Had a Friend Ask Me Advice For What Car To Buy

"Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis" (Dwhite95)
12/20/2016 at 11:37 • Filed to: None

Shes about to go way over the mileage on her lease for a CX-5. Told me she wanted to get buy a new car so that she didn’t have to worry about that anymore. So I price out another CX-5 to buy and the payments are a bit rich for her blood, and she was hoping to get some extra options.

Look at other options and most of them are just as expensive or more-so. So I point out that other cars could do the trick, like Mazda3 Hatch, Focus, or Fiesta. She says no, she has to have a higher seating position. Its like, “well then, we’ve hit a wall, haven’t we?*”

*I also just remembered that they make subcompact CUVs now. Maybe those could work...

DISCUSSION (23)

E92M3 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 11:40

Could she just buy it at the end of the lease to avoid extra mileage charges?? The payment will be cheaper than leasing a new one.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > E92M3
12/20/2016 at 11:41

Didnt think of that, could be an option.

Arrivederci > E92M3
12/20/2016 at 11:41

This. As long as she hasn’t beat it to hell, this seems to be the best option.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 11:41

Unfortunately for her most of the subcompact SUVs like the cx3 don’t have that high of a seating position.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 11:42

Is she opposed to used? Why not a recent-year used CUV/small SUV? Payments would be smaller, and if new enough, still under warranty?

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/20/2016 at 11:45

As far as I know loans with reasonable rates are a bit harder to secure to used cars, especially for someone without a huge credit history.

But I could be wrong.

jasmits > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 11:47

I don’t understand the higher seating position thing.. Okay, I do understand the higher seating position thing, I drive a 4Runner and the world just looks a bit different from that than it does in my E36 but I don’t get it being a requirement, especially when a crossover is like 5 inches taller than a hatchback or car.

jasmits > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
12/20/2016 at 11:48

Yeah but neither does the CX-5 really. It’s the idea of it that gets people, not the facts

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 11:52

Most dealers/auto companies offer extended warranties for purchase at a later date as long as the factory warranty is still active. Not sure prices, but she might be able to swing her lease buyout plus adding a warranty to assuage any fears of repair costs. Make sure warranty is factory backed though. If it is dealer-only I wouldn’t get it.

Tom would know if that is even a good idea to begin with.

Steve in Manhattan > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 11:53

Did she get the price to buy out the lease?

CalzoneGolem > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 11:54

Like others have said she should just buy the car she’s leasing. If she’s dead set on having a different car then a Kia Soul will provide the upright and higher seating position in a car that is cheap to own, cheap to run and one of the safest cars on the road.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 11:59

Honda HR-V. Mostly because you don’t want to hear from them if something you recommend to them goes poorly and she doesn’t want a Fit.

Bytemite > CalzoneGolem
12/20/2016 at 12:07

I also recommend the Soul. It is just a higher ride height hatchback. While other CUVs are heavier and use bigger engines, funkboxes like the Soul offer the ride height with the same compact weight and fuel efficiency.

Also, she can buy out her lease which I also recommend. Turning in a lease without buying or leasing another car from the same dealer had a charge...like close to $1,000. Also there is ALWAYS “extra” wear and tear charges that will also cost her.

Also, that ride height requirement is just dumb. Ride height doesn’t do anything. What does she think sitting a bit higher offers her? I mean other than hindering all driving dynamics and looking dumb.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 12:13

I’ve been thru this with a friend, brother-in-law and myself. The markup for crossovers is amazing. even a base CUV was more than an equivalent loaded sedan / hatch. I think it was like a $5k difference.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > jasmits
12/20/2016 at 12:14

I dunno, my neighbor has a cx3 and it’s noticably shorter than my cx5.

E92M3 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 12:24

Seems like a win/win, unless she hates it. Her lease paperwork should state the buyout price (which by the way can be negotiated when the term is up). She should be able to finance it for up to 60 months.

A lot of people lease a car on purpose for 3 years with intentions to buy it afterwards to have lower monthly payments. It’s essentially financing a car for 8 years. 3 yr lease + 5 years financing. Not the smartest thing financially, but it allows you to get a nicer car than you could otherwise afford.

Rykilla303 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 13:00

Those convos with me are usually short.

“buy something old and not running. You’ll have a story to tell and a great car when you finish all the work!”

friend immediately recognizes the terrible mistake in asking me

Textured Soy Protein > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 13:12

As long as her credit score is good even if the history is limited, she should be able to get a good loan from say, a credit union. Also places online like LightStream. These are their current used car rates, with good credit and autopay, could do as low as 2.24% for 60 months.

nerd_racing > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 13:48

CX3 maybe?

DynamicWeight > Bytemite
12/20/2016 at 14:20

“ride height does nothing” Lol you say this after you just commented how high we are in my truck and could see everything.

Bytemite > DynamicWeight
12/20/2016 at 14:26

Hah! Your truck is a huge difference though. It feels like your sitting on the 2nd floor of an apartment building while moving. It actually needs a step ladder, CUVs don’t. Speaking of which, is that on yet?

DynamicWeight > Bytemite
12/20/2016 at 14:43

Yup! Steps are on.

Khalbali > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
12/20/2016 at 14:56

She doesn’t even need to buy it herself just keep it and then trade it in at the end of the lease instead of turning it in to Mazda. Mileage penalty only matters if you return the lease, although obviously a car with more miles will be worth less it won’t be $.20 per mile. Source-former Mazda salesman current Mazda tech.