dennis1

I pick up my new TLX Tuesday. Going in Monday to sign lease papers (36 months)

This will be my first ever lease after owning cars for 50 years. (First vehicle when I turned 16 was a 55 Bel Air )

I realize this is a decision unique to each owner. Is the lease damage insurance offered by the dealer worth the extra $900 or so? I seem to always get door dings in a parking lot or minor scrapes to front bumper.

weather

^^ I was offered the same but declined it when we leased the ILX. I take good care of my vehicles so for me, it was not worth it and especially when my dealer tends to buy back my lease so I can get into another one. As such, this would be not be required.

That being said, I always am skeptical that Acura is in the business of helping people and wanting to lose money on a lease return. I think it is a money grab but if you feel it will help you sleep better, then 900$ is not super expensive when you spread it over a 3/4 year lease.

Best of luck...

ostrich

Dennis, I never got any lease insurance with my 2012 TL SH-AWD lease and it was fine. That said, just like Weather, I take care of my car (but unlike Weather, I did drive it in terrible winter conditions!). Also, you will find that the details of the lease do describe some wear and tear forgiveness, so they will allow you to have some dings and things without charging you for them.

Having said all this, I do have the intention to potentially keep my TLX beyond the lease, so that is another reason why I didn't get the lease damage insurance. If the lease rate can be virtually 0% (after loyalty bonus + multiple deposits) financially it makes no sense to buy or finance the vehicle... :-)

Enjoy the TLX! What trim/colour combo are you getting?

dennis1

2015 TLX SH-AWD Elite white / black interior

I had no intention of buying the Elite/Advanced. When I went into look at the car the Acura dealer brought in, TLX tech, 4 cylinder the audible beep in the reverse cross traffic didn't work. So they found a 6 that did have the beep and made the deal work for me, thus I have a
2015 TLX SH-AWD Elite for $20 more a month on a lease than the 4 tech. Not sure what I am getting into for this car over a tech, but it seems like a lot more technology than I could ever imagine.

Drove an Acura EL for 10 years, 389,000 km and zero problems over regular maintenance.

Quandry

Are you sure that is not $20 more per bi-weekly payment? But whatever, that is the draw of leasing, seeming little more money for more expensive vehicle.

dennis1

Did a double check with the original quote on the 4 cylinder tech 36 mo lease, the difference after taxes and with a lower interest rate in approximately $35 a month more for the 2015 TLX SH-AWD Elite on a 36 month lease.

Linmk2

I have leased my cars for years. It has always worked out well for me. (everyone is different) Like others have stated, I take very good care of my vehicles, so I see no need to pay extra for damage/repair insurance. My current Acura 4G lease does have Gap Insurance built into to it, which is a great insurance to have should the car get totaled. It pays the difference between the insurance settlement and payoff of the car.

acuranj18

I have always had a good experience dealing with Honda & Acura Financial in the U.S. They have never nit-picked on small items, unlike some other banks, so I would not opt for that type of insurance myself.

CanTex

This is my first lease after 26 or 27 purchases. We just went with the standard Acura GAP insurance and my regular insurance. State Farm didn't offer GAP insurance.

jvette

I have leased a bunch of Acura's and never have had a problem. One of them had a limb fall on the top and put a dent in it. The body shop said it would cost me about $500 to fix it. When I went to turn it in and get a new one I showed it to the Used car manager and he said it was covered under the $1500 allowed from Acura. Most of the time I get a letter 3 months before the lease is up offering me special deals on lease turn in. Wave the last 3 months payments and no inspection, no mileage penalty and roll over of any unused miles. I have found Acura the easiest one to lease from.

I would never pay the dealer $900 for any insurance like this.

smoore

I considered it but decided against it. The two items that can cost you at the end of a lease are replacing tires and repairing road rash to you alloy wheels even if there is no other damage. I cannot stand driving a car with dents so when they occur I repair them immediately. Unless I need new tires and have to repair the wheels the coverage will be more than the repairs. The Mazda program allows you to bring in the car mid lease to get covered repairs. I like that approach.

a77

Alloy wheel repair is about $125-$150 each here and they look perfect after. Acura here allows $500 in estimated damage to be waived if you lease another. Windshields are $200 to replace (they always crack). So not really worth it here either. As long as one has 3m on the hood to stop the rock chips.....the hazards of winter driving here.

dennis1

I went with a lease.