I think having an excuse to rent a car is fun, and what makes it even funner (yeah, I know that's not really a word!) is to get a really nice car that's comfortable and fun to drive. Now for some people a Mustang convertible might be the height of car-renting luxury, but for others names like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Bentley are what really sound good. Car clubs and car rental agencies that specialize in high-end luxury automobiles have seen major growth over recent years, resulting in more opportunities for those car lovers who, for whatever reason, just aren't looking to commit to a purchase.

And who doesn't want to be that person spotted in a new luxe car?

Not everyone is looking to settle down, particularly celebrities and other extremely wealthy people, so the market for luxury rentals that offer a no strings attached home for as long as they care to stay is booming. Forbes has a list of the most expensive rentals of 2007. Instead of simply picking ten million-dollar-a-month pads, Forbes chose to list the most expensive in ten different metropolitan areas, which is something to keep in mind if you change cities as often as you change clothes. On their list, you'll find:

• Atlanta - $6,500 per month for an 1,800-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath condo in Buckhead in a building with a 24-hour concierge and fitness center.
• Washington, D.C. - $12,500 per month will put you in a 14,000-square-foot, six-bedroom estate in Spring Valley that looks a bit like a castle and features a heated swimming pool.
• Los Angeles - $40,000 per month is all it takes to get into a Monterey-style Spanish colonial in the Hollywood Hills. The six-acre property has a 7,000-sq. ft., six bedrooms house with gardens, a heated pool and a 2,700-sq. ft. guesthouse.
• Miami (pictured) - it is $300,000 a month for the 11,000-square-foot Villa Miami XIII on Palm Island. The 6-bedroom estate has "a full gymnasium, cinema-style theater, two Jacuzzis, a regulation beach volleyball court, heated pool and a waterfall," in addition to a boat dock that can accommodate up to a 100-ft. yacht.

In the US, there is Bag, Borrow or Steal, and there is Be A Fashionista in the UK, both of which are services that rent out designer handbags, so you can stay on top of current trends without breaking the bank. Now, there is a company that caters to Canadians: Shoulder Candy. Shoulder Candy is $99 CDN per month and gives you access to thousands of dollars worth of bags. You select a bag on their site, they ship it out and when you return it, you can get your next selection. Launched only about a month ago, the company offers 30 top brands and 70 authentic styles, including bags like the Chloe Paddington and ones by Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Celine.

 

Word to the wise, don't rent your house to Prince. The Smoking Gun has the documents relating to a complaint filed by Carlos Boozer, a forward with the Utah Jazz, who rented his West Hollywood mansion to the Purple One for $70,000 a month. Surprise, surprise, Prince painted the house with purple striping, his special symbol and the numbers 3121 (the name of his new album). Prince also added in a purple monogrammed carpet in the bedroom and changed the plumbing to accommodate beauty salon chairs. Prince was supposed to hold a private concert in the house for album holders who discovered a purple ticket in their CD cases.  The lawsuit was withdrawn. Prince's lease ends in May and last night he surprised fans waiting outside Tower Records to pick up his album with an impromptu concert.

The New York Observer reports that the West Village apartment used by the MTV for the Real World's 10th season is now on the market as a$35,000 rental. The surprise isn't the cost (after all the place is huge) but the very posh Tuscan-styled remodel job (they kept some of the architectural details but ditched the candy-colored walls). You can compare and contrast with the pictures of the apartment on MTV's website.

[via Jossip]