enhancing a leased Audi
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enhancing a leased Audi
If I'm leasing an Audi and decide to upgrade the suspension (or anything that isn't practical to remove), how might that impact things when the lease term ends and I don't bother to restore the factory equipment before returning the car? Any ideas?
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Re: enhancing a leased Audi
LifeAuger:
Does your "handle" indicated that you are being screwed by Life?
Seriously, though, you should remember that a leased vehicle is not "your" vehicle. It belongs to the bank, unless you leased from Audi Leasing, in which case it belongs to them.
Even if you had bought a vehicle, you are really only a care-taker, since some day you will sell it, and it will outlast you.
That being said, there are many "enhancements" that can be made, and then un-made when it's time to give the car back to its rightful (and lawful) owner. You might wish to share some of these possiblities with us, and we can comment on the "adviseability" of such an enhancement. As in all things in life, ESPECIALLY in autos, everything is a compromise. For every good, there is a bad. So our collective wisdom, sought before you decide, could save you time, effort, and money.
Give us a shot.......Andras
Does your "handle" indicated that you are being screwed by Life?
Seriously, though, you should remember that a leased vehicle is not "your" vehicle. It belongs to the bank, unless you leased from Audi Leasing, in which case it belongs to them.
Even if you had bought a vehicle, you are really only a care-taker, since some day you will sell it, and it will outlast you.
That being said, there are many "enhancements" that can be made, and then un-made when it's time to give the car back to its rightful (and lawful) owner. You might wish to share some of these possiblities with us, and we can comment on the "adviseability" of such an enhancement. As in all things in life, ESPECIALLY in autos, everything is a compromise. For every good, there is a bad. So our collective wisdom, sought before you decide, could save you time, effort, and money.
Give us a shot.......Andras
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Re: enhancing a leased Audi
You may have the ability to sell the car and pay off your lease residual with no fee involved. Check your contract and/or with your lessor for the details.
If this is the case, and you decide to upgrade, you'll be investing in something that will raise the value of the car you sell without increasing the residual - you'll recoup some of your investment and incur no loss.
If this is not the case, most financial institutions will charge you what their use assessment inspector deems to be a fair amount to "restore the vehicle to its original configuration." They are not actually required to spend the money you pay them to do this, and you can't really dispute the issue because you've already signed the contract. Again, contacting your lessor will help you determine what's best for you.
BTW - I sold my 3 year old leased Prelude about a month ago, paid off the residual and pocketed about $2K.
If this is the case, and you decide to upgrade, you'll be investing in something that will raise the value of the car you sell without increasing the residual - you'll recoup some of your investment and incur no loss.
If this is not the case, most financial institutions will charge you what their use assessment inspector deems to be a fair amount to "restore the vehicle to its original configuration." They are not actually required to spend the money you pay them to do this, and you can't really dispute the issue because you've already signed the contract. Again, contacting your lessor will help you determine what's best for you.
BTW - I sold my 3 year old leased Prelude about a month ago, paid off the residual and pocketed about $2K.
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Can you email me
how you worked it out with the finance company. I have a leased Acura, 2 payments left and am selling the car right now. Got questions and don't want to use this forum to ask them. Thanks
email work at joseph_stuesser@transcom.sony.com
email work at joseph_stuesser@transcom.sony.com
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Re: It depends on many factors. What did you have in mind?
Well, I'm not sure yet. Surely the short shifter (though easy to remove and resell) and possibly the springs and other suspension components. But I don't even have the car yet (after about <b>50</b> calls to AoA I haven't even been given a serial number or date of availability in five weeks). But I can't really complain since I won the lease, which will be with AoA. I hope to buy it at the end of the lease, or maybe keep leasing it, but if for some reason I don't want it anymore would I be better off to buy and resell it?
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Anything you can put back to original is cool
Yes, you will get charged if you don't take mods off at the end of the lease. If you are planning to buy the car at the end of the lease, don't worry about it.
The only time you get charged for this, is when you turn the car back in to the leasor. Trade it in ( most often ), buy it, sell it to the neighbour down the street - no charge.
We usually put modified cars back to original to resell on the front line. The mods an "owner" does to their car, does not raise and can detract the resale at the dealership. We don't ding you unless body, paint, or interior have been affected.
The only time you get charged for this, is when you turn the car back in to the leasor. Trade it in ( most often ), buy it, sell it to the neighbour down the street - no charge.
We usually put modified cars back to original to resell on the front line. The mods an "owner" does to their car, does not raise and can detract the resale at the dealership. We don't ding you unless body, paint, or interior have been affected.
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Well, if it were me...
I would do WHATEVER I wanted, with reckless disregard for the financial consequences, since I got the car for nothing to begin with. Especially since you plan on buying it anyway, just go for it.
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