Leasing a truck an option?

[Ben Long]

Well, my 23-year-old F-150 has to be put down. My pre-season mechanic check found several significant problems with highway safety implications. Just not worth putting the money in to keeping Big Red alive. At the same time, I HATE to spend good hunting season time shopping for a new truck. I'm considering leasing a 4x4 until hunting season is over. I've never leased a vehicle before. Stupid? Tips?

 

[LCH]

I don't know about a short-term lease. On a 2 or 3 year lease, the advertised payments are usually based on very little mileage per year. For us, with the miles we put on our vehicles, it made a lot more financial sense to buy.

 

[Southern Elk]

When you say short term lease are you talking from a rental car company, such as Enterprise or something similar? If so, it could be expensive if it was for more than a week or two. We have rented SUVs on a couple of different occasions for cross country trips to the mountains. Never had any issues. My credit card has rental car insurance protection, so I didn't have to pay extra for insurance.

 

[wolfpup]

Definitely not worth it if you drive it over hunting ground like I do... remember the new ones don't hold up to dents and scratches like your 25 year old will. For instance I put a dent in mine by leaning over the bed and pulling something out of the bed.. ok I put quite a bit of pressure on it but my point is while it does not bother me, the leasing dealer would probably make it repaired upon return.

 

[airlocksniffer]

Daily driver around town, lease isn't a bad way to go. Hunting rig, no way I would use a lease.

 

[Ben Lamb]

You can always find a 22 year old Ford to replace it.

Leasing is a bad option. You're throwing your money away for a car that you don't own and won't get any value out of once you're done with it.

 

[LuketheDog]

Fleecing? Just say no! You'd be better off finding something used for cash now, then selling that and buying your new vehicle after the season when you have more time...

 

[smarandr]

Well, my 23-year-old F-150 has to be put down. My pre-season mechanic check found several significant problems with highway safety implications. Just not worth putting the money in to keeping Big Red alive. At the same time, I HATE to spend good hunting season time shopping for a new truck. I'm considering leasing a 4x4 until hunting season is over. I've never leased a vehicle before. Stupid? Tips?

Can't help on the lease/buy question, but I had to put down my 23 year old GMC this summer too. I feel your pain, but I will say trucks have come a long way in the last 20 years. You'll like the updates once you get into one.

 

[airlocksniffer]

You can always find a 22 year old Ford to replace it.

Leasing is a bad option. You're throwing your money away for a car that you don't own and won't get any value out of once you're done with it.

We leased a Toyota Matrix a while ago. We kept the miles so low that when the lease was up, we bought the lease out then turned around and traded it in on the Tacoma. Got $1000 on it after we paid off the bank.

 

[Ben Lamb]

We leased a Toyota Matrix a while ago. We kept the miles so low that when the lease was up, we bought the lease out then turned around and traded it in on the Tacoma. Got $1000 on it after we paid off the bank.

Nice work. I've always looked at leasing like renting - you're building equity and providing the profit for others, but it seems like you guys made it work for you.

 

[Flynarrow]

Ben, an Alabama friend of mine used to rent a truck from "Rent a Wreck" here in Missoula for a month or so and was always pleased. Greg M

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

I'd just go find a slightly less old POS that you can abuse for the season then re-sell.