13Leafster said:
Hi, I am wanting to lease this weekend for 36 months. A few questions - answers would be appreciated. In the calculations for total out of pocket costs over the life of the lease, are you factoring in the taxes, title, registration, document and acquisition fees, or just the down payment (if any) and monthly payments? Which should add up to about what for a reasonable 36 month lease in the Bay Area (not including fees and taxes)? Have you seen a big disparity in the fees and taxes among different deals, if so, why? Is there a disposition fee at the end of the lease to return the vehicle to Nissan? On a 36 month lease is one eligible for CA state rebate of $2500? Does one have to pay sales tax on the $7500 federal rebate that is factored into the lease? What is the average residual value at the end of a 36 month lease (the amount you would then buy the vehicle for if interested? Ford focus vs. Leaf, etc., etc.................
13Leafster, I appreciate your eagerness to get your car this weekend, but I have to suggest that based on all your questions you might not be ready. Knowledge is power and you need to gain a lot more knowledge of what you want, why you want it, and what is the least amount of $ you can get it for in your area before making your purchase.
For example, you are not even considering a two year lease as opposed to three because you believe the CA rebate is going to save you money. But you haven't done any analysis. First, the rebate CA rebate $ is dried up and you will have to wait and trust that it will be funded. Second, the Nissan quotes on three year leases are so expensive that many people find they pay more per year even after the CA rebate. Third, if you lease for three years make sure you are saving enough to buy 4 tires you may have to replace, which surely won't happen at two years. Add a brake fluid change and cabin filter also which may not be necessary for a two year lease. After you do you analysis of all these factors and more, and compare the offers for each, you may decide the three year is the way to go, or maybe not.
That's just one issue. I could write a lot more, analyzing each of your questions and points. But you really just need to do your homework and read through this thread and you will hear the pros and cons and thorough analysis on a lot of your issues.
As for machbird's suggestions, I respectfully disagree with virtually his entire approach. He chose to deal with the dealer on THEIR terms, starting with THEiR ridiculous highball price and working them down a bit and getting a few worthless throw ins at the end. They likely would have thrown in Thanksgiving dinner, with all the fixins, delivered to his house hot for three years for what he ended up paying for the lease. Hint: why do you think they just kept saying "yes" to what he asked for? He honestly believed that the salesman they employ was working for HIM to get HIM a great deal. Ultimately, he truly believes that he squeezed a good deal out of it based on what? Because it was better than the dealer's first highball offer? The truth is that our knowledgeable and analytical forum members have achieved MUCH better deals in NorCA on similar Leafs over the past year.
The better approach is to do your homework, gain knowledge on what you want and why and demand the lowest price that we know from experience the dealer in our area will give us. That is what this forum enables you to do; it is the antithesis of machbird's (the dealer's) approach. Knowledge is power and power enables you to negotiate on YOUR terms, not theirs.