2014 Bus Buyer s Guide

Transcription

1 2014 Bus Buyer s Guide Provided by:

2 Table of Contents Passenger Van Safety vs Bus Safety Bus Buying Checklist What Bus is Right for You? Who is Atlantic Bus Sales? Why Atlantic Bus Sales? Frequently Asked Questions What Our Valued Customers Have to Say

3 Passenger Van Safety vs Bus Safety Center of Gravity (CG) is higher on passenger vans, making them top heavy. buses typically have reinforced sides to keep the roof from collapsing in the event of a rollover crash. This is not the case with passenger vans, where rollover commonly collapses the roof all the way to the seats. Many groups purchase passenger vans thinking they are getting a cheaper version of a bus. This is simply not the case, as buses are designed with greater safety features. By thinking passenger vans are similar to buses, drivers are less likely to be concerned with tire failure (most buses have four rear tires). Also, as is often with buses, riders in these vans assume they do not need restraint devices. According to NHTSA nearly 80 percent of passenger van fatalities are not properly restrained. Also, where buses often use laminated glass windows and compartmentalized seating, passenger vans do not. When unrestrained, occupants are more likely to be ejected through shattered glass and often killed. Furthermore, unlike most buses, passenger vans do not have the interior crash padding that can protect occupants from being slammed into hard or rigid surfaces. Many buses are also equipped with first-aid kits and emergency exits, both of which save lives in crashes, where passenger vans generally have neither.

4 Bus Buying Checklist It can be very daunting trying to shop for a bus if you ve never done it before. What questions should you ask? What size do you need? What options? The list of questions can go on and on. Below you will find a list of questions you ll want to ask in trying to determine which bus is right for your organization. 1. What size bus do we need? Up to 15 Passenger - NO CDL Required 16 to 30 Passenger - CDL Required Passenger - CDL Required 2. What engine type do we want? Gas Engine - Comes Standard Diesel Engine 3. What sort of storage capacity do we need? Overhead Storage Rear Storage 4. Do we want a wheel chair lift? Wheel chair lift * Requires the removal of 5 fixed seats 5. Do we want reclining seats? Reclining Seats per Passenger 6. Do we want upgraded seat fabric? Level 5 Seat Fabric Upgrade per Passenger * Softer fabric and is easier to clean 7. Do we want upgraded A/C & heater? 70,000 BTU Rear A/C Upgrade 60,000 BTU Rear A/C Upgrade 65,000 BTU Rear Heater Upgrade * Standard A/C is normally 45,000 BTU * Standard Heat is normally 35,000 BTU 8. Do we want TV/DVD package installed? 19 TV/DVD Combo 26 TV/DVD Combo 9. Do we want vinyl lettering on the side of the bus? 3 Lines of lettering per each side of the bus

5 What Bus is Right for You?

6 Who is Atlantic Bus Sales? Founded in 1986, Atlantic Bus Sales, located in Florida, is a Full Service Bus Dealership. We represent various manufacturers of Buses and Vans and carry a vast selection of new and used buses. Some of our manufacturers include Eldorado National, Amera Van, Krystal, Glaval Bus, New England Wheels, and many others.. We have a variety of buses to accommodate various businesses and organizations including: Church Buses Hotel Buses Handicap Buses Medical Transport Prison Transport Corporate /Employee Shuttle Paratransit Transit Buses Mobile Office/Showrooms Mini Buses Limo/Tour Buses Custom Medical Buses We offer competitive pricing and are dedicated to maintaining the standard of excellence we have achieved over the last 25 + years in business. Whether it s sales, service or parts, Atlantic Bus Sales is #1 in the industry. Our Mission: To be industry leaders in transportation solutions by implementing the proper bus for your organizations needs using skill, knowledge, unmatched teamwork while providing our customers with customer service that exceeds all expectations; striving to keep your business for life. Team photo

7 Why Buy from Atlantic Bus Sales? We are a Full Service Bus Dealership that has stood the test of time with over 20 years in business since We offer full warranty service, parts department and maintenance facility with factory trained certified mechanics. Services include; Extensive Parts Inventory Quick Parts Purchases and Shipment Factory Trained Certified Mechanics Warranty Center To All Major Bus Components Preventative Maintenance Programs Graphics Department Paint & Body Shop We strive to have In Stock the vehicle to fit your transportation needs and welcome your trade-in. Our philosophy is "the customer always comes first" and we aim to maintain our standard of customer satisfaction. What Full Service means to you! As a Full Service dealership Atlantic Bus Sales, can process all your bus body, chassis and other Warranty claims. We will either handle the issue on site or arrange pick up and delivery of the vehicle to the correct location. This allows you to visit one shop for multiple concerns, allowing you to focus on running your business not running your bus all over town. Detailed Warranty information available upon request. A Full Service Bus Dealership Since 1985

8 TOP 10 Frequently Asked Questions 1. What kind of driver s license will we need? While each state has it s own requirements, a Commercial Drivers License with a Passenger Endorsement is required if you drive a vehicle with more than 15 passengers. However, if you purchase a bus for 15 passengers or less, no Commercial Drivers License is usually needed. Check with your state DMV for proper licensing requirements. 2. How do we get warranty work done? There are several bus warranties. The chassis, A/C, alternator and tire warranty will be honored by each manufacturers local representative as well as all major bus components. 3. What does the law state about seat belts? According to U.S. Law, seat belts are required for vehicles rated over 10,000 lbs GVWR. However, the majority of organizations decide to purchase retractable seat belts for their new bus. (optional charges apply) 4. Should we buy a gas or diesel engine? As a rule of thumb, diesel engines last longer than gas engines. However, there is a significant price difference between the two engines. You can expect to pay around $7,000 for a diesel engine upgrade. Depending on how many miles you use per year, the cost-to-benefit ratio may not be worth it. The diesel engine upgrade is mostly purchased for larger buses. 5. Should we add a wheel chair lift to our bus? Our experience has shown that unless an organization is accommodating a significant number of physically disabled people, a wheelchair lift is not typically a necessary option. Investing in a wheel chair lift increases the purchase price of a bus by $5,000 while requiring the removal of 5 fixed seats from the passenger capacity. 6. Do buses come with luggage or storage areas? Buses can be configured with overhead luggage storage inside the cab as well as rear storage (with or without a rear wall.) Undercarriage storage is available on passenger models. 7. Can we view a bus in person and have a demonstration? The easiest way to see a bus in person is to go to a dealership for a full bus demo and a tour of their facilities. If you are not conveniently located near a dealer, contact your dealer of choice and request a list of local customers who have bought from them and try and see their bus. Or simply call your dealer of choice and schedule a showing at your location. 8. Is financing available? Absolutely! Any reputable bus dealer knows that a successful bus purchasing experience may require financing and will want to insure that you get financing that works for you. 9. What is the process to purchase a bus? Once an organization decides to purchase a bus from a dealer s inventory, the transaction can be completed and the bus delivered within a week. This is a reasonable time frame. Special order buses are normally delivered within 6-8 weeks. The sale can be completed without the organization ever having to come to our office. 10.Who are the top bus manufacturers? There are several manufacturers to choose from, but over the last few years the top selling brand of buses are: Eldorado, Krystal, Glaval and Starcraft.

9 WHAT OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY FAU-Florida Atlantic University I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for the excellent service provided to Florida Atlantic University on the purchase of our new student shuttle bus. You took the time to sit down with yourself and staff to ensure we selected the right bus at the right price. In these economic times we were concerned with the cost sand you worked with us in securing the best bid to purchase the bus. The Tradition of the Palm Beaches had the pleasure of purchasing a new bus from Atlantic Bus Sales. The staff at Atlantic Bus was always courteous, responsive and efficient with every request, need and change we required. The entire team listened to our vision of what the bus needed to be from its physical aspects to its cosmetic appearance. Our facility houses 186 elderly residents average age 91 so meeting our needs was not an easy task and the Atlantic Bus team certainly rose to the occasion. Morse Life-The Tradition of the Palm Beaches Thank you for helping us with the purchase of our three new shuttle minibuses. I relied greatly on your expertise in advising me on the best configurations and equipment for our needs, and couldn t have been more pleased in doing so. I feel PBTT received the best equipment and value available. I would happily recommend you and ABS to anyone considering a bus purchase. Palm Beach Tours & Transportation, Inc.