Ellis Brooks Leasing, Inc.

January 2014 

Automotive News and Views

The (almost) quarterly newsletter of things automotive

 

by Jeff Barron, President of Ellis Brooks Leasing, Inc.

In This Issue
Lease vs. Buy for 2014
All-New Jeep Cherokee
Cool Gizmo
Show Cars!
Used Car Corner
Useful Resources  

Five Minute Coffee Break

Jeff Barron

  

Big News this month:

 

  • Ellis Brooks Leasing turns 50
  • New Baby  

It's not often we toot our own horn, but I am making an exception because we are very proud to be celebrating 50 years in operation.

(Of course, the Ellis Brooks dealership group dates all the way back to 1939 so we're still just puppies, relatively speaking.)

Sadly, I can't locate our original 1964 ledger book of leased vehicles but I do recall that Chevrolet Impalas and Ford pickup trucks were big on the list.  I also remember that lease payments were in the $30-40 per month range for two-year business leases.  1964 was also the year the now-iconic Ford Mustang was introduced and the year VW Bugs really started to hit their stride.  I recall seeing many of those on our books too. 

1964 Ford F-Series Longbed 
1964 Chevy Impala SS 
1964.5 Ford Mustang 
 
 
1964 VW Beetle 
 
Interestingly, there have only been two of us at the helm of the leasing company for these fifty years: Tom Ferrari, from 1964-1991, and me.  But we've enjoyed great ownership and team members over the decades who all shared our dedication to professional service delivered with integrity (in an industry not generally known for either.) 

Many of you reading this work for some of our first corporate clients, while others are more recent, but you are all equally important and appreciated.  So to all past and present clients, friends and employees, a big heartfelt thank you!

AND . . . the next time you call and speak with Natalie in our office, wish her a hearty Congratulations on the birth of her first baby, Siena, born in October.    


Jeff Barron
 
email me

  


Lease vs Buy in 2014?  

   

Companies may have to weigh the Lease vs Buy comparison a little differently this year, at least as it pertains to equipment, including trucks, vans and certain SUVs.   

    

While we do not claim to be qualified tax advisors, we do know that Congress did not renew the Bonus Depreciation and generous Section 179 deductions that have been in place since the aftermath of 9/11.  If this holds, leasing may emerge as a more favorable route to acquire the trucks, vans and equipment you've been putting off.    

 

Please click here for more information.  



  

 

    

     

 


 
VEHICLE SPOTLIGHT

2014 Jeep Cherokee  



Mention the brand "Jeep" and, depending on your age, you will picture anything from the original military versions from WWII all the way up to the cool new 4-door Wranglers.  Add the word "Cherokee" and you're likely to conjure up images of the original 2-door Cherokee Chief from the 1970s, or more likely the hugely popular mid-size 4-doors of the 1980s-early 2000s.  Regardless of which one you picture, they all looked like Jeeps, with a flat vertical grill and one traditional headlight on either side, and a profile that looked to be sketched with a t-square. 

1977 Cherokee Chief 
 
2000 Cherokee 4-door 

 
It's been well over a decade since Jeep sold a Cherokee and when they announced that the Liberty would be replaced by a new Cherokee, Jeep-lovers cheered in anticipation.  You can imagine, however, that when photos of the front-end began to leak on the internet, Jeep purists everywhere must have gasped.  Then they learned that the vehicle was to be built on a car platform rather than a truck and the Jeep forums lit up even more.

2014 Cherokee interior

I have spent the last week driving a brand new Cherokee and I can tell you that in a sea of look-alike CUVs, this stands out.  The fit and finish is superior and the quality of the interior materials is excellent.  The dash, door panels, gear shift, switchgear and radio controls all have a real quality feel to them.  It's a pleasure to drive and combines the practicality you expect from today's small sport-utilities with a style and flair no doubt influenced by the Italian ownership (Fiat/Ferrari/Maserati.) 

There's a model for everyone: four trim levels, 4-cylinder and V6 engines, a 9-speed (!) automatic transmission, front-wheel drive or three different all-wheel/4-wheel drive systems. 
And if you want something with more off-road capability, the Cherokee Trailhawk should move to the top of your shopping list.         
Jeep engineers have gone the extra mile to satisfy those who want their Cherokee to be more than just rugged-looking passenger cars.  The Trailhawk model features extra ground-clearance, a 2-speed transfer case, skid plates, a locking differential and a sophisticated terrain-assist system. It's not as capable as a Wrangler, but combine it with the V6 engine and it's a unique package not offered by Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissan or really anyone else.

When I learned that the demo I was loaned was a 4-cylinder, 2-wheel drive, I was a little disappointed.  To my pleasant surprise, however, the 2.4 liter is very smooth and has plenty of giddyup, especially combined with the 9-speed automatic.  Fuel economy has averaged in the mid 20s.  The cloth seats are very comfortable and the big touch-screen radio with integrated Bluetooth and vehicle settings is pleasantly user-friendly.  It even reads your texts aloud and can auto-reply so you aren't tempted to reach for your phone.  One surprise: no CD player, just Bluetooth audio streaming, two USB ports, an SD card reader, and an auxiliary input (ah, time marches on.)

Cherokee Trailhawk 

While I was as initially shocked as anyone at the front-end styling, I commend Chrysler for stepping out from the mainstream and giving us something to talk about.  And judging by the sales rate, the gamble is paying off.  Dealers claim they are flying off the showroom floor at a pace no one expected.  Let us know if you are interested in adding the new Cherokee to your selector lists.



Gizmos

 

  

Here's a helpful app that is being pitched to the non car-nerds as a way to monitor and improve fuel economy but I really see it as a great tool for new teenage drivers. 

AUTOMATIC Link has a little dongle that plugs into your 1996-and-newer car diagnostic port (just under your dash) and connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth.  Set up is apparently quite simple and takes just a minute or two.

Once installed, the system tracks all of your trips via your phone's GPS chip and monitors acceleration rates, vehicle speeds, and braking rates.  At the end of each week, it gives you a summary of your trips and displays average fuel economy, cost of the trip based on current fuel prices, and creates an economy "score".  It also highlights when and where you accelerated and braked unusually hard. 

In addition, the AUTOMATIC:

  • Logs where you just parked and will display on your phone's map if you need it later.
  • Calls your cell phone first, and then notifies emergency services if it senses you were just in an accident.
  • Can emit an audible alert when exceeding a pre-set speed.
  • Will display the source of a "Check Engine" light and allow you to clear it if applicable (saving you a trip to the dealer.)    

I like it for new drivers because it doesn't have you looking over their shoulder in real time but it does allow you to review their driving patterns once in awhile.  And it adds a measure of safety if they are in an accident and you don't have OnStar or similar. 

 

The AUTOMATIC is priced $99 and is available now for iPhones and shortly for Androids: www.automatic.com  

 

As with all items listed under "Gizmos", we make no guarantees of the quality or effectiveness but think they are worth checking out.    

  

 

What's new?  

 

 
The North American Auto Show is just wrapping up in Detroit and there were some new-car introductions that wowed the crowd. Here are a few highlights. Some are headed straight to production, others are just concepts that hint at the direction automakers are headed.  Metallic blue paint was apparently big this year.

Toyota FT1 Concept -- glimpse of future Supra?

 
2015 Porsche 911 Targa - gorgeous

2015 Ford Mustang Convertible

2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe - BMW 4-Series competitor 

KIA Stinger GT4 Concept

2015 Chrysler 200 Sedan - very nice

 


Used Car Corner

   
(just kidding)  

 

  But, we should also have the following vehicles available for sale or lease.  Please call or email for details.    

  • One 2012 Toyota Camry LE sedan  (3100 miles!) 
  • One 2013 Toyota Sienna LE minivan (SOLD) 
  • One 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (53k miles, 37 mpg, top-of-the-line SEL model)  

You can also peruse Ellis Brooks Auto Center's inventory here for other pre-owned vehicles.  We can help with the purchase or lease of most of their cars too.  

    

  


 
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.

Or visit us at www.ellisbrooksleasing.com  



Thank you for reading our newsletter.  If you know of a company that uses vehicles in their daily operation, please mention us.

Jeff Barron
President
Ellis Brooks Leasing, Inc.

direct tel: 415-447-1202