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 Welcome to our first digital newsletter. For many years it was my pleasure to write an old-fashioned newsletter on glossy paper but the cost involved was too much to justify. I hope you'll find this (and me) just as entertaining, and more environmentally friendly. Please forward it to others, and feel free to reply with suggestions and comments.
Be sure and see the Used Car Corner at the bottom and a couple of helpful articles on the left.
Jeff Barron |
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Hybrids - the next generation
Chevrolet Volt vs. Prius vs. All-Electric
Upcoming Chevrolet Volt  | Hybrid vehicles are becoming an ever-increasing part of the automtove landscape and soon the Chevrolet Volt will turn the page to the next chapter. The Toyota Prius, and others like the Ford Escape & Fusion, Honda Insight and Chevy Tahoe, all function with both their gasoline engine and electric motors powering the drive wheels. Each of these cars will run for a brief time on batteries only but soon the gas engine will kick in to both propel the vehicle and charge the batteries. In the upcoming Volt, however, only the electric motors will propel the vehicle. The small gas engine is on board only to charge the battery pack. It is, in effect, a generator only.
This is also in contrast to the upcoming Nissan Leaf, Wheego LiFe and Mitusbishi MiEV, which are electric only (no gas generator.) The Volt is estimated to be more expensive but the significant difference is that the Leaf/LiFe/MiEV will have only a 50-100 mile range between charges, whereas the Volt will have an estimated 40 mile electric-only range, plus another 250 miles with the gas generator, making it more useful if you have only one car. Confused? You're not alone. |
And perhaps not so green. . .
Mustang vs. Camaro vs. Challenger
Mercedes vs. Audi vs. BMW The auto industry is making great strides in engineering fuel-efficient vehicles including hybrid, clean diesel, direct-injection gasoline, and all-electric. Yet down the hall from those engineers with white lab coats and decaf chai teas are the guys with the Red Bulls, black t-shirts, a few tattoos, and perhaps a German accent. What we are witnessing on both sides of the Atlantic is an absolute festival of horsepower and speed. Now that gas has receded from $4.50 to around $3.00 a gallon, the horsepower wars are back. Sure, it's short-sighted, but boy is it fun. It might as well be 1970 again in Detroit with the new Camaro SS, Mustang 5.0 GT, and Dodge Challenger R/T vying for space in your garage. Those of us who listen to Classic Rock stations (and tell our eye-rolling children that this was when rock music was good) are the targets. These were the cars we sketched on our Pee-Chee folders in history class and wished our parents would buy instead of that lime green Chevy Caprice or Ford LTD. And the great thing about the 21st century versions of these cars is that in addition to going fast in a straight line, they handle and brake like fine sport sedans.  And on the other side of The Pond, the Big Three of Germany are always finding new ways to pin you to your seat. Want to appear reasonably conservative at the golf course yet rip from 0-60 in under 5 seconds and hit 100 in around 10? (and who doesn't, right?) Then you need to skip the regular BMW, Mercedes and Audi cars and shop in the performance aisles known as BMW M, Mercedes AMG and Audi S and RS. Bred to run on the unilimited Autobahns at 150+ mph, these special edition vehicles were originally built in very limited numbers, yet each manufacturer now offers performance versions of nearly all their products, and reap a nice profit based on their desirability. 
And oh by the way, Ellis Brooks Leasing, Inc. leases fun cars like these in addition to the less-sexy fleet and commercial products you know us for. |
Lock your doors with your smartphone
Just land in another city and can't recall if you locked your car? No problem, just bring up the GM app on your iPhone or Android smartphone and you'll be able to lock your doors - even from 1000 miles away. You can also honk your horn & flash the lights, check tire pressures and fuel tank level, and even start the engine before you return to the car to get the A/C cooling or the windows de-icing. You don't have to be in the same city because it uses your cell service, not range-limited radio frequencies. Each GM brand will have other unique features too. Look for this on many 2011 GM models soon. |
So long PT Cruiser, hello Fiat 500
Remember just 10 years ago the hoopla surrounding the launch of Chrysler's PT Cruiser? Like the Mazda Miata and VW New Beetle, the PT Cruiser struck a chord with buyers of all ages and demographics. Shoppers were spending thousands over sticker price just to get one. They were cute and cool at the same time. But Chrysler neglected it and it eventually became just another rent-a-car, and now it has been discontinued. Interestingly, that assembly plant in Mexico will build what will surely become another icon, the new Fiat 500. Remember, Fiat bought Chrysler out of bankruptcy last year. Fiat is still determining which Chrysler dealers will sell Fiats (and perhaps Alfa Romeos), so stay tuned. |
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About Ellis Brooks Leasing, Inc.
Since 1964, we have been providing fleet management and leasing services to businesses in California and the west. Whether you have a fleet of 1 or 100, we can help you select the right vehicles and lease plans to fit your needs.
- High-mileage leases are our specialty (even 100k/year)
- Fuel and Maintenance Card programs
- Fleet pricing
- Local and out-of-state deliveries
- All makes of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs
- Upfitted work trucks and vans
- Pre-owned vehicles
- Professional, personal, no-pressure environment
Call us at (415) 474-1100 and see how easy it is to get started.
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Used Car Corner
2007 Toyota Camry LE
V6, automatic, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, power seat, am/fm/cd with auxiliary input for iPod/mp3 player, approx 33,000 miles, brand new tires, just serviced, very clean.
See here: Off Lease Inventory
Also visit our sister company, Ellis Brooks Auto Center for a full inventory of pre-owned vehicles and Wheego Electric cars.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this. We don't do much advertising so please pass this along if you know of a company who uses vehicles in their daily operation.
If you're an existing client, we love referrals!
Sincerely,
Jeff Barron
President
Ellis Brooks Leasing, Inc.
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