The lease is about to run out on my wive's '03, so we trotted to the dealer to check our options. Our buy out, is well under retail, but about the same for trade in, so we asked the salesman our options. He said he would have to run it over to used c ars to be appraised. When he got back, he said Honda couldnt certify the car with the (brand new) "W" rated Fuzion ZRi tires on it, and they would have to charge us $1200 to "upgrade" to "Z"s, and that would only take us within $800 of what Kelly's says the trade is.

This musters 2 questions...first, W rated tire are for speeds up to 168 mph, while Z rated tires only say they "are able" to speeds above 148 mph, so factualy speaking, it is unknown that Z rated tires can be safe at 150 mhp, let alone 165+.

Second, (the tire issue aside) methinks the dealer is low-balling the price. This car is super clean, one (middle-aged women) owner, never driven hard, seasonaly driving, and always garaged. I get the feeling he "really wants" this car for the potential of profit to me made.

I know we could sell it, but that would mean we would have to finance the car in our name first, then do a payout.

I suppose the best bet would be to have a buyer ready when the lease is up...anybody interested in a super clean and fresh '03 Spa Yellow with 30k?

Well take pay out +tax...$19, 965.

 

I was always under the impression that Z rated tires were the highest rating you could get so that would make them better than W.

 

You're in Columbus, OH? Check the Ohio Club board and come to Marysville Honda Mod-Day next weekend. It looks to be a big event, 50 + S2000's and some NSX's. There might be something to be said about getting it checked out by other dealers before turning the car in and seeing what their thoughts are.

 

I'm pretty sure W rated are Z rated tires. The W just shows that the tires are built to better standards and are theoretically capable of properly performing at higher speeds...I'm gonna look it up real quick.

From TireRack
So W tires are Z rated, the W is a service designation to further detail the tire's maximum speed. Your dealership is a)stupid b)ripping you off, or c)both.

 

I'd go with b) because they are a)

 

Remind the dealship that The S02 Tires that came on the car were W rated also. Then tell them to shove up their ass.

Your lease is through honda finance, not that dealership. You can take it to ANY honda dealer you want.

 

What are you trying to achieve? Your lease is up, so your obligation to the bank is over, all you do is return your car, pay the disposition fee (usually $295-$395 depending on the bank) and its over. Go get yourself a new car. The only time you might be worried is if you have a balloon payment to be made, in which case you didnt lease the car, you financed it, and you would have to make the payment at the end of your term. From what you are describing that it seems like that is your situation, because on a lease you would know what the residual value of the car is from what it says on your contract (i.e. the amount you can buy the car from the bank for after the lease is over). You have to understand that dealers do not use KBB to appraise vehicles, they use whats called a black book that is region specific and is based on what cars pull at the Manheim auto auctions. Dealers offer you wholesale price for a car not retail. So that if they keep the car and sell it they can list a car at retail market value. They are not cheating you they are running a buisness. As always to get the most amount of money for your car you are better of selling it privately.

Andres

 

Do you know how a lease works?

Yes, he can sign the car over, or pay the residual. Since the residual is LESS than the value of the car, he can take advantage of that equity if he trades it in (assuming he deals with a deslership that will give him what the car is worth.)

 

You're telling me the car salesman may not be telling the truth?

If you like the car, keep it. If you are tired of it, trade it in or sell it yourself. You will get more selling it yourself.

P.S. You must be a member to sell on this site.

 

Guests can post their own S2000 for sale in the correct forum.....