Mainstream Media Surveys Reaction to Chrysler Decision to Quit Vehicle Leasing ABC’s Good Morning America Checks Out the Scene at Chevy Chase Cars

Mainstream Media Surveys Reaction to Chrysler

Decision to Quit Vehicle Leasing

ABC’s Good Morning America Checks Out the Scene at Chevy Chase Cars

Presented as an established auto lease consumer and longstanding customer of Chevy Chase Cars (”I love this place”), Tim Porter told ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) yesterday, ”I probably wouldn’t be affording the cars I’m looking at if I had to pay cash or finance them.” Mr. Porter was in the process of signing up a new leased Acura at Chevy Chase.

Millions lease vehicles, but leasing just got tougher GMA concluded. Chrysler won’t be doing them, the automaker announced earlier in the week. Ford will be doing less, and General Motors may follow suit, GMA went on to say.

”I believe in leasing,” said Chevy Chase Cars principal Sam Weaver, strolling through the showroom with the GMA on-site reporter as the camera rolled. Sam said the Chevrolet store leases a good number of vehicles, and the Acura store many more than that. ”I think leasing is the way to go because you only pay for what you use,” he said.

So despite Chrysler’s decision on leasing, dealers are convinced leasing isn’t gone for good, said GMA. And as an afterthought, before going to break and ending the segment, the GMA show hosts back in the New York studio said they hear that it’s so slow at car dealerships that some salesmen now are vacuuming the stores at night because they had to lay off the cleaning staff.

And so went our Washington Area dealer story on Good Morning America this week. The WANADA Bulletin that was covering the same story at Chevy Chase Cars, however, heard more of the story. Sam Weaver and other CCC staff, for example, said on more than one occasion, that it’s a great time to lease or buy a car, new or used (to say nothing of the unprecedented buyer’s market opportunities on SUVs and light trucks). Not only isn’t leasing going away, it’s still here and still great for people like Mr. Porter! And how about that used car market? (particularly if you’d like a previously owned SUV, some with low mileage). Indeed, sales incentives on new vehicles right now are absolutely incredible! And how about the price of gas coming down a bit from $4 plus, which is apt to be a downward trend (not in the economy, but in gasoline prices) because people are driving less this summer and the cost for a barrel of oil is down in the $120s.

Expense control is important in challenging times, too, Sam acknowledged after GMA left. But where the hell did they come up with sales reps vacuuming the floors? Maybe this isn’t a bad idea, The WANADA Bulletin agreed.

But there’s no sense in laying off the cleaning people because who knows when one might make a fabulous sales rep one day.

As Paul Harvey would say, ”And now you know the rest of the story…”

Editor’s note: A talking points sheet on vehicle leasing prepared by NADA is enclosed with this Bulletin. Share it with senior dealership staff, and please take care that all staff know that no one speaks to the media for dealer organization except the dealer principal.