That's a pure crime. I was going to say, if he owned that car? I don't think he'd be doing that.

And people claim RENTALS are a bad idea? Try a former lease... That's what my GP is. The former owner whacked so many potholes, my steering rack clunked like mad when I got it at 22k. I have never seen a GP need a rack...but mine did. And the sh!tty reman one put in under warranty has given me issues ever since

 

So... what's his plan when the lease is up?

Unless he plans to buy the car at the end of the lease, he is going to get hammered for the modifications!

 

I don't see what the big deal is.

I (as well as alot of people I know) would drive & beat on their cars the same way if they owned them or leased them.

If I go out and lease a car tomorrow, be it an Aveo or a Gallardo, I'll be driving it the same way as if I was making payments to own it.

If you're concerned about the previous owner/leaser, then I suggest you never buy a used or previously leased car.

Also, for the comment about the mods. . .its pretty easy to reverse all the bolt-on mods. A friend of mine had an LS1 w/ a powerdyne blower, cam, headers/catback. . . I think he put it back to 100% stock and gave it back when the lease was up. He then sold all the mods.
:-)

 

You really think that you'd take care of a car the same if you owned it versus just leasing it for 2-3 years???

1) Would I have used Mobil 1 for the past 3 years in my lease car, changing it every 4,000 miles?
2) Would I have been super **** to avoid potholes? Automated car washes?
3) Would I have waxed it every 3-4 months?
4) Wouldn't I have redlined it more, or would I have babied it?

Uhm, probably not...if you know you're keeping something versus handing it back, of COURSE you'll drive it and take care of it differently...especially if you plan to have the car you bought for over 5 years...

 

I've leased and owned... and, you are totally right.

There's just something about doing the little extras that cost more $ that doesn't make as much sense when you lease.

Now, I don't think I beat on the leased cars any more than an owned car though... because I am responsible for non-warranty damage/wear...

But, I would not spend the extra cash to put in Mobil 1, like you mentioned in your examples.... there's just no point to it.

 

Hmmmm, well, I usually don't own cars for too long.

Regardless, here's my answers:
1) If I were to lease a car for 36 months or less, it probably wouldn't get Mobil 1. So, you're right, there.
2) I've always driven bad roads when I owned my camaro. Never went out of the way to avoid those specific roads. Also, if I was leasing a car I'd still avoid as much as if I owned. Who'd want to have a poor driving car destroyed by potholes, for the remainder of the lease?
3) I'd still wax it as often as if I owned it.
4) I've never babied a car. My syclone, my GTP, my Z28, (all gone now), and now my Murano and 1999 Grand Am see the redline daily when i drive them. My Z28 often saw redline also. I don't believe driving a car to the redline is detrimental if you change the oil at the correct intervals, etc.

BTW, I'll be keeping the Murano for ~10 years. It's only been waxed once in the past 15 months of ownership, so it's being neglected there (will be waxed in the next couple weeks), but it does get Mobil 1. On a side note, the Murano is one of the nicest driving vehicles I've driven. No regrets with that purchase.

Mike