Car Leasing

tamiami

I'm thinking of leasing a car. Had enough of old cars and hassle and repairs. I need something reliable and fancy something new that I can change ever 2 or 3 years.
There are so many companies available when I google it!
Does anyone have any recommendations and advice please.
Thanks

Hintza

The deals that were around 3-4 years ago are just not available now so you must do your sums very carefully.

I used to work on if the monnthly payments were around 1/100th of the RRP you were getting a stonking deal. If they were 1/70th it was getting marginal. (I haven't one the sums for awhile now so they need to be checked). To get monhly payments I added in the deposit and then divided by the term.


Do not choose the car, you must choose the deal (ie don't say I want a Fiesta and focus on that, think laterally and be open to the car that will suit). Look for unpopular cars or runout moddels that are due for replacement.

Check thoroughly what is included (MB don't include VED) and make sure you have it in writing.

Ensure the mileage allowance is adequate. If the options are 10k or 15k and you reckon you will do 12k miles do the sums but probably better to take the 10k. Remember if they quote 10p per mile VAT has to be added.

If I were you I would start looking now but really get serious end of November/December you should get a good deal then.

Factor in a big valet at the end of contract. Don't send the car back with any dings or scratches.


Research, research and more research

Here is a good place to start:-

http://www.contracthireandleasing.com/

Ling cars is good (MIL has hers from there) and her prices are good but search around an save all links in your browser so you can check prices everyday or so.

tamiami

Thats great advice, thank you.

charlea

weve used lings cars twice and smartlease as well presently with lings cars
definalty check around as the prices vary hugely we had a mazda mx5 on a 07 plate a few years ago paying 189 a month and three months deposit other places wanted as much as 300 a month so do your homework

Dont go for anything longer than 3 years either as the warrenty runs out and you could be left with a large bill if anything goes wrong
A audi tt convertible that we leased in the last year started to leak in the summer and let in rain at the back of the roof
We were away when it started leaking the damage was considerable and with car rental that they had to give us and the car was in the garage for 5 weeks while they waited for parts ect it was over 5k worth of damage

some included road tax, some dont,

as hintza says pick the deal have a few cars that your open to and colours
if your really fussy and want a specifc car with a specifc colour and interior model ect then you will pay for it If you not then you can get a good deal

when we got our audi tt earlier this year we were pretty much open to various cars ie bmw mercedes audis in any colour ect so we were able to get a good deal for our budget

this is very important as well when you send the car back, cancel the standing order immediatly and cancel any credit /debit card that you may have made any payments for the car ie deposits ect say that may have been stolen rather than lost that way you get a new account number rather than the same one

This is because if there is anything wrong with the car its not unknown for the leasing company to take the money from your bank account as they send you the letter out informing you that they are doing this ( This happend to us luckily managed to get the money back due to Ling from Lings cars intervening for us as we were getting another car from her) but they did take two seperate amounts of money from our account totallin over 800 and the photos they sent us of any supposed damage were crap A4 rs in black and white photo copies
If they do send you a bill asked for a receipt from the garage with a vat number ect and a total breakdown of whats been done and the cost
its often done several weeks after the car goes back ( if they do it at all which i dont think they do as they go to auction

take photos /videos and get it timedated ect so that you have proof of what condition the car is like when it goes back check the milage and take a photo of it as well
then if you want to send the leasing company a letter recorded letting them know that you have done this just in case they try it on
If anything goes wrong make sure its done at insurance approved garages and keep all receipts as well as this is another thing they like to say is that the damage /respray is not done to there standards

The cars are often sold at auction afterward so its impossible to be able to go and see what damage they are talking about

Hintza

Another point if you get a car for three years check when it was registered otherwise you might have a MOT to pay for. If it is registered a day or so before you get car send it back a week early.

thisisthecount

I'm in the same position, thrown far too much money at a 6 year car which high mileage and now looking at the lease option.

I run my own business (partnership) - not sure if this makes any difference?

I've found this Audi A4 in just a couple of sites at this sort of price, seems too good to be true? :

http://www.stablevehiclecontracts.co.uk/vehicle_spec.php?VID=105

Seems like a high spec vehicle to me as I currently have a 2005 Audi A4 already, old shape.

At approx £270 per month with only 6 payments as deposit and just 23 months contract, seems a good deal, but then this is the first time I have looked at lease?

any expert advice?

thanks

forgotmyname

+VAT £310 a month for that link. Nearly £2000 deposit and 23 payments.

£9000 to rent a car for 2 years. Hand it back as long as its in good condition and have nothing to show for that money,
Then pick another?

8000 mile limit.

It sounds mad to me, But works for some i guess.

thisisthecount

I am vat registered so I get that back anyhow. I also think if I walked out with the car from the showroom I would lose 9k after 2 years anyhow I am thinking.