Which WRX should I lease?

[MKZ]

Subaru has on sale event going on and I like to get one of those WRX(not STi).
I found the deals like
$229/mth for 2008 4 doors
$299/mth for 2008 5 doors
$399/mth for 2009 5 doors.
I love to get 2009 but the price difference is much.
They have 41hp more, stiffer suspension, bigger tires, etc..
Can you please advice which one?
Anybody have good experience with dealers in around Canton,Ohio?

[bobman1235]

Wow that extra hundred bucks is really steep.

Personally, I'd go with an '08 5-door. I'm a big hatchback fan, and while the '09 is probably the better car I couldn't imagine it justifying that kind of cost.

[concealer404]

If you can swing the extra $100, i'd do it. It's MARGINALLY less car than the STi.

Ah crap, i voted for the 5 door. I meant the 4 door. :(

[zingo]

The 2008 4 doors are sweet cars.

http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/96094/2008-subaru-impreza-wrx-0001.jpg

[Face]

I saw a 09 5 door in person the other day, it looked pretty hot!

[Jstas]

I wouldn't lease, I'd buy.

[MKZ]

The reason I'm leasing the car is I live in NYC and paying $200 for garage now.
I have had many problems parking on the street before like hit and run, broking in windows, bumping on my hood and grill by SUV, etc.. I am thinking to lease the car, park it on the street, I will fix if there is any damages and return it back 3 years later.

[daniel_paul_]

The reason I'm leasing the car is I live in NYC and paying $200 for garage now.
I have had many problems parking on the street before like hit and run, broking in windows, bumping on my hood and grill by SUV, etc.. I am thinking to lease the car, park it on the street, I will fix if there is any damages and return it back 3 years later.

The lease company will kill you with fees if the car has damage. I prefer to buy because you will have to pay to fix the car either way. Plus a stick in NYC??? Seriously!

[PhantomOG]

The '09 5 door is hot.

Why is fixing a car and handing it back to the dealer any smarter than fixing the car and keeping it? Not saying its not a good idea, I just don't follow the logic.

[Face]

The '09 5 door is hot.

Why is fixing a car and handing it back to the dealer any smarter than fixing the car and keeping it? Not saying its not a good idea, I just don't follow the logic.
I agree, you're just asking for headaches down the road.

[daniel_paul_]

FWIW, I have an 05' wrx wagon. I really hate city driving in it. Because of the turbo it is hard to start-n-stop drive at regular speed. You can stay out of the boost and drive somewhat slow with people behind all over you or you can hammer down and drive really fast then jam on the breaks at the next light. I love my car, just something to think about.

PS: Sawmill parkway. Two thumbs up.

[MKZ]

I use the car only on weekends like back and forth from Boston, New York sometimes Ohio so stick shouldn't be problems. I like original paint and I just don't feel comfortable with re-paints. That's just me.

[shack]

I wouldn't LEASE any car...period! If I were to purchase one it would be the 2008 4 door because you would probably get the better deal.

[kgingras]

I use the car only on weekends like back and forth from Boston, New York sometimes Ohio so stick shouldn't be problems. I like original paint and I just don't feel comfortable with re-paints. That's just me.

Who needs a car in NYC? If you only need it on weekends it'll be cheaper to rent as needed.

[SKsolutions]

If own your own business, or do a profit loss schedule, leasing can often make more sense -tax wise. You will also know how reliable it's been, and whether it's worth the buyout option.

[MKZ]

I think it will pretty beat up parking on the street after 3 years. I don't want to keep that car and don't wanna have trouble selling it. I think I will loose that amount of money even though financing it. Does it make sense at all? I think I will go get a lease on 2008 4 doors or finance on 2009 5 doors this friday. What do you guys think?

[Ron-P]

Leasing is a waste of money. Buy it, own it, and get some sort of return on the thing when you're done with it. Leasing is like renting, a waste.

With the economy as it is you should be able to work a killer deal. Heck, earlier this year I got a great deal on my '08 Eclipse plus 0% financing for 5 years.

[BeRad]

Don't lease, finance or buy an '04. :D

[SKsolutions]

Leasing a car is nothing like renting because you have the option of an equity stake at any time, while only paying the projected depreciation. The total depreciation paid is applied toward the purchase/lease price you negotiated. I have around 2K in equity in my 2007 lease. My total cost of ownership is lower, and the tax benefits are better in my case. You can and should negotiate a lease as you would a sale. There are other benefits as well. Nothing wrong with leasing, and the whole no-finance-charge thing gives me wood. Just don't go way over the mileage/trash it -if you can't afford to buy it out.

[WilliamM2]

My family has been in the car business for over 50 years now. My uncles who currently own and operate the dealerships have always told me that unless you own a business, a lease is a poor choice. If you don't buy at the end, you own nothing, if you do decide to buy, it would have been cheaper to just buy it in the first place.

Leasing is just another way the manufacturers came up with to get people into cars they really can't afford.

[MKZ]

I like the lip, grill and rim.

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1444/p8230042jq5.jpg

[Sami]

Can't really tell anyone what to buy or do when it comes to cars, but the wisest thing to do financially would be to locate a low mileage used 2-3 old WRX (or even STi but those could have be driven very hard) that can be bought for the same monthly payment as your new lease would be. Afterall, you're only doing weekend driving.

If you want a new car, well, can't decide which one, but I'm on the buy-not-lease group as well.

[MKZ]

Well, currently I financed my 05 lexus and the amount I owe is more than the car value right now so basically I'm losing all my down payment, monthly payment. And if I want to get new 1 and trade it in going to get worse.

I did regularly check those used cars on eBay, craiglist, autotrader. They usually being modified or driven hard. So I'm out of my patient looking for used. I was looking at 06' evo, 04,05 STi or any WRX. I could find some nice s2000 but they are not very convenient for me.

[Sami]

Used car prices have gone down quite a bit. So I take it you're not happy with your Lexus? If you trade in your car every couple of years, the money saved on ownership is mostly lost anyways as the value of car plummets as soon as it leaves the dealership. That's why I don't buy new cars anymore, only used.

[billbillw]

I think it will pretty beat up parking on the street after 3 years. I don't want to keep that car and don't wanna have trouble selling it. I think I will loose that amount of money even though financing it. Does it make sense at all? I think I will go get a lease on 2008 4 doors or finance on 2009 5 doors this friday. What do you guys think?

The problem is, the lease company/dealer will charge you big time. They expect cars to come off of lease looking like new. If they are not, they will charge you thousands of dollars.

I agree with others. Find a used WRX and buy it. I've seen them selling with 30k or less miles for around $16k. You could also look at a used Saab 9-2x Aero which is the same engine/chassis as the WRX, but Saab interior, bodywork, and suspension. Most agree that Saab improved things. Quieter ride, nicer looks, better warranty too.
Here's a nice one up near you
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/cto/894917988.html (doh, that's an automatic, might not want it)

BTW, the car magazines generally like the previous generation of WRX better. Subaru has taken much of the fun out of the current generation. They are not as raw as they used to be. This may be changing with the 09 model, but that was definitely the case with the '08 model.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

There are scenarios when leasing can be better than buying a car, depending on what kind of rate you can get, if it's a subsidized lease, residual value of the car, how often you change vehicles, etc...

Just blindly saying that buying is better than leasing without knowing the full picture doesn't make any sense.

[billbillw]

Well, currently I financed my 05 lexus and the amount I owe is more than the car value right now so basically I'm losing all my down payment, monthly payment. And if I want to get new 1 and trade it in going to get worse.

I did regularly check those used cars on eBay, craiglist, autotrader. They usually being modified or driven hard. So I'm out of my patient looking for used. I was looking at 06' evo, 04,05 STi or any WRX. I could find some nice s2000 but they are not very convenient for me.

Why exactly do you want another car? What's wrong with your 05 Lexus? If you are upside down on it (owe more than worth), you just need to keep it. With the strong resale value of Lexus, it will eventually be worth more than you owe.

[shack]

Just blindly saying that buying is better than leasing without knowing the full picture doesn't make any sense.

Good reasons to lease are practically non-existant. Granted one can be sold on a lease but because of the way they are structured with fees and so forth they are bad for most everyone.

[MKZ]

There's nothing wrong with Lexus and I like it for smooth ride.
It may sounds stupid but I'm thinking to keep it in my wife's home @Boston and use it when I get there. So I don't have to pay $200 for garage in NYC and instead I got WRX for that money.

I know there are many lease vs loan calculator out there and buying is better in the end if you plan to keep the car.

[Sami]

Ok, sp if I followed it correctly you think your Lexus is worth keeping in garage but a brand new, leased WRX is not.

[billbillw]

Ok, sp if I followed it correctly you think your Lexus is worth keeping in garage but a brand new, leased WRX is not.

I just don't think he realizes how much the lease company will charge him for damages. Nothing like paying $2xx for a car for 2-3 years, then you have to pay $3-4000 in damage fees, AND give them the car. No effing way will I ever lease a car.

[Ricardo]

Add insurance to those $2xx.

[MKZ]

The main reason is I'm having problem keeping my car in garage. The garage is valet type parking and my car get scratches all over it. When I complaint nothing is happening. I just don't want to pay them to scratch my car and thinking to keep my car at boston. I also need the car to commute so that lease deal is coming into my mind.
I went and test drive 2008 last friday. My wife complaints about the cheap interior.
My complaints: understeered, clutch release high and breaks.
I will keep on searching some used cars as you guys suggest. Any other cars do you have in mind?

[daniel_paul_]

My complaint with my 05 wrx wagon.

Bad understear at slower speeds. On the highway it is not to bad bt at slower speeds in longer turns it really is noticable.

Wet traction. I never hydroplane but when you push it even a little bit you will drive through the front tires.

Rattles. My door vibrates when the stereo is loud and the window is closed. And compaired to similar cars the streo sucks!!!. I bought speakers and an amp but have not instaled it yet.

The antilock breaks in the snow are slugish and choppy. Luckily downshifting in all-wheel-drive in the snow kicks ass.

I love my car, just some things to consider. I looked at mazda, mitsubishi, volkswagon and they either felt cheeper or had more recorded problems at the time.

I was in a new mazda and the build qulity seemed pretty nice now. I hated the interior. The mitsubishi looks nice and the guys on top gear showed that the rear will give out before you drive throught the front (and has slight oversteer). I wish my car did that. Lokked like a blast to drive. I do not like the pattel shifter at all.

[bobman1235]

What does "you will drive through the front tires" mean?

[MillerLiteScott]

I believe he means understeer, tight if you are a NASCAR fan.

It is probably due to the AWD and/or limited slip diffs.

Scott