The best time to lease is when car manufacturers are sponsoring (subventing) promotional deals (see Best Car Deals). These special leases usually have a short time period in which they are available, and are generally very good deals. You’ll see the deals advertised on TV, in local newspapers, and on car company web sites. The reason these are better deals than a dealer alone can offer is that the manufacturer can manipulate ALL factors in the lease, price (rebates), money factor, term, and residual value — whereas a dealer can only manipulate price (discounts). The very best deals are those in which you get price discounts, or “contribution,” from BOTH the manufacturer AND the dealer. If there are no manufacturer subvented deals at the time, your best chance (repeat, chance) of a discounted dealer price is at day-end, month-end, quarter-end, or model-year end.

Posted in: Lease Deals