I have a 2003 C4s, 30,000 miles comming off lease end of October. It's Arctic silver, grey supple full leather interior.

Tiptronic, back up beepers, the expensive gas headlamps, bose premium, remote 6 cd changer, heated seats and mirrors, elec seats, well maintained, had it's 30,000 service, new tires,

Anyway, my residual is $44,800. I've called a number of dealers looking for an 06 CS, but they tell me, wholesale probably isn't even going to be $44,000 in 3 months. I was hoping to trade it prior to lease end and have a few bucks extra to pu towards an 06 or 07.

The sales people aren't even that civil when I call them. Am I better off just buying it for residual and keeping it a year or two?

Thank you

 

The car is in excellant shape, I detail it completley twice a year and wash it three or four times a week. Never smoked in etc.

 

I would think someone will offer you at least 49 for that car before your lease is up.

J

 

I agree. Your car is worth more than the residual.

 

I test drove an 03 lease return (Guards Red/tan) on a small import lot mostly BMW, Merc, Porsche. C4S had 40K miles, immaculate interior/exterior with a little curb rash and burnt tires. They were more than willing to negotiate below $50K.

p.s.
Don't wash your next car multiple times a week. Bad for the paint, better to use a waterless wash system like ONR or QEW. The less you touch the paint the better.

 

You know the car and if you love it, just buy it. The residual seems a little on the low side for such a well optioned car... which is good for you if you plan to keep it.

 

If it's a well maintained car they'll have it on the lot for $55k or more when you turn it in.

 

FYI:
Current black book value is $52,200 for CLEAN and $48,200 for AVG. You probably fall somewhere inbetween plus a usual deduct for TIP. I would say in 3 months you are still worth at least $46K

 

Those values may be correct in your area but in 19810, ours are $2K higher.

$54,000 for Excellent and $50,000 for clean with 59,000 miles.

 

If you don't want to buy it out, run an ad to sell it at market price a few weeks before lease end and pocket the difference. A buyer for such car should not be concerned with the fact that you're making some $$ as long as he feels he's getting a good deal himself.