Classically beautiful, enduringly elegant and Italian. Lamborghinis are the Monica Bellucci of cars. And just like the lovely Ms. Bellucci, they're hopelessly out of my league. And out of yours, too, at least until today. (Lamborghinis, I mean. Not Monica Bellucci.)
Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma is giving one lucky couple a chance to drive a gorgeous 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo for a full 24 hours, along with dinner for two and some other cool prizes, but let's be honest, I had you at "Lamborghini."
According to Kelley Blue Book, the average MSRP for Lambos is somewhere between "$200,000" and "your immortal soul." Ordinarily, getting behind the wheel of such an amazing automobile for even one day would cost you between $700 and $1,000. You're probably thinking that the entry fee for even a chance to drive one would be your firstborn child at a bare minimum.
It's totally free. Just go to Courtesy Auto's website and enter your information for a chance to win. According to Courtesy Auto owner Scott Welsh, it's all part of an exciting cross promotion and philanthropic endeavor between his business and Drive Lambo of Tacoma, which rents the luxurious Italian sports cars to Pierce County's automotive connoisseurs.
"It's exposure for us, exposure for them, and the car winds up going to a benefit car show for American Heart Association in late August," Welsh said.
The show, Hot Rods 4 Hearts, raises thousands of dollars every year and will be hosting its third annual benefit later this summer.
Publicity and charity notwithstanding, this is still a very extravagant offering, and not the sort of promo you'd ordinarily expect from an auto service. In a sea of logo key chains, beer cozies and T-shirts, "luxury Italian sports car" definitely stands out, and that's a fact Welsh is all too aware of.
"We do it to be different in the market. Nobody else does anything like this, and ... It appeals to younger people - to older people. They want to see it. They want to sit in it. They want to drive it," Welsh said.
"And they're a blast to drive, man," he adds with a chuckle.
Terms and conditions do apply, so anyone hoping to re-create their favorite scenes from the Fast and the Furious series for 24 hours need not apply, but for the safe and conscientious drivers out there, this is a rare opportunity to enjoy the apex of automotive craftsmanship. The golden charging bull on the hood, the classic lines, the throaty purr of that engine, and the suspension that practically hovers over the asphalt; it can all be yours for a price that can't be beat.
At least for one day.
To enter, please visit tacomaautorepairshop.com/2016-lamborghini-contest. The contest ends Aug. 31, 2016. One lucky winner will be announced on Sept. 6, 2016.