Car shopping, and I have a question.

sue_va

18 years ago

My 20 year old Honda Civic has finally expired. Time to hang the black crepe on her.

So I have been car shopping. I think I have found what I want. See the link.

I have a question though. This had been a LEASE vehicle with 35,000 miles.

Would you buy a Lease vehicle?

BTW, asking price, after haggling, is $15,429.

Opinions, please.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Honda

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Comments (31)

perdita
18 years ago
I would suggest the Carfax report. It's worth the money to find out the history of the car. You can then find where it originated, specifically, was it in any of the flooded areas?

Is this from an individual or a dealership?
Does/will it have a warranty?

Here is a link that might help:
BUYING USED CAR TIPS

and another:
2nd Link
redcurls
18 years ago
Looks like a great buy to me. And you can never go wrong with a Honda. We just bought our 8th one a month ago. Been buying Hondas since 1984.
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bud_wi
18 years ago
"Would you buy a Lease vehicle?"

I don't see how knowing how the previous owner paid for the vehicle would mean anything that would affect the resale value. What you want to look at is the condition of the car.

Have your own mechanic check it out and a Carfax report is not a bad idea either. Tip: If the dealership runs a Carfax report for you make sure you receive ALL the pages. Sometimes they will pull a page that has anything bad on it and that is usually the last page so one does not notice it is missing.
okwriter
18 years ago
I wouldn't have a problem with a leased vehicle if I had my own independent mechanic check it out.

And Carfax is not everything it's cracked up to be...here's a link to one story about a lawsuit against them.

http://www.pe.com/columns/susantompor/stories/PE_Biz_D_tompor29.23e1087.html

Here is a link that might be useful: More links to complaints about Carfax
chad_said
18 years ago
Avoid leased vehicles like the plague. When leasing, the driver has no incentive to spend money on maintenance (15,000 mile oil change, anyone?), and the car was more likely abused.
The best deal is used, 2-3 years old. Let someone else waste their money by buying new and losing 25% of the car's value in the first year.
Buy from private parties whenever possible. Do you want to help pay for the shiny showroom and espresso machine at the dealership?
linda_in_iowa
18 years ago
I think buying a vehicle when it comes off lease is the way to go. It's a couple of years old, low mileage and you get a good deal. I bought my 2000 Mazda truck when it came off lease.
lydia1959
18 years ago
I bought a leased vehicle once and was very happy with it. It was wierd though because a neighbor and friend of my SIL was the one who had leased it (we found an address in the glovebox). They live over an hour from where the car was being sold. A very odd coincidence.

I have always used the Carfax report and also checked reviews in Consumer Reports before buying. Most often the car dealer will do a free Carfax if you ask.
jenni_ca
18 years ago
Chad said......that is not so true about people leasing cars having no incentive to do maintenance and repairs.
When you turn in a leased vehicle if it is not in the condition you agreed to return it in you are going to pay for it!
Anyone that trashes a car and doesn't do needed repairs will pay in the end so I would say they DO have an incentive to do what is necessary to the vehicle.
sue_va
Original Author
18 years ago
Good morning.

I knew I would get good info and opinions here.

This would be from the same Dealer I bought my Civic from 20 years ago. Old established business.

My mechanic is a young man who worked for them when I bought the '87, and later started his own shop in my little town, which is just 15 miles away,so he has "always" worked on it. He and this Dealership are on good terms, and he does business with them in the way of parts, etc. I would have him check the car, and pay him to do so. (How much?)

The Dealer has the Carfax report. He is also crunching the numbers re financing. My DD has Wednesdays off, so she will take me tomorrow and I can see the Carfax report, and his numbers. I can also have the car for the day before I decide, if I want to.

I tried some older cars and also one Toyoto, but the '05 Honda is the only one that "felt right" when I drove it.

Today I have called two banks where I have accounts and I'm waiting for them to call me back re financing.

Just got a call back from one bank where I have a CD and a checking account. He told me he thinks the best thing to do is, using the CD as security he can get a better rate, so I told him to go ahead and check that out and get back with me.

I am also considering taking the $$ out of that CD (that is not doing much, interest-wise) and paying cash. Penalty would only be $300. That sounds pretty good to me. . no monthly payment.

Thanks for all the comments so far, and keep them coming.

Tomorrow is going to be Decision Day!

Sue
bud_wi
18 years ago
The person who leases an auto cannot "trash the car" and return it. They would be charged for damages. That is just foolish comments.

A lot people lease with the intention of exercising the option to buy at the end of the lease. It is not the most econonical way to go to obtain auto ownership, but it is sometimes the only way to go for people who cannot secure a big chunky loan for an auto. Loan places have different options for reclaiming their property depending on whether it is a lease or an outright loan. It is easier for some people to obtain a lease.

Some leases REQUIRE you to bring in the car for oil changes and scheduled maintenance at regular intervals. Sometimes the price of this is built into the lease agreement sometimes not.

Posted by chad_said: "Avoid leased vehicles like the plague. When leasing, the driver has no incentive to spend money on maintenance (15,000 mile oil change, anyone?), and the car was more likely abused. The best deal is used, 2-3 years old."

Well what do you think a leased vehicle is??? It is a used vehicle.

Keep in mind that a lot of 'company cars' are leased vehicles. Businesses do not want the hassle of dealing with negotiating and reselling, so they just lease the autos for their salespeople. And believe me, no company is going to allow their mere employee to "trash" an auto that they are responsible for.

Conversly, just because a vehicle was privately owned does not mean that the owner had the smarts to take care of it properly. Sometimes cars are purchased by parents for their teenage kids or spouse, and the cars get abused. There is no way to predict the condition of a car based on previous ownership. You still do not know who DROVE it.

TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC and have it checked out. You say you have a mechanic you can trust, so what is the problem here?
sue_va
Original Author
18 years ago
No problem here.

I just wanted to get some thoughts and opinions that might not occur to me. After all, it has been twenty years since I bought a car!

Thanks again for all your help.

Sue
susanjf_gw
18 years ago
happy driving!

i do suggest you have it checked! the salesman who leased dd2 her first car said she really didn't have to bother with oil changes, etc!
chad_said
18 years ago
Hmm, you people seem quite adept at putting words into the mouths of others to suit your own agenda. Nowhere in my post did the words "trash the car" appear.
Believe it or not, lack of maintenance and abusive driving habits can leave no visible signs upon inspection, but show up later down the road in the form of reduced engine, transmission and driveline life.
labmomma
18 years ago
I lease a vehicle and take quite execeptional care of it. Upon lease end the vehicle goes through an inspection and should it come up short on any evaluation, you can expect a bill for same.

So long as a mechanic has gone over your prospective car, you should be fine whether it is a used lease or used private owner.

I also disagree with the theory of the lesee not caring. Quite the contrary in my circle of friends and collegues.

Just my $.02.
bud_wi
18 years ago
I'm sorry chad_said, my post was not clear in its format. I only made one sentence meant in reply to your post. I used the term "trash" because it had been used in jenni_ca's post. Sorry, my mistake for not arranging my post more clearly.

On another note; Even if a car owner does take the car in for regular oil change and maintenance it does not mean the auto place was actually doing good work on it or any work at all. Decades ago, I had bought brand a new car and took it in every 3,000 for oil changes and even had the air filter and such things changed. When I moved, and went to a new place they showed me that the oil did not look like it had EVER been changed and the car even had the original Ford factory grade oil filter on it. So even if the previous owner has a history of maintenance on the vehicle it is no guarantee that the place they took it to did decent work on it.

Always have a mechanic check a potential purchase out.
grittymitts
18 years ago
We've bought only 1 person owner used cars for years (altho' never a lease) with Super results! I look in glove box for name of owner & DH has no problem calling them & asking questions. They've already closed their "deal" and telling the truth is no skin off thier nose. Saved a bundle and had less problems than when we bought brand new ones. Of course, having one checked by a trusted mechanic along with car fax is a big plus.
We always pay cash...we don't pay interest on anything- our theory is, "Why should we give our money (interest) to anyone when they already have more than we do." :)
Suzi
jenni_ca
18 years ago
Maybe you need to read again what I said. I was NOT saying you said anything about 'trashing' a car.
I said, "Anyone that trashes a car and doesn't do needed repairs will pay in the end so I would say they DO have an incentive to do what is necessary to the vehicle"
Nowhere did I say YOU said that, it was my comment.
lynn_d
18 years ago
Sorry Chad said, but you are wrong to make such a sweeping generalization. I have leased vehicles for the last 19 years of my life and I take exceptional care of them, most lessees do. We know that the vehicle is going to be inspected when we turn it in, and it is more than just a cursory once over.

None of my cars have ever missed a normal maintenance or check-up and if anything goes awry with one it goes into the dealer immediately for repair. Keep in mind that often leased vehicles are leased thru a company so maintenance and repair work is often looked at as a 'free perk' by the employee. So go for it, anyone getting one of my former leases is in for a great vehicle!
tannatonk23_fl_z9a
18 years ago
In 2001 I bought my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo at auction. It was a lease vehicle. I drive it everyday and love it. Have looked a few times at getting a newer one but have not yet found anything I like better than what I have now. So I will keep maintaining it and drive it until whenever!

~Betsy
bigfoot_liz
18 years ago
i got a lease grand cherokee from carmax jeep several yrs ago, it was 1 yr old and a jeep employee vehicle. i paid cash out right, financed the extended warranty (to build up credit) and got an even better price, it had few miles and was loaded. ran the carfax report and some other reports, everything came back clean. i have never had a single repair that was not more than something minor and covered by warranty. in the last couple of yrs i've had to do minor things like tires, shocks etc... but all due to wear & tear. i know several people w/ grand cherokees w/ more than 100K miles and i'm well over that now. if i get 1-2 yrs more i'll be VERY happy and able to again buy my next SUV (probably another jeep product or range rover) w/ cash.

this was my first used car and i grew up constantly hearing from my dad, who is a CPA and CFP, about buying a new car. you save sooooo much on buying a 1 yr old w/ extended warranty and pay cash outright and you get an even better deal! personally i've gotten over having a new car all the time in favor of getting diamond & platinum jewelry LOL. ~ liz
sue_va
Original Author
18 years ago
The beautiful '05 Honda is sitting in my garage now.

I got the car from the Dealer this morning and brought it here for my mechanic to check it out. He gave it a "thumbs up" and said everything looked fine.

I decided to pay down half and finance half, which seemed like the best way to go for me.

Today was a bright sunny day with a chill in the air. The Dealership, the bank, and the mechanic's shop were very cold. Seemed like everything took a long time and I was getting tired sitting. I thought the Computer Age was supposed to speed things up. Not. But I will say that everyone I worked with was pleasant and helpful. After signing the upteenth paper, everything was done and I didn't have anything to do on my own except I will have to get the County sticker.

When i got home around 4:30, I took my cup of hot tea, sat in the recliner and turned on the TV. Two hours later I woke up with that "Where am I? feeling".

A day well spent.

Thanks for riding it out with me.

Sue
joyfulguy
18 years ago
Sue,

I'm pleased that you have chosen a car that looks to be what you want, which has your mechanic's approval.

I hope that it gives you many years of faithful, economical service.

joyful guy
liz
18 years ago
Congrats on your new wheels Sue!!
teresava
18 years ago
You got a good deal Sue! It's hard to find Honda's that are only a couple years old-people love them so much, they hold onto them. My mom is on her 3rd Accord. Last one she sold was about 10 years old, low mileage-she put an ad in the paper and got 30 calls!! People were dying to buy it even being 10 years old! My DH has a Civic EX that is 1997, still working great (he does all the proper maintenance-does oil changes himself).

Glad to hear everything worked out!

Teresa-happy owner of a 2005 Honda CRV!!
ritamay91710
18 years ago
Congrats on the new car Sue!!
sue_va
Original Author
18 years ago
Gotta love those Hondas!!

I had my real Maiden Voyage today. Went grocery shopping. Took my "dead" phone to Radio Shack for a new battery, also the remote for my DVR that hasn't worked since Comcast was here to hook me up. Hmm, the remote battery is fine.

And then the mandatory trip to WalMart for a few things that are cheaper there than Kroger.

I LOVE THAT THINGY THAT LOCKS/UNLOCKS THE DOORS!

Sue
okwriter
18 years ago
Well, I want to see a picture!!!

:-)

Happy (and safe) driving ~
sue_va
Original Author
18 years ago
Allrghty, then!!!

I don't have one of those cameras like a lot of you have, so scroll back to the top and see the link, or here is a pic I got somewhere and put on PhotoBucket.

{{!gwi}}

I told my family that since I bought this car I might have to give up one or two things, so I thought I would start with Birthday and Christmas presents! lol

Did I mention that I really do like it?

Sue
mariend
18 years ago
If you like the car, feel comfortable with the dealer and mechanic go for it.
Enjoy it have fun!!
mariend
18 years ago
Don't for get to change the insurance and just to be on the safe side, check the oil, water, fluid levals and tires.
okwriter
18 years ago
Oooooh! She is perty!

:-)

Car shopping, and I have a question.

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