Leasing hybrid cars
I've received several e-mails regarding leasing hybrid cars, or more precisely, the inability to lease hybrids. Even when a lease is offered, the terms of the lease are simply ridiculous.
Yesterday, Scott e-mailed me and told me that he tried to lease a Mercury Mariner hybrid, after putting a downpayment on the next Mariner hybrid to arrive at his dealer. When it arrived, the dealer would only lease it at an extremely high rate.
When I've shopped for hybrids in the Los Angeles area, my dealers wouldn't offer a lease on either the Toyota Highlander hybrid or the Toyota Prius if they had any available on the lot. I've also encountered hints that greasing the hands of the salesperson could get me into a Prius quicker.
I'll be test driving the new Civic hybrid soon and will check into a lease on that vehicle.
Have you had a similar experience?
Yesterday, Scott e-mailed me and told me that he tried to lease a Mercury Mariner hybrid, after putting a downpayment on the next Mariner hybrid to arrive at his dealer. When it arrived, the dealer would only lease it at an extremely high rate.
When I've shopped for hybrids in the Los Angeles area, my dealers wouldn't offer a lease on either the Toyota Highlander hybrid or the Toyota Prius if they had any available on the lot. I've also encountered hints that greasing the hands of the salesperson could get me into a Prius quicker.
I'll be test driving the new Civic hybrid soon and will check into a lease on that vehicle.
Have you had a similar experience?
Labels: Civic hybrid, Highlander hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles, Mariner hybrid, prius, toyota
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:19 AM
2 Comments:
Just a few comments to add some reality to the economics of leasing a hybrid. Leasing tends to be of benefit primarily in shorter term trade cycles 24,36 or maybe 48 months). This is at direct odds with the economics of obtaining a hybrid. A hybrid buyer pays a premium upfront for the longterm payback of better gas mileage. In addition, manufacturers are not offering large rebates on hybrid models due to supply and demand. It's these rebates applied upfront against short term leases on other models that makes the payments on them so attractive. Until the supply and demand curve changes, you are generally further ahead buying, not leasing, a hybrid.
Great points.
Of course with rising gas prices, maybe this will change quickly.
I'm an unusual buyer of cars. I buy for transportation, not for image. Thus, I usually own a car almost until it doesn't run anymore.
I think owning a car for the long term is always the best choice, at least for me.
I know too many people that pay more for their car note, insurance etc than they do on their rent. I don't get it.
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