Why Luxury Featuring the 2017 Lexus RX 350 F Sport

Toyota Motor Corporation has mastered the art of offering the masses the bare minimum of exactly what they want to purchase and then finding a way to offer an “all that and more” in their amped-up, luxurious Lexus lineups. In this installment of our “Why Luxury” series, we compare two popular members of the mid-size SUV segment, the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and the 2017 Lexus RX F Sport.

If you did not know already, Lexus is a child brand of the Toyota Motor Corporation and it’s certainly no wonder. One of the most reliable and highly rated luxury brands in the market shares commonalities with arguably the best all-rounder economy brand in build, reliability, safety, and maintenance. In 2017, Lexus and Toyota individually earned top marks with KBB in resale value; Toyota as a brand, and the 2017 Lexus GS by make. Simply put, Toyota Motor Corporation has mastered the art of offering the masses the bare minimum of exactly what they want to purchase and then finding a way to offer an “all that and more” in their amped-up Lexus lineups.

A client’s roadmap to upgrading their daily driver (say a Toyota) to a statement luxury auto (a Lexus) has never been so straightforward and thus begs the question “why should I upgrade?” In today’s “Why Luxury” we will be comparing stats of two dominating bodies in the mid-size SUV segment the top of the line 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the 2017 Lexus RX F to provide some insight into why the luxury option is a solid investment.

A few notes on mid-size SUVs:

Since 2015, the midsize SUV segment continues to attract buyers of all ages who desire to indulge in a more space and cargo capacity, without entering the realms of “too much.” The midsize SUV is a medium sized SUV, providing less cargo space and seating than a full-size SUV similar to a Range Rover. Consistently low gas prices (think below $3.00 a gallon on average) have also added enticement for prospective buyers to choose the larger vehicle.

It’s a consistently dominating body style in both affordable and luxury segments since 2016, with global sales projected to increase by 5.65% (or over 23 million units) in 2020 per a 2016 Market Trend Analysis. In the month of October 2017, the RX saw a 4% gain in U.S. Sales– helping make October the sixth straight “best-ever month” for Lexus utility vehicles, according to Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Jeff Bracken.

Baseline Specs:

The 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Platinum SUV is the top of the line, fully-loaded model with an MSRP of $49,534 and an average price paid of around $46,000 according to Edmunds. Admittedly, that high price tag for a Toyota brand car raises some eyebrows, but it does have some advantages surrounding one specific detail: space.

All models have an extra third row (total seven seats available), a longer roof, and roughly 140 more cubic feet of space than its in-house competitor which comes standard. The interior of this supped up Highlander offers Toyota’s finest leather, woods, and aluminum to make the time spent inside the vehicle a bit more aesthetically pleasing than other variances of the SUV.

The 2017Lexus RX 350 F Sport comes in at an MSRP of around $54,423, with the average price paid of $50,403- less than $1,000 more than the MSRP of the Highlander. A third row is a non-existent option in this model and it dotes a bit less interior room at 108 cubic feet. This difference, though, is nominal if you aren’t toting teams of children or mounds of grocery sacks on a regular basis.

If that extra cargo room and the extra seats are a deal breaker, the 2018 Lexus RXL, which includes a third row of seats, has been confirmed to debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show.

Under the hood, you’ll see that the Highlander and Lexus RX F share similar specs including a 3.5 liter V6 engine similar fuel economy. The Highlander provides a combined fuel economy of about 28 mpg, but has a lower fuel capacity by a couple gallons. The RX shares an almost similar fuel economy of 22 mpg, but a larger tank capacity by two gallons.

The Luxury Difference:

Lexus provides clients with a better warranty than that of its Toyota counterpart- a four year, 50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year, 70,000 drivetrain warranty. Additionally, Lexus includes a 4-year/ unlimited mile, roadside assistance versus the Highlander’s 2 years of roadside assistance.

The RX F Sport sends 295 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque for a more powerful driving experience. The F-Sport series also provides clients with a revised suspension, cross-hatched spindle grille, and darker trim bits to add a touch more horsepower to this mid-size luxury SUV.

The aesthetics of your Lexus can be more personalized, with 10 interior and 10 exterior colors available versus the Highlander Hybrid’s four and eight respectively. When choosing to venture into the world of Lexus Luxury, you can certainly be confident that your vehicle will reflect your striking and unique style with meticulous detail that begins on the factory line; the Lexus final product takes longer to produce per task on the assembly line due to master precision, build quality, and higher-end interior choices that are difficult to match at the economy class segment.

Although you can purchase an ultra-reliable vehicle with some amenities, the dealership experience at Lexus aims to be that of a luxury hotel with first class client lounges complete with Wifi, group and individual workstations, a calm, quiet environment, and exceptional client service so that even the on-the-go professional can have their Lexus serviced with peace of mind.

The Verdict:

The 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Lexus RX 350 F Series, are both fantastic options for anyone vying for the SUV market- as proved through their various high ranking achievements among other competitors. But, when both economy and luxury price tags hover in the realm of $45,000- $50,000, choosing Lexus style, comfort, performance, and dealership experience, all while retaining the value and fuel efficiency already offered promised by Toyota Motor Corporation, makes the most sense.

Check out our Intro to Luxury and Why Luxury: Featuring Mercedes-Benz for our other installments of this series.

November 16, 2017November 16, 2017

Stuff the Trunk with Park Place Lexus Plano

Park Place Lexus Plano invites the community to share in our efforts to support the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County and to fill our Lexus trunk with new teddy bears! Through the end of the month, Park Place Lexus Plano will be collecting new, stuffed teddy bears in conjunction with the 25^th Annual Teddy Bear Ride on October 29. New teddy bears can be dropped off at Park Place Lexus Plano at 6785 Dallas Parkway and Spring Creek Parkway in Plano.

To sign up for the Teddy Bear Ride or simply find the details so you can cheer on riders the morning of October 29th, visit www.collincounty.org/teddybearride

$15/bike + new teddy bear to donate
$20/bike (inclusive of lunch from PDQ at end location) + new teddy bear to donate

Thank you- in advance- for all your support and assistance. We look forward to seeing you and your teddys at Park Place Lexus Plano!

About Park Place Dealerships:

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Lotus, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place’s new Land Rover Jaguar dealership opened last month in Grapevine. A new Park Place Porsche dealership debuts in Grapevine next year. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

October 5, 2017November 16, 2017

Engines 101: A Myriad of Power Options Found In Luxury Vehicles

If you are new to the automotive scene, haven’t taken the opportunity to look under your hood, or simply want to know more about what makes your vehicle ‘vroom’- the engine options available for your luxury car can be daunting. In our first installment of Engines 101: A Technical Overview of Luxury Autos, we will take a quick look at the basic terms you need to know to make your next automotive purchasing experience easy to understand inside and out.

Often, one of the first descriptions that you will hear of a vehicle will be the type of engine it has. This is usually described by the number of cylinders in the engine and their configuration. A cylinder is simply a circular tube that contains the combustion process (when fuel, air, and heat combine to make power; more on that in a later post). Inside the cylinder, a piston moves up and down to transfer power to the rest of the drivetrain. The cylinders’ configuration could be “Inline”, a “V” formation, or often in the case of one of our popular brands, Porsche, a “Boxer” configuration. There is even a “W” configuration if you are courageous enough to wield it.

Inline-4 Engine

Starting with one of the most common engine layouts today, the inline-4 engine is lightweight, efficient, and compact. With 4 cylinders arranged in a straight line, usually across the car’s engine bay, this configuration allows great fuel economy in a small package, cutting down on expense in more ways than one, and allowing for more room in the vehicle to be dedicated to creature comforts. These days, you will frequently find the inline-4 paired with a turbocharger option, which allows more power to be made from a smaller engine, making this a more attractive configuration than ever before. You will find this engine configuration in many Park Place vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz C 300 and GLC 300, the Lexus IS and NX, the Jaguar XE and XF, and even the new Volvo XC60 to name just a few.

“V” Configuration

Next up, we’ll discuss the “V” configuration. This is usually used to denote an engine with 6 or 8 cylinders, but there are also road-going cars produced with even 10 and 12-cylinder variants of this configuration. The “V” formation is produced by angling opposing banks of cylinders away from each other. In the case of a V6, this means that there are 3 cylinders on the right, and 3 cylinders on the left, forming a “V” shape. Arranging cylinders in this fashion allow you to pack more power into a shorter engine block. If you attempted to make an 8-cylinder engine in an inline formation, the length of the engine would make it impractical. You will often find these powerplants in mid-sized and larger vehicles, where drivers can use some extra power to maneuver a more spacious car or SUV. This larger engine is also frequently an upgrade option in vehicles that come standard with a 4-cylinder, but drivers may opt for a more powerful experience. Examples of some automobiles with this engine configuration are the Lexus GS and RX 350, the Jaguar XJ, the Porsche Macan GTS, and several AMG performance versions of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. You’ll find a V12 engine powering such commanding vehicles as the Rolls-Royce Wraith and Phantom.

Flat Configuration

The Boxer or Flat configuration is unique, in that rather than a “V”, two banks of cylinders sit directly opposed from one another. Think of pumping your fists directly out to your sides, and you’ll have an idea of how the Boxer configuration works. The manufacturer most notable for this configuration is Porsche, who specialize in high-performance vehicles with a low center of gravity. The Boxer configuration excels in this area because arranging cylinders to the sides produces a very flat engine package, which makes sense when you learn that the “Boxer” is also known as a “Flat” configuration. You will find a “Flat-6” in cars like the incredible Porsche 911 and a turbocharged 4-cylinder Boxer in cars like the Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster.

“W” Configuration

Last, but certainly not least, the almighty “W”, which might as well stand for win. In reality, the “W” configuration is tough to explain without visual aids (see image to understand why). Available in 12 and 16-cylinder offerings, the “W” is like taking 2 “V” motors and stacking their cylinders on top of each other, producing enough power to make even the most experienced adrenaline-junkie’s heart race. You will find a twin-turbocharged W12 powering the new Bentley Continental, and topping out the list with the world’s fastest production road-car, the Bugatti Chiron boasts a quad-turbocharged W16 engine.

We hope this overview has equipped you with more helpful knowledge the next time you start talking ‘powerplants’ for your next set of wheels. The best thing about Park Place is that we are always here to help you get the most out of your purchasing experience. If you have any questions about your engine options, or any other option available in the car of your dreams, just reach out to your nearest Park Place Dealership and our Sales Experience Managers will be happy to answer any question you can think of.

September 28, 2017January 22, 2018

The 2017 Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase In Retrospect

The Inaugural Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase and Park Place’s 30-year celebration is over, yet we cannot help but smile with gratitude for the accomplishments and memories created on September 9^th. 2,750 ladies and gentleman of all ages dressed to the nines in their take on ‘concours casual’ wear, accenting the rolling hills of the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas with brilliant hues, statement hats, and luxurious fabrics.

Of course, the star (or should we say stars) of the show were the 134 vehicles, valued at roughly 50 million dollars, on display from Collectors and our own Park Place Dealerships. At this years event, there were four categories: vintage, classic, contemporary, and exotic/supercar. 100 vehicles and their Collectors were competing to see if their days, hours, and years of hard work and dedication would win them the distinction of either Best in Class, Chairman’s Choice, Salesmanship Club Award, and Best in Show in the showcase’s inaugural year.

The 2017 Collector’s Showcase winners include:
Best In Show
1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
John Wampler (with his dog Lady Jane):

Chairman’s Choice Award
John Ridings Lee – 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante
Salesmanship Club Choice Award
Corky Helstrom – 1952 MG Roadster
Best In Class – VINTAGE
Jeff Wildin – 1933 MG Magna L-Type Racer
Best In Class – CLASSIC
Michael Mann – 1996 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo
Best In Class – CONTEMPORARY
Paul Grussendorf – 2009 Aston Martin DBS
Best In Class – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR
Eddie Lee – 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR

Park Place also featured some of their very own showroom vehicles, allowing show-goers the rare opportunity to interact with some of the most powerful, reliable, and show stopping vehicles in the world from brands such as Lotus, Bentley, Mercedes, Volvo, Porsche, Range Rover, Lexus, and Bugatti. The Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase attendees received an exclusive look at the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom, which made Dallas,TX, its priority stop after unveiling at Pebble Beach the week before. The McLaren 720s Velocity, featuring a 100% bespoke design and MSO paint job, also made a bold statement with its two pearlescent hues of red and carbon fiber parts amongst the ranks of its high-performance counterparts.

As attendees made their way to the Porsche Pavilion to enjoy sensational bites from Cool River Café, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, and Outlaw Taproom, they were met face to face with the grill of the rare 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante that escaped demolition during Mussolini’s war effort by being smuggled across the border in boxes under the cover of darkness. John Ridings Lee, winner of the Chairman’s Choice Award, and owner of this piece of history shared his story – telling us that he found the boxes and dedicated years of his life to personally restore this piece of automotive history. Sitting next to its vintage ancestor, was the powerful Bugatti Veyron, and the newest member of the family, the three million dollar, Chiron, was based across the Concours with the rest of the supercar line up from the Park Place Premier Collection.

Highlighting the private collection cars was a 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, ’54 Jaguar Xk120SE, ’57 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, ’71 DeTomaso Pantera, a one of a kind ’99 BMW M Roadster, and 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR which hosted the attention of showgoers and fellow collectors alike. The rolling hills adjacent to the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas were transformed into a spectacle of timeless luxury for the 2,750 attendees of this first-time event.

In 1987, Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships– and 30 years later, we celebrated success, heritage, and our commitment community with an unparalleled lineup of super luxury vehicles and a $30,000 donation to the Momentous Institute of Dallas. Owned and operated by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920, the Momentous Institute is committed to repairing and building social, emotional health for all children so that they can achieve their full potential.

The expectations were high, and Park Place Dealerships in accordance with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas Las Colinas, delivered what some young enthusiasts dubbed a ‘once in a lifetime experience’ not like any other in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We are pleased to share that plans for a 2018 show are underway, and collectors, vendors, and Park Place members could not be more excited to have the to opportunity cruise down the Luxury & Supercar Showcase road once again.

‘Best in’ Awards created by Brad Oldham (PC: Michael Ainsworth)

Ken Schnitzer, Chairman and Founder of Park Place Dealerships, with Brad Oldham, Sculptor and Designer of the 2017 ‘Best in” awards. (PC: Michael Ainsworth)

Thank you for sharing in the experience, and for taking part in an exceptional memory 30 years in the making.

September 28, 2017September 29, 2017

Father and Son Share Their Luxury & Showcase Story

The Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase attracted 2,750 car and luxury lifestyle enthusiasts from around the country. From the Kid Concours featuring a show case of mini, battery powered McLarens and Bentleys, luxurious bites and drink, to the rows of collector’s showcasing their vintage, classic, modern, and exotic vehicles, the Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase was an event for all ages to enjoy.

The inaugural event was also an opportunity for the various generations of car enthusiasts to converse and exchange ideas, stories, tips, and of course, luxury car ownership dreams. For some, this was an opportunity to see a bounty of pretty awesome vehicles in one location, for others- especially our pint-sized car enthusiasts- the Luxury & Supercar showcase was an opportunity to interact with cars they’ve only seen on TV, featured in a movie, or written about in an article, and further rev their inspiration to one day purchase and drive their very own.

Prior to the showcase, Park Place Dealerships requested clients and others who have had a Park Place experience to share why Park Place was their place, for an opportunity to attend the inaugural event. The winning story, shared by Robert Green of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, read:

“My son loves cars. We drove down for his birthday just to see your cars. He loved every minute of it and thank you for making his day.”

Robert’s son, Gavin, could not have been more excited for the chance to see an even larger lineup of exotic vehicles first hand, choosing to sacrifice his first soccer game of the season to claim his ticket. Even his soccer coach was ecstatic for Cade to have this opportunity, providing his blessing to miss the first game of the season for what he declared a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

After consulting with the Park Place team, Robert even took Cade shopping to find the perfect “concours casual” outfit, which was expertly fashioned head to toe. The morning of the event, this father and son pair arrived promptly to get the first look- and Cade’s enthusiasm was contagious. “He loves exotic cars, and dreams of owning one someday,” said Robert, “My favorite part of this whole experience was watching him smile and listening to him talk about all the cars how rare some of them are.”

The highlights of the show? Robert’s favorite feature vehicle was the Bugatti Veyron, which sat adjacent to a 1938 vintage Bugatti. As an added bonus, he was able to snap with Richard Rawlings, founder of Gas Monkey Garage and personality on the show Fast N’ Loud.

For Cade, his favorite memory was to see the McLaren 720 S up close and personal. As we look to the future of this event, it is no doubt this is not the last we have seen of Cade Green. Thanks to his passion for exotic autos, his father’s support, and fervent determination to fulfill his dream of owning his very own McLaren, there’s a good chance we might see Cade on the conours as a collector in the future.

Do you have a story from the Supercar Showcase you’d like to share? Visit us at www.YourParkPlace.com, and scroll to the bottom of the home page. Fill out the Your Story form and submit a photo for an opportunity to be featured on the website.

September 19, 2017September 19, 2017

Why Luxury: A Glimpse into Why Luxury Autos are a Good Investment

Whether it’s the Porsche 911, Mercedes AMG GT, Bentley Bentayga, Jaguar F-Type, or a Lexus LS, there is something about luxury vehicles that captures attention and demands a market.

The luxury vehicle market is expansive with base vehicle models starting around $40,000, making the opportunity to choose to cruise in a luxury vehicle a viable option for young and seasoned professionals alike. While 40k isn’t a modest sum in the least, the buyer can be confident that they are receiving a first-class machine in exchange for the price tag.

We understand that a vehicle is one of life’s most practical investments, and choosing to purchase a luxury brand is a bold statement of enhanced design, safety, and performance unchallenged by the affordable vehicle segment.

Car Trio

In this series, we will investigate the key differences between a luxury model and their affordable counterpart for our various brands including Volvo, Lexus, Porsche, and Jaguar, addressing the pros, cons, and frequently asked questions when a client is deciding whether or not to dip their toes into the luxury automobile segment. But first, why luxury?

Luxury brands offer enhanced performance within their entire line-up of cars.

Acceleration and fuel economy are continuously improving year over year among the luxury segment. From base models to bespoke, you as a consumer will have increased high performance options at your fingertips when purchasing a luxury vehicle. Looking at the new 2017 Land Rover Discovery, it has four models available ranging from base MSRPs of $49,990 to $73,950. Each ticket price allows the client to benefit from key features

Discovery 2017

The base SE model offers 340 hp, 19″ 5 split-spoke allow wheels, key less entry, leather seats, 10 speakers, an 8 inch color touchscreen, and rain sensing windshield wipers. The First Edition (base MSRP of $73,950) offers that and then some, including 21″ 10 split spoke alloy wheels, all terrain progress control, Windsor leather seats, a surround camera system, and a Meridian Sound System with 10 speakers, subwoofer, and 10 inch color touchscreen. The quality is consistent throughout, and a luxury vehicle consumer will receive more at the base model than some economy class counterparts.

Consistent quality throughout the entire hardware and software of the vehicle.

State of the Art equipment and safety features are standard among luxury vehicles. For example, the 2017 Lexus GS offers the Lexus Safety System+, fit with a Pre-Collision System, Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert, Steer Assist, All-Speed Dynamic cruise control. These features are now standard across Lexus, increasing their brand’s value on the second-hand market and further distinguishing it among economy class options.

Certified Pre-Owned programs and manufacturer-backed maintenance are also perks of luxury ownership because you are not just a consumer or customer, you are a client and should be treated as such throughout your luxury new and pre-owned ownership experience.

Crisp design, beautiful contour, and insane comfort cohabitate peacefully in luxury models.

The manufacturer’s designers and engineers pay close attention to not only the overall aesthetic of the vehicle but also the fine print details of each element that makes up a luxury vehicle. The quality of materials used are just as important as the way they look when pieced together- an attention that can only be appreciated at the luxury level of vehicle ownership. For example, Bentley Motors offers a limitless spectrum of color so that Bentley clients have millions of possible color and trim combinations to make their luxury vehicle extraordinary. Mulliner, Bentley’s personal commissioning division, offers the perfect solutions-like state-of-the art color recognition software-to attain the perfect hue for a truly bespoke creation.

956_BEN_MullinerLE_Flying_B_v4a_R 1920x670 956_BEN_MullinerLE_front34_v3a_R 1920x670 956_BEN_MullinerLE_full_Interior_v4a_R 1920x670

Luxury vehicles can have a high resale value.

According to Forbes, new cars lose immediately about 20% of their value as soon as the new owner drives it off the lot. Fast forward five years later, and certain models will depreciate faster than others (some up to 80%). Since depreciation is the single largest cost to vehicle ownership, it’s important to choose a brand and model that’s been engineered to retain its value for years after it leaves the lot.

Say you decided to purchase a brand new 2017 Lexus GS at an MSRP of $52,590. Five years from date of purchase, you decide to sell. Odds are that the Lexus GS will depreciate less over 5 years than your budget friendly models and thus will result in a higher resale value. According to Kelly Blue Book’s 2017 Best Resale Value Awards, the 2017 Lexus GS will retain 42% of its value 36 months post purchase, and then 31% at 60 months- making it the winner of “Best Resale Value” in the luxury segment.

Lexus GS

The available technology and safety features, fuel economy, and exceptional design of a model are also key to choosing what vehicle cost will give you the most cost benefit to fit your unique lifestyle.

This is not to say that there are no economy class vehicles that are fantastic on the road or provide their passengers with peace of mind in terms of safety, but there is an authenticity attached to luxury ownership that simply cannot be replicated. Exceptional engineering, precise attention to detail, and an authentic portrayal of a high performance lifestyle will not disappoint for any new or pre-owned client.

Amongst all the pros and cons that will be discussed in this series answering the question of “Why Luxury”, one thing is for certain, – “you get what you pay for.” Stay tuned as we continue this series with model to model comparisons in upcoming posts.

September 13, 2017

Inaugural Park Place Luxury & Supercar Showcase Sells Out

Park Place Dealerships Donates $30,000 to Momentous Institute

Ladies in stylish hats and gentlemen dressed in resort attire strolled the rolling hills of the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas September 9th amid some of the world’s most rare and beautiful automobiles.

Park Place Dealerships donated $30,000 to the Momentous Institute in celebration of their 30th anniversary. Owned and operated by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas since 1920, the Momentous Institute has been committed to building and repairing social and emotional health for all children so they can achieve their full potential. Each year, the organization directly serves more than 6,000 children and family members through its nationally acclaimed Momentous School and innovative Therapeutic Services.

Guests at the inaugural Park Place Dealerships Luxury & Supercar Showcase were among the first in Texas to see the new 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom, arriving straight from Pebble Beach. They also had the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with an extraordinary 1500-horsepower, $3 million Bugatti Chiron, while comparing the modern supercar to its vintage ancestor: a rare 1938 Bugatti that escaped demolition during Mussolini’s war effort by being disassembled and smuggled across the border under cover of darkness. Guests also saw Bentley’s first luxury SUV – the Bentayga, supercharged McLarens, Maseratis, a Porsche 918 Spyder and 919 Hybrid, the new Lexus LC500, Jaguar F-Type SVR, a Mercedes-Benz-AMG GTC Roadster, Volvo XC90, Range Rover SVR and many more new vehicles.

More than 100 cars from private collectors competed in a juried Collector’s Showcase, including a 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra once owned by Carroll Shelby, a 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a ‘54 Jaguar XK120SE, ‘57 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, ‘60 Porsche 356B Roadster, ‘61 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, ’71 DeTomaso Pantera, ‘72 Fiat Dino Spider, a one-of-a-kind ‘99 BMW M Roadster, 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR, 2010 Aston Martin DBS, 2015 Lamborghini Huracan, and many others.

The Collector’s Showcase winners included:
Best In Show
1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
John Wampler (with his dog Lady Jane)

Chairman’s Choice Award
John Ridings Lee – 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante
Salesmanship Club Choice Award
Corky Helstrom – 1952 MG Roadster
Best In Class – VINTAGE
Jeff Wildin – 1933 MG Magna L-Type Racer
Best In Class – CLASSIC
Michael Mann – 1996 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo
Best In Class – CONTEMPORARY
Paul Grussendorf – 2009 Aston Martin DBS
Best In Class – EXOTIC/SUPERCAR
Eddie Lee – 2009 Koenigsegg CCXR

In addition to the lineup of rare and exotic vehicles, guests enjoyed fashions by NorthPark Center, exquisite food and beverages by Four Seasons’ LAW and OUTLAW Taproom, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, and Cool River Café. Several food trucks were also on-site.

Guests also enjoyed live music, specialty boutiques with upscale offerings by Bachendorf’s, Niven Morgan, Sovaro, Mulberry, Montblanc, RIMOWA, Rebecca Taylor, and even a Kids Concours presented by Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, featuring a special Hot Wheels interactive area, drinks from Pecos Pete’s All Natural Tea and Soda shop, freshly popped popcorn, and big yard games.
Partners included Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas, Hill & Wilkinson, Celebrity Cruises, Irving CVB and Chamber, Absolut Elyx, Perrier Jouët, Peroni Italy, Brad Oldham Sculpture, Bachendorf’s, The Trade Group, Fernic Building Maintenance, Lisa R. Daniels, Digital 3 Printing, D Magazine, NBC 5, Celebrity Cruises, LAW, OUTLAW Taproom, Dallas Chop House Burger, Dallas Fish Market, Cool River Café, Marie Gabrielle, Frost 321, Perks & Provisions Company, Sugaire, and Lilium Florals.

Plans are already underway to grow the Luxury & Supercar Showcase into an annual event.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Bugatti, Lotus and Maserati. Park Place recently opened a new Land Rover Jaguar dealership in Grapevine. A new Porsche dealership will debut next year in Grapevine. For more info, visit parkplace.com

September 11, 2017

School is Back in Session for the 2017 Teachers of the Year

Yet another summer of luxury has come to a close, and class is back in session for a new academic year. Park Place Dealerships is dedicated to organizational excellence, and in an effort to support our exceptional community of educators who are dedicated to a promoting excellence in the classroom, Park Place awards area winners of the annual “Teacher of the Year” with the opportunity to drive a Park Place vehicle during their summer vacations away from the classroom.

For years, we have shown our appreciation for teachers and their dedication to their students in the Carroll, Allen, Grapevine-Colleyville, Plano and most recently Mansfield school districts. This year, Park Place was gifted with the opportunity to speak with the very enthusiastic and engaged winners of the 2017 Teacher of the year award.

Rhonda Selph, Jon McCormick, Kevin Moore, and Cody McGregor were just four of the winners of a summer spent in Park Place style- and they were not the least bit shy when it came to sharing their experience with Lexus, Mercedes, and Park Place. With a combined well over 30 years of teaching experience, each educator was more than deserving of an exceptional summer vacation.

Rhonda Selph already misses her vehicle- comparing her time in a new 2017 Lexus to that of her trusty Silver Bullet: “I did enjoy experience features on it [her Lexus] that my ‘Silver Bullet’ doesn’t have. Truly, I miss the heated/AC seats.” See our “When You Drive a Lexus” blog post for a complete overview of her summer in Lexus.

Kevin Moore shared the sentiment about his IS experience: “I am most impressed with the handling, safety, and comfort features. The turn radius is great and the backup camera is better than most. The lines keep you focused on what you need to focus on.”

He closes out his experience saying, “The seats are amazing. I feel like they conform to my back, and the ventilated seats are something that I’ve never had before and I don’t know if I will ever again be able to live without – especially in a Dallas summer. If you can’t tell, I love the IS!”

We look forward to continuing our support of the Teacher of the Year program, especially through our new exclusive partnership with Mansfield ISD. This time, two teachers will earn the opportunity to sport a luxury, Park Place vehicle for an entire year.

Thank you to our teachers, and good luck as they enter a new academic year of striving for educational excellence .

September 5, 2017

Park Place and Cattle Baron’s Ball Celebrate 20 Year Partnership

Park Place Dealerships and the Cattle Baron’s Ball have a 20-year relationship that will continue as we approach this year’s event.

The 2017 Cattle Baron’s Ball will be held Saturday, October 21, at Gilley’s Dallas, featuring Brooks & Dunn on the Main Stage. Over the past 40 years, Cattle Baron’s has raised nearly $70 million towards the ongoing pursuit of a cure for cancer.

This year, Park Place will offer the winner of the raffle the choice between a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE, 2017 Volvo XC60, or a 2017 Porsche Macan with an estimated value of $58,000. For more information on the raffle and other raffle prizes, visit www.cattlebaronsball.com.

Cattle Baron’s has provided more than 30,000 services to cancer patients in North Texas, rides to and from treatments, and wigs free of charge. The American Cancer Society is the beneficiary of the event whose mission is to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

Ken Schnitzer founded Park Place Dealerships 30 years ago with a single Mercedes-Benz dealership on Oak Lawn. Today, Park Place Dealerships employs more than 2,000 people and operates 16 full-service dealerships representing luxury brands including Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lotus, Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Bentley, McLaren, and Maserati. Park Place recently opened a new Land Rover Jaguar dealership in Grapevine and will open a new Porsche dealership in Grapevine next year. For more info, visit parkplace.com.

Category: Lexus