Can't lease a mazdaspeed3?

Question

I went to the dealer today and he told me that they don't lease mazdaspeed3s...is it true?

Answer 1

What would be the motivation to lie to you?  They are there to put people into cars by any means possible.  If you wanted to lease one, and a lease was available, what would they gain by not doing it?

nothing

therefore it must be true.

Answer 2

In many regions of the country this is true. All manufacturers divide the US up into sales regions. Each region has the opportunity to particpate in the national financing of each car maker. Or the manufacturer may offer a region specific incentives. Or the region may opt out of any programs it wishes.

The Speed3 is in the same catagory as the Evo and WRX. It's a very fast car that, in general, will be driven fast and hard by young people who will rack up miles on it. Because of this, any region can back out of the national leasing program on it, which is standard rates -- no incentives on it. So only a purchase is available.

Qualifying for a lease is so much harder today. Residuals have taken a nose dive and manuacturers and banks are demanding perfect credit  with a FICO score of 750 or more. And the money factor is high on many leases. So even if you lived in a region where you could lease a Speed3, the monthly payments would probably be the same or higher than on a purchase.

Answer 3

True.  

Why not just buy one?  It will hold its value and you will love it.

In fact, you will see less and less manufacturers offering leases for many of their vehicle because of the poor job many of them did predicting residual values.