Custom ride legal for road or 18th tee
by Aaron Nathans
A Hummer doesn't usually come to mind when one thinks of environmentally friendly rides. But an electric vehicle that looked like a shrunken Hummer, complete with gleaming hubcaps, turned heads at the Delaware Auto Show last weekend and a local company hopes to put some on the roads in neighborhoods soon.
The vehicle is effectively a souped-up golf cart, licensed by General Motors to look a lot like the real thing.
Made by the California company American Custom Golf Cars, the "neighborhood electric vehicle" goes up to the state-mandated maximum speed of 25 miles per hour and can be had for a little under $12,000.
The vehicles are street-legal for low-speed byways, but are designed more for the links than traffic jams.
Kiel Drake, of Fred Drake Automotive in Townsend, said they're an attention-getting, environmentally friendly way to ride around the neighborhood.
Drake said they're good for making that short commute down side roads to work, taking the back roads to the beach, or scooting around a self-contained retirement community. He said they're especially popular in Florida, California and Arizona.
Drake Automotive is the first dealer to offer the cars in Delaware. Drake said he hasn't sold one yet, but got a lot of looks at the auto show.
"People haven't seen anything like it before," Drake said. "It's not for everyone, I agree. If it does work for you, it's a very stylish ride."
Neighborhood electric vehicles have become more popular lately as gas prices remain volatile.
The federal government created rules allowing low-speed electric vehicles to drive on local streets about 10 years ago. Last year, Delaware permitted them to be licensed. They're allowed to be driven on roads with a maximum speed of 35 mph. They are barred from four-lane roads, but are allowed to cross them.
Fred Drake Automotive, mainly a repair shop, sells a red "California Roadster" for $9,145. The "Hummer" starts at $10,899, and a Cadillac Escalade look-alike starts at $12,145. For a price, they can be equipped with custom wheels, a stereo, an attachment for golf bags, or zip-down sides.
The cars are advertised to go 70 miles on a single charge, which can be achieved with an extension cord plugged into an ordinary electrical outlet.
Michael Alfaro, sales and logistics manager of the company, said they tend to sell about 2,500 units a year worldwide. They've been selling the California Roadster for six years, he said, adding the GM look-alikes more recently. This year, sales have been slower than expected, given the economic situation, he said. "We're not in the red. We're doing OK."
About 80 percent of the units are used on the roads, he said. Many golf courses allow them, but it's up to each course superintendent, he said.
Jennifer Watts, manager of marketing and communications for the Electric Drive Transportation Association in Washington, said neighborhood electric vehicles are gaining popularity for businesses, universities, large office complexes, military bases, and even police departments.
Watts said there are about 40,000 neighborhood electric vehicles on the roads. The biggest producer, she said, is Global Electric Motorcars -- known as "GEM Cars" -- a subsidiary of Chrysler LLC.
But not everyone's enthralled, particularly safety advocates.
Cathy Rossi, spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said small electric vehicles look like fun, but they put a person at risk on the roads when they're out there with cars and trucks that are larger, heavier and faster, she said. Even on a 35-mph maximum road, it's a big risk, she said.
"What if someone runs a red light? I wouldn't want to be in one of these. You're exposed on the side. For the way our roads are constructed, our neighborhoods are built, I'm just not sure what kind of utility they have for Delaware," Rossi said.
She said the vehicles don't make sense for a ride to Delaware's beaches because all beach-area roads lead to the heavily travelled Del 1.
Alfaro said AAA is in the insurance business and would be expected to take a more conservative approach.
Watts said neighborhood electric vehicles are generally crash-tested and safe. But Watts said she hadn't heard of American Custom Golf Cars. "They're cute," she said, looking at pictures on the company's Web site. The pictures show how the cars have limited coverage on the sides. "These are wide open," she noted.
In addition to Delaware, 39 states including New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Virginia allow low-speed vehicles to be registered with their departments of motor vehicles, Drake said. But Pennsylvania does not yet have such a law, he noted.
The federal law, passed in 1998, set standards for low-speed vehicles' road-worthiness, including windshield wipers, turn signals, headlights and taillights.
The law in Delaware was changed last year to allow the vehicles after the bill's sponsor, Sen. David McBride, D-Hawks Nest, saw them being used in Key West, Fla. He argued they would be a popular way of motoring around Delaware's sprawling retirement communities.
Vicki Gordon of Key West bought a white Escalade-shaped model about a year ago. She said she loves it, and it's perfect for life on island time, where people are a little more relaxed and don't drive aggressively. She said she sold her regular car, and if she needs to go off the island, she rents a car or rides with friends.
She said the only time she felt unsafe in her neighborhood vehicle is when someone from the mainland "came roaring up" behind her. "If people get in a hurry and start riding my bumper, I just pull over."
She said she pays $23 a month combined in insurance and charging-up costs. The island is just four square miles, and she uses the vehicle in her job as a home appraiser. It's become part of her corporate image: Her company features the vehicle on its home page, www.barefootappraisal.com.
Susan Sistare, owner of Star Electric Cars in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said the volatile price of gas is causing sales to be brisk. People have good use for them as second vehicle, she said.
Many people live in large gated communities and find them useful for getting to the clubhouse, to a friend's house or to a nearby drugstore, she said.
But she said the vehicles have their limits.
This is not a car to take to Miami. You'd have to leave yesterday," Sistare said.
COPY AND PASTE THIS LINK TO SEE THE DELAWARE MOTOR VEHICLE LOW SPEED VEHICLE HANDOUT
http://www.dmv.de.gov/services/vehicle_services/other/sb17_low_speed_vehicle.pdf
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| Following Robin's
purchase ALICE ARKINSON of Lewes,De purchased a 2003 MBENZ CLK320 red
convertible last night!!!!!!!!! Thank you LADIES ;) 
Thank you Mrs. Pat
Wade of Lewes,De for driving off in the 2006 Porsche Cayman S
tonight!!!!!!! Enjoy ;)
The 2004 Dodge
Intrepid that we took on trade yesterday has been Sold today to Mr. John
Mahle of Cambridge,MD!!!!!!!
Since re-opening
as RBmotorcars in January ROBIN SNOW of Millsboro,De was our first
client!!! She purchased a 2008 MINI CLUBMAN
January 27, 2010 |
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New owners take over
Rehoboth Beach Motor Cars
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After more than 50 years of carrying
the Slaughter name, the car dealership off Route 1 across from Rehoboth
Elementary School is under a new name and new ownership.
Christened Rehoboth Beach Motor Cars, the husband-and-wife
team of Matt and Rana Salem will now run the dealership. Former owner
Mark Slaughter, who is retiring, is helping the Salems with the
transition and gave his blessing to the new owners.
“My wife and I are very excited about Matt and Rana
carrying on our business practices in such a professional manner. Rana
and Matt have the experience and dedication to their business that will
bring a no-nonsense approach to buying, selling and service that will
deliver the best transaction experience possible,” Slaughter said.
The Salems have more than 25 years of combined sales
experience and have been married partners in business for 10 years.
“I had a passion for cars from the very beginning,” Matt
said. He started selling cars at a gas station but always wanted to have
his own lot.
Rana cut her teeth in the car business working in sales
and customer service at a dealership. The couple combined their
experience in their own dealership in Salisbury, Md. at Delmarva Imports
Outlet.
“We’ve always been committed to the fact that customer
service is always top priority. So, we want to give everybody the best
customer satisfaction, along with driving off in the best car that they
want to be driving off in,” Rana said.
The selection will include high-end style cars, similar to
what the Slaughters sold, cars from Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW,
Corvettes, Cadillacs and convertibles. Those looking for lower-priced
cars, such as Hondas and Toyotas, will still be in luck.
“We are willing to cater to the need of the customer,”
Matt said. “Whether they want a $100,000 car or a $10,000 car. We have
the access to get them anything they want.”
The Salems are frequent visitors to Rehoboth, as Matt has
several businesses in town. They became interested in the location by
seeing the cars Slaughter had on sale when they drove by.
“Ever since I married him, for the past 10 years, every
time we come through, he has to slam his brakes and look at the
beautiful cars that were always out there, that everybody knew were
Slaughter cars,” Rana said.
The couple heard through the grapevine that the location
was up for sale and contacted Slaughter about purchasing the dealership.
The Salems met Slaughter and his family and grew a relationship with
him until Slaughter was comfortable turning the dealership over to them.
“They have an old-fashioned approach, just like our family has enjoyed
since 1948,” said Slaughter.
Rehoboth Beach Motor Cars’ showroom is open Monday through
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Rana anytime
at 410-251-6592 or the office at 302-227-2100. Slaughter will also be
available until Monday, Feb. 1, and can be reached at 228-7992.
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