The latest perk at Midtown West’s Sky, the city’s largest rental tower, is use of a $105,00 chauffeured Volvo XC90 Excellence outfitted with massage chairs and crystal champagne flutes.
But the “house car” isn’t for all the 1,175-unit building’s residents. It’s only for those residing in the penthouses—that’s 83 units spanning five floors at the top of the building.
There has not been heated competition for the car since launching last month, insisted Mitchell Moinian, of The Moinian Group, which developed the building at 605 West 42nd Street, at 11th Avenue.
“There haven’t been any issues,” Moinian said. “Also, residents have the ability to travel together if they prefer. It’s one way they can get to know their neighbors.”
It’s unclear whether any sharing is happening with the residents in the penthouse units, where current listings range from a $4,840-a-month one-bedroom to a $6,970-a-month two-bedroom.
The $105,000 custom-outfitted Volvo, with such in-seat amenities as massage chairs, heated and air-cooled seats, beverage heating and cooling options and crystal champagne flutes — was converted from a seven-seat SUV to a four-seater to provide more legroom.
The building promoted the house car as a way to ferry residents who want to see a Broadway show or attend an event at Madison Square Garden. The car only goes on short rides on the West Side, from the High Line to Columbus Circle. And residents may have to take an Uber or Lyft home, since the car is only available from 4 to 9 p.m. each day. Still, the building operators believe the house car will be a selling point.
“Our house car bests other car services in terms of unmatched luxury, exclusivity, and convenience,” Moinian said. “And residents can build a relationship with the driver, which makes them feel comfortable. Also, the house car is right outside the Sky lobby, parked in the building’s motor court, so tenants don’t need to wait for a car to pick them up.”
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