Stagecoach Manchester

[Southernsofty]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester

(23/02/2013 15:22)mbonwick Wrote:  We're still not sure what the deal is with the 'leased' vehicles though - there's a good chance they're on hire-purchase agreements, in which case once things are paid off they belong to Stagecoach anyway.

I am sure I remember reading an article many years back which stated that Stagecoach bought their vehicles on a 'short-term' Hire purchase scheme, can't remember the exact details but I think they were 'bought and paid-for' after just a few years, 5 maybe?
My memory could be dodgy or they may have changed the way they finance things these days.
I believe? that all post 2001 buses in the London fleet were either leased from day 1 or Macquirie Group(spelling? - Sorry!) sold them to leasing Co(s) when they originally bought SC London.
I think we have probably covered this before somewhere (or maybe on another website),
There is usually a clause in a leasing agreement which give the user the option to purchase at the end of the term, certainly with Trucks, depending on the age/mileage, you can often buy a fully depreciated (but often 'knackered' high mileage) vehicle for a relatively low price, the benefit to the leasing company is that they don't have to market/sell on and physically collect/move vehicles.
Anyone out there work for Stagecoach, able to explain more?