Mazda

Replacing the G – Round Two

Published by G

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.

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!

If you would like to support the website, please request your auto quotes from Yahoo! Autos. Thank you!

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 Mazda Lease Rates – October 2010

Published by G

logo_mazdaMy Take: I personally think the CX-9 is a pretty good deal for a 7-passenger SUV. At the OC Auto Show, I spent some time looking over the entire vehicle and I liked it much better than it’s competitors (Traverse/Acadia/Explorer/Highlander). You should be able to get a low sale price on one of these, plus the money factor isn’t half bad. The residual could use some work, but then again, we are nearing the end of the year so you can’t expect too much. Per my calculations, you would be looking at a monthly payment of about $350-$400 with your inception fees due at signing for a AWD Touring model. I think the CX-7i is a complete wasted effort from Mazda. Why bother dropping such a weak engine on a crossover? Ridiculous.

FIND A MAZDA DEALER NEAR YOU

2011 Mazda3 i Touring Sedan
36-month | 15k miles | residual 63% | .00232 base money factor

2011 Mazda3 s Sport Sedan AT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 66% | .00232 base money factor

2010 CX-7 i Sport
36-month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00091 base money factor

2010 CX-9 Grand Touring AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 45% | .00061 base money factor

2010 Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 47% | .00061 base money factor

Mazda Incentives from Edmunds.com

Replacing the G – Round One

Published by G

I know I am jumping the gun by doing a write-up about my “next ride” considering I have another 10 months left on my lease. However, my wife has began dropping hints about what my next ride should be. “Something practical, something bigger…something that will keep your paws off my Jetta” she says.  Sadly, it looks like my G37 has become rather impractical and the wife has finally put me on notice.

I can’t say I blame her because in recent months, her car has become the designated “airport shuttle”. If that wasn’t bad enough, we have also been using her car to haul some furniture from Office Depot and weekly trips to Costco. Unfortunately, it seems that life has finally caught up with me and I can no longer ignore the other “needs” in life.

So now I am faced with a dilemma….what exactly can I get that will fulfill the following requirements…

  • seating for at least five people
  • practical cargo space
  • above average performance
  • similar or better MPG than the 18/24 I am getting now
  • costs no more than what I currently pay ($1300/$424 per month), preferably, less!

After careful consideration over the past month, I’ve come up with a general “Wish List” of potential cars/SUVs that may satisfy my needs.

The Large SUV Group

Honda Pilot
Mazda CX-9
Chevy Traverse
Toyota Highlander
Ford Explorer

The Compact SUV Group

Toyota RAV4
Ford Edge
Infiniti EX35
VW Tiguan
Acura RDX

The Wagon Group

Audi A3
VW Jetta Sportwagen
VW Golf TDI
VW GTI
Subaru Outback

The Sedan Group

Acura TSX
Acura TL
Hyundai Sonata
Infiniti G37
Nissan Maxima

For the next few months, I will take the time to do some test drives in order to narrow down the list some more. Keeping in mind the requirements listed above, I would love to hear your opinions and any recommendations you may have.

2010 Mazda Lease Rates – September 2010

Published by G

logo_mazdaMy Take: There is $1000 that can be used for leasing, but it seem that you can’t use the captive bank, so you will need a 3rd party bank to finance your lease. There is also loyalty and early termination cash, so make sure to discuss them with your dealer to see if you qualify. These cash incentives are schedule to run through the end of the month. The CX-9 doesn’t look too bad since the money factor is low, but so is the residual. Depending on your intentions at lease-end, this could prove to be a good lease. Personally, I would just buy the car at 0.0% APR for 60 months. Nothing beats 0% interest over 5 years.

FIND A MAZDA DEALER NEAR YOU

2010 Mazda Mazda3s Sedan Sport
24-month | 15k miles | residual 73% | .00246 base money factor

2010 Mazda CX-9 Touring
36-month | 15k miles | residual 46% | .00061 base money factor

2010 Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 47% | .00061 base money factor

2010 Mazda Incentives

2010 Mazda Lease Rates – July 2010

Published by G

logo_mazdaMy Take: Dropping some quick Mazda numbers for all interested parties. Now, based on Edmunds, there is a $500 loyalty cash and $1000 dealer cash that’s available on the CX-9. Notice that you can’t use the $1000 if you use Mazda Capital Services, BUT if you lease through another bank, you should be able to get it without any problems (of course that means giving up the $500 loyalty cash). Remember to read the fine print folks! Also, this is the last week of the month, so it’s probably a good idea to send out your online quote requests soon. Better yet, request a quote online AND give your nearest dealer a call and ask to speak with the Internet/Fleet sales manager. That cuts through a large chunk of the B.S. you are bound to encounter when leasing a car.

GET A FREE QUOTE FROM YAHOO AUTOS!

2010 Mazda CX-9 Touring
36-month | 15k miles | residual 46% | .00083 base money factor

2010 Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD
36-month | 15k miles | residual 47% | .00083 base money factor

2010 Mazda Incentives

2010 Mazda Lease Rates – June 2010

Published by G

logo_mazdaMy Take: Not too bad. Residual values in the past were quite terrible for the 3s, but they’ve become quite popular in the past few years, making their resale value quite strong. Not super happy with the money factor though. I think they could bring it down a notch to improve sales. But the is relatively inexpensive (for the most part), so your payments shouldn’t be astronomical.

2010 Mazda3 S Sport MT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 59% | .00185 base money factor

2010 Mazda3 S Sport AT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 60% | .00185 base money factor

GET A FREE QUOTE FROM YAHOO AUTOS!

2010 Mazda3s GT 4-Door MT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 55% | .00185 base money factor

2010 Mazda3s GT 4-Door AT
36-month | 15k miles | residual 56% | .00185 base money factor

2010 Mazda Incentives