Altho that doesn't sound like a bad deal, leasing in general right now is far from ideal. I always purchased used, and was looking at a new 135i to lease. Depreciation and everything was horrible. It was going to cost me almost $750/mo for that, and it's only a $42k car give or take. Decided it would be wiser to buy a used 996 or newer M3. Only kicker is new cars shouldnt cost much/anything for basic maintenance past tires and such. Buying prices now are def better than lease prices tho

 

residual value wasn't horrible for leasing purposes. also, leasing has some tax advantages for me (or rather my wife), so i'm taking that into consideration as well.

but, again, it's kind of an intellectual exercise at this point. there's very little chance i'll sell my current p-car (which i love) and replace it with a cayman, which might just be a temporary infatuation at this point.

 

The Cayman is a nice car, with brilliant handling. I looked at new Caymans when my first 996 was hit. Ultimately, I opted for another 996 as the cost was just so low and for quite a bit less money (than a new Cayman S) I was in another 911 which was at the time slightly quicker albeit harder to drive fast.

The balance of the Cayman S is brilliant. The new DI motors and optional limited slip hardly feel like a "step down" from our older cars. You can't go wrong either way.

 

Wow; that CS is something special, and White! That'd likely be the only way I'd ever buy one though; pre-modded and sorted, which usually don't go hand in hand

 

I like the Cayman too. I'd like to add it to the stable however, I'm not sure I'd replace the 996 with it though.

 

Ok, I'll say it -they are ugly. Sorry, thats just the way I feel.

But, as a kid, I also thought the 80's 911's were the ugliest cars on Earth, then I bought one.

 

+1

Rudy
---------------------------------
'01 Arctic Silver/Black C2 Cabriolet
'03 Silver F-150 Supercrew

 

i'm in the 'yikes' camp.

I personally like them a lot, but the thought of $755 for 36 months on one (that I'd never own) just doesn't compute for me.

That seems like a ton of cash to be spending in this economy on a car you'd never even own...........

 

I think there are unique situations in which leasing is ideal... My wife's Sequioa for example... At the time we leased it, when monstrous SUVs were fashionable, the bet they call the residual value was also high, so the portion of the vehicle value that we were going to use was low (relatively) and the lease payment made sense... the deal makes even more sense now since you can't give the damn things away - fortunately they have to take it back...

Simliarly for hybrids... I suspect there are going to be significant technology breakthroughs in the next 3 - 5 years that would make it difficult to sell the Prius you have today when you're done with it... and end up in the same position with a car that you can't give away...

My $0.03 (fighting deflation...)

Rudy
----------------------------
'01 Arctic Silver/Black C2 Cabriolet
'03 Silver F-150 Supercrew

 

I've driven all the 996's (except the GT's) as I'm shopping for coupe for winter use. The CaymanS is the only car I have driven so far that made me sad to give back. Still not a fan of the front end styling though...wish they would have use the new Cayenne headlights.