mmafighta

if you can afford the 335is, by all means go for it!!! comfort/luxury, several classes ahead of the TSX in terms of performance.

Craig-D

Apples to oranges comparison. You have to compare similar deals, i.e. no money down. My deal is $373 a month for 36 months (inclusive of taxes) for a TSX tech with $0 down. The current BMW lease offers are for 27 months if memory serves. So with $0 down instead of $3300, that monthly payment goes from $509 to $631. Even at your current $450 payment, still think that's close to the TSX price?


I'm picking up a 2011 6 speed TSX with tech on Friday and my '09 goes back. Considered getting a BMW 3 series, but the fact is I'm getting a TSX tech for less than my '09 base. I couldn't pass up the deal. I just couldn't get past the fact that a comparably equipped 328 was gonna cost $10k more. The 328 is better than the TSX - but not $10k better.

Icculus

What kind of deal did you get a 2011 tech? I was quoted $296/mo for base and $360/mo for tech, both at 12k with 3k down. I suppose that would be about $80/mo more expensive with zero down.

I'm also considering a G25x which I started another thread for. The leasing price points are very similar, performance is similar, plus it has AWD with 100% rear in normal conditions. If you want to complain about the Infiniti, visit that thread!

defconskylude

my 09' was a lease @ $29k (doesnt include TTL) - $468month (includes taxes) - $800 down

my 11' is a lease @ $26k (doesnt include TTL) - $400 month (includes taxes)- $4000 down

defconskylude

you'll likely have some equity in the car so walk into a 11' like i did

ressling

This advice coming from a guy who put $4k down on a lease?

KillerG

well, he was planning to keep the lease, he mentioned in the other thread

Icculus

It doesn't matter whether you put down 4k or 0 on a lease. More money down lowers monthly payments, but you end up spending the same amount in the end. The only risk in putting money down up front is the chance something will happen to the car in the first year or so. Otherwise, any interest or savings value by hanging on to that cash is negligible.

I personally like to go middle ground as to not put too too much up front, but still try to lower the monthly payments. It really just comes down to personal preference...

defconskylude

had shitty credit and a baby. so it was a necessity to lower that monthly otherwise id be paying over $500. im even lucky to get another TSX. besides im buying my lease out in 3 years.

defconskylude

GAP insurance is automatically included with all Acuras

Craig-D

$373/mo. with $0 down and 10k miles a year (but I'll be carrying over 7k unused miles from my '09 TSX). I pick it up Friday. With the trouble in Japan, I doubt that offer can be replicated anytime soon going forward.

I considered the G25 briefly, but for me no manual tranny + no nav = no sale.

Craig-D

Gap insurance doesn't cover money that you put down on a lease. If you total the car a few months in after the car has depreciated, that up front money is lost. All GAP insurance does is cover whatever you need to satisfy your lease in full if regular insurance doesn't cover it all. You don't get back what you paid for the car when new, so that's why any capital cost reduction paid up front is lost.

ressling

Not hating. I follow. I had to put $3k down just to reduce the payments, and I do plan on buying out the lease. TSX is a fantastic ride.

defconskylude

really? i put down $800 almost 2 years ago, totaled it and insurance cut me a check for $5k.

ressling

MrOtocinclus

Well, technically Craig-D is correct. I would be interested to know what the exact circumstances surrounding your situation are. Did you receive the $5k in addition to having your remaining lease payments written off?

The only other thing I can think of is that the market value of a used 2009 TSX is $5k higher than your residual plus remaining lease payments, and it's as if you bought out your car per your lease contract and then sold it on the open market. $5k seems a little high, though. Shoot, if I knew I could make $5k, I'd buy out my '09 now and sell it, too.

MrOtocinclus

From an absolute mathematical perspective, that's a 40% difference, so no, that's not close to the TSX price.

From a relative, value-based perspective, I would still say that it's not that far off. I would be paying 40% more, but I would feel like I'm getting more than 40% in pleasure and driving experience. But, as you said, this is apples to oranges, I don't think anyone can reasonably compare a TSX and a 335is.

Congratulations, there are some nice improvements in the '11 over the '09 (especially the nav screen), can't wait for you to get it!

Icculus

Can't even compare a TSX to the price of a BMW, let alone an Audi. They're all astronomical no matter how you cut it. Even the G25x is comparable in price to the TSX ($20 more per month on a lease.) Audi and BMW perform better, that's about it.

MrOtocinclus

Spent some time inside a 2011 Honda Fit Sport today... for such a small car it felt really spacious. I think there's more room in the backseat of the Fit than the TSX. It also felt somewhat familiar: the steering wheel was a similar 3-spoke design, and there were also some elements that were shared with the TSX, such as the paddle shifters, door lock buttons and roof handles. It also has the USB input which is something I like.

In terms of power it's obviously no TSX but it wasn't bad at all. I do mostly city driving and for that purpose the Fit definitely fits the bill (sorry, couldn't help myself).

I was also surprised to see a model that had leather seats. Not sure if that's a real Honda accessory or not. It seemed a little cheap, actually.

It would be nice to get into a Fit and save a bundle. If I did, I'd probably finance it for the long term. I'm dreaming here, but it would be even nicer if there was an Acura version of the Fit, with a slightly nicer interior. To be honest though, if I did get into a Fit the interior would not feel much different from the TSX, other than the leather. There are just so many familiar parts in there.

Overall, a positive experience, and I'm adding the Fit to my short list.

07wdptl-s

while you are at it why not try the cr-z i think it has a better looking interior than the fit plus it will be great on gas.

KillerG

i sat in a cr-z at the recent auto show, and i thought they did a great job with the interior to be honest. this guy speaks the truth!

the new civics? mega disappointment.

07wdptl-s

here is the pic of the 2 honda fit vs cr-z

mrstak

iTrader: (1)

CR-Z only seats 2 people including the driver. If that's not an issue for MrOtocinclus, then I'd choose CR-Z over Fit. I was actually looking at the CR-Z before I got my TSX...definite contender till I saw that it only sat 2...bummer.

ed_423

crz interior looks pretty cool.

ttk5

mhmm i agree, crz interior is nice

MrOtocinclus

Thanks for the suggestions, guys, but I'm not really interested in a CR-Z. It looks nice in and out but it's probably too small for me.

Part of the appeal of the Fit is that the ride seems higher, and it feels like I'm driving a bus. I know, I'm weird, teetering between a TSX, a 335is and a Fit!

Oh, here's the 2011 Fit interior (the one above was an older one, I think):

KillerG

M3!

mkeefe

I'd either keep the TSX, you know and love the car. Or go for a smaller car and save some money for the long term. I think I remember you mentioning you had a fiance or wife (sorry if im mistaken) and i'm sure you'll want a house soon. Of course none of us can tell you what to do, but based on the overall costs with a BMW, Audi or another Acura i'd save the money for now.

PS: The Fit looks pretty cool. The CR-Z not so much.

Matt

ressling

The TSX trumps both Hondas if you ask me. As for advice, coming from a guy who's getting married this fall... I'd say stick with a four door vehicle...

07wdptl-s

maybe this is a better fit for you 2012 subaru impreza hatchback.

ed_423

haha do u think that the fit is higher because you've been riding in your lowered car?

MrOtocinclus

This is my current mindset (except the house part). It would definitely be nice to save a few hundred bucks every month. I drove a '98 Camry for nearly 10 years and always thought of cars as transportation only. Boy did the TSX change that perception. I'm wondering if I can go back to thinking about cars that way.

True, the TSX does trump both Hondas, but at the same time I do like driving new cars, especially while I'm still relatively young. I don't want to be one of those guys who buys a Corvette during my midlife crisis!

Oh, and congratulations on getting married! Coming from a married guy, you're gonna love it. :wink:

Subarus are nice, and they lease well. Do they still make the WRX? I used to want one of those.

It's possible, it's possible.

sonu_7

you can buy it out and sell it for more

ressling

This is actually true due to supply and demand, and the whole situation overseas.

mkeefe

I think based on the rate at which Japan is rebuilding there will be minimal S/D issues. If not any. Its actually quite amazing how fast it is all coming together.

Any dealers telling you otherwise are trying to of course capitalize on the situation.. as has been covered on this forum a few times.

Matt

ressling

^ my dealer told me they lost an entire shipment. And that's just one dealer in one city...

I know that the situation is getting better, but one needs to understand that supply chain disruptions have a domino/rippling effect.

Nite Flyte

I'm certainly no expert, and am new to this whole game, but my boss (rich guy) always leases, and then sells the car at the end of the lease.

From what he explained, you normally can sell the car for a much better value than what the dealer is saying it is worth, so if you sell the car and give the dealer the payoff, there is usually a couple thousand profit.

I might be misunderstanding or missing something though.

defconskylude

how can he sell a leased car without having title in hand?

ressling

Lot of variables in play, and depends on the situation. I actually just bought mine off the lease today, more than 6 months early. The buyout was at $21.5k and I got such a good interest rate, I couldn't pass it up.

I officially own (well not really, until it's paid off) my '09 TSX now!

Bank holds the title until the car is paid off; that's how the game goes...

MrOtocinclus

In a nutshell, this is true. The key is how much the individual car is worth at the end of the lease versus what your agreed upon residual is. If it's been taken care of and has low miles (like mine), then selling it to a private party for more than the residual means profit.

On the other hand, there is no guarantee that you'd be able to sell your car for higher than the residual. Perhaps if you got someone to agree to buy the car, then you can in turn buy the car from the lease company, and then sell it to that individual. It's possible for that person to renege after you buy the car, and if that were the case, you'd be SOL and/or have to try and sell it to someone else.

I'm not a big fan of bargaining and selling and all of that stuff, so I'd rather avoid the hassle and just turn the car back in.

I believe Nite Flyte's boss buys the car first, and then sells it, as I explained above.