Top 5

Wouldn’t life be so much easier if you could easily conduct business transactions without having to ‘watch your back’ constantly?  It seems to be the most frustrating in the automotive arena, with sales people, mechanics and even unsavory rental car people.  Here are some tips for avoiding luxury rental car scams and practices.

Renting a car or luxury car should be a simple and straightforward deal.  But as things often go, many rental car companies are just out there trying to scam and squeeze their customers. 

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

I am a regular reader of your auto blog, and am curious what your top luxury car rentals are.  What are the models that get rented out the most?  I am wondering if the rest of the world would rent the same ones I love.  I love the Ferraris, Lambos, Porsches and Astons.

Sincerely,

Mike, Tampa, Fl

I love technology, and I love luxury cars.  So what is better than new technology in luxury cars?  There are some serious brains out there, dreaming, designing and daring to improve on perfection.  Auto perfection.  Welcome to the future, in all its science fiction like glory!
 

Here are some of the best upcoming tech trends for luxury autos:

1.    Emergency Steering Assist
2.    Simplify Your Drive
3.    AutoLine
4.    Active Force Feedback Pedal
5.    Intelligent Tire System/Fill Assist

For the art lovers, I have compiled a list of the top 5 most expensive paintings sold in our lifetime.  These are the sough-after and pricey picks that grace only the most luxurious of art displays, and the artists may surprise you:
 

1.    No.5 by Jackson Pollock 1948
Sold by David Geffen in 2006 to a private buyer via Sothebys for $151.2 million dollars

2.    Woman III by Willem de Koonig 1953
Sold by David Geffen to Steven A. Cohen in 2006 for $148.5 million dollars

3.    Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt 1907
Sold by Maria Altmann in 2006 to Ronald Lauder, Neue Galerie for $144.8 million dollars

4.    Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent Van Gogh 1890
Sold by Siegfried Kramarsky family in 1990 to Ryoei Saito for $139 million dollars

5.    Bal du Moulin de la Galette by Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1876
Sold by Betsey Whitney in 1990 to Ryoei Saito for $131.6 million dollars

These are the list-toppers for expensive paintings out there, though it is uncertain if any are available (collectors tend to hold on to them).  What happened in 1990 and 2006?  I ask because 3 of these paintings were sold in 2006, and 2 in 1990.  Is this a curious coincidence, or did David Geffen perhaps need a bit of money in 2006, to the tune of nearly $3 million dollars (as he sold 2 of the top 5 paintings).  These affairs are often highly discrete, and of course, highly priced.

Want more of the Most Expensive?  Follow link!   Also, don’t miss our fleet of exotic rental cars on your way out!
 

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

Top 5 Golf Courses In Chicago

Chicago, IL, the 3rd largest city in the United States, has a tremendous selection of incredible golf courses well within driving distance of the city.  Many residents head north to Wisconsin or Michigan, south to Myrtle Beach, or west to Scottsdale to find top-notch golf courses when there are plenty right here in the city that are just as attractive.  Imagine Lifestyles has compiled a list of our top 5 courses in the city or surrounding areas that we would recommend all clients play sooner than later.

1.    Medinah Country Club
2.    Cog Hill
3.    Balmoral Woods
4.    Ivanhoe
5.    The Glen Club

It seems it is not just men who hate certain cars with a passion; there are also women who object!  This makes perfect sense, but seeing as how automotive topics are generally engulfed by the male species, it is interesting to get a female perspective.  So without further ado, here are the top 5 cars women hate, according to my mini-survey:

1.    Minivans
2.    Station wagons
3.     VW New Beetle
4.    Chrysler Sebring convertible
5.    Oversized pickups
6.    Lamborghini Gallardo…Just kidding.

Top 5 Boats to Rent for Chicago Scene Party 

Mardi Gras meets Lake Michigan this Saturday in the playpen located just north of Navy Pier for ChicagoScene.com’s annual boat party.  Arguably one of the better weekends of summer here in Chicago, you will not want to be left on shore watching all the action.  Imagine Lifestyles has put together a list of the top 5 luxury yachts and boats to rent this Saturday to ensure you do not miss any of the action.  

1.) 54-Foot SeaRay Sundancer

2.) 68-Foot Azimut 

3.) 38-Foot Cigarette Speed Boat 

4.) 40-Foot SeaRay Sundancer 

5.) Tige RZ2

I learned a few new things today.  It seems there are actually things to do in Las Vegas other than gamble  (can you imagine?)!  This information threw my imagination into overdrive, and I decided I must pass on these Vegas travel tips to my readers.

I won’t keep you in suspense, the top 5 things to do in Vegas other than gamble are:

1.    Shop
2.    Experience the national parks, recreation and unique spots
3.    Dine
4.    Shows
5.    Outstanding museums, galleries & exhibitions
 

We recently set out to determine what luxury cars Chicago residents are driving these days.  It is always helpful for us to observe what people are driving and what people think is the next great luxury car as we continue to grow our fleet.  There was no scientific formula used but I think most locals would agree that the following five cars are the most common in the city. 

1) Range Rover HSE
2) BMW 750
3) Mercedes S550
4) Audi A6
5) Porsche Cayenne

In Miami we love the beach, luxury cars, nice homes, boats and NBA basketball.  We had a nice run with Dewayne Wade and Shaq playing together but that short dynasty just left us thirsty for more. Imagine Lifestyles would like to help the Miami Heat fans get what we all would love, LeBron James in a Miami Heat jersey. 

We all know that LeBron loves cars. Let’s not forget the H2 Hummer his mom bought for him while he was only in high school.   Imagine Lifestyles is looking to offer LeBron something special to come and play some ball in sunny Florida for the Miami Heat.  So we here at Imagine Lifestyles luxury rentals put together a list from our fleet of Miami luxury rental cars.  So LeBron, pick one of our luxury rental cars you would like for a day, week, etc.  Miami is calling you!!
 

1. Our brand new Lamborghini LP-560 Rental

2. A nice classic Red Ferrari F430 Rental

3. Aston Martin Vantage Convertible Rental

4. Our brand new Rolls Royce Ghost rental

5. Bentley GTC Convertible Rental

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

 Top 5 Tourist Attractions in Chicago:

So you are planning a trip to Chicago and you have no idea on where to begin for what to do while you are here.  Don’t sweat.  We have a few ideas for you and your group to ensure a great time while here in the city.  Keep in mind these are not the only things available, just a few suggestions to get you started.

1. Willis Tower (Sears Tower)

2. Michigan Avenue

3. Art Institute of Chicago

4. Millennium Park

5. Food

Sometimes I spot an exotic car and it is customized to the point of…well…you be the judge.  Here are 5 Lamborghini’s with paintjobs that say “HEY! Look at me! I am different!”  I can’t wait to scan your comments below.

First up is a Lamborghini Gallardo that the owner may struggle to find in a crowded lot, because it blends in so well (note sarcasm).  Really though, what must this individual have been thinking?  I assume the thought process was shut down.  Graffiti is in poor taste anywhere, even on an extreme luxury car like this Gallardo!

Up next is rapper 50 Cent, who decided chrome rims simply were not enough for his Lamborghini Murcielago-so he made the entire car out of it.  Yes, it is an exotic car that doubles as a mirror, so that the rapper can ogle himself from every angle.  Hey, who wants to see the car, right?  Grab some shades and check it out.

When I picture a Lamborghini, I tend to picture it in yellow, black, white or red (the main colors).  I do not picture it in blue, decked out as a police cruiser, yet that is certainly what has happened in Cremona, Italy!  This makes me want to be an Italian police officer…and no one could issue me the dreaded speeding ticket! 

Going along with the odd color scheme is this pink Lamborghini.  I have no words for this other than to say a Lambo is not a Mary Kay car and bubble-gum pink is not flattering.  Sigh.

Up last is this bedazzled eyesore of a toy Lamborghini.  Comprised of around 7,668 crystals, this Lamborghini LP 640 toy will set you back $2,500 dollars.  Don’t worry, the doors are fully functional and you can imagine a smaller version of yourself behind the wheel…or for that price you could indulge in one of the best Lamborghini rentals available! 
 

Hope you enjoyed these crazy Lambo paintjobs!  For more on exotic cars and luxury car rentals, follow links!

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

Carlos Justo was once a big time real estate mogul, who once squired his clients on real estate tours via a private helicopter charter and owns a multi-million dollar condo overlooking Biscayne Bay.  A victim of aggressive investing and the real estate meltdown, Justo is now just uh…broke.  Well, when he gets back on his feet, here are the top 5 cars we are holding for Carlos Justo:

Ahh it is summer in Miami…and that means it is scorching hot, and I don’t just mean the sun.  Lining the streets you can see the plethora of luxury rental cars glinting in the sun, turning things up a notch for locals and visitors.  So are you ready to melt the pavement this summer?  I thought so.

Without further ado, here are our top 5 picks for the best Miami exotic rental cars for the summer from our luxury fleet in Miami:

No matter which destination you choose from below, Imagine Lifestyles can guarantee a fabulous evening at any of these wonderful outdoor patio bars.  Chicago summers are one of a kind so get outside and enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.

1.    C-View
2.    The Terrace at Peninsula
3.    Vertigo Sky
4.    The Terrace at Trump
5.    Roof