Hi folks, I am very new to leasing (never leased before, but have been reading and watching videos about it). I have heard talks about current market and am very worried about my choice of leasing. I have been trying to get answers from articles and videos, but mostly are either not answered or the sources are outdated. I just hope I can get some clarification.
So, is there a certain time of the year when leasing/buying prices go down quite a bit? Perhaps end of the year when new year models come out?
As far as make and models go, personally I want either Honda or Toyota just because they are reliable. My 2007 Civic Hybrid needs minimal maintenance so I kind of expect my new one to be the same. But since I am looking for leasing, does that mean I get to widen my net because I don’t need to worry about them too much due to new car warranty? I have never owned a brand new car before so kind of curious how those warranty work.
Final question, is this really a bad time to go into a lease deal? I live in bay area and I see leases on an Accord Hybrid with MSRP of $34300 is $372/month of 36m/12k, plus tax and other fee, well exceeding the “one percent” rule. Is this “one percent” rule totally outdated or it’s just not applicable right now in this kind of market?
I know I have too many questions, and thank you all for your help in advance!