Hot on the heels of yesterday’s mumbling I was thinking about other viable alternatives to the used car game. I’ve said numerous times that I wouldn’t be opposed to a lease if I was living farther from work. In my mind, that accounts for a lease payment of around $200 per month with insurance being another $100.
But what if that monthly lease payment were closer to $100? That changes the whole ballgame. It’s not unheard of for cars that are either a) really cheap or b) really average to reach this during some of the larger clearance events. The car in mind is the yet-to-be-released Honda Fit, one that I fall more and more in love with with each sentence I read about it. Obviously they’re not going to have $100 a month leases on a just-released car, but Honda has a history of doing some pretty great offers. Examples: Acura RSX-S, $230; Honda Accord EX-V6 (usually closer to $350), $230; Honda Pilot EX, $280; Honda Ridgeline (when I first looked it was close to $500), $300; etc.
Let’s look hard at that last one. The Ridgeline was on a similar release cycle to the Fit; it came out around this time last year as a very early 2006 model, and by the end of the year they were doing some really cheap leases on them. With that in mind I don’t see it being a huge stretch for the Fit to reach the $100 mark given its $13,000 base price. A Civic would also be alright, but I can’t get out of my head a nighthawk black pearl (or taffeta white) Fit Sport with a 5-speed.
Anyway, Edmunds seems to like it.
cottager said:
after viewing a view pics i’m not really a fan of Fit…of course that may change once i learn more.
what about a mini cooper, vw golf/gti, or one of the normal looking scions (not the boxy thing)?
04:58 on 10 Mar 2006
cottager said:
i forgot to say i still like the saab 900/9-3 option bestest.
04:59 on 10 Mar 2006
Andy said:
Those are all reasonable suggestions, but if I’m making payments I want a new car. The Cooper is pretty pricey and we don’t have a dealership within 2 hours.
The VWs are also more than I’d want to spend - if I was shopping in that price range, I can guarantee that I’d already own a new Civic.
And I don’t know why, but I’ve just never cared for Scion as a brand; I always felt too old for them.
But yeah, used I wouldn’t mind a Saab. Go crappy resale value!
08:14 on 10 Mar 2006