Hi Guys,

I am leasing the 2014 RDX in Canada. Wondering if anyone else has experience with the lease guard. Cost $895 + TAX

It protect us up to $7500 of "damages or wear and tear" including tire when returning the vehicle.

The Finance manager said that when returning the car, they will pretty much inspect it with a magnifying glass and ding us for any exterior or interior damages/wear and tear.

Is this protection plan worth it?

Thanks for any opinions.

Well, it's darned expensive for something that gives you nothing. I doubt you could show up with seven grand in ice/rock damage and bald tires at the end of the lease, hand them the 'guard' and walk away. Nothing but free money in their pocket. Bet you could get it for half the price...IF you think it's worth even that. I've leased a number of vehicles and never had to pony up at the end(Disclaimer...I don't live in snow country, so no slush/rock damage for me).

I know 895 is pretty much a steal, but I dont want any surprise charge at the end. I guess another 1000 down the pipe.

Read the terms of the return agreement and decide if you need it. Acura's wear and tear definition that I saw for leases is fairly generous. If you really had $7500 in damage when you turned it in, it would be VERY obvious, and I'd guess that you were in an accident of some sort.

Bet the F&I guy gets a third of that....if not more.

I doubt the number is that high for the F&I guy. Dealer principal sure, but F&I probably takes $100-$150 per on that. I worked F&I for a couple of years and sold, both new an d used, for about four years. And that was in the 1990s when all these prices weren't as well known.

Warranties were always double the dealer cost but as F&I I certainly didn't get a third of that. I might get 20% with a chance to make more depending upon my closing percentage. Even then, after you've been doing it awhile you end up with chargebacks at the end of each month biting out of your commissions.

They say it is only wear and tear. Any single event above 1000 will not be covered. So, if you have more events that add up to 7500, they will pay for it, but not single event.

Thanks for the comment James, is the price of lease guard negotiable to your knowledge since you worked in the industry.

895 + tax is some what expensive, but I am afraid of what may happen when I return the car.

Really tough decision here.

Again, I've never paid a dime at the end of a lease. You're betting that you WILL have at least a grand in 'dings' at lease-end. Do you haul dogs around or drive off-road?

The guard covers 4 wheels and tires as well. The Canadian winter can get nasty sometimes. In addition, I tend to park around crowded area a lot. It is just a peace of mind thing I guess. U never know which idiot is going to ding u car.

The sales guy told me just 4 tires cost more than 1000.

That is what I was thinking.

While a new set of tires could cost >$1k, you can easily get new tires for less than that. Also, it may be different in Canada, but in the US, Acura will cover up to $1500 in excess wear/damage ($500 single item).

Again, you're sure you're going to have over $1000 in 'dings' at lease-end? Tires could be interesting...you may need tires at the end of a three-year lease...just from normal wear. You sure this 'guard' will cover replacing tires that are just worn out?

Gap protection used to be an interesting 'add-on' with leases...essentially covering the 'gap' between the value of the vehicle and the balance on the lease(say you totaled your ride and the insurance payoff was considerably less than the buyout of the lease). But paying a grand for the possibility of damage seems unwise...especially if there are conditions and deductibles(as we know there will be).

Agreed...even a mileage allowance IF you re-lease with Acura...an excellent marketing tool, IMO. They will forgive a lot if you sign another lease, but they don't get to just make stuff up if you don't.

Not only are you saying you're GOING to have 'dings' of over a grand, but you're willing to pay UP FRONT to cover them.

Yea, I am sure it covers the tire. The manager told me 80% of times people get fined at the end because of tires, not really the dings. My decision now is to try talk them down to 500, otherwise I am not getting it. U r right about paying up front, doesn't make any sense.

If the finance manager had said that to me, I'd have said thanks for the tip and walked out and gone to another brand or dealer. He is an idiot and I bet just trying to sell his product.

I've bought my two Acuras, but my parents have leased two in the US. From what they've told me, Acura is pretty liberal when it comes to wear and tear. Besides the Acuras, he's leased a ton of cars of various brands over the years and has never paid anything at the end.