I’m an expat who has moved here on work for 4 years and on checking around with fellow expats I realized in the first 6 months ( till you build up a credit history) you can only choose from BMW, Mercedes, Audi or VW - surprisingly all European brands for leasing. Aren’t the American brands missing a trick here? All of them charge an MF of 3-4 % too.
Why the SUV craze - Am I missing a trick for all the single guys and girls buying an SUV? Is sedan not an option for a reason?
The forum has really helped understand American leasing terms and rip-offs. Thanks.
Why not? The downside of an SUV has dwindled in recent years. Now you cam get one just as efficient as a sedan, yet larger boot and easier ingress/egress. I have many options (sedan, coupe, minivan, and SUV), and the SUV has the smallest footprint, best mileage, and 2nd best utility next to the van. The only advantage with the sedan is performance. If I’m going out for fun, the sedan gets the nod, but the SUV is the better everyday vehicle.
Interesting how certain words are innately ethnocentric: as an American I only think of expats as Americans working abroad (having dealt with/accommodated many) - to us, you’re here on a work visa. Either way, welcome from wherever you expatriated from.
I’m not aware of it being just a euro-brand. I’m aware of several Japanese brands whose captive lease to work visas as long as:
you have established credit history, and
your visa is valid during the term of your lease (many many captives and lenders were burned in 2003 and 2008 by folks who parked their cars at the airports and just went home)
Ehh. With 6 months credit history on a visa you shouldn’t expect A-tier/Tier-1. That said, you get a score like anyone, and land on the rate sheet accordingly. BMW only has 1 MF, VW can very across make and model.
If you can lease, you can lease anything you want. Fat Americans like big cup holders, “riding up high”, and buying a vehicle for the least likely scenario (not unlike buying a house for the dining room because Christmas and Easter).
Better said. Because when gas is cheap, Americans want to drive Tahoes and Suburbans, most are built here or as close to here to reduce shipping costs and currency risk. Why BMW builds all the X models in South Carolina and MB builds most SUVs in Alabama (also: non-union labor in their case).
That is the problem. Most of us need a car right away and can’t wait 6 months. I feel the other companies are missing an opportunity to sell. You can always verify how much you make with your employer and every category of visa has a minimum pay grade, which makes it easier.
Are you from Europe, perhaps UK specifically? Bear in mind that the Euro brands are able to consider your UK or EU credit history largely because, well, that’s where they’re from and have a deep well of credit based knowledge of.
For other manufacturers, I wouldn’t say they’re ‘missing a trick’, more that it isn’t really worth their effort and the credit risk to vet out non-US credit history for what is, overall, a fairly small market base.
Of course. I have owned a few and love them. But they are rare here and command a premium. Due to supply and demand, an SUV is often cheaper than a wagon.
Really? That’s all you have. That is an absurd statement. Are there dumb Americans, sure just like there are dumb people from every country. There is more innovation in just about every field of study coming out of the US than any other country.
Americans like SUVs because it gives them more room. Gas is cheap here compared to the rest of the world so fuel economy isn’t a concern and parking is ample aside from most big cities so the large cars aren’t an issue.
And, people drive like @$$hats/always looking down at their phones, so I want my wife and child in the biggest vehicle possible. I have no problem admitting that.
While a Hyundai Veloster may have good scores according to US News, I’d take our Land Rover in a head on collision any day.
