With show season ramping up and year-end fleet changes in the works, LCT Magazine readers will flock to shows in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, checking out the latest vehicle models. The LCT shows have proven to be the perfect location to see the most chauffeured vehicles and buses on the market, even if some prototypes are not fully up to livery spec.
With so many choices, we asked our LCT Facebook readers for ideas on the best sedan features for operators looking to buy, but unsure where to start.
It certainly must make financial sense for operators to buy a particular vehicle, but price and operating costs are not the only considerations. If most of your work is affiliate-related, you may be expected to run certain vehicles. And if you have clients who demand BMWs, then you need to provide what your market demands.
For many, BMWs and special vehicles are the right choice. But others see the more common Lincoln and Chrysler models as more appropriate for their business models.
Dan Goff with A Goff Limousine and Bus in Charlottesville, Va., has strong ideas on how operators should review their sedans. The choice is based on many factors specific to the livery industry. What details does Goff consider influential?
From an operational standpoint, the manufacturer’s “mechanical history, vehicle appearance, and recommended fuel type” affect costs. And we all know the passenger experience is the golden draw to using a chauffeured vehicle. The back seat area has important options to consider, including “legroom, reclining seatbacks, heated and cooled seats, USB and charging options, and rear controls for climate control and maybe even entertainment systems.”
Finally, Goff suggests, evaluate the chauffeur’s interface with the vehicle. Buyers should definitely consider helpful features such as “hands-free trunk releases, navigation systems, and safety controls” that assist driving and prevent accidents.
Nicholas Kokas of Brentwood’s Distinguished Executive Transportation in Michigan also gives his own “hats off” to the latest-model sedans. They are designed well for the chauffeured car market, “focusing more on rear seat comfort features.” Most are good economic choices for standard markets, and “transportation companies interested in creating higher profit margins” have some excellent choices, Kokas adds.
Thank you, gentlemen, for your insights. See you on the show floor.
And if any of you have industry related questions or answers, please email me at the address below. If I don’t have the answer, we’ll find people who do.
California operator Anne Daniells has more than 25 years of experience in corporate America and the limousine industry, and once owned an LCT Operator Of The Year Award-winning company. She can be reached at Anne@lctmag.com.
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Anne Daniells Ask LCT Fleet Vehicles long wheelbase sedans midsize sedans new sedans new vehicles onboard amenities premium luxury sedans sedans vehicle technology
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