Buying vs Leasing?
 

I'm considering leasing a new 370Z. I've never leased before but have financed other cars. I'm currently financing a 2012 MS3 that I would throw in as trade. I have about 8k equity on the MS3. I drive over 20k miles per year but I plan to buy the Z once the lease is over. Any opinions?

The only way leasing makes any sense in my mind is if you're 100% sure you will buy the vehicle after the lease is up. The other catch is that when you buy the car after the lease it needs to be one lump some payment otherwise the interest from the lease and the purchase just make it a waste of money.

Just my :twocents:

Much appreciated Gomer for the advice :tup:

I would buy which gives you more freedom to-do whatever you want with the car.

The only way that Leasing makes sense, is if you have a Business that you use the car for.

You can then write off the payments and change cars every few years.

Otherwise a lease is not the way to go..IMO

+1 buy. If you're worried about payments, get a 1 or 2 yr old model. Might even find a late 2011 model that's brand new (< 500 miles) at some dealers.

if you're asking for money advise, just keep the MS3.. it's a frikken 2012 for crying out loud.

If you wait and find a manufacturer looking to move product and offer insane incentives. Their money factors, net capitalized costs, and projected residual values can allow for a great deal. If you have the cash to buy it outright at the end of the lease, it often can be the same as financing from the beginning.

Nissan's 299/month lease with 3k down on the Z is a pretty good example. I believe on a base coupe, you're talking about around 33k total spent if you buy it out at the lease end (not finance, cash).

It allows you a lower monthly payment for the time being and you can see if this is a car you'd like to have longterm. If it is, buy it out. If not, turn it in and get the new car on the block.

If you know this is the car for you, their 0% financing for 5 years is too good to pass up. I'd negotiate as far I can under invoice and take that.

Never leased another car in my life, is the biggest waste of money!

Even if you are going to buy it at the end of the lease you will paying way too much at the end which the car is not going to be value at.

Save until you can buy a car, is way much better. :twocents:

It's a pretty heft additional price to lease compared to just buying outright, but easier if you don't like it.

You pay tax twice. Buy-out fee. If you have the cash to buy it out right, it's really not a hell of alot extra.

They're projecting the residual value at 19k after 39 months. The next gen. will be out by then so that's a question mark where our car will be at. But after 3 years with mine, I'm still well over 20 on trade value on a base model.

If Nissan wasn't offering 0% for 60 months, I'd do the lease. But they are, so it's the best option to take.

Thank you! Great advice :tup:

i leased my last car, then bought it after the lease was up. never again.

It only makes sense to buy the car initially rather than lease then buy. That will just cost too much. And 8k negative on any car will increase your payments substantially. The 2012 MS3 is a cool little car also.

He has 8k equity in it. You shouldn't buy anything until you're at least even on a vehicle.

Some people don't like the idea of leases. That's fair. But there are certainly advantages to them. I like having a different car every 3-5 years. Have to do your research to see if said lease makes sense.

Hyundai is a perfect example of a car manufacturer just wanting to move product. Dealerships hardly make a thing off their cheaper leases, but get it back in unit bonuses at the end of the month/year.

I go through cars quickly. I've leased three times and all were great.

First was a Saab 9-3 that the value dropped like a rock on. It was a 299/month lease special and it was worth less than the residual at the end. I turned it in and walked away.

Second was a G35 coupe. My airline went bankrupt and I took a 50% paycut, so we sold my pickup and traded my wifes G in on a Magnum. Got 1000 more than what the lease buyout was.

Third was a two year lease on a Z4. Traded it in two months early on a 2010 Z4 and came out about even from where we would have been if we had financed it.

Leasing has an advantage that you only pay sales tax on the payments, and not the total price, and you know all of your costs up front.

If you keep a car for a long time, don't do it, but if you are like me, and routinely buy and sell, its not a bad way to go. I've bought I think, 36 new cars, between my years of 18-46. Might get 37 tomorrow.

Yep. It's not for everyone. But I'm with you.

Yeah I leased a Legacy for $199 a month with $1K down. I turned it in 2.8 years later and owed nothing even though I lost a key and my mom backed it into a car a month prior.