Pilot

Honda CR-V

2011-12 Honda Lease Rates – September 2011

Published by G

Honda numbers look decent for most remaining 2011 models. 2012 models still seem a bit expensive at the moment since the MF is quite high and the discounts are not very significant. If I where in the market for a Honda right now, I would look at the 2011 models first to see what remains and try to get the lowest sale price in town. Models I recommend looking into are the CR-V, Pilot and any remaining Accord.


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 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
MSRP – $30,730
Sale Price – $26,721
Monthly – $316+ tax
RWG Rating – 94.7

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.


2011 HONDA ACCORD COUPE LX-S AT
36 Month – Residual 52% of MSRP – .00050 Base Rate

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN LX AT
36 Month – Residual 54% of MSRP – .00050 Base Rate

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN EX AT
36 Month – Residual 54% of MSRP – .00050 Base Rate

2012 HONDA CIVIC COUPE LX AT
36 Month – Residual 61% of MSRP – .00185 Base Rate

2012 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN LX AT
36 Month – Residual 63% of MSRP – .00185 Base Rate

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 2WD EX
36 Month – Residual 54% of MSRP – .00185 Base Rate

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
36 Month – Residual 52% of MSRP – .00185 Base Rate

2011 HONDA CR-V 4WD LX AT
36 Month – Residual 60% of MSRP – .00095 Base Rate

2011 HONDA CR-Z HATCHBACK AT
36 Month – Residual 61% of MSRP – .00185 Base Rate

2011 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD LX AT
36 Month – Residual 59% of MSRP – .00185 Base Rate

2011 HONDA FIT HATCHBACK AT
36 Month – Residual 58% of MSRP – .00185 Base Rate

2011 HONDA ODYSSEY LX AT
36 Month – Residual 58% of MSRP – .00155 Base Rate

2011 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
36 Month – Residual 53% of MSRP – .00061 Base Rate

2011 HONDA RIDGELINE CREW CAB RT
36 Month – Residual 55% of MSRP – .00185 Base Rate

1108_honda_fcx

2011-2012 Honda Lease Rates – August 2011

Published by G

Consumer Reports smacked the crap out of the 2012 Honda Civic in their latest review (talk about PR nightmare). Justified or not, Honda needs to face the fact that their competition has improved dramatically. I have not driven the 2012 Civic yet, but based on the photos I have seen, I am unimpressed. I have seen the Fiesta, Elantra and Cruze in person and they look top notch. I think part of the problem with Honda is that they do not approach design the same way automakers such as BMW, Hyundai, Audi, Mazda and Nissan do (I know Acura does, but I also know that was a disaster. i.e. TL redesign). There doesn’t seem to be a design philosophy in place, which is why Hondas have become so bland over the years. Sure, you see a few concepts here and there, but I don’t really see many of those case-studies translating into production vehicles.  I love Honda leases, but they really need to work on the design of their products a bit more. They also need to think twice about how they go about cost cutting. If they take the Toyota/VW route, I will probably never lease a Honda/Acura product again.

Anyway, for the month of August, I am still liking the Honda Pilot’s lease if you are looking for a large SUV. Last month, Ashwenm got a great deal on the Pilot EX. Since rates haven’t changed, expect about the same deal this month. Other notable leases are the CR-V and Accords.


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 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
MSRP – $29,130
Sale Price – $25,509
Monthly – $308+ tax
RWG Rating – 92.9

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.


2011 HONDA ACCORD COUPE LX-S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00049 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 2WD EX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00049 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN EX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2012 HONDA CIVIC COUPE LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 62% | .00185 base money factor

2012 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 64% | .00185 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-V 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00078 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-Z HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00185 base money factor

2011 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00185 base money factor

2011 HONDA FIT HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA ODYSSEY LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00144 base money factor

2011 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00107 base money factor

2011 HONDA RIDGELINE CREW CAB RT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00185 base money factor

1107_bmw_z4

Monthly Round-Up : July 2011

Published by G


Sorry for being MIA with the Round-Up. In order to save time, I will be skipping the usual commentary, but I will categorize the cars into different classes. Please read the GROUND RULES to get an idea of how the numbers are calculated.

This month’s participants include: Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Nissan, Acura, Hyundai, Infiniti, Honda, Lexus, Jeep, Volvo, Audi and BMW.

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.
To check your credit, go to CreditReport.com.

Ground Rules

  • Participating vehicles will be based on the lease rates gathered on this website during the corresponding month.
  • 36-month/15k lease terms will used for all calculations unless a better term is available.
  • A $1500 drive-off fee is assumed for all cars. Since fees and taxes vary from region to region, your drive-off may vary.
  • Sale Price estimates will be based on Truecar.com sales data in the Southern California region, so your numbers may vary.
  • All estimates assume you qualify for the base rate. A minimum Credit Score of 700 may be required to secure Top Tier credit in most cases.
  • Sales taxes are not included since different states handle taxes differently.
  • The rating system used is based on RIDE with G’s Lease Calculator. Only cars with a 90 rating or higher will be included on this list.

SEDAN

2011 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V (106.1)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00003 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G37 Journey (103.4)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00058 base money factor

2011 Nissan Maxima SV (102.3)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00022 base money factor

2012 Nissan Altima 3.5SR (102.1)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00081 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G37x (100.0)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00083 base money factor

2011 Volvo S80 3.2 (97.9)
48 month | 15k miles | residual 46% | .00001 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G37 Sport (96.2)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00058 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G25x (95.0)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00091 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G25 Journey (93.9)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00067 base money factor

2011 Volvo S80 T-6 (93.0)
48 month | 15k miles | residual 49% | .00001 base money factor

2011 Honda Accord EX (91.4)
48 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2011 Honda Accord LX (91.2)
48 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2011 MB C300 Sport 4matic (90.2)
48 month | 15k miles | residual 51% | .00109 base money factor

2011 MB C300 Sport (90.0)
48 month | 15k miles | residual 51% | .00109 base money factor

CONVERTIBLE

2011 BMW Z4 3.5i (109.1)
24 month | 15k miles | residual 79% | .00190 base money factor

2011 BMW Z4 3.0i (106.1)
24 month | 15k miles | residual 77% | .00160 basemoney factor

2011 BMW Z4 3.5i (104.3)
24 month | 15k miles | residual 77% | .00175 base money factor

2011 Jeep Wrangler Sport (94.0)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00005 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G37 Sport (92.6)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .000146 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G37 (92.6)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .000146 base money factor

2011 Volvo C70 T-5 (90.3)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 52% | .00001 base money factor

COUPE

2011 Infiniti G37x (103.3)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00086 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G37 Journey (102.7)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00076 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G37 Sport (101.7)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00076 base money factor

2011 Infiniti G37 IPL (96.6)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00076 base money factor

HATCHBACK/WAGON/SUV/CROSSOVER

2011 Nissan Versa 1.8 SL (96.4)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 52% | .00003 base money factor

2011 Acura ZDX (95.4)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00085 base money factor

2011 Infiniti EX35 Journey AWD (92.7)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 51% | .00072 base money factor

2011 Infiniti FX35 AWD (92.7)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 52% | .00076 base money factor

2011 Honda Pilot LX 4WD (92.5)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .000107 base money factor

2011 Honda CrossTour EX (92.2)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2011 Honda CR-V LX 4WD (91.9)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00078 base money factor

2011 VW Tiguan S 4motion (91.3)
36 month | 15k miles | residual 53% | .00079 base money factor

Rare Sight. The Z4 takes top honors this month for being the highest rated lease. However, I caution you when dealing with BMW dealers. It is common practice for dealers to PAD the money factor. BMW also is known for those weird MACO/Training fees that I despise. It is your job to be informed and shop around. There are a lot of great incentives available for returning customers, so do not overlook them! With that in mind, BMW has done a great deal introducing the best lease this month. The number should remain through the month of August so plan accordingly.

Unusual American. I don’t remember the last time an American car made it on the list. What’s even more unusual is the fact that this car is coming from Chrysler. When is the last time you saw a good lease from Chrysler, right? Kudos to US Bank for making the Wrangler an attractive lease. Not sure I would want one since the ride is quite rough, but it should be a budget friendly ride for those looking for some fun under the sun.

The Only Swede That Matters. Sorry Saab, but for us regular folks, the only Swedish brand of any consequence is Volvo. The S80 and C70 are making strong leases this month with great rebates/discounts despite the crummy lease rates.

What Tsunami? While Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura are reeling from the earthquake/tsunami one-two punch, Nissan/Infiniti has been reaping the benefits of having a better supply of cars. This translates to PURE DOMINANCE by Nissan/Infiniti on this month’s Round-Up because they can discount cars a bit more and provide great lease program for them.

1107_honda_crz

2011-12 Honda Lease Rates – July 2011

Published by G


Honda dropped some of their money factors in response to depreciation. Some models did not suffer a drop in residual, but most did. Honda didn’t really adjust the sale price too dramatically in my area, hopefully they dropped their prices in yours. You can check out TrueCar to see your local sale prices.

This month, I would like to bring to your attention the Honda Pilot. In SoCal, it is getting about 12% off MSRP. The residual value is still fairly high and the money factor is reasonable at .00107 (2.57%). You may find it tough to find a LX 4WD model (I know I couldn’t back in April), but if you find one, you could be looking at a nice lease. The EX model should retain the same MF, but may suffer slight drop in residual value (I’m guessing about 2%). Be sure to adjust that in your calculations.


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 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
MSRP – $29,130
Sale Price – $25,509
Monthly – $308+ tax
RWG Rating – 92.9

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.


2011 HONDA ACCORD COUPE LX-S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00049 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 2WD EX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00049 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN EX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00049 base money factor

2012 HONDA CIVIC COUPE LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 62% | .00185 base money factor

2012 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 64% | .00185 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-V 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00078 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-Z HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00185 base money factor

2011 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00185 base money factor

2011 HONDA FIT HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA ODYSSEY LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00144 base money factor

2011 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00107 base money factor

2011 HONDA RIDGELINE CREW CAB RT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00185 base money factor

1106_honda_pilot_touring

2011-12 Honda Lease Rates – June 2011

Published by G


Numbers remain the same as May. Sale price has shot up quite due to Japan’s production woes. Expect to pay a lot more this month compared to last month. Check out the CrossTour’s calculations this month compared to last month. Ouch! It went from a great lease to a crappy one in a matter of a few months. Expect the same thing to happen for other Honda models.


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.

May Calculation
2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
MSRP – $34,920
Sale Price – $30,996
Monthly – $366+ tax
RWG Rating – 93.4

June Calculation
2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
MSRP – $34,920
Sale Price – $32,541
Monthly – $410+ tax
RWG Rating – 86.2

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.


2011 HONDA ACCORD COUPE LX-S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00077 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 2WD EX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00077 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00077 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00077 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN EX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00077 base money factor

2012 HONDA CIVIC COUPE LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00200 base money factor

2012 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 65% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-V 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00078 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-Z HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 64% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA FIT HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA ODYSSEY LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00161 base money factor

2011 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00125 base money factor

2011 HONDA RIDGELINE CREW CAB RT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00200 base money factor

1105_honda_crz

2011-12 Honda Lease Rates – May 2011

Published by G


Numbers look like they have gone up to higher MF and lower residual values. Tack on the shortage of vehicles and you are looking at higher overall lease payments. I’ve been hearing a lot about how the tsunami has affected production and so pricing has gone up a bit. I don’t know if it’s just a ploy to get you to pay more for your car or not, but I imagine there is some truth to that. The problem is that it’s starting to sound more like a scare tactic which I find kind of annoying. Nevertheless, don’t expect any breaks on the 2012 Civic. My cousin was trying to pick one up last month but wasn’t very successful negotiating with them. They wanted sticker price and wouldn’t budge. With gas prices inching up, dealers know that Civics are going to be hot commodities in the near future.


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 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
MSRP – $34,920
Sale Price – $30,996
Monthly – $366+ tax
RWG Rating – 93.4

For Dealer Quotes, Click Here.


2011 HONDA ACCORD COUPE LX-S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00077 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 2WD EX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00077 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
36 month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00077 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00077 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN EX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00077 base money factor

2012 HONDA CIVIC COUPE LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00200 base money factor

2012 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 65% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-V 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00078 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-Z HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 64% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA FIT HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA ODYSSEY LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00161 base money factor

2011 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00125 base money factor

2011 HONDA RIDGELINE CREW CAB RT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00200 base money factor

1104_honda_insight

2011 Honda Lease Rates – April 2011

Published by G

If you have been watching TV lately, you probably have seen Honda’s “Really Big Thing” promotion going on now. It’s actually a pretty good deal still, but not as good as the past few months due to a slight increase in sale prices. Hondas and Infinitis are EXCELLENT leases in generally. The “bang-for-the-buck” factor is off the charts in some cases.

Lauren actually got me thinking about getting a CrossTour (Noooooo!). I don’t really like the car aesthetically; however, it’s practicality, cost and Honda’s fabulous lease program is really got me considering one.


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 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR EX
MSRP – $30,570
Sale Price – $26,322
Monthly – $266+ tax
RWG Rating – 107.1

2011 HONDA CR-V 4WD LX AT
MSRP – $23,725
Sale Price – $22,063
Monthly – $242+ tax
RWG Rating – 95.2

For Dealer Quotes, CLICK HERE.


2011 HONDA ACCORD COUPE LX-S AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00113 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 2WD EX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00062 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR 4WD EX-L
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00062 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00113 base money factor

2011 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN EX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00062 base money factor

2011 HONDA CIVIC COUPE LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00057 base money factor

2011 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00057 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-V 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00069 base money factor

2011 HONDA CR-Z HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 64% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA ELEMENT 4WD LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00200 base money factor

2011 HONDA FIT HATCHBACK AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 61% | .00138 base money factor

2011 HONDA ODYSSEY LX AT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 62% | .00187 base money factor

2011 HONDA PILOT 4WD LX
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00145 base money factor

2011 HONDA RIDGELINE CREW CAB RT
36 month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00200 base money factor

1101replacingtheg

What’s Going On – April 2011

Published by G

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?