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Weekends are the best. For many of us it’s a relief when the weekend finally arrives. After a busy and hardworking week, it’s now time to kick back and relax, to catch up on sleep, reading a good book or watching some movies. Some like to get out and about for exercise, hit the gym or have a shindig with a group of friends. It’s customary too, for those who believe in the motto work hard play hard, to escalate entertainment levels at the weekend by hitting the town, going to a favourite restaurant or a tapa bar for drinks and dinner – a great way to relax and catch up with old friends. Venturing out in the comfort, safety, and style of your own exclusive Vancouver Limousine is a fantastic way to make the weekend all that much better. When finding your limousine of choice, it is well worth getting educated on what is available.
The term limousine is used to cover a wide range of luxury vehicles which have been stretched by a manufacturer or independent coach builder. Generally they are defined as “large, luxurious, automobiles, especially one driven by a chauffeur who is separated from the passengers by a partition”. The first automobile limousine was built in 1902. The first stretched vehicle was built in 1928 and was meant for transporting big band leaders and their equipment, hence the early nickname “Big Band Bus”. Unlike rental vehicles, limousines are almost always chauffeured vehicles, driven by licensed professionals who have received mandatory training and certification.
Three well known coach builders are Executive, Tiffany and Krystal. The majority of Canadian limousine companies acquire their limousines from the United States. There is also a difference between the types of limousines found in the Canadian market and the United States market. Canada’s Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) allows limousine companies to import safe vehicles that come from reputable coach builders and meet specific size, weight and safety requirements. In the United states it’s far more common to find exotic limousines (i.e., stretch Ferrari and hummer limousines) in places like Las Vegas that have all kinds of different add-ons. As the years go by, the rules are changing and we are seeing more and more unique limousines in the market.
Companies like Phat Cat Limousine provide distinctive and unique vehicles. The vast majority of limousines found in our local market today were originally manufactured by Ford and its United States division the Lincoln Motor company or General Motors and its division Cadillac. These original sedan and Suvs are then purchased as stock and modified by coach builders, who sell them to governments, to large companies for their executives, and to limousine companies.
Cruising the streets of downtown Vancouver on a weekend night one will see Lincoln town car limousines, Lincoln Navigator Limousines, stretched Ford Excursion and Expedition limousines. From time to time one may also see the rarer Cadillac stretch limousine too. The most common colors for stretch limousines are white and black. Party buses are another kind of entertainment vehicle which are aimed towards larger groups of clients; they often seat twenty or more, say up to thirty-two. Seating capacity varies per limousine and is based on weight. Some SUV limousines for example will seat up to ten, others twelve, and others fourteen. Transportation companies will often work with corporate clients who want the chauffeur experience but do not require a limousine. In these cases, clients use sedans like a Lincoln Towncar sedan or a higher end option like the BMW 7series. Also popular are SUVs like Cadillac Escalades and Chevy Tahoe’s. Chauffeured Sedans and SUVs services provide a discreet, efficient and effective service for busy executives on the go. Vintage vehicles like Rolls Royce from the 1930’s (A Stylish Arrival) are another popular choice for weddings.
Limousines were once primarily used by individuals from wealthy backgrounds. However with a free and open market, we now see a diverse range of limousine companies providing high quality limousine service at affordable rates. They cover special occasions and are used for practical purposes like providing service for families to the airport or ferry terminal. The pricing for use of limousines can be as, or more affordable, than using multiple taxis, and offer a stylish and comfortable setting for larger sized groups to travel together.
For a free limousine consultation contact our client care team direct at 604-945-4605





