I thought about this, but it still comes down to the "God forbid something happens", and you wreck a friends car or they wreck yours.

 

Then your insurance takes care of it. If not, let the owners. Again, there are ways around this. You can technically let anyone borrow your car. Also, there can be a contract amongst the members. Its not open for anyone or a business for profit.. just a group of us with additional cars that we do not mind to part.

My buddy owns a car club in NYC, and he and all members pay 10 to 15k/year and they get to drive sub 200k cars around. That is different, and more of a business model. This is just a mutual trade.

Just brainstorming

 

Sounds interesting...

Aaron

 

Some guy on another forum told me he loved my SL63 and would trade me his SL65 for it but was selling it as his SL Black Series was coming. He also has a CLK63 BS, I PMed him and told him I'd swap my SL63 for his CLK63 BS for a week or so just so we can both experience each one for a bit.

Its just friendly car sharing, why does it have to be about money, or business plans, or so much freaking worrying? Try something new for a few days/weeks without being such babies.

 

If their paying 10 - 15k a year to be members, then I guess if a car gets trashed its not going to hurt their wallets.

What's the name of the club?

 

It works better if no one has a vested interest in protecting the car he is loaning, but everyone has a vested interest in protecting the car he is borrowing. That's why it works best as a business. The business owns the cars, and members pay fees to sustain & operate the club/cars, with substantial security deposits held 'at risk' by the business. It would work really well if the 'price of admission' to the club was a salvage/re-built/auction exotic from each member. If all the cars in the club have door dings to start with, then the next door ding won't implode the club in a petty lawsuit.

If a club wants a winter HQ at Texas World Speedway (central to Houston, Austin, Dallas, & Ft. Worth), that's do-able.

 

cool im in! now who wants to trade supercar for my '01 Acura CL, a whole 205Wheelhp lol (and for those who don't know, red text means sarcasm).

interesting idea for sure...it'll never work tho!

 

It could potentially work, if everybody was kind of in the same area.

 

I think it would be nice to have its members from various areas. It would give people the opportunity to travel more and see new things. Long distance drives are always nice too.

 

names of any of these clubs in socal?
I'd be interested...

 

It could be done much differently if it was a group of people who were doing it as a business, but not for profit. Come on we have some of the brightest business minds on the 6 who have conquered much more difficult problems. Getting something like this going would just be a minor speedbump.

Does anyone know how these other companies structure the auto club business?

 

It works best for owners who don't drive their car too much and are in the same general vicinity as the others. You also can't be too hung up on getting similar "value" back, because that narrows it down significantly. The simplest beggining would be a member log-in website that lists the car, it's location and the owner's e-mail or cell phone contact. The "owner/administrator" would be the gate-keeper for accepting new "members" and their cars. Sorry, but the Acura wouldn't get you through the door. A member would inquire to another what he's "offering" and then it's a no obligation trade. The two, if agreed, would pick a time-period or a mileage limit and either one could call for their car back at any time and for any reason. Just like when you take out a rental car and they do a walk-through, any dings/scratches/etc. would be noted on a sheet of paper that shows a picture of a car from the front, sides, rear & top. Notes are made right on the sheet, including any interior flaws and then both sign it at the exchange along with the miles. Obviously & eventually something from minor-to-major will happen to someone's car. Minor would be taken care of by the driver and major by the owner's insurance. Obviously to reap the benefits of this you risk that your "perfect" car, if it was, may not stay that way. If that's too much for you to take then you don't do it. If I met a guy with a nice car and it was trashed a bit, I'd decline the swap b/c I keep my cars nearly perfect. Shank has the skills and I've got the "mind" to make it go.