Lexus

Monthly Round-Up: October 2010

Published by G

This month is a very competitive month for leasing. Many of the great leases of the past few months have been pushed off the Top Ten due to heavy discounts on remaining inventory. Please read over the Ground Rules to get an idea as to how this estimates are calculated. I have also changed the format in order to provide a side-by-side comparison of the numbers using my lease calculator. Enjoy!

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Ground Rules

  • Participating vehicles will be based on the lease rates gathered on this website during the corresponding month.
  • Ideally, 36-month/15k lease terms will be examined. If not available, other terms will be used.
  • 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‘s sales data in the Southern California region, so your numbers may vary.
  • All estimates assume you qualify for the base rate. A minimum FICO® Score of 700 may be required.
  • Sales taxes are not included since different states handle taxes differently. Please refer to “Understanding Sales Tax” to learn how taxes affect your monthly payments.
  • The rating system used is based on RIDE with G’s Lease Calculator. The closer you are to the 100 rating, the better the deal. Anything exceeding a 100 rating is phenomenal.

Top Ten Finalists

click to view chart

First – 2010 Honda Civic LX Coupe (114.9)

A combination of discounts and solid lease rates makes this a top-notch lease for those who seek to spend little on basic transportation. The Civic Sedan also made the list, but to prevent redundancy, I decided to just list the coupe and sedan together.

Second – 2011 Nissan Sentra S (108.7)

When cheap cars with height residuals and solid money factors get discounted, the end result is usually an excellent lease.

Third – 2010 Honda Accord CrossTour EX-L (108.4)

I’m not a bit fan of this crossover but I can’t deny how good of a lease it is. I love the concept though. The execution? not so much.

Fourth- 2010 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan (105.7)

Please note that the 2011 model is out, but not leasing as well yet. Once 2010 models have been moved, you should see 2011 models MFs drop.

Fifth- 2010 Honda Odyssey EX-L (101.9) x4

With four of the top five leases this month, Honda is really trying to move remaining inventory. I know most people love the new Odyssey, but don’t expect that one to go cheap any time soon. Instead, opt for the 2010 and save some green in your wallet.

Sixth – 2010 Infiniti EX35 Journey RWD (101.5)

A large amount of dealer cash available on this model is enabling dealers to cut prices extensively. 2010 models are still arriving in dealer lots, which is somewhat surprising considering it’s so late in the year. Nevertheless, this deal may not last long. The question is, do you really want one?

Seventh – 2010 Infiniti G37 Sport Coupe Manual (101.2)

The top-pick for two of the last four months remains a strong lease. 2011 sedans are out, therefore I anticipate the 2011 coupes to arrive shortly. This probably means that this deal’s days are numbered. The G37 Sedan Manual is also a great lease right now in case you need two extra doors and a usable trunk. Stay away from the Journey ATs because they will cost you more.

Eighth- 2010 Lexus ES350 (100.8)

I wouldn’t be surprised if the ES had made the Round Up last month too. Lexus is providing lots of dealer cash on their 2010 left-overs, so don’t get discouraged by the high money factors, these cars still lease very well.

Ninth – 2010 Lexus IS250 (98.9)

Remaining IS250 inventory should make great leases right now due to the cash available on them. The 2011s are out though, so I expect Lexus to start winding down the cash and push purchases on whatever is left.

Tenth – 2010 Infiniti FX35 (97.9)

Like Lexus, Infiniti is also dropping tons of cash to move remaining inventory. If you had your eyes set on the FX all year long, this is not a bad month to move in on one.

Missing the Cut (90+ rating)

2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 (97.6)
2010 Acura TSX (97.4)
2010 Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD (96.8)
2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4matic (95.6)
2010 Acura TL (94.4)
2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited (94.3)
2010 Lexus IS250 Convertible (92.4)
2011 Audi A3 2.0T Premium (91.5)

Parting Shots

If you are in the market for a 2010, this month is probably the best time to get one because availability should still be decent and the prices are very competitive. As we approach the end of the year, it may be more difficult to find a 2010 that fits your specifications since production of 2011s should be in full swing for most models.

2010 OC Auto Show

Published by G

Sorry for the delay in posting the photos. I’ve been busy this past week with work, nursing a sports related injury and spending time with family over the weekend. Anyway, the OC Auto Show was great and I got to spend a good four hours taking photos and “sampling” the goods. As far as concepts are concern, there weren’t many in this show. Then again, this show is a much small event than the LA, Detroit or NY Auto Show, so most of the cars on display were either models in production or soon to be released. Of all of the major manufacturers, only a few didn’t make the show (Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi); Not a huge loss if you ask me.

Here are some of my initial reactions about each manufacturer that showed up:

Acura – The TL’s “beak” really needs to go. The TSX wagon is hideous. The rest of the line-up gets a thumbs up.

Audi – Nothing new. I am personally targeting the A3 as a my possible “Next Ride”.

BMW – Nothing new. I didn’t spend much time there because it’s not different than last year with the exception of the new IS models.

Buick – The Regal looks nice and it’s cheap. A bit smaller than what I thought it would be, though.

Chevy – The Cruze was actually impressive. I think it should compete well against cars in it’s class.

Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep – JGC was probably the best looking offering they had (No surprise there). It’s a good looking SUV inside and out.

GMC – Probably the only brand that offered a “Concept”, the Granite. Interesting take on box-shaped transportation. Certainly better looking than the Cube or the xB.

Ford – I liked the Edge Sport and the Fusion. Not sore I would get the Fusion personally, but I would consider the Edge…as a matter of fact, I am.

Honda – They really did something funky to the tail lights of the Accord coupe; It flares out to the side. Really weird looking, not a fan of it.

KIA/Hyundai – Love the Sonata and the Optima. The 2.0T and the Hybrid look sharp. I’m highly considering the Sonata as my next car because of it’s combination of features and price.

Saab – Yawn.

Volvo – XC60 is freaking awesome. It’s too expensive, otherwise I would seriously consider getting one even if the quality/durability may be questionable (it is a lease after all).

Subaru – Nothing really new except a really pimped out STi. From a styling perspective, it doesn’t look any different than the one from last year.

Toyota – Cheap plastic all over the freaking place. It’s like Toyota took a page out of GMC and Ford’s “how to build a cheap car” manual. This is like Bizarro World. Seriously.

Supercars – I don’t keep up with the Maseratis, Ferraris and Lambos of the world so I didn’t know what to look for. I do know the Sesto Elemento wasn’t there. Not that ride is impressive.

Jaguar – New XJ looks pimping. It’s elegant and loaded with tech. I like how the dash and console look so clean and elegant.

Volkswagen –  VW is changing the way they package their vehicles, which will be similar to what Honda/Acura does (which shoud simplify the shopping process).  2011 Jetta gets mixed feelings from me due to the simplified,  “downgraded” interior.  My wife wasn’t a big fan of the new exterior either (compared to her Wolfsburg) and I have to agree with her. I think the Jetta lost a lot of it’s “personality” in the redesign. I think of it as a jogger wearing a suit, not exactly the sporty/playful image I’ve come to love about the Jetta.

Mazda – Nothing new on this show, but I do know Mazda has a sweet new concept called the Shinari, which looks insanely good. I’m hoping they bring it in for the LA Auto Show next month. That would be spectacular.

Lexus – The IS gets a “F” option package which mimics the ISF in style but not in performance. It’s like the M package that’s offered on the 3-series.

Cadillac – Caddy has a good number of cars in the show and the best one of them all is the CTS-V coupe. I don’t know what C&D was talking about when they said the interior was “gimmicky”. Whatever, I think its a fabulous car if you have $500-$600 bucks to burn per month (or so).

Without further delay, here are some pictures from the show! Enjoy!

2010-11 Lexus Lease Rates – September 2010

Published by G

logo_lexusMy Take: Nothing too exciting here. The RX450h’s 48-month lease does look somewhat promising since the residual is pretty decent and the MF is not too bad either. Divide all that over 48-months and your payments should look manageable.

FIND A LEXUS DEALER NEAR YOU

2010 Lexus GS350 RWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 49% | .00120 base money factor

2010 Lexus GS460 RWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 51% | .00205 base money factor

2011 Lexus GS350 RWD
24-month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00205 base money factor
36-month | 15k miles | residual 53% | .00205 base money factor

2010 Lexus ES350
36-month | 15k miles | residual 53% | .00160 base money factor

2010 Lexus HS250
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00120 base money factor

2010 Lexus RX350
24-month | 15k miles | residual 65% | .00175 base money factor
36-month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00175 base money factor
48-month | 15k miles | residual 46% | .00175 base money factor

2010 Lexus RX350 AWD
48-month | 15k miles | residual 46% | .00175 base money factor

2010 Lexus RX450h AWD
48-month | 15k miles | residual 48% | .00150 base money factor

2010 Lexus IS350 Sedan
48-month | 15k miles | residual 43% | .00155 base money factor

FIND A LEXUS DEALER NEAR YOU

Lexus Incentives from Edmunds.com

2010 Lexus Lease Rates – August 2010

Published by G

logo_lexusMy Take: I’ve had a tough time confirming some of the Lexus numbers so I will go out on a limb here and assume they are the same as last month. The first three listed here are confirmed  and it looks like LFS didn’t change the August numbers from July, so I think it’s safe to say that you can plug in July’s numbers and run with it. As usual, drop me a line if you need help calculating payments.

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2010 Lexus IS250 Sedan
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00155 base money factor

2010 Lexus IS250 Sedan AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00155 base money factor

2010 Lexus GS350 AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 50% | .00120 base money factor

2010 Lexus ES350
36-month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00160 base money factor

2010 Lexus RX350 AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00175 base money factor

2010 Lexus Incentives

2010 Lexus Lease Rates – July 2010

Published by G

logo_lexusMy Take: Residuals took a dive this month compared to the last. The good news is that the MFs also dropped, maintaining the payments at around the same ballpark. Please note that the HS250h is currently not available for lease/purchase due to recalls. That could change in the near future, but as for now, stay away from that model. For more Lexus recall information, check out this link.

FIND A LEXUS DEALER NEAR YOU

2010 Lexus ES350
36-month | 15k miles | residual 54% | .00160 base money factor

2010 Lexus IS250 Sedan AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 57% | .00155 base money factor

2010 Lexus RX350 AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00175 base money factor

2010 Lexus GS350 RWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 50% | .00120 base money factor

FIND A LEXUS DEALER NEAR YOU

Lexus Incentives from Edmunds.com

2010 Lexus Lease Rates – June 2010

Published by G

logo_lexusMy Take: Here are some of June’s Lexus numbers. They don’t look all that great, but they aren’t exactly horrible. Feel free to leave a comment if you need help with number crunching.

2010 Lexus ES350
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00200 base money factor

2010 Lexus IS250 Sedan
36-month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00190 base money factor

2010 Lexus IS250 Sedan AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00190 base money factor

2010 Lexus IS250 Convertible
24-month | 15k miles | residual 66% | .00190 base money factor

GET A FREE QUOTE FROM YAHOO AUTOS!

2010 Lexus RX350 AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00190 base money factor

2010 Lexus GS350 RWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 52% | .00165 base money factor

2010 Lexus HS250h
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00150 base money factor

2010 Lexus Incentives

2010 Lexus Lease Rates – May 2010

Published by G

logo_lexusMy Take: Overall, I am unimpressed. Residuals may be above average, but MFs are too high for my liking. Not much in terms of rebates either (unless you are in the military). However, I believe decent amount of discounts can be had to make up for the lack of customer cash due to Toyota’s recent struggles.

GET A FREE QUOTE FROM YAHOO AUTOS!

2010 Lexus ES350
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00200 base money factor

2010 Lexus IS250 Sedan
36-month | 15k miles | residual 58% | .00190 base money factor

2010 Lexus IS250 Convertible
24-month | 15k miles | residual 66% | .00190 base money factor

2010 Lexus RX350 AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00190 base money factor

2010 Lexus Incentives

Happy New Year!

Published by G

Happy New Year everyone! As you all know, I will be going on vacation tonight and I will not be returning until the weekend of the 16th. This means that there will not be posting any lease rates until I return. I know you will miss having all the information all on one website, but don’t feel bad, you can still find it floating around the web. In any case, remember that the price tags for practically ALL BMWs are going up starting January 1st, so today IS your last day to snap up 2010 models for a lower price tag. The lease cash is still available on all BMWs right now so don’t sleep on this.

Other notable promotions that will also end come January 4th:

  • Lexus December to Remember (No idea what the deal is here)
  • VW (Sign-then-drive, waiving 1st monthly payment)
  • Audi (waiving security deposit)
  • Mazda (Sign-and-drive)
  • Infiniti (Limited Winter Engagement; really attactive lease numbers for the G37. 2010 G37s are coming next month, so the deal could be extended OR become less attractive)
  • Honda (Happy Honda Days; for the most part, the lease rates are pretty good on the more popular models like the Accord)
  • Toyota (Camry is a REALLY good deal right now)
  • Acura (The $1500 and $2000 rebates will probably disappear come January 5th on the TSX V6 with and without Tech).

Now before I head out, there will be some temporary changes that I plan to implement starting today.

  1. New users cannot register in the forums. During my absence, I will be disabling the new user registration approving new users MANUALLY because I’ve been slammed with spammers these past couple weeks and I do not want to come back to a bunch of spammers peddling their viagra, cyalis, ringtones or webcam girls. Since I won’t be able to moderate the forums on a daily basis I felt this was the best option while I am away. New users will be approved upon my return.
  2. Current users will still have access to the forums. This means if you have already registered, you can post as you please.
  3. You may use this blog post as your general Q&A post. Since the blog part of the site handles spam much better than the forums, you may ask your questions here if you like. Just remember that using certain explicit language or hyper linking to other websites will get your comments flag as spam, so it would have to be approved manually.

That is all folks! Enjoy the New Year, hopefully we get some really good lease rates this year (I know I need it because my TSX has about 4 payments left).

See you all when I get back!

G