1105_subaru_impreza_concept

2011 Subaru Lease Rates – May 2011

The Legacy 2.5i Premium lease rates look rather good this month. Even with a measly $1000 off MSRP discount, you are still getting a pretty good deal on the lease. The V6 is more fun to drive, but if you need AWD and are on a tight budget, this might be a good compromise.


Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 Legacy 2.5i Premium Sedan
MSRP – $23,020
Sale Price – $22,041
Monthly – $254 + tax
RWG Rating – 90.2

For Dealer Quotes, CLICK HERE.


NOTE: Hyundai residuals increase 1% from 15k to 12k and 2% from 15k to 10k.

2011 Outback 2.5i
36-month | 15k miles | residual 52% | .00120 base money factor

2011 Outback 2.5i Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 51% | .00130 base money factor

2011 Legacy 2.5i Limited CVT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00080 base money factor

2011 Legacy 2.5i Premium Sedan
36-month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00070 base money factor

2011 Forester 2.5X Premium
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00175 base money factor

2011 Forester 2.5 XT Premium
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00180 base money factor

2011 Forester 2.5X Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00190 base money factor

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What’s Going On – April 2011

Last Friday, I became a first-time homeowner! Woo Hoo! That’s been the biggest reason why I’ve been completely out-of-it in the past month. Unfortunately, I am in fixing-n-packing mode this month, so I have to continue keeping my comments short. I will continue to do what I can and drop a few lines here and there to help out. Lease rates should also be coming in the next couple days. I have already sent out request for some numbers and will focus in finding some numbers for you all in the coming weeks. Your patience is appreciated.

Working with the house this past weekend has opened my eyes to how inconvenient having a coupe really is. Hauling things from Home Depot or Lowe’s has been next to impossible (unless its just a few paint cans and brushes) so it has really been causing a lot of confusion as to what I want to be driving next. Clearly, the visits to home improvement stores won’t be stopping any time soon, therefore, I feel the need to get into something more practical this time around.

To recap, (Replacing the G – Party 2) I have been”casually” shopping for my next ride since November. I test drove a handful of cars/suvs and got a good feel for what I wanted next. However, this home ownership business has really thrown a curve ball at me recently. Not only do I have a strict budget to adhere to, but I also have to factor in operational costs ( gas has been creeping up into the $4+ territory. Yickes!). Just last night, I was at Costco and it cost me $67 to fill up 16 gallons on the G. CRAZY. Doing that 3-4 times a week has me feeling like my wallet has lost some of that plumpness!

In any case, due to these circumstances, I decided to trim down my list even further by narrowing it down to the following cars.

  1. Hyundai Sonata Turbo SE
  2. Hyundai Sonata Turbo Limited
  3. Subaru Forester X
  4. Subaru Forester XT
  5. Acura TSX
  6. Audi A3 Premium
  7. VW GTI
  8. VW Tiguan S
  9. Honda Pilot LX 4WD

At the moment, I find myself leaning towards leasing the Sonata Turbo SE with the Nav/Sunroof package. It provides me with the best equipped vehicle and the lowest payment. It lacks the practicality of having that “5th door”, but it’s easy on the pocketbook. I’m also toying with the idea of getting a GTI or going all out and getting the Pilot. Tough decisions to be made in the coming months! I have about 4 months and three payments left on my G37, so the hunt for my next ride will be shifting into high gear really soon!

So which car did you think I will be driving in a few months? Care to guess?

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2011 Subaru Lease Rates – March 2011

The Forester XT Touring drops ever so slightly for the month of March. Unfortunately, still not enough car for the money (relative to other makes and models in this price range). I didn’t find anything on the Legacy, but it looked pretty good last month, so it might be worth inquiring about this month to see if the deal got sweeter.


Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Touring
MSRP – $30,720
Sale Price – $28,409
Monthly – $378+ tax
RWG Rating – 83.5

For Dealer Quotes, CLICK HERE..


2011 Forester 2.5X
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00135 base money factor

2011 Forester 2.5XT Touring
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00165 base money factor

2011 Forester Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00190 base money factor

2011 Outback 2.5i Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 51% | .00125 base money factor

2011 Impreza WRX Sedan
36-month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00210 base money factor

2011 Impreza WRX STI Sedan
36-month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00210 base money factor

2011 Impreza WRX STI HB
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00210 base money factor

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2011 Subaru Lease Rates – February 2011

I was hoping the Forester XT Touring would have better numbers, but unfortunately, the high residual seems to be killing the deal right now. I don’t the 2.5X is going to do better, so I don’t recommend either of those this month. The 2.5i Impreza probably won’t be grazing my Round-Up this month either.

Alternatively, the Legacy 3.6R Premium looks good, chiming in at a reasonable 90.5 RWG rating and about $293 per month before taxes (inception fees due at signing).


Here is a sample calculation based on TrueCar’s Southern California sale price and do not include local taxes. Please note that your dealer calculations may vary due to local fees/taxes.

2011 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Touring
MSRP – $30,270
Sale Price – $28,531
Monthly – $381+ tax
RWG Rating – 82.2

2011 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Premium
MSRP – $20,220
Sale Price – $19,223
Monthly – $231+ tax
RWG Rating – 87.8

2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Premium
MSRP – $26,720
Sale Price – $24,921
Monthly – $293+ tax
RWG Rating – 90.5

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.


2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00195 base money factor

2011 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Touring
36-month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00200 base money factor

2011 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Premium
36-month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00110 base money factor

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00230 base money factor

2011 Subaru Legacy 2.5 Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00115 base money factor

2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
36-month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00130 base money factor

2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Premium
36-month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00130 base money factor

2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00135 base money factor

sonatamain

Replacing the G – Round Two

I’m not quite sure how many rounds I will need in order to narrow the list down to my “top five” choices, but I can tell you that I have come much closer thanks in part to the 2010 OC Auto show and the test drives I have done so far. Here is an update of my “Wish List” along with some extra comments:

The Large SUV Group

  • Honda Pilot – This is barely making the cut right now.  Not overly impressed nor extremely disappointed.
  • Mazda CX-9 – It’s nice, it’s roomy and depending on the test drive, it could really be a contender.
  • Chevy Traverse – This car is relatively new, but it feels aged compared to Chevy’s newer offering. Even the GMC Acadia, which is practically the same SUV feels newer.
  • Toyota Highlander – Cheapness, is it’s weakness. Even a newly redesigned exterior can’t overcome the cheapness.
  • Ford Explorer – Much uglier in person, but I didn’t get to see the interior since they didn’t have a display model on the floor for people play with. Either way, I don’t think the lease will be attractive enough for it to warrant any consideration at this point. I may consider revisiting it down the road if an attractive lease pops up.

Overall, this group is starting to look really bad. I suspect the Pilot might get booted due to it’s styling and less-than-exciting interior, leaving the CX-9 as the top choice in this category.

The Compact SUV Group

  • Toyota RAV4 – Cost-cutting has really made this SUV hard to love. The hard plastics reeks of cheapness and the interior dash is uninspiring. Even if its inexpensive to lease, I don’t think I want one since Toyota’s lease program leaves much to be desired.
  • Ford Edge – This is a well-built SUV with a better-than-average interior. I haven’t seen any special leases on it, but it’s still early in the model year.
  • Infiniti EX35 – Test drove it a few weekends ago and my impression is that it’s a  solid crossover. It’s smooth over bumps, powerful, quiet and it drives like a G with higher ground clearance. There is also a lot of dealer cash on this car right now, which potentially knocks off a lot off the MSRP, making it a really good lease. Unfortunately I think it falls really short in two areas, cargo and MPG. It is still fairly practical since folding down the rear seats exposes quite a bit of cargo room, but I think of this car as a hatchback with poor MPG more than a true crossover.
  • VW Tiguan – Saw it at the show and I’ve driven it before; my folks also own one. Cargo wise its slightly better than the EX, but not by much. No Wolfsburg edition planned just for 2011 (yet) so my only choices would be the S and the SE trims.
  • Acura RDX – Test drove this as well and found it to be a serviceable crossover. I will not wow you, but it is all you should expect from Acura; Roomy and reliable with above average performance. The 4-banger turbo does not have a very noticeable lag which is impressive. Comes well-equipped, but it doesn’t have it all unless you go with the Tech. In my case, I can’t justify the cost. The exterior styling doesn’t really impress me much, but I think having an excellent lease program does.
  • Subaru Forester – I think it has a slight edge against the Outback. After looking at them side by side, I like it a little better.

If I had to guess, the Forester, Tiguan and the RDX will end up battling it in the payment department. I just don’t think Ford provides enough lease incentives to make the Edge a contender.

The Wagon Group

  • Audi A3 – I am a big fan of  TDI model, but I am willing to settle for a FrontTrak Premium. It’s driving dynamics shouldn’t be too different than my wife’s Jetta so I think it will end up coming down to a price war between the other finalists.
  • VW Jetta Sportwagen – Saw the TDI version at the show, love the Pano sunroof. Thankfully, it retains the nicer interior of the older Jettas, which is a plus. I did see the “new Jetta” and if you have seen “older” models, you will notice a difference. The interior materials haven’t been downgraded much, but the cabin certainly feels more “simplified”. The exterior styling isn’t too bad, but it feels more “vanilla” compared to the outgoing model.
  • VW Golf TDI – As nice as expected, looks like a more civilized version of the GTI and gets crazy gas mileage. Big fan, hopefully the lease rates will look good when the time comes.
  • VW GTI – I have to say, I am not a big fan of those cloth seats, but I love everything else.
  • Subaru Outback – I like it, but I have to admit that there are better cars. AWD certainly helps it’s case.

The Wagon group shows a lot more promise due to the more reasonable payments, practicality and fuel economy. My first choice would be the A3, but at this point any of these are a possibility.

The Sedan Group

  • Acura TSX – Acuras hold a special place in my heart, so this is a no brainer. I will likely opt for the Tech, but it all depends on the price.
  • Acura TL – Ditto on the TL. If a TSX with Tech were to be around the same as a TL base, I’d take the TL.
  • Hyundai Sonata – Saw the 2.0 Turbo and the Hybrid at the show, lovely inside and out. I got around to test drive the Limited model and I came away impressed. Quiet, smooth and with ample power. It’s no G37, but I didn’t expect it to be. Inexpensive, well-built and easy on the eyes. The closest thing to a win-win situation if there was one.
  • Infiniti G37 – I’ve been plagued with battery issues on my G37 this past year, with yesterday being the latest incident (I couldn’t get my car started for the 3rd time this year and I didn’t even leave any of my lights on). I think I will be skipping Infinitis this time around.
  • Nissan Maxima – Being the G37’s cousin dooms it’s chances. See above.

This is the “fall-back” category. I don’t think I would pick a sedan over the other categories due to my need for “room”. However, money talks and sedans have better lease programs than anything out there right now. The Sonata is a perennial favorite here, with the 2.0T being my top choice. My fall back would be the TSX, with the TL close behind.

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2011 Subaru Lease Rates – October 2010

logo_subbyMy Take: Residual are high on the Forester so Subaru doesn’t feel the need to provide any relief on the interest. Depending on your sale price, these cars can be very attractive leases right now. Just keep in mind that at the end of your lease, you probably don’t want to buy this car since it’s the payoff would be too high.

FIND A SUBARU DEALER NEAR YOU

2011 Forester 2.5X Premium
36-month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00225 base money factor

2011 Outback 2.5i Premium
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00190 base money factor

2011 Outback 2.5i Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00185 base money factor

FIND A SUBARU DEALER NEAR YOU

Latest Subaru Incentives from Edmunds.com

subbymain

2010/11 Subaru Lease Rates – August 2010

logo_subbyMy Take: 2010 leases on Subarus are still quite attractive. The 2011s aren’t too bad either. The residual values are strong but the money factors kind of offset that. Sadly, the only Subbie I have driven is the entry level Legacy, which is a snooze. Not a big fan at all.  I’m willing to bet the 3.6R is much better.

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2010 Subaru Forester 2.5X
36-month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00130 base money factor

2010 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00155 base money factor

2010 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Sedan
36-month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00140 base money factor

2011 Subaru Outback 3.5R Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00190 base money factor

2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 53% | .00120 base money factor

2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00200 base money factor

2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00195 base money factor

2011 Subaru Outback 3.5R Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00190 base money factor

2010 Subaru Incentives

subbymain

2010/11 Subaru Lease Rates – July 2010

logo_subbyMy Take: It’s too bad that the only Subaru numbers floating around the web right now are those of the Forester. Nothing against the car itself, but I was looking forward to see some numbers for the WRX and the Legacy. We still have a week left for the month of July, so not all hope is lost. For those hunting down Subaru numbers, try requesting a quote from your local if you don’t see them posted. I don’t have all numbers all the time, but I do welcome any information you may find so that I can share it with the rest of the world.

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2010 Subaru Forester X Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00170 base money factor

2010 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00106 base money factor

2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00195 base money factor

2011 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium
36-month | 15k miles | residual64% | .00200 base money factor

2011 Subaru Legacy GT Limited
36-month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00150 base money factor

2010 Subaru Incentives