My Take: The the ML350 and the ML320 are probably the better leases this month. The ML350 has a fairly low residual value, but the money factor is good (not great though). Then you have ML320 which has a much higher residual value and the money factor is still within an acceptable range. The bad news is that this month’s rates are much worse than March 2009’s numbers. The good news is that MB has been fairly competitive in pricing lately, so you should definitely check with a few dealers to see who’s willing to give you the best deal.
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2009 Mercedes ML
2009 Mercedes ML320 CDI 4WD SUV
24-month | 15k miles | residual 62% | .00185 base money factor
36-month | 15k miles | residual 53% | .00147 base money factor
48-month | 15k miles | residual 44% | .00147 base money factor
2009 Mercedes ML350 4WD SUV
24-month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00120 base money factor
36-month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00080 base money factor
48-month | 15k miles | residual 39% | .00080 base money factor
2009 Mercedes ML550 4WD SUV
24-month | 15k miles | residual 48% | .00220 base money factor
36-month | 15k miles | residual 39% | .00280 base money factor
48-month | 15k miles | residual 35% | .00280 base money factor
2009 Mercedes ML63 AMG 4WD SUV
24-month | 15k miles | residual 50% | .00430 base money factor
36-month | 15k miles | residual 42% | .00395 base money factor
48-month | 15k miles | residual 37% | .00395 base money factor
My Take: It’s rather funny how most people associate “high resale value” with all of Honda’s cars when in reality, only a select few retain their value well. Take the Odyssey for example, this is probably the best minivan on the road, yet its residual value is a paltry 46% after 36 months. Lease residual values may poor guestimates of real resale value, but there is still some truth to them (In most cases, resale are that much better while trade-in values are much worse). The only two rides that hold value exceptionally well are the Civic and the Accord, since they are fairly inexpensive and highly sought after. Normally, I would take the time to calculate the payment estimates for these two rides, but with the money factors this high, I would recommend that you look into a purchase instead of a lease.
My Take: Like always, the Q7 has a really low residual value and a low money factor. Ideally, the money factor should be lower to compensate for the low residuals, but I think the Q7 is selling at or below invoice nowadays, which isn’t too bad.
My Take: Residual values are bit low for my taste, but the money factor is pretty decent, sitting at just around 2% APR. I didn’t bother posting the 48-month terms because the money factor jumps to .00265, so that’s a big no-no in my book.
My Take: Nothing new is going on with the TSX and the TL this month. The rates are exactly the same as March. VERY DISAPPOINTING!!! Oh well, at lease invoice price should be attainable in most markets with decent competition. I’m not seeing any cash rebates or special financing of any kind for either ride, so you better put that negotiating hat on because it’s going to take some extra effort on your part to get a good deal.
My Take: The Subby Legacy’s 36-month lease is supposed to be the best deal, but the residual value is too low while the money factor is still too high to make it a great deal. I would recommend skipping this lease for now. There isn’t much we can do about the residual, but I do think Subaru can do a better job with the money factor.