window behind the seats can be lowered to better experience the snarling exhaust.
The rakish Ferrari has huge front air scoops and bulging rear fenders. A lift system raises the front of the car to prevent the drier from scraping the valance when entering a driveway.
The car was originally priced at $225,000 and up, according to Cars.com.
"We look for cars with a unique feeling that are a little more special," Reiff says. "Some people think (Ferrari 458s) are too expensive, but I think they're worth every penny."
Zadart benefits from the demographics of Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland —home to many tech firms with high-salary jobs."I believe the first cars we started with last year were the BMW 750, the BMW M5 and the Audi R8 V-8," Reiff says. "As the demand grew, we grew along with it."
Among the deals Zadart offers is a "walk-in special" with hefty discounts, as well as "date-night special.""You only pay for a four-hour rental, but you get the car from 6 p.m. until 10 a.m. the next morning," Reiff says.
Rental prices range from $95 a hour up to $1,100.
The company's Dream Car Club works like an "extended garage," allowing members to drive any car in the fleet.
"It's basically like a car payment for one of these cars. But instead of just one car, you have a whole fleet to choose from," Reiff says.
Zadart does not allow racing. So customers are warned not to take a car to a race track, which would result in fees — or worse.
"We like to let people enjoy them on the street all they want, but taking them to a race track is not going to fly with us," Reiff says. "If you go out and crash a $300,000 Ferrari, it's not going to be a pleasant situation for either one of us."
Renters are advised to raise their comprehensive insurance from $100,000 to $250,000.
"We usually require full coverage, and that would include comprehensive and collision," Reiff says.
Zadart also rents cars for extended periods.
"We have had a couple of our cars taken on cross-country trips," Reiff says. "One of our BMWs was taken on an 11-day trip from here to New Jersey, and the customer paid to have the car shipped back."
Reiff often attends exotic car meets, such as the Saturday gatherings during warmer months at Redmond Town Center.
COO Scheppe recently attended a holiday gathering for BizX, a large community of business people, in downtown Bellevue.
"We're excited about the business," Scheppe says. "The whole community is. Four of our cars were on display. We were mugged all night."
No comments:
Post a Comment