What should I lease? (Long)
I drive a lot more now and the time has come for me to get a new car. I think I want to lease this time around. The $299/mo Cadillac ATS lease deal would have been the biggest no-brainer, but sadly it is no longer available and may never come back.
Requirements:
Approx. $400/mo, really trying to stick to that, lower the better
Turbo 4cyl or V6 (I want easily accessible torque)
Sedan or hatch, small to midsize - prefer hatch. Would entertain small sporty SUV.
4 doors
Practical
Reasonably fun
Preferences:
Above average/good stereo
AWD
Strong preference for DCT or really good automatic
Android Auto
Blind spot monitoring / various collision avoidance technologies
This is what I'm looking at, all prices are rough and before negotiations
2017 Mercedes B250 4Matic premium pkg (Front runner) ($38-41K or so, $440-450/mo)
+ 2.0T, DCT, AWD trifecta that is so very rare
+ Great interior
+ Has all the options I want except perhaps a good stereo
+ $3570 incentive & 0.9% lease
- Most expensive, pushing my budget to the max
- Looks are not my favorite (mini minivan)
- Leasing is monthly only, no bi-weekly payments which adds ~$50/mo to the payment unnecessarily
- Apparently getting overhauled in MY2018 or MY2019
2017 Honda Civic Touring (Sedan) or Sport Touring (Hatchback) (~$31K, ~$400/mo)
+ 1.5T makes a lot more power than advertised and should be enough for my purposes
+ Very well optioned, good stereo, android auto, heated front & rear seats, rain sensing wipers, the whole 9 yards
+ Cheaper to lease/maintain
+ New model
+ Probably the most sensible option
- CVT is the only option if I don't want to drive another manual and I don't prefer CVTs. No manual option on the sedan in Touring trim.
- Completely unrealistic artificially low residuals (~$12K after 4 years) force the payments much higher than expected
- No cashback or lease rate promotions
- FWD
- "Sport" models look too riced out with excessive plastic body cladding
- The Civic Si might be an easy choice but it isn't available and there is no word when it's coming
2017 Acura TLX V6 SH-AWD (~$45K or $436/mo lease)
+ Lots of car for the leasing money
+ $3500 incentive
+ Probably has the best "base" stereo
+ Fantastic AWD system
- No android/apple auto available at all on any models (only the NSX has it lol)
- "Base" model, has no tech options or monitoring tech
- Apparently getting overhauled for MY2018
- Fuel economy
Other things I've looked at to lease - a lot of them creep into my price range until you add the necessary options, then they are too much:
GTI / Golf R - Too expensive, pricing too close to the R as soon as you add any options
Golf - Bad transmission options (5MT or poorly reviewed traditional automatic), 1.8T low-ish on power
Most american cars - Too expensive due to garbage residuals
Hyundai Elantra GT - Too expensive due to garbage residual
Infiniti QX30 - $5000 for basic option package makes it too expensive
Mercedes GLA/CLA - Too Expensive
Mercedes C300 w/$4400 incentive - Still too expensive
WRX - Possible, but would have to live with the manual. CVT in that car is unattractive (drone). Power delivery not as good for easy city driving.
Volvo - nothing in my price range
Acura ILX - By far the cheapest to lease ($350/mo well equipped) but too boring I think. Very sensible car though, and has an 8speed DCT ( who knew?) Will be better when it gets the turbo updates and the new Civic platform.
Still need to look into:
BMW X1 - probably too expensive
BMW 228 - probably too expensive
Thoughts? Opinions? Am I way out to lunch on anything? Anything I should look at that I haven't? Any salespeople want to give me a wicked deal? TIA
Re: What should I lease? (Long)
Quote:
Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
2017 Acura TLX V6 SH-AWD (~$45K or $436/mo lease)
+ Lots of car for the leasing money
+ $3500 incentive
+ Probably has the best "base" stereo
+ Fantastic AWD system
- No android/apple auto available at all on any models (only the NSX has it lol)
- "Base" model, has no tech options or monitoring tech
- Apparently getting overhauled for MY2018
- Fuel economy
Mitsu, one day I will do a full review on the 2015 that I have, but on your points
Overall the car is pretty good, and very good value for the price. Its very quiet and refined. The Audio system sounds decent enough, but is infuriatingly slow to use - this is my biggest complaint, its on par with Idrive from 2008. They may have improved this since.
The AWD system is great, very quick to react and the "SH-" really does seem true, the car is quite agile (with the limit point being the garbage Goodyear tires).
Fuel Economy is actually a plus, its incredible on the highway (6.5L/100km), and definitely good enough in the city (~9.5-10). I run regular in mine.
My lease (including tax) is $366, so there is a definite variance there.
Some people don't like the transmission, I find it to be quite good in sport mode - responsive and fun. Sport + is too aggressive.
Did you look at the Lexus IS and the Infinity Q50?
Re: What should I lease? (Long)
Quote:
Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
2017 Acura TLX V6 SH-AWD (~$45K or $436/mo lease)
+ Lots of car for the leasing money
+ $3500 incentive
+ Probably has the best "base" stereo
+ Fantastic AWD system
- No android/apple auto available at all on any models (only the NSX has it lol)
- "Base" model, has no tech options or monitoring tech
- Apparently getting overhauled for MY2018
- Fuel economy
I lucked out last year when Acura was giving away AWD TLX's and am current leased for 4 years at $365+tax/month at 0%.
2018 it getting a refresh (like you said) should look something like this:
» Click image for larger version
Haven't done much research but I'm assuming they'll finally fix the shitty transmission. Gas mileage isn't terrible, I'll check what I'm averaging later tonight.
Mine is a base AWD (not Tech) and the only thing I missed was a car starter which I've since added. Also heated steering wheel would have been nice but stereo is sufficient and don't really need any of the tech upgrades.
Edit: haha what Niel said!
Re: Re: What should I lease? (Long)
Quote:
Originally posted by Hallowed_point
Acura TSX V6 SH-AWD is a killer choice. A bit overpriced imo. But I'd pick that for your criteria.
The incentive helps a bit. Yes they are expensive, but have very strong residuals which means the lease payment isn't too crazy. The problem with this one (as with most of the entry level German cars) is I don't want the base model, and as soon as you add simple options you have added $5K and they payment is $500+/mo. It's a frustrating realization haha. I keep thinking "ooo I can get into X car"...then I add AWD and a basic option package and it's way too expensive.
Quote:
Originally posted by Tej.S
I thought the BMW's would have lower monthly payments as they tend to inflate their residuals.. Worth looking into at least.
Will look into more. I think the option packages are going to kill it though. The entry level pricing on the German cars gets you almost nothing in terms of connectivity and technology.
Quote:
Originally posted by flipstah
Mazda3 Sport GT?
It's pretty nice inside and out, and has pep.
N/A 4-cyl is out of the question - I want a torquey motor for zipping around in the city, and something that can easily pass on the highway. I've also heard so many horror stories about every Mazda dealer in the city that I am scared to have any commitment with them.
Quote:
Originally posted by spikerS
Probably with a sizable down payment.
*EDIT* Base model WRX, 20,000km/year, $1500 down is $392.74 a month plus taxes and fees
WRX would be fun but the CVT is a deal-breaker on that car, and the manual + 4000rpm torque peak is just not really my driving style. I plan on test driving one again though to confirm my suspicions. It also falls into the same trap as so many other cars - starts at $29,900, adding necessary options & freight brings you to $38K.
Quote:
Originally posted by max_boost
Honestly I'd probably take any BMW/Benz/Lexus etc. if I can get into it for $400/month zero down. Budget balling FTW :rofl: :bigpimp:
A base model Lexus NX I think squeaks into the $400 range but again the problem is they strip it of all options, so when you get what you want it's too expensive. I really like the NX a lot actually, but too much money.
Quote:
Originally posted by Neil4Speed
Mitsu, one day I will do a full review on the 2015 that I have, but on your points
Overall the car is pretty good, and very good value for the price. Its very quiet and refined. The Audio system sounds decent enough, but is infuriatingly slow to use - this is my biggest complaint, its on par with Idrive from 2008. They may have improved this since.
The AWD system is great, very quick to react and the "SH-" really does seem true, the car is quite agile (with the limit point being the garbage Goodyear tires).
Fuel Economy is actually a plus, its incredible on the highway (6.5L/100km), and definitely good enough in the city (~9.5-10). I run regular in mine.
My lease (including tax) is $366, so there is a definite variance there.
Some people don't like the transmission, I find it to be quite good in sport mode - responsive and fun. Sport + is too aggressive.
Did you look at the Lexus IS and the Infinity Q50?
Thanks - do you have the 9spd auto or was that introduced after? That is the only transmission option on the 2017's. $366 would probably be a no-brainer decision for me (or I could add more options and do $400) but they don't seem to be that cheap at the moment. Even after $3500 incentive, I get $436/mo all-in for a 2017 V6 SH AWD with zero options. The "Tech" is coming up on $500. All 4-year leases with low km.
The Lexus IS starts at over $40,000 with no options, which is too expensive unfortunately. The base model doesn't even have heated seats, and after $1000 incentive is still $460/mo (bi weekly calc). Technically doable but I would rather have a different car with all the options I think.
Q50 2.0t isn't even on the Infiniti website for build & price for some reason unless I'm missing something. I thought I looked at it though and as soon as you add AWD and basic options you are well into the $40K bracket. They have a promo on the 3.0T for $448/mo but you have to put $2800 down. I'm not opposed to putting a tiny bit down if it helps a lot, but my understanding of leasing has always been that you can't afford it if you have to put money down. They do the QX30 for $398/mo as well but it requires a $3600 down payment.
Quote:
Originally posted by 88CRX
I lucked out last year when Acura was giving away AWD TLX's and am current leased for 4 years at $365+tax/month at 0%.
2018 it getting a refresh (like you said) should look something like this:
» Click image for larger version
Haven't done much research but I'm assuming they'll finally fix the shitty transmission. Gas mileage isn't terrible, I'll check what I'm averaging later tonight.
Mine is a base AWD (not Tech) and the only thing I missed was a car starter which I've since added. Also heated steering wheel would have been nice but stereo is sufficient and don't really need any of the tech upgrades.
Edit: haha what Niel said!
Damn for $365/mo I'd be all over that (or a bit more for the tech). Do you remember what month they had that in?
Also is the current 9spd the same one everyone is complaining about? One thing I can't stand is a transmission with too many gears and shitty programming - had a couple rentals with them now (Jeep Cherokee) and it ruined the entire vehicle.