Author: G

May 2008 Lease Rate for 08 VW Jetta

Published by G

Jetta GLI
36mo/15k miles per year – residual 52% – money factor .00050

Jetta S
36mo/15k miles per year – residual 57% – money factor .00111

cash incentive: $1000

My Take: The New(er) Jetta has grown up compared to the last generation. Much like the new Accord, the Jetta has put on some weight and expanded both in length and width. (Sounds like me as I get older). The money factor is very good right now, the $1000 cash incentive is icing on the cake. The residual on the GLI could be better, but your money factor is next to nothing.  If you can negotiate a good selling price, this is not a bad ride to get. VW is pretty much pitching the $1000 as “sign and drive”, so they just use the cash incentive to cover your drive-off. Not bad if you want to get into a ride with no money to start.

March 2008 Lease Rate for 08 Mercedes Benz CL-Class

Published by G

2008 Mercedes CL550 Coupe
24 Month – Residual 59% of MSRP – .00365 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 50% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 43% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 37% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

2008 Mercedes CL600 Coupe
24 Month – Residual 50% of MSRP – .00365 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 43% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 37% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 32% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

2008 Mercedes CL63 AMG Coupe
24 Month – Residual 54% of MSRP – .00365 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 47% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 40% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 35% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

2008 Mercedes CL65 V12 AMG Coupe
24 Month – Residual 49% of MSRP – .00365 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 43% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 37% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 32% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

* Residuals posted are for 15K miles/year. Add 2% to Residual for 12k mi/yr and 3% for 10k mi/yr on all terms
** Rates provided by Tarry Shebesta from Leasecompare.com

My Take: I’ve never been a big fan of the CL. I never found that car to be sporty enough to be called a coupe. Think of it as a 2-door alternative to the E-Class, which I prefer over the CL quite frankly. Personally, I wouldn’t lease the CL this month. The rates are way too high and the residuals are terribly low, making your payments insanely high. There are better cars to be had at that price tag if you ask me. This seems to be ongoing theme this month for Mercedes Benz in general.

May 2008 Lease Rate 08 Audi R8

Published by G

2008 Audi R8 6-speed
24 Month – Residual 58% of MSRP – .00302 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 50% of MSRP – .00302 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 42% of MSRP – .00322 Base Rate
** This is a special 10K mi/year **

2008 Audi R8 R tronic
24 Month – Residual 57% of MSRP – .00302 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 49% of MSRP – .00302 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 41% of MSRP – .00322 Base Rate
** This is a special 10K mi/year **

*Lease rates from Tarry Shebesta at LeaseCompare.com

My Take: Aside for that carbon fiber panel on the side of the car, this ride is HOT!!! Not sure I want to pay a money factor of .00302 though, specially considering the residual is so low. The car is oh so SWEET though, I think I’d buy it if I had the money. There should be a convertible coming soon, now that’s a fun car for SoCal summers.

May 2008 Lease Rates for 08 Mercedes Benz C-Class

Published by G

2008 Mercedes C300 Luxury
24 Month – Residual 65% of MSRP – .00250 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 56% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 47% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 42% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

2008 Mercedes C300 Luxury 4matic
24 Month – Residual 65% of MSRP – .00240 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 56% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 47% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 42% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

2008 Mercedes C300 Sport
24 Month – Residual 65% of MSRP – .00250 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 56% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 47% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 43% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

2008 Mercedes C300 Sport 4matic
24 Month – Residual 65% of MSRP – .00240 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 56% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 47% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 43% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

2008 Mercedes C350 Sport
24 Month – Residual 64% of MSRP – .00230 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 55% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 48% of MSRP – .00260 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 43% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

2008 Mercedes C63 AMG
24 Month – Residual 65% of MSRP – .00365 Base Rate
36 Month – Residual 56% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
48 Month – Residual 48% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate
60 Month – Residual 43% of MSRP – .00330 Base Rate

* Residuals posted are for 15K miles/year. Add 2% to Residual for 12k mi/yr and 3% for 10k mi/yr on all terms
** Rates provided by Tarry Shebesta from Leasecompare.com

My Take: If MB (Mercedes Benz) isn’t taking advantage of the newly redesigned C-Class, then I don’t know what they are doing. A whopping .00365 money factor on the C63 AMG? OUCH! .00230 and .00240 isn’t exactly that low either. I do love the aggressive/muscle car look of the new C-Class. This car definitely more refined than the previous C-Class. I can’t say I would recommend leasing this car considering how terrible the residual and MF are. It is obvious MB is milking early adopters for all they got at the moment.

FREE $50 Gas Voucher with Test Drive this Memorial Weekend

Published by G

I recently received an email from Norm Reeves Honda in Cerritos, CA. If you are in the neighborhood and want to test drive a Honda this weekend, head over to Norm Reeves. They will be giving out $50 gas vouchers for people who test drive their cars. The gas vouchers will be mailed to you (basically want your contact info in exchange for it) afterwards. They will also have some BBQ all weekend long, in case you get hungry during your test drive.

Word of caution: Obviously, this a marketing gimmick to get you on the dealership floor and let their sales guys work you. It is typically a BAD IDEA to go buy or lease a car during “sales events”. My recommendation is to go there to sign up for the voucher, drive their car, maybe grab a hot dog or hamburger and go do something else (Cerritos Mall is on the other side of the freeway, so maybe you can go roam there afterwards). Unless you REALLY are looking for a car and you are getting invoice price, an awesome MF, residual and low fees, DON’T GET YOUR CAR THIS WEEKEND! You’ve been warned.

This offer is valid until May 26th, 2008.

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