Car Help

[faenix]

I only need a car for about two years. I'm pretty set on leasing a car, but I need ATOT's help in helping me decide.

The biggest thing for me is a car that isn't a Honda or Mazda. Also, one of the most important things to me is the interior of the car. I really really need a nice interior, cheap looking plastic interiors kill me inside. Also I'm trying to stay away from domestics which limits my choices even further.

I was looking carefully at the Saab 9-3 2.0T. Decently equipped at around 28k, I can lease her for around 400 a month for 30 months with very little down @ 12,000miles a year.

Should I be looking at any other cars? I was thinking maybe a Jetta or GTI?

I'm open to any other suggestions.

(Basically I am willing to spend $400 max on a lease on a car) That's enough for me already considering there will be gas and insurance to worry about.

 

[RichUK]

BMW

 

[canadageek]

first off, why not honda or mazda?!

seriously, depending on your price range, i'd say Toyota for low, Saab for medium, or a BMW for high-end. unless oyu want a comfy luxury car, the Mercedes (well, i work for them so i feel obligated)

 

[faenix]

I would love a BMW or a Mercedes but I'm really trying not to push it and go over the $30k mark. Which makes my choices that much more limited.

 

[patentman]

What is the purpose of the car? Business or pleasure?

If you need a business vehicle, you should be able to get into a 3 series bmw for a $400/month lease. See this link

Biggest thing with a forgeign luxury cars is maintenance. I had a Mercedes a while back and it cost ~$400 to have one of the headlights replaced (just the bulb). If you go foreign luxury, make sure whatever lease you get includes maintenance.

If you are looking for a fun zippy car that has a pretty nice interior (after you soup it up), try the scion tc.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: faenix
I would love a BMW or a Mercedes but I'm really trying not to push it and go over the $30k mark. Which makes my choices that much more limited.

If you are leasing total price of the car does not matter. What matters is the monthyly payment and miles allowance. See my post above.

 

[RichUK]

In that case - Volkswagen, definitely.

German manufacturers FTW.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: RichUK
In that case - Volkswagen, definitely.

German manufacturers FTW.

German manufacturers are generally great, but I can;t agree with you as to VW. Maybe the European models are better constructed, but here in the U.S. they tend to fall apart right as your warranty runs out.

 

[faenix]

Originally posted by: patentman
What is the purpose of the car? Business or pleasure?

If you need a business vehicle, you should be able to get into a 3 series bmw for a $400/month lease. See this link

Biggest thing with a forgeign luxury cars is maintenance. I had a Mercedes a while back and it cost ~$400 to have one of the headlights replaced (just the bulb). If you go foreign luxury, make sure whatever lease you get includes maintenance.

If you are looking for a fun zippy car that has a pretty nice interior (after you soup it up), try the scion tc.

Thanks for the info. My friend actually has a Scion tc and while it's not souped up, I really really disliked it. The interior is very plasticy and cheesy which turned me off. Just not my cup of tea I suppose.

Thanks for clearing up my misconception about leases and the total MSRP of the car.

I guess I'll refine it and say that I want to stay under $400 a month.

 

[Colt45]

Golf/jetta TDI would be ok, with gas being ridiculous, maybe an A4, 3 series...

I wouldn't get a lease though, I'd get a couple year old one with extended warranty.. a few grand more than a 30mo lease, and you get to keep / sell it...
but its your cash, burn it

hrmm.. do they sell TDI's in the US?

 

[canadageek]

thats because you americans are more forgiving than german consumers

 

[biggestmuff]

MKV GTI w/ DSG

That'll be a fun car to drive. It has a very peppy little 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. The DSG transmission is so much fun to drive with 4 different modes of operation.

The car also has launch control; step on the brake, turn off ESP, press the throttle all the way to the floor. The engine will rev up to around 3K RPM and hold steady. When you sidestep the brake pedal, the car takes off! Very fun.

I'm was getting antsy waiting on my new R32 to be built so one of the VW salesmen took me for a hellacious test drive. The suspension on the MKVs is definitely stiffer and more solid than the stock MKIV. I do miss seeing the VR6 in the new ones, though.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: patentman

Originally posted by: RichUK
In that case - Volkswagen, definitely.

German manufacturers FTW.

German manufacturers are generally great, but I can;t agree with you as to VW. Maybe the European models are better constructed, but here in the U.S. they tend to fall apart right as your warranty runs out.

Most of the premium VW cars are made in Germany; Wolfsburg to be exact. My '01 GTI VR6 was built there. My '08 R32 is being built there...3 more months!!!!

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: faenix

Thanks for the info. My friend actually has a Scion tc and while it's not souped up, I really really disliked it. The interior is very plasticy and cheesy which turned me off. Just not my cup of tea I suppose.

Thanks for clearing up my misconception about leases and the total MSRP of the car.

I guess I'll refine it and say that I want to stay under $400 a month.

Fair enough. I own a tc myself, but I redid the entire interior with leather seats, aluminum trim and a carbon fiber dash and it looks pretty sweet now.

I still think a beemer is right up your alley for the money you are talking about. While I generally agree with other people that leasing is usuaklly not a good option, in your case given the time frame you will use the car it is probably viable. If you bought a car new and tried to resell it in 2 years you would likely be upside down on your loan, and that is never a good thing.

 

[faenix]

Originally posted by: patentman

Originally posted by: faenix

Thanks for the info. My friend actually has a Scion tc and while it's not souped up, I really really disliked it. The interior is very plasticy and cheesy which turned me off. Just not my cup of tea I suppose.

Thanks for clearing up my misconception about leases and the total MSRP of the car.

I guess I'll refine it and say that I want to stay under $400 a month.

Fair enough. I own a tc myself, but I redid the entire interior with leather seats, aluminum trim and a carbon fiber dash and it looks pretty sweet now.

I still think a beemer is right up your alley for the money you are talking about. While I generally agree with other people that leasing is usuaklly not a good option, in your case given the time frame you will use the car it is probably viable. If you bought a car new and tried to resell it in 2 years you would likely be upside down on your loan, and that is never a good thing.

For fun, I fooled around on the Scion TC site and added a lot of options that reuslted in the car coming to around $22k. The lease for 24months was $600+. Wonderful. Just scratched Scion completely off my list.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: faenix

For fun, I fooled around on the Scion TC site and added a lot of options that reuslted in the car coming to around $22k. The lease for 24months was $600+. Wonderful. Just scratched Scion completely off my list.

You sure that was a lease payment? Sounds more like the payment on to own financing for a loan of 22k for 24 months. With a lease payment you don't pay based on the value of the car, you pay based on the value of the car lost during your ownership + some other dealer determined value. If a BMW 3 series (minimum $30k car) can be had for $399/month for a 24 months lease, a 22k Scion tc should be chiming in at ~250-275 month. By lease do you mean "finance" (i.e., you would own the car after the specified time period?)