Comment by nlh | Hacker News Reader

Comment by nlh | Hacker News Reader

This is a spectacular essay. PG is dead-on correct here. In fact, one of the strongest reactions I had while reading it just now was "Shhh Paul, you're giving away the secret!" :)

And this doesn't just apply to tech startups...

The business I currently run (an exotic car rental company) started out precisely as described -- it was an idea I had to solve a problem I was facing (I wanted to rent a super-fancy car to drive across the country. Nobody in NYC offered that service). The business started as a fun side-project - a toy. I figured it would be a hobby business - something I could do in my spare time while I figured out what business I "really" wanted to start. I built it myself - did the deliveries, threw a website together, learned SEO, etc.

And sure enough, I was surprised by how much other folks also wanted this service. So when I went live - the calls kept coming. That was 8.5 years ago, and the business now employs over 20 people and is about to open in its 3rd city.

So take PG's words to heart - they're some of the best I've read.

> The business I currently run (an exotic car rental company)

wow, it sounds like an awesome business. drop a link so I can take a look at those babies.

//edit: got it http://www.gothamdreamcars.com/our-fleet.htm holy crap, nice collection (although I was hoping for some more diversity and vintages :)).

If you don't mind me asking, I was always curious: who is the common clientele for these kind of services? People who own such cars at home and want something similar while travelling?

Thanks! The answer I generally give to "who are your clients?" is "yes" -- it's so across the board that even I was surprised. The median client really varies on location -- in NY it's typically a guy heading out to the Hamptons or Jersey Shore for the weekend of fun, but it's also women looking for a fun gift, celebrities looking for better service (though, somewhat surprisingly, celebrities more frequently rent what we call "luxury" cars -- BMWs, Mercedes, Range Rover, vs what we call "exotic" cars -- Ferraris and Lamborghinis), and, yes, folks who own them at home and like to try something similar-but-different while on the road.

tx for the answer. due to the price tag I always thought most of the people that afford it, can afford to buy one as well.

I guess you pay a lot of insurance. have you had any problems like 'spoiled kid rents a murcielago, wrecks on the first corner?' or some fun/weird stories? (needless to say the whole business of owning such cars must be fun :) maybe you could do an AMA on reddit)

NP :) Yep, we've actually had that _exact_ scenario (though I suppose it's not terribly surprising, but funny that you got it exactly correct). Dumb kid (over 21, but still a kid) from CT rented a Murcielago to show off, made it about 10 minutes and this happened:

http://imgur.com/fV4Ph

I recall someone did a similar AMA a few years ago, but indeed, maybe it's time for another one.

haha :) ouch. I don't know why I particularily mentioned the Murci, maybe because I remember a similar story on wreckedexotics website (borrows from dad, the rest is obvious). I also recall TopGear describing this Lambo as particularily safe but only to a certain point after which it spins you to a certain crash. Yet I somehow expect more noob wreckages from RWDs.

Can you give us an HN discount? I've always wanted to rent one of your cars..

Of course :) Let me know when you're in NYC, Miami or LA...

I'm trying to make a reservation but Ferrari F430 Spider seems to be "sold out" even if I pick a date months from now. Can you please help?

Shoot me an email (see my profile) and I'll do my best to assist!

I'm really surprised to hear NYC of all places didn't have one of these 9 years ago. I feel like there's always been a bunch of them here in Texas.

I'd love to hear more about your early days. I'm guessing you had to convince a bank to loan you money to buy a Ferrari, but you were a new business with no established credit history. How did that go?

I'm also very interested in learning about determining pricing for a service leasing out assets on a short term basis. I've had an idea that involves renting on a monthly basis (no, not exotic cars!) but I'm not able to figure out a pricing model to see if my target (low) prices are feasible.

Shoot me an email (see profile) and I'd be more than happy to give you some background/chat/pricing thoughts.

Wow - I love your service!

This is a perfect example of a sustainable niche business, and one of the reasons I love this particular PG essay more than most. I find that a lot of PG essays (especially his recent "growth") exhibit an obvious VC / Silicon Valley bias, but this one is globally applicable to everything from an exotics rental company to a rapidly-growing IPO-targeted hot startup.

Both your business and the PG essay also triggered "why has nobody written/created this in such a simple way before?" thought processes, which in my mind is another good indicator that the concept behind both is quite sound.

Had I known prior to my current trip to NYC, I'd probably be a customer right now - as it stands a Phantom for the day tomorrow is really appealing but I'm not sure I want to drop the cash :)

I am glad that you have build an excellent business which can grow, unlike some businesses cough in a reality tv show cough. Keep up good job!

What a great idea!.Eventually you´ll find what is broken in the car renting community and be able to offer a better service outside your actual market.

I'm a huge fan of your service, I've read a lot about you, GTC, and have been interested in the whole aspect of it for awhile. This is a shot in the dark, but could I email you a couple questions? I promise not to take too much of your time.

Absolutely. Never a waste to time chatting with HNers - give me a shout whenever.

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