This statement is so insightful that it should be stickied as required reading.
I was speaking to insurance when I wrote this:
IDK if there’s something psychological/sentimental about the i4 that would make the OP feel they are rebuilding their lives but if it were me I wouldn’t get a luxury car if “money is tight” as the OP has repeatedly said. At $500/m for the car and an assumed $240/m for insurance and high annual CA reg that’s ~$28,000 over 3 years.
Yeah I mean I didn’t want to say anything but since we’re broaching the topic, it seemed kind of crazy for all of these things to be said by the same person…
“I am thinking about leasing an i4”…
followed by
“I’m pinching pennies so waiving the fee is greatly appreciated.”
followed by
“Before I get you working, cash is tight here.”
followed by
“Before I send you off to get a car, can you give me an idea of what it would cost to lease a $60,000 i4 with minimum drive off?”
@ everyone, take a deep breath and exhale. You’re clearly dealing with someone who’s not used to penny pinching and is currently trying to figure out which way is up. I bet that OP isn’t some working stiff living paycheck to paycheck. Most people in the Palisades are high income, most are high net worth, some UHNW, yet they won’t have any clarity in their lives for at least a couple of years after those fires.
@ OP, go on Google Maps or invest a little bit of time into learning Plug Share app. Odds are there are plenty of level 2 chargers in your new area. See if you can manage with those charging while working or overnight if you don’t have a plug in the garage wherever you’re staying.
Having said that, i4 is probably a bad choice for you as you’ll be shopping a lot over the next few years and probably moving at least once - you need a bigger car. If you can manage charging, go for either Honda Prologue, Acura ZDX or at least Hyundai Ioniq 5 (comes with free EA charging, but EA is MIA on the Westside). If EV isn’t doable, look into Marketplace deals on Mercedes GLC300 or Mazda SUVs.
GL with everything!
Just got a quote from my insurance agent for an i4 and an X3. i4 is about $400 per year more than what I pay now, so about $2200. X3 is about what I pay now, so about $1700.
New? I don’t know about that…
*Net worth - typo.
My phone suffers from an occasional autoerection