First of all, hi, I've been lurking around this forum for months as I've had $2000 down on the Evo since September at a dealership near Downingtown Pa (#2 in line). I've reserved a silver Evo with the carbon spoiler & sunroof (didn't really want that but oh well).

I'm a long time member of Club 3G, owner of a 01 Eclipse GT that I'm planning on trading up whenever the Evo finally arrives.

I remember Fireball mentioning a few times that all financing will have to be done outside of MMCA, that this car is essentially COD.

I'd prefer to own the Evo but if it's an option, I'd also like to explore leasing the car. The Evo already has everything I am looking for so I'm not to concerned with squeezing more power out of it with anything beyond intake/exhaust.

Will Mitsu dealers be willing to lease the Evo or is it strictly a car that is to be financed outside of Mitsu Credit? Anyone else considering leasing?

 

I don't think they would do a lease option on a car like this.

In general, it is going to be driven so hard during the lease period that it would lose all of its value by the end. It's more likely that you'll have to finance through a bank, or else buy outright.

 

Ya know, that's a damn good question... never thought about leasing it. Because this car is really unknown to the general public, I'd bet that you'd get a couple banks that would be willing to lease it. If they really knew what this car was, I highly doubt that they'd do it, or it'd have a crap residual value.

 

I don't see why it has to be financed outside of Mitsu?

 

I am pretty sure it will be more like the WRX or Nissan 350Z in terms of financing than you think. Probly the car will hold its value well considering its such a rare car. I guess we'll see soon.

My 2 cents

 

i have been talking to the dealer about doing this too...for the last several months...they are not sure if they will lease them or not. But, they did lease the vr-4 3000gt back in the day. So it is still a possibility. Fireball? what do you mean this car would haev a crap residual....are you saying according to an outside bank? This car will for at least a couple of years have great retetion of it's value just do to the number of cars out there. That is one reason i am thinking about leasing it if they do do that. Cause your initial payment will be small small small...the ballon payment at the end will just be huge.

 

I have my $1,000 deposit down at MSRP for the car to get leased...

 

i hope so...i'd rather have an initial lower payment...i really can't afford this car anyway...it's either lease it or finance it for a looooong time and keep it for 5 or more years.

 

Dood, this is the kind of car you want to own, and give to your kids when they are older. Unless you drive it like you stole it. Then I say Lease away.

 

Mitsu may offer a lease program on the car. We won't know until Feb 1, but it won't be a "deal", I can guarantee you that. Mitsubishi won't have any special rates for retail programs either which is why buyers will be going with outside financing. At today's rates leasing doesn't make as much sense as it used to.

 

I wasn't too concerned about getting any special deals through MMCA, I just wanted to be sure that I had the flexibility to lease. Though leasing has a lot of downsides (I know, I leased my eclipse) it's still the best thing for me at this point. I'm trying to balance my budget between living expenses, student loan payments, car payment, etc. My goal is to keep my monthly car payment at a comfortable level. At this point I'm willing to put up to $5k down on a 3year lease to keep the payments down. I don't mind dropping the cash, to me it's just a small price to pay to have a really fun machine for the next 3+ years.

All I can do now is wait and hope that they do offer a lease. In the meantime I'm also searching the net for banks/credit unions that offer auto leases.

Any reason why Feb 1st is the day we find out all of this info?

Has anyone used a bank to lease a car?

 

the last time had a special vehicle 3000 gt spyder they offered a special lease 24months 12000 miles per year. I sold 2 1995 SL spyder's if I remember correctly the price for an SL was $699 with $2500 due at delivery. did not offer any finance priograms and the only lease that was offered was the 24 months. They may do the same thing. Any bank can lease a car if they want to as long as they give it a good residual value.

 

Yes.

 

Yeah, that's when the February finance programs will be announced. I assume the Evo will get a page in the book for February since some dealers will be able to retail the cars toward the end of the month.

 

Good and very valid point.