Share Your Wheels

Car enthusiast WALTER D’SOUZA elucidates on the world of timeshare car clubs. Riding off into the sunset in your dream machine was never so easy.

We all like cars. Some of us admire them because they are symbols of personal mobility and freedom. Others consider them to be excellent status symbols. Whatever the reason, these four-wheeled machines are much prized. Whether it’s good food, a particular sport or preference for a luxury brand, people tend to bond over common interests. When these enthusiasts get organised, informal gatherings inevitably give way to clubs.
Automobile clubs are an effective way to get to know your cars better, as well as drive or see new vehicles. What kind of club you join depends on what you’re looking for. There are clubs that focus on the restoration of classic and vintage automobiles, others that organise racing events and more that form simply for the love of a particular brand or model. But the most alluring of the lot are the “timeshare clubs” that own a fleet of exotica that can be hired if available. And before you ask, no, these aren’t rental or leasing companies.

The Mechanics of Auto clubs
Car clubs aren’t rocket science, though the four-wheeled machines do make similar magic on the road. Here’s how it works — a car club acquires a fleet of exotic fast cars, like Aston Martins or Lamborghinis. Membership can be obtained by paying a monthly fee, possibly in addition to meeting other criteria. For example, Ferrari handpicked the prospective owners of their FXX (a supercar so extreme, it can be driven only on racetracks) and offered them memberships for a fee. These members, upon entering the club, were officially made part of Scuderia Ferrari, the Formula One racing team, and the car was theirs to drive at racetracks around the world. Moreover, their inputs would help develop the next supercar from Maranello. No amount of money can guarantee ownership to an FXX; they must want you. Fortunately, getting into most exclusive car clubs isn’t as difficult as that. Once you’ve agreed to the monthly fee, you are entitled to the use of the cars in the fleet. This is advantageous in many ways. Even if you’re wealthy enough to have homes scattered across the globe, you can’t possibly house your favourite cars in every garage you own. Well, maybe you can, but would prefer to avoid the trouble of purchasing and maintaining them. The acquisition, upholding and resale of the cars are handled by the club, which can be a huge relief for many.

The Right Fleet
How do you choose the club you want to join? First, look for a club that is located at a convenient distance from you. You do not want to drive through a traffic snarl each time you decide to drop in at the club. If there isn’t one nearby, find out if they offer a car delivery service. Once you’ve narrowed the number down, ask them for more information, like detailed brochures or a website. Clubs may have many tiers of membership, and access to cars may be limited by your monthly fee and your membership subscription. Take a tour of the facilities and inspect the fleet.
While on the tour, get a feel of the culture of the club and its members as you will be doing a lot more than just spending time behind the wheel. Ask about the activities that are organised by the club — if they coincide with your interests, so much the better. Expect events like dinners and car rallies to be part of your membership experience. You should also ask them if they’ll provide insurance — and if they do, enquire if your family and friends will be covered by the same policy. You certainly don’t want to be caught off guard if the policy does not cover anyone besides you at the wheel. Some clubs charge a fee over their monthly fee for the hire of a car. In other clubs, your fee will fetch you a set of points. The more exotic the car you hire, the more points it will cost you. Find out which system suits you best, and be well-versed with the club rules.

Cruise Control
Exclusive cars feature prominently in two scenarios — either at the racetrack, the place where all the research and technology that has gone into its construction comes in handy, or to get noticed around town and especially at red carpet events with an eager valet at the entrance. If you’re the kind of person who likes to spend your time pushing the limits on the car, look for clubs that are track-focussed. The cars they offer will not have much by way of creature comforts, but you’ll have multiple thrills a minute with them. If they offer advanced driver training and you’re learning the ropes of racing, grab the opportunity to polish your skills. And finally, find out the member-to-car ratio — you don’t want to be disappointed on the day you plan to pull up to that important party or zip around the nearby track in the car of your dreams!
Whether you like the gruff roar of an American small-block V8, the banshee wail of an Italian V12, the hiss of valves on a Porsche 911 Turbo, or simply the visual impact of the clean, flowing lines of a Lamborghini, a car club is a great way to experience the cars you love without the pitfalls of maintenance, spare parts availability or resale.

Ferrari Owner’s Club (FOC)
When you own a Ferrari, you have every reason to revel in its exclusivity. What better way to do it than to be a part of a Ferrari Owner’s Club? Established in 1961 in America, the FOC has been bringing together Ferrari owners worldwide to establish camaraderie among the countless automobile enthusiasts. The rapidly expanding club has branches in San Diego, California, New York, Texas, Houston and Austin among others. Membership also includes the subscription to two publications — the Pilota and the FOC Members Directory. Since owning a Ferrari is no doubt a lifestyle statement, the club contributes to the same by organising events such as rallies, picnics, overnighters and racetrack events. Since their motto is “We drive”, you can be left with no doubt as to what’s on the minds of the club’s members!

Van Horssen Group (VHG)
Established in 2005, VHG offers car enthusiasts the pleasure of driving the latest automobiles without the annoyances of ownership. Of course, the privilege comes at a hefty price. However, as a member to this highly exclusive club, you can have easy access to the best automobiles at the company’s locations. From offering early access to cars like the Vanquish S and 575M GTC in 2005 to organising events that cater to the automotive interests of its members, the club has developed an elite clientele within a short span of time. On one occasion, Mercedes-Benz appointed them as hosts for the press launch of its new S-class. Located in Arizona, VHG also provides local service in Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Newport Beach, Palm Springs, Phoenix and San Diego.

Exclusive Car Club by Don L.
Run by Don L. Auto Sales, an exotic automobile company, this exclusive club grants members the access to cars ranging from Bentleys to Porsches, all the year round. The club is meant for those who wish to drive the finest and most exotic automobiles in the world sans the expense and inconvenience associated with traditional ownership. The collection and reservations made by members incorporate two levels of vehicles — the Platinum collection, and the Gold collection. The former includes luxury cars like the Bentley Continental GT and the Ferrari 360 Spider, while the latter boasts classics like the Porsche 911 Coupé and the BMW 745il. Members are also encouraged to refer family and friends to the club and the 2,000 bonus points that are consequently awarded help them sink deeper into the comfortable lap of luxury.