Black Cars

[m j b]

I don't travel much, but when I do, I like to enjoy myself and experience a good time in a nice environment. So instead of camping in the Serengeti waiting for a pack of hyenas to rip my throat out, I'll get a room at the Four Seasons and enjoy the indoor plumbing.

Most of here are probably of a similar mindset.

So, instead of using Uber or Lyft or a traditional taxi, I will often schedule a "black car" service. I suspect that name this started in NYC, where it can be difficult to get a taxi, and so these ubiquitous black town cars started popping up in the previous century.

Just last year we went to San Francisco for a business/vacation trip, and I scheduled black cars for the airport trips. We used an Uber once or twice while there for short journeys, but that's such a crap-shoot these days as to the quality and cleanliness of the car and driver, I try not to use them too often.

Anyway... my pickup at the airport was in a Mercedes S-class, which I felt was appropriate to my needs and for what it cost. On the return trip, we had a (black) Tesla Model S, which is not, in any regards, a luxury car. It's better than a Model 3 I guess, but these are not comfortable, not particularly quiet and are difficult to get in and out of the back seat. I was not a happy camper (although for sure, I've had worse) and so I wonder...

When you book through a car service, it's going to be a crap shoot as to what you get. Any ideas on how to mitigate the surprises? Especially in a big city where a typical company is going to have a big fleet, and one does not travel there often enough to know a specific driver to request.

[superdog]

Order through a limousine/car service company.

Confirm exactly what car will be coming.

[MrGoat]

If it’s just vacationing around we will Uber. If it’s something that would require something classier I usually ask for a specific car when booking.


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[Land_Jet]

I use black car service pretty often. I always get an Escalade as there is 4 of us and lots of luggage. I would not be happy at all if they picked me up in a Tesla of any sort.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by MrGoat

If it’s just vacationing around we will Uber. If it’s something that would require something classier I usually ask for a specific car when booking.


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Always Uber for me too.

I like not knowing what I’ll get.

[BroncoOne]

I sue them also. It’s typically a black Lincoln or Cadillac.

I use the same service in whatever city so I know what they drove. The service that I use at home even sends the same drivers for me. Usually retired law enforcement.

Also, look at online reviews if there isn’t a car service in a city that you or a friend are familiar with

[Corvette]

Uber or Lyft for me, they actually have a “black car” option which is usually a loaded up Tahoe or something similar. It just seems more convenient to pull out my phone, click on a ride, and boom 5-10 minutes later they pull up. I’ve really never had an issue with cleanliness, they’ve all been clean enough for me.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by superdog

Order through a limousine/car service company.

Confirm exactly what car will be coming.

Yep.

I did this one year when going to Florida (airport to hotel). Booked an extra long Escalade for fun for my kids, who are used to small cars in France. They were absolutely amazed by the space in the Cadillac and the ridiculously huge chrome grill.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by superdog

Order through a limousine/car service company.

Confirm exactly what car will be coming.

Yup. That’s what we do to get to the airport, which is like an hour and a half away.

When my wife was traveling extensively that’s what we prefer.

Nothing against Uber but in crazy freeway driving, we prefer a professional driver.

[MrGoat]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Yup. That’s what we do to get to the airport, which is like an hour and a half away.

When my wife was traveling extensively that’s what we prefer.

Nothing against Uber but in crazy freeway driving, we prefer a professional driver.

I must disagree.

I had an incredible Uber premium driver that got us from the University Club to O’Hare 20 mins faster than what Apple Maps projected.

Dude knew everything he could get away with and how to drive through the ridiculous traffic. We made it safe and made our flight.

The cab driver from the airport into Chicago wasn’t nearly as good and scared the hell out of me a few times.


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[dba]

I use private car services to and from the airport to whatever hotel I'm staying at while on European trips. I don't think I've ever been in anything other than a Mercedes Benz. In the USA, I just rent a car.

[roadie1]

We were in NYC last weekend for a fun family trip. I always schedule an LGA pickup with the same guy Max. Nice big black clean American SUV with bottles of water and whatnot. He’s always on time and will take us anywhere we want. It’s fun when in the city but I also love camping out west or in eastern mountains with the bears, coyotes etc. it’s all good. Btw wore my white gold / blue dial sub all weekend and enjoyed every minute of it!



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[Carguy87]

When I fly into Vegas I like to get into “Vegas mode” with a limo or at minimum a large Tahoe/Escalade black car. I’m 100% with the OP Tesla’s are kind of sparse inside for the price point especially the S and the Plaid. We got a Plaid in as a trade at my dealership right before I got my Trackhawk and I was considering it for a new daily. One ride around the block (while a very fast ride) talked me (and him actually) out of that idea and we just put it into inventory instead of an employee buying it.

[Confuscious]

Originally Posted by roadie1

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That's a ridiculously cool Bluesy!

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by Confuscious

That's a ridiculously cool Bluesy!

A gorgeous piece for sure! Welcome to the forum; just a heads up this is considered a “Smurf” if you want to use nicknames. The “bluesy” is the two tone with yellow gold, whereas this watch is solid white gold. You can also look up the reference number and post that if you’d prefer to go that route as some will chide you for using nicknames lol. Anyways welcome!

[Carguy87]

116619 would be the reference number of this particular piece.

[Chiboy]

And here I read the title and thought this was going to be a discussion about Zymol.

[brandrea]

We are from a different ilk I guess. I’m a taxi Uber kind of guy, I don’t need a lot of window dressing.

I also don’t see the point of a Four seasons either, when a nice mid range hotel will do. I guess I travel in different circles

When we travel abroad on vacation, we like to stay in off the beat and path places that are not chain hotels. They’re always very nice but they don’t have to be Four Seasons with the name or the price tag

Business is always a decent Double Tree or a Marriott if it’s conveniently located

[m j b]

Originally Posted by brandrea

We are from a different ilk I guess. I’m a taxi Uber kind of guy, I don’t need a lot of window dressing.

I also don’t see the point of a Four seasons either, when a nice mid range hotel will do. I guess I travel in different circles

Well... you're Canadian, eh?

No, I have no idea what that means, I'm just trying to be funny.

A Four Seasons over a Comfort Inn (for example) is kind of like a Mercedes S-Class over a Honda Accord. There is nothing wrong with the Honda, it's perfectly fine. The S-class is not 4 times better, not even close.

But once you get used to it, it's hard to go back to the Accord.

[Corvette]

Originally Posted by m j b

Well... you're Canadian, eh?

No, I have no idea what that means, I'm just trying to be funny.

A Four Seasons over a Comfort Inn (for example) is kind of like a Mercedes S-Class over a Honda Accord. There is nothing wrong with the Honda, it's perfectly fine. The S-class is not 4 times better, not even close.

But once you get used to it, it's hard to go back to the Accord.

I've traveled fairly extensively for work and pleasure and for my own personal preference I've found that staying at upscale hotels that aren't quite luxury but aren't the basic either seem to fit my style best. Four Seasons/Aman/St. Regis always seem a bit too much for me as far as me just being comfortable walking around in a Tommy Bahama shirt and flip flops but over the years I've gotten VERY happy with stay at properties like Grand Hyatt/Gaylord Resorts/ Conrad. They are upscale and comfortable but not stuffy or pretentious. The law of diminishing returns is very applicable here..while often times a $200 /night hotel is 2X as nice as a $100/ night one and even a $400/ night resort can be 2X as nice as a $200/ night resort...I've never really found spending much more than that amount gives better service or amenities. And actually one of my favorite resorts to stay at is the Hilton Hawaiian Village which can often be had for $250-ish/ night and has tons of shopping/restaurants/stuff to do.

[Blansky]

We love Marriott.

Mostly because it’s free. We have a lot of points.

[Confuscious]

Originally Posted by Carguy87

A gorgeous piece for sure! Welcome to the forum; just a heads up this is considered a “Smurf” if you want to use nicknames. The “bluesy” is the two tone with yellow gold, whereas this watch is solid white gold. You can also look up the reference number and post that if you’d prefer to go that route as some will chide you for using nicknames lol. Anyways welcome!

Thanks.. have to admit it's all confusing since the 41mm cookie monster came out too..

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Confuscious

Thanks.. have to admit it's all confusing since the 41mm cookie monster came out too..

Wrong thread, I think.

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[Boopie]

I ask what kind of car I’m getting. Sometimes it’s a Lincoln Town Car, sometimes it’s a MBZ S class sedan. I think some of the cars “go with” a certain driver, so the vehicle might be dependent on who is my assigned driver. When I travel alone, I tell the car service I don’t need an SUV. If I do, it’s often an Escalade.