5 Facts!! Good Time to Lease a Car

Now that Thanksgiving is over, oil is at record highs, the financial and stock markets are reeling, and Christmas is approaching, auto manufacturers are starting to panic.

And that’s great news for consumers, making this one of the best of all possible times to lease a new vehicle.

I’m in the hunt, myself, seeing spectacular values on a variety of short term, 24 month leases.

Mercedes, for instance, is offering deals on its E-Class cars. For a payment that just slightly exceeds what you’d pay for a V-8 Ford Mustang, you can be riding in style.

Volvo is featuring a lease at $369 for 24 months on its “cross-country” XC70 wagon. That company is even throwing in a rear seat DVD system to keep the toddlers smiling on the way to preschool.

Here are 5 facts it’s a good time to lease:

(1) Providing you make your payments and drive the allotted miles and keep the car in good trim, you can walk away in 24 months and then you’ll see a ton of new, more energy efficient hybrids gleaming in showrooms. It will be a great time to trade-in and save on fuel.

(2) Dealers are hungry, so they’re willing to exceed the values offered by manufacturers. Instead of getting stripped models, you’ll be likely to get navigation systems, or heated seats, or an I-pod port thrown into the deal, for free.

(3) The car you trade in, you know that gas guzzler, is going to keep dropping like a stone in value, so now’s a good time to cash-out.

(4) This is still the beginning of the model year, which means you’ll be driving a car that will maintain its value, longer. Why should you worry, you might wonder, if you’re LEASING? Two reasons: (a) If you decide to buy that beautiful chariot at the end of 24 months you’ll be realizing a greater bargain; and (b) If the car holds its value and depreciates slowly, you may not have to stay in it for the full 24 months. You might be able to sell it privately, or return it to the dealer sooner, with no money out of pocket.

(5) All of us have an “itch cycle,” a time when we hanker for something new. When it comes to cars, I’m in love with my rides for about 24-36 months, and then my eyes start to wander. Leasing means you’re guaranteed there will be a purchaser for the wheels that no longer thrill you and you won’t have to mess with running ads or with tire kickers who want to bargain you down into the dust.

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