Just moved to berkeley, CA area without a car and need to get one ASAP (currently in rental car). More than anything trying to find something which is both cheap AND a good value for my current job which is provisionally a 3 year appointment.
found a deal on a jetta. I’m definitely not married to this car, but have been having trouble finding really great deals nearby. I’m a new leaser and don’t know things really well, so apologies for some n00b questions, but yes I have read the intro posts, and searched the forums
I found a deal for a Jetta SE for $79 a month plus $3000 down all inclusive (tax, fees, registrations etc) for 24 mo/10 K miles. Dealer doesn’t want to negotiate the nuts and bolts of the all inclusive (how much goes where etc.), but is ok with me splitting it up into the monthly payments. Looks like it comes out to about $204. seems like an ok deal for the car. What are your thoughts?
Pros: I like the jetta engine, pickup, handling, safety. decent MPG I suppose
Cons: I prefer something with a better more technologically advanced interior, and more cargo space. Also, not the biggest fan of the looks.
I prefer a 3 yr. lease, and something a little cheaper, or at least a better value. open to other cars. like maybe a smaller wagon or something. basically, open to all thoughts:
You should be able to do better with a Elantra for sure. Better spec. Vw isn’t leasing well lately except the atlas. I’ve seen it for $299 a month 0 down.
That seems rather high for the type of car. If you aren’t set against GM, they lease fairly well (especially if you are a costco member). Try the Trax or Encore that are basically small SUV econo boxes but should have apple carplay, navi, etc. Otherwise, try the Civic. I’ve seen deals at or better than yours for what I think is a superior car.
what should i try to target for an elantra per month (everything included)? I was struggling to find anything below 200, but admittedly didn’t try an elantra.
Sadly I just looked it up and saw they killed off the super good lease incentives this month :(. Would have been in the 130ish range without the dealer discounting any on a eco model. (before tax).
But based on everything ive looked at myself. I recommend seeking out a 2017 Impreza and seeing what can be done. I have a 2018 crosstrek now which is what I decided on and its great. It is technically a Impreza on suv suspension. With $3000 down I dont see why you couldn’t get to around $130 or so a month (Depending on local taxes and registration). I see around 2400 off MSRP max on a 2017 base automatic. So use that as a good number to try to get discounted since I dont see you going the limited route as I did.
I see a decent deal on a 2017 Corolla LE on Honcker in SoCal. $149/month including tax with $1226 due at signing for 36/12k. Maybe you can get a comparable deal in NorCal.
Jetta for $79 w/$3000 down seems like a pretty standard dealer ad. If you are just looking for dealer advertised specials and then trying to negotiate based on them, you probably aren’t going to find anything amazing.
In order to get a great deal, you’ll need to research models that you are interested in and find out the mf, rv, and lease cash to see if a deal can be had. Then use your knowledge of how much it should cost with a decent discount to contact dealers for quotes.
If you are really pressed for time, consider hiring a broker, who will do all of the above for you.
Find a vehicle you actually will enjoy driving. Do not get yourself stuck with a car you chose based upon monthly payment alone. With some work (and not rushing into anything), you can negotiate a vehicle you are satisfied with at a more than favorable deal.
The most significant thing I learned after joining this forum was that you could find all of the information for negotiating a great lease here, but it will take some time to comprehend and understand it enough to apply it.
I am in the Bay Area, and rentals are expensive. I would look to the Honcker app if you do not wish to negotiate (or are uncomfortable with the process) or download the Fair app. The Fair app is probably not the long-term solution you are seeking, but it will perhaps save you money on a rental while you are looking for a proper lease (I was spending $1,000 a month over the summer for rentals). It takes time and patience to negotiate a good deal, and this will give you that time without worrying about how much money you are paying for a rental (in my opinion). I rushed things a few times due to this issue.
With the lease I just signed, what I paid in three months of rental fees would have covered 14 months of my car payments.
You could also look at assuming someone’s else’s lease if you find a car with good payments and years left on the term. Check out lease swap sites like Swapalease. Benefit there being you don’t have to deal with many of the drive off fees of a new car and you may even find someone motivated to pay you to take it off their hands.
Here is another recommendation for @chevysalesgirl . While I did not lease from Tricia (only due to her inventory moving so quickly), she was the kindest - by far. Her knowledge helped me immensely with my new lease. You will not have to worry about anything.
I went to the dealership, that’s where I got the above numbers. it’s nominally $1000 down plus another $2000 in various fees that they wouldn’t break down for me but in practice it’s drive off of $3000 plus the 79 a month
