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Ford Flex Lease Questions

123 messages,  Last post on Oct 06, 2009 at 11:32 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Flex, Car Buying, Car Leasing, Wagon


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#47 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [baggs32] by djhalptert
Mar 01, 2009 (9:01 pm)
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Replying to: baggs32 (Feb 27, 2009 8:00 pm)

I'm looking at a $35K+ SEL AWD with Sync. When my negotiations stalled, I asked my dealer if it would help if I used my x-plan pin. He pretty much laughed in my face. Apparently the dealer holdback (which he offered to split with me) is $1400. So with $4,500 in rebates and getting half of that holdback, plus negotiating over $500 under invoice to begin with, I'm already way under anything the x-plan could do for me.
 
I had the same situation with Subaru. I thought the VIP Partner Program my wife can get through her work would help us. Wrong. The sales lady also laughed in my face when I mentioned it. I think in this economic climate these programs have become useless. I guess the only advantage of it would be the fact that you wouldn't have to negotiate any deals. Of course that is at the cost of a way higher car payment.
#48 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [djhalptert] by baggs32
Mar 02, 2009 (10:02 am)
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Replying to: djhalptert (Mar 01, 2009 9:01 pm)

Again, your location and the time of the year matters. I'm not going to get that much off of an AWD model around here until the MY change. I can guarantee that. My lease is up in May and I'll need a new vehicle at that exact time. The X-Plan discount is going to be much better any negotiated sellling price on a lease right now. If you guys can do better where you are that's just great for you. I'm not moving anytime soon though.
 
If I were buying then sure maybe I could negotiate a better deal than X-Plan at a dealer I've never used before. The one I have been leasing from is one I trust and they always give me a fair price with no hassle, X-Plan or no. That's worth more to me than $10 per month.
#49 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [chuck68516] by baggs32
Mar 02, 2009 (10:21 am)
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Replying to: chuck68516 (Mar 01, 2009 6:25 pm)

My way was $7083 off vs your $6400. This was first offer with no negotiating. Could get way better.
 
Add the $700 in fees and I'm right there with you. There isn't a dealer within my range that would give that much off on the first try on an AWD Flex. You're also reaching the point at which the dealer will make no profit so I don't see how you think they are going to go low enough to make the deal "way better".
 
Buying or leasing with X-Plan gives you a fair and fast deal. I'm not keen on spending weeks of my life trying to squeeze every last red cent out of a dealer. I know some people like to do that and are willing to do that but I'm not part of that group.
 
Your advice is noted but no thanks. Every dealer I've dealt with quoted sticker first and worked down from there. I've always done much better with X or S-Plan.
#50 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [baggs32] by djhalptert
Mar 03, 2009 (7:32 pm)
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Replying to: baggs32 (Mar 02, 2009 10:02 am)

What numbers are you being offered right now? Sale price? Money Factor? Residual? What is the MSRP?
 
Also you said you had an Explorer that you leased? What is your payment?
#51 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [djhalptert] by baggs32
Mar 04, 2009 (9:32 am)
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Replying to: djhalptert (Mar 03, 2009 7:32 pm)

What numbers are you being offered right now? Sale price? Money Factor? Residual? What is the MSRP?
 
Since I can't turn the Explorer in, without penalty, until May I've only asked for an OTD monthly payment with no money down and no money due at signing. Just sign then drive. I told them I have an X-Plan PIN, which I do, and the MSRP of the Flex in question was $35,465 give or take. $499 per month for 39 months at 10,500 miles per year was his quote. I don't have any more details right now because I was just testing the water so to speak.
 
Why?
 
Also you said you had an Explorer that you leased? What is your payment?
 
Yes. 2006 Explorer XLT 4WD. MSRP was something like $34,500. $495 per month for 39 months, 10,500 miles per year. We traded a 2005 Escape in when we leased it and negative equity was involved. I think it was something like $1500 we lost on the trade. 2 payments left on the Explorer.
 
PA taxes the monthly payment 10% rather than taxing the purchase price with leases.
 
All we care about is getting a fair price and an easy buying/leasing experience. I'm not one to battle the salesmen for another $10 to $20 off per month. If I know I'm being ripped off, which has happened once with a Mazda dealer, I'll battle for the better price for sure.
#52 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [baggs32] by djhalptert
Mar 04, 2009 (9:02 pm)
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Replying to: baggs32 (Mar 04, 2009 9:32 am)

Sounds to me like car dealers love dealing with you. $495 for an Explorer? Really? You are in LOADED BMW X3 territiory at near $500. And no $1,500 in negative equity isn't really going to change your payment that drastically on a 39 month lease. I bought a 2003 Explorer new in June 2003. It was stickered at just under $30,000. ($29,9XX). I paid $18,600 for it. X-Plan was probably $27,990. Do you know why you can't turn in your Explorer early without penalty? Because your payments are so high they can't absorb the residual.
 
I have turned in 2 Ford leases early with no penalty. Each time they gave me Trade-In Value which was higher than what my lease buyout was. Of course those were on a loaded 2002 Ranger (MSRP $24640) ZERO down, payment was $219 for 36 months. Traded it in 6 months early with no penalty. Leased into a 2004 Ford F-150 XLT (MSRP $27,320) payment was $273 for 36 months. Traded it in 4 months early. Leased into a 2007 Ford Edge (MSRP $32,690) payment is $340). Don't use X-Plan and you could turn YOUR leases in early with no penalty. Seriously, X-Plan is worthless.
#53 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [djhalptert] by baggs32
Mar 05, 2009 (9:51 am)
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Replying to: djhalptert (Mar 04, 2009 9:02 pm)

You are in LOADED BMW X3 territiory at near $500.
 
Yeah, after laying down $4000 for the fees and down payment. I finance all of that in so I don't have to write a check at signing. That takes you much closer to $600 per month for that tiny tin can BMW.
 
And no $1,500 in negative equity isn't really going to change your payment that drastically on a 39 month lease.
 
It added $30 per month.
 
I bought a 2003 Explorer new in June 2003. It was stickered at just under $30,000. ($29,9XX). I paid $18,600 for it. X-Plan was probably $27,990
 
Again, you bought. How is any of that relative to leasing? What were the incentives? Did you have a trade? Did you put money down? I'm guessing they lost money on that deal which is hard to believe. I've never met a dealer willing to lose money on a sale.
 
Do you know why you can't turn in your Explorer early without penalty? Because your payments are so high they can't absorb the residual.
 
No, the residual was too high and the value of an Explorer is at rock bottom right now. The residual was 52% which means they're going to have a really hard time selling it for what it's supposed to be worth when I turn it in. Why then would they let me turn it in early and forgo those last 2 payments which means they would lose even more money? Seriously, where are these dealer you go to who like to lose money on a regular basis?
 
I have turned in 2 Ford leases early with no penalty.
 
Not surprising. This was quite common before this year. I turned a lease in early, 2004 Mazda 6 S, a couple of years ago with no penalty too. What's your point?
 
Each time they gave me Trade-In Value which was higher than what my lease buyout was.
 
That's what they're supposed to do. Did you know you can sell your leased vehicle too? As long as you write a check for the balance of payments you get to keep the rest. The trade-in works that way too.
 
Don't use X-Plan and you could turn YOUR leases in early with no penalty.
 
Help me to make sense of this now. I should not use X-Plan and negotiate for a lower selling price. All while telling them I want to turn my lease in early with no penalty and ask them to pay for that too? I've tried pal, it doesn't work. Maybe where you are it does but this is truck and SUV land here and it just doesn't work that way. I did do that with a car as mentioned above. But not with a truck or SUV and I don't know anyone who ever did.
 
I'm not sure why some of you think that if it happened for you then those rules apply universally. There are significant differences in lease and purchase negotiations and incentives from region to region and even county to county. Time of year plays a role too. Right now I'm sure I could get a 2009 Fusion for a steal but not a Flex or an Edge for example. I'm not sure how to make you understand that.
#54 of 123
Chicago area lease rates? by jmartin1
Mar 05, 2009 (7:46 pm)
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Hi,
I'm considering a Flex Limited. In the suburbs of Chicago, need 12,000 mi/yr, 3 year lease. Can you give me an idea of residual and money factor?
Thanks!
#55 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [baggs32] by djhalptert
Mar 08, 2009 (11:20 am)
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Replying to: baggs32 (Mar 05, 2009 9:51 am)

Ask anyone in the forum, X-Plan, or it's equivalent (GM, Chrysler, Subaru, etc.) is an absolute rip off in this buying climate or even 2 years ago for that matter. In case you don't own a calendar, most of the 2009's have been sitting on the car lots since around August. That's 7 months of depreciation. To have to pay OVER invoice right now is absolutely absurd. Big deal you save the $495 acquisition fee and maybe a document fee. The dealers are dying to sell/lease you a car right now. Again, ASK ANYONE. Unless you are using the discount for a Mustang V-8 or F-250 Super Duty it is ridiculous.
 
As to all of your rebuttals,
 
1. My brother leased a 2006 X3 with only security deposit down for $509. That is why I mentioned it.
 
2. $1,500 in negative equity raised your payment $30. Like I said, DIDN'T DRASTICALLY AFFECT PAYMENT. Quit making excuses why you got ripped off on your lease. It wasn't because of the negative equity.
 
3. I bought a $30,000 Explorer in 2003 for $18,600 WITH ZERO DOWN, NO TRADE-IN. I mentioned it because you got $2,000 off your MSRP and I got over $11,000. Rule #1 of leasing, negotiate a SELLING PRICE FIRST. Then tell them you want to lease. (of course you can't do this if you are using X-Plan, another reason why it is USELESS.)
 
4. You can't turn your lease in "because your payments are so high they can't absorb the residual." TRUE. If you knew anything about leasing, which you obviously don't, you would know how a lease buyout works. YOU DON'T PAY THE TOTAL OF ALL MONTHLY PAYMENTS LEFT! i.e. if your payment is $500 per month and you have 4 months left, your lease buyout isn't $2,000. Your lease buyout is determined solely on three things. Firstly, the depreciation fee. Secondly, a mileage adjustment. Thirdly, the real world value of the vehicle. Big deal your residual was 52%. Doesn't matter. If you would've negotiated a better selling price instead of using X-Plan your payment would be $350 a month instead of $500. The buyout would be worst case scenario $250 (depreciation amount) X 4 months = -$1,000. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE A CHECK FOR THE BALANCE OF YOUR REMAINING PAYMENTS TO TRADE YOUR LEASE IN EARLY. YOU DON'T PAY THE SALES TAX OR RENT CHARGE FOR THE MONTHS YOU BUYOUT!
 
5. You are apparently one of the many people on this forum who go into a dealership and just take their word for everything. Just becuase they seemingly won't budge off their first offer doesn't mean you can't get a lower price. It just means you have to try harder. If you don't want to play their games, have fun paying $500 a month on a $350 vehicle. If you can't find an honest dealer locally branch out a little. Go 250 miles or more outside of your area. The amount of money you spend on gas there and back WILL be saved in one LOWER monthly payment. Plus, you will find that the selection of vehicles greatly improves as you look further outside your immediate area.
#56 of 123
Re: Carman: Lease Loyalty Question [djhalptert] by baggs32
Mar 09, 2009 (9:03 am)
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Replying to: djhalptert (Mar 08, 2009 11:20 am)

I bought a $30,000 Explorer in 2003 for $18,600 WITH ZERO DOWN, NO TRADE-IN. I mentioned it because you got $2,000 off your MSRP and I got over $11,000.
 
I've seen final buy-down rebates of $8000+ for Explorers recently but by that time leases are over for the MY. Again, not helpful.
 
$1,500 in negative equity raised your payment $30. Like I said, DIDN'T DRASTICALLY AFFECT PAYMENT. Quit making excuses why you got ripped off on your lease.
 
I don't feel I was ripped off. I feel I got a fair price and I can live with that. If you can't then have fun pinching your pennies the rest of your life.
 
YOU DON'T PAY THE TOTAL OF ALL MONTHLY PAYMENTS LEFT! i.e. if your payment is $500 per month and you have 4 months left, your lease buyout isn't $2,000. Your lease buyout is determined solely on three things. Firstly, the depreciation fee. Secondly, a mileage adjustment. Thirdly, the real world value of the vehicle.
 
Yeah, that's one option if the trade-in value is anywhere near the balance you owe which is not the case on any SUV today. The other option is to pay your remaining payments (see option 2 below). You might know how to negotiate better prices but please don't try to fool all of us into thinking you know everything about leasing.
 
From the Ford Credit site:
"Early Vehicle Return
 
    * Return the vehicle to the original dealer
    * Sign a Vehicle Condition Report and Odometer Statement
    * Pay one of the following amounts, whichever is less
 
1. The difference, if any, between the Current Balance (see below) and the Fair Market Wholesale Value of the vehicle, plus an early termination fee (except California and some Wisconsin leases), plus all other amounts then due under the lease. The Fair Market Wholesale Value will be determined at your option by one of the three following methods:
 
   1. An amount agreed to by you and the originating dealer, or
   2. The net amount received by Ford Credit upon the sale of the vehicle at wholesale auction, or
   3. An amount determined by a professional independent appraiser (the appraiser must be agreeable to Ford Credit and will be at your expense)
 
OR
 
2. The sum of the remaining unpaid lease payments, plus any excess wear and use and mileage charges, and all other amounts then due under the lease."
 
Have you looked back at posts in this thread by chance? Show me where anyone had a payment better than what I was quoted. And no, 2009 models have not been on the lots for 7 months now. Two local dealers finally received their first 2009 Explorers which have been in production for roughly 6 months now. There are several loaded Flex Limiteds around that have been sitting for a while but even with a great deal I'm not sure I'd want one. Everything else has been kept at low stock levels and new copies don't arrive until the old ones are gone. It sounds like you have one of those mega dealers near you if you can see '09s sitting around since August. I don't have one of those near me, at least not one that sells Fords, so it's pretty stable right now. You really and truly have to understand the differences in markets before handing out advice you take to be universal. I guess that's why we all ask carman for his thoughts and not you.

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