There will be little difference if all your driving is going straight. The differences are HUGE when road gets curvy. I am not talking about curvy mountain trails or race tracks, the same apply to regular city streets where you make a lot of turns. I step on the gas making turns in my G, it is addictive and so much fun. Not so when in my Maximas, you don't want to dive into the curb doing that.

Yes, I agree with Black Betty, go with an Altima if money was the issue. It is a great front driver for the money.

 

I spent a week with the Altima and I had the same impression at the end of the week as the beginning of the week. No sir, didn't like it.

 

You are a spoiled happy kid, just like me

 

The deal i'm trying to obtain would save me $159/month on a new lease for a Maxima. As mentioned before, i have a high payment on the G.....$759/month, because of a stupid mistake on my part abosorbing about 5K, in negative equity from a previous car. The goal here is to get out of the G, and have 0 Negative equity. Meaning they buy my car out entirly, then start fresh with the Max. I know people will be against leasing, but it's the same as financing. It gives you the flexibility, and you can buy the car out if you really like it, or just return it and not have to deal with Negative equity (providing your within your KM allowance), i'm also in Sales, so it helps me on taxes too. I'm trying to get the Max w/Sport pkg for 600/month, 1.65% interest, with a residual of $13,000, 60 month lease. MSRP is listed at $42,084 including Freight. At the end of 5 years, it's alot easier to come up with $13k and buy the car out then. THink of it as saving your $13K downpayment until the end.

Comparing to the G, if i keep the G, i pay the $759/month for a remaining 26 payments, and at that time if we decide to buy the car it's $18,900 + tax = $21,000. That's a nice chunk of change to come up with, which means another 2-3 year finance. That's why the Max is so attractive.
That's where my head is at, what do you guys think?

 

If you are having trouble making lease payments, I'd suggest buying (not leasing) a cheaper car. Like an Altima or something closer to that price range. At the end of the term it is yours and has actual value. It's a depreciating asset, but still a financial asset and not a liability. When the time comes you can sell it or trade it in for another car and have instant equity so you aren't in another negative equity situation. However this will require self sacrifice and financial discipline and not having a new car every couple of years but also not having a car payment every month for the rest of your life. If you can't or don't want to do that and intend to always lease cars and don't mind always paying for a car that will never be an asset, then just do whatever gives you a payment you can afford. There are some sets of circumstances where leasing makes sense. But most people who lease aren't in those circumstances. You mentioned being in sales. How does that help you on taxes in Canada? Do you own a business and lease the car through your business and count the payment as a pre tax business expense?

 

OMG, I was actually typing a recommendation that he go buy a used Altima, and wait until he can better afford to drive the car he wants, but I cancelled the post only to see BB beat me to it.

You know, it doesn't matter anyway. He's committed to another 26 months on the G Lease. That's not going to just go away, unless somebody buys the lease (like this Nissan dealership), as part of another transaction for yet another 60 month lease. The whole thing is a complete clusterfck, and while the OP clearly knows this, I don't understand the rationale at all. Because at the end of 5 more years, he is not going to want to buy his 5 year old Maxima for another $20,000. He's just kicking the can down the road, assuming that Future Me can better afford things.

Since the OP is openly asking for advice now, here's some. You're looking at a five year plan right now, right? Do this instead:

1. Suck it up and finish the lease over the next two years.
2. Buy a reliable and inexpensive used car for the next three.
3. Save your money, and buy a nicer car at the end of that 3 year period.

Be responsible now, and you'll see the benefits down the road, say in 5 years.

 

I don't know this, but I'm guessing that OP is a younger dude and you are an older dude. When you are younger (at least for me anyway) you tend to want to buy things that are more expensive than you can really afford (what you can get financed for and what you can afford are not the same thing). It's the nature of youth. As you get older and hopefully wiser and understand fiscal responsibility a little better you tend to want to buy things that are less than you could have afforded to buy. This is why I drive a G37 that I can easily afford instead of the GTR I really wanted and could actually afford, but it would set back my plan to retire early by almost 2 years. So I'm happy in the G and I'll be ecstatic to have the GTR later down the road after more important things are taken care of first financially. Damn I wanted that car!

I guess I didn't read OPs post well enough. In a lease on the G for another 26 months @ $750. Wanting to get out of that and into a cheaper lease. I suppose that is somewhat better. Either way at the end of it you still won't own a car that has value until you either finance the residual and pay it off on this car or the one you are trading it for. If it were my money, I'd bite the bullet (if you can) and just pay for this one until you own it. Trading one bad lease for another lease will just cost you $36K in payments over 5 years for the privilege for paying another $13K over another period of time. If you finance that over 2 more years you'll have paid $50K for a Maxima that's 7 years old and not worth more than maybe $9 or $10K (complete guess)

 

Yes, BB. I'm 48. Generalize however you want, you're probably right.

Did you notice the OP used the word "we", and also lists a brand new 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT in his sig? How much you want to bet this Acura is leased, too?

 

Just to clairify things, to those who may think otherwise........it's not that i can't AFFORD the car. I can afford the car. And i don't know what you consider to be a young dude....but i'm going to be 30 in a few months. I'm well established in my line of work. i don't own a business, but i'm in Sales, as an Insurance Broker, and am able to claim mileage, fuel, lease payments, intereste etc. on my taxes for a portion of my employment mileage. Also, i clearly know that if i lease a vehicle, i will never own anything. I'm a car guy, and i know that i won't keep a car longer than 4-5 years max. I haven't yet since i've been 17. Waste of money, probably yeah. But it's my passion. The only reason i'm looking into doing this, is to clear up some extra cash to plan for our future. The wife and i may be starting a family very soon. So the lower car payment, will be a little more manageable, especially when she's on Mat Leave. Also, after 5 years, if i have that itch, i have that flexibility. Here in Canada the price of cars are rediculous. Meaning $50K for a Maxima is actually what the car cost if you were to buy it outright. $42,000 + 13% tax, and finacing for the term. You end up at about the $50k mark. So Leasing Vs. Financing is no different, depending on the circustance of course.

 

I just love how everybody just jumps on the "He Can't Afford it" band wagon. There are other reasons why people do things. To each their own.

 

One of these things is not like the other... Sing it with me.

 

I wasn't bashing you. I got from your post that you had a problem with the $750 per month payment which is why you wanted to pay less. Did I misunderstand that somehow? I simply asked about your comment because tax laws are different between US and Canada. I wish I could deduct fuel costs and mileage and payments and interest for a car as a business expense here in the US. And yes, I consider 29 to be young, enjoy it.

Sounds like you have a very sound financial plan for your family's future. I love my 96 Maxima, and hope you enjoy yours. I'm jealous that I don't get new cars as often as you do. I say go for it! An extra $150 per month wisely invested, even conservatively, makes a huge difference over the course of your work career. I'm sure you'll be well set when you retire.

 

BlueOnyxG,
your a grown married man who deep down seems to know what car you really want to lease. Although members of this forum have shared some very insightful advice, they obviously can't/don't know you and your finances/lifestyle. With that being said, speak with individuals who are close to you for advice, make your decision and stop beating yourself silly. You know what you should do, so just do it !!!
Good Luck.
Russ

 

OK am I the first to comment on the $750 lease payment? That is higher than if you financed with a few thousand down. I'm a lease-first person, but only if its less than $400/month. If you do the overall math on lease vs. finance, sometimes it comes out best to lease if you don't plan on keeping cars too long. For me, I'd rather lease with lower monthly payment than pay off a car in 5yrs and keep it long enough to make it worthwhile. But that's just me. I'm not saying I'm smarter or better than a person who buys the car, I've done both.

Back to the OP, I agree with you wanting to have a much lower lease payment, but $600/mo for Maxima? Dunno how much different leases are in Canada, but that hurts. In the states we can lease BMW 535 or Audi A6 for $600/mo. Ouch

 

In a nutshell, Canada sucks!! Go to Nissan.ca and build and price. You'll see. We get raped. Now keep in mind, my numbers are all with 0 down...my current lease was 0 down. $400/month would get me into a lease for A Altima 2.5 here in canada.