trlyka

I'm getting close (within a month) of getting a car.

It's a nerve racking feeling and exciting at the same time. It all boils down to having A CAR PAYMENT AGAIN.

I know you never get as much when you trade your car as when you sell privately. But how much more is the question.

I have a few k I can put down w/o trading in my car. So, should I put money down and trade my car too ($5-6k).....Put money down ($2-3k) and try to sell my care privately.....or no money down, keep it to pay the lease for a year or so and sell my car privately?

joeymagl

Conventional wisdom says put as little or no money down on a lease

jadrianb

Just ask the finance department. It may or may not make much difference. Sometimes you can get really good lease deals with no money down. With my wife's current car we just put $650 down (small down payment plus first lease payment). Trading a car in is more important on a purchase because it lets you save on sales tax.

tboned

*Sell your car privately, bank the cash

*Put little to no money down

*Use your banked cash from the private sale to finance some lease payments during the term of the lease.

The ONLY way I would put some extra money down would be to wrestle the dealer into getting me a "below average" interest rate, which would hopefully cover the cost of putting that extra money down. Assuming of course, that you use the dealer instead on leasecompare.com or something similar.

Scott Evil

Normally lease money factors are very low, which makes my point moot, but since this is a used car (poster wants a 2006 A4 2.0T), the money factor will be close to the interest rate on a loan. Therefore putting money down may be a wise choice.

Car Crazy

There is a lease special to the end of June. Money factor is .0002 (half of one percent interest - Super cheap almost free money). Delaers need to clear inventory to make way for the B8 so they will give you a great reduction in cap cost. You very likely will lease a new 2008 for less then a used 2006. The deal is on SE (special edition) A4 only. Non SE A4 models do not qualify. Audi will also pay your first month payment as part of this deal. You also get 1 year of free SAT radio.

trlyka

I am told that Quattro will be slightly more, but still a good deal. What's included with a Special Edition A4?

Car Crazy

SE model includes S-Line Exterior, Leather, Heated seats (possible other stuff I can't remember). It will be less then $500/month with $0 down, 15k miles/year, 36months. Residual is 52% w/o Audi care and 53% with Audi care. That combined with .0002 MF makes it a very good lease. The program is over at the end of business tomorrow.

trlyka

I would hope the dealers would extend current or hopefully better offers into July. They wouldn't just shut the doors on special offers. Would they?

RKA

If they have cleared sufficient inventory from dealer lots, they may discontinue. If they still need to clear more inventory, they may extend it. Hard to predict...just have the roll the dice.