ok, lease or buy?

[nostatic]

Due to a couple of changes, I'm pondering a vehicle switch. Over the past couple years I've gone:

Subaru Impreza wagon -> VW GTI w/DSG (post moto crash) -> Audi A3 6spd -> Subaru WRX (current). I find that I am needing a bit more cargo room, wouldn't mind getting a little better gas mileage, and may switch to a (decent) auto so the g/f can drive the car. I got the WRX with the idea of doing some track days and did one but realistically I don't see that happening again - just too expensive if I break something.

Am pondering swapping to a 2011 Outback w/CVT. Not nearly as engaging to drive, but more room, better gas mileage (I average about 18-19 combined now), and more flexible. Lease rates are pretty damn low at the moment and the Outback is about 52% residual and 0.0012 or 0.0013 money factor. I have never leased, but given my history over the past 7 years and 4 cars, it would have been cheaper to do so I think, so am considering it for this point. Yeah or nay?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Have you considered a Mercedes wagon?

[red-beard]

Can you startup an S-Corp so you can put the lease payments against income?

[nostatic]

no - not really a Mercedes kinda guy. Actually the other vehicle I've considered is a Honda Element, but I think the fun-to-drive quotient would really get stomped on. Outback is kind of a do everything except race vehicle.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Can you startup an S-Corp so you can put the lease payments against income?

hmm, I actually am part (10%) owner of an S-Corp, but the car wouldn't really be directly for work.

[Tobra]

If you are going to keep it a while, buy, if not, you gotta run numbers.

Honda Fit?

[RWebb]

I hate the CVT Outback - test drive & see what you think.

Why do you need AWD? in SoCal??

why not get a used BMW 3 series wagon and have FUN?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by nostatic

hmm, I actually am part (10%) owner of an S-Corp, but the car wouldn't really be directly for work.

You would need to use it for work most of the time. And it would be far easier if you were majority owner.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by Tobra

If you are going to keep it a while, buy, if not, you gotta run numbers.

Honda Fit?

The Fit is actually cool, but probably doesn't have enough room. I am gigging so much that I keep a fair amount of gear in my car all the time. The WRX is getting tight and is a pita if I have a 3rd person.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I hate the CVT Outback - test drive & see what you think.

Why do you need AWD? in SoCal??

why not get a used BMW 3 series wagon and have FUN?

They seem to be hard to find, and not sure how cheap they are to keep running. As for AWD, I do have occasion to go off-road and hope to do more. I'm open to options but:

- has to be a hatch/wagon
- has to get decent mileage
- has to not be a POS

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I have never leased, but given my history over the past 7 years and 4 cars, it would have been cheaper to do so I think, so am considering it for this point. Yeah or nay?

All I can say is I got stuck in a lease with a car I hate. There is nothing worse than being forced to make payments, buy tires, buy insurance, etc for three years for a car you'd love to drive over a cliff. For me a lease was a terrible choice. If I could have sold it two years ago I would have, but with a lease, I'm bent over a barrel with my feet tied WIDE apart.
Leases work out for some, if you're into that kind of thing.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by nostatic

They seem to be hard to find, and not sure how cheap they are to keep running. As for AWD, I do have occasion to go off-road and hope to do more. I'm open to options but:

- has to be a hatch/wagon
- has to get decent mileage
- has to not be a POS

used Outback (unless a small SUV would work for you)

[Hugh R]

Mileage and the deducts for minor nicks, chips and dings will get you on the return on a lease.

[nostatic]

I actually prefer the styling of the older Outback, but have heard better things about the new CVT plus they have more cargo room which is a goal. Actually the GTI wasn't a bad compromise as the DSG trans is pretty fun, though I wouldn't be getting much room. The A3 was still my favorite of all of them. I know that make some shudder...

[Zeke]

I really, really don't like leases. You're on pins and needles about dents and scratches plus not that many miles allowed. If it gets stolen or totalled, you might be in a mess during the lease period. Of course, you can end up in the same mess with a new purchase for the first couple of years. Those are the years where your balance is way more than the resale value of the car, much less the amount you will get from an ins co.

I've come to the point where I would shop for a lease return or just buy a throw away like I did when I bought a '96 Jag XJ. With a lease return, you can get a decent warranty.

[Paul_Heery]

My Subaru dealer gives me free oil changes for my Impreza. When I take it in, they also give me a loaner. I have driven both the 2011 Outback and the 2011 Forester with CVT. If I were spending my money on a wagon/SUV, I would definitely go with the Forester. The build quality on the Forester is so much better than the Outback, both inside and out.

Just my opinion.

[nostatic]

I have to admit that I drove a Forester a few years ago and was impressed - certainly an econobox but a big one that wasn't a dog. That was with a manual though. Much of the point here is to move to an auto and I hate most (all?) auto transmissions. May be easier just to reteach the g/f to drive stick...

[sammyg2]

Leases can be very logical under the right circumstances.

Case in point: my wife paid cash for a loaded honda pilot, sales price around $31k.

5 1/5 years later she had about 110k miles on it IIRC and traded it in on another vehicle and got about $6k trade in.

I worked out the numbers and showed her how it would have cost over $100 a month less to lease the darn thing and give it back after 5 years than it cost her to buy it.

It all depends on what they are offering. I would not even consider a 3 year lease but an attractive 5 year lease might make sense.

[Zeke]

I can't see a DD in Los Angeles being a traditional stick. The GF should know how to drive one though. Being as how new automatics are multi speed and smart, they seem the way to go. I bet if I had the money for a new 997 hot rod, it would be that 7 speed paddle shifter. (I call that an automatic.)

[nostatic]

My rehearsal/gigging schedule has shifted my thinking a bit about transmissions. I've had a stick my whole driving life, but the last year or so I get stuck driving to the wrong place at the wrong time with no options.

The DSG in the VW was slick. What was funny (or sad) was that on the track the GTI was actually faster on full auto (sport mode) rather than manually shifting. The good autos have gotten VERY good...