trying to weigh my options. looking to pull the trigger on an 05 I/P stone, 6mt aero/nav coupe. have a little over $2k to put down and credit score little less then 600 (but for some reason my 2 $10k car loans already payed off are not on my report so it should be higher..im 23 yrs old and make about 50-55k a year as a flat rate tech at lexus dealership) I dont like the idea of giving the car back after the lease is up cause its like renting the car, i'd like my $$ to be going to something id have equity in so i would rather finance, but also keep my payments no higher then 500/month. what would be my best option, i know invoice on the car i want is like 34k and change. anyone go through the same dilemma as me and go a certain route? any info on either 2 would be greatly appreciated. thanks
-Adam

 

...no higher than 500 month...
i pay 391 every month and downpaid 20g and owed them 19g
credit score - over 700 so thats excellent
i dont know if you can do that w/ 2g down payment and 500 every month...
go to dealer and check...i think that's the easiest way

if you can handle the monthly - definately go w/ buying but...i dont think it's worth leasing it...i know how you feel...most people would say "save up"

 

thanks well my situation is this, i have a 96 cobra with light mods i am selling. i owe 6500 and was offered 8500 from used performance dealer who deals with the dealership i am going to so it will be used a a trade in but for what the used dealer will give me basically. ALso my finance manager at my work said he would put in a good word to get me financed. anything under 500/month the deal will be done. my only worry is my credit is not soo good and i dont have much to put down, but i do need a car cause im selling mine, i could do the smart thing and just buy a used suv or honda for 2-3k for the winter and save up and buy the coupe in the spring, but the 05's will def. be gone by then and would be very hard to finance an 05 that late, plus now is the perfect time to buy one with them pushing them out the door for the 06's. any ideas?

 

just did a little research. found invoice on the car to be $33k. so i figure if i go and w/ $2k down, say i want 500/month/72 months and will pay $36k out the door. Do u think i could get the deal done?

 

For almost any other car, sure buy, its the safe bet. But infiniti/nissan had some crazy lease deals running on the 05's. LIke .0016 MF with 58% residuals on 36k mile leases. With below invoice pricing, i had offers of g35x car loaded with nav/prmium for 475 sign and drive, all fees and 8.75% nys tax rolled in. That was for a 40k msrp car.

If you have 20k, you can throw that in a high yield money market and come out pretty far ahead at the end of 3 yrs. Again this is unique to the nissan since they are renting their money for so cheap. Add in the tax savings, the lease becomes pretty enticing.

If you plan on adding rims/blowers and what not, its moot point of course, just buy the car.