kalantar

Came across an 03 which was a corporate lease vehicle and a lease vehicle (per car fax) both terms were for 2 years and the car only has 20k miles on it.

MOst people I know, abuse the hell out of their leased vehicles, especially a car like this. Are most of the SL55 lease returns?

What do you guys suggest?

jmoney6

I know they inspect it. Also remember with 20k your still under warrenty. If you convince the dealer to include a 100,000 mile warrenty your golden. So even if the car was abused if anythgin breaks its under warrenty.

Also check the service records to see if any damage was done to the car that voided a portion of the mercedes-benz warrenty.

Jackj42

Not everyone abuses leased cars. I just turned in an '05 SL55, put an aftermaket Sirius antenna under the hood grill because I wouldn't let them drill the back trunklid, and had the car serviced and oil changed at 5K, not 10K miles. Other than hammering the throttle once in a while, I never was rough on the car. I got 25K miles out of the Michelin pilot sports I put on the car.

rbtronnie5

i disagree....on high end cars i think a lot of people lease through a corporation for tax benefits. they also most of the time have it as an extra car in a case like a sl....that is why it has such low miles for example.

absent

I would not buy a car that was leased by myself,since I drive them like I stole them......

RoydRage

I have leased my pleasure cars before, and all I can say if it were my car... YES. I treated them like I bought them, Never drove them in bad weather etc.

But I think I'm rare. I BOUGHT my current car cause I was sick that I gave a brand new barely used perfect car back to the dealer last time.

I think it's like rolling the dice... It totally depends on the individual that had the car before you get it.

I think it's safe to say that it would probably not have been pampered. Bottom line is, that you just don't know... Unless you know the person that had it.

Best,

RoydRage

rbtronnie5

the thing is....i know people who drive the cars they bought like they stole them....i think it is just in the individual you are buying the car from. most of the time you don't know the true story whether it is leased or bought....unless you buy it brand new. so it is pick your poison...know what the car has been through and eat gobs of depreciation....or buy it used and take your chances...the way i look at it...that is what warranties are for. but like you said....unless you buy the car from someone you know.

NOTA4RE

I pound the crap out of everything I lease. When I am done with it there is nothing left but a shell of what once was.

When I turn the vehicle in I get the same thing all the others get who take care of the vehicle, nothing.

IngenereAMG

It all depends on the owner. I have leases on alot of cars, mainly for tax reasons.....and I am OCD when it comes to taking care of my cars.

As with any used car, a thorough inspection by either you or someone who is qualified will save you pain and agony......and even some money!

uscapitalgroup

Beware of the prior owner. Most guys will take care of the cars and older adults tend to not beat on them as hard as guys in their 20's.

I would never buy a leased car second hand unless it was a Ferrari I was trying to get my hands on, currently I am searching for a 599 with my options and I know it will be second hand. But not many Ferrari owners beat their cars up for reseale value reasons.

From what I read on these forums lots of AMG guys track their cars at the drag strip.

kalantar

Good point!

How can I find out the previous owners if the car is for sale at a dealership?

Murtaza

I beat mine like an ugly kid. Lease ftw.

That doesn't mean I don't take care of it though, I keep it clean inside and out...

bfnnrgn

Rule of thumb-people don't take care of what isn't theirs. You don't own a lease, so many beat the snot out of them.

kalantar

There is a fine line between driven hard and abused, it is probably splitting hairs. My Lambo technician highly encourages me not to baby my Murcielago and says you HAVE TO drive it hard , something about these cars were made for it and if you turn it into a garage queen or over pamper it things will rot and break down....

Does that same mentality fall for the sl55???

AMGNSX996TT

Worrying about intangible things such as a car's past, depreciation, buyer's remorse, etc... takes all the fun out of driving them. If you want peace of mind, then always buy new.

Lease or not, you can expect some abuse from any car in my book. Guard yourself with an extended warranty, CarFax report, and some extra cash for those unexpected mods and simply enjoy the car.

BTW some cars, like Porsche, the dealer can plug into the ECU and see the number of over revs. Luckily, these cars are bullet proof.

NOTA4RE

I rarely change the oil in a leased vehicle. My brother-in-law leased a new SUV and never changed to oil in it once.

I don't mow my neighbors yard either.

dan1495

I lease my Chrysler 300C and my wife's GL450, and I treat them as if I owned them. I guess I have too much respect for mechanical things to do it any other way. It may sound stupid, but I guess it was the way I was raised.

SL2003driver

I would think you would have less chance of someone beating up a leased SL500 versus the SL55. Just because the SL55 is a performance car. I bought a leased SL500 CPO from the dealer and extended the CPO to a total of 3 years and or 100K miles. I will not be owning the car when the warranty is up so any problems will only cost me shop time not $$$. If the car is solid after my 3 years of owership I might keep it if the resale value is low enough and I know the major systems are solid or have been replaced under warranty. Only buy a CPO car and extend the warranty, that will give you peace of mind. I also think that the drivetrains engine/transmission is solid on the SL's its the electrical systems and the ABC and brake systems that would be a problem and these can cost much more then the extended warranty to fix.

ItalianStallion

Just take a look at my signature to get a sense of what can be done with a leased car...

SL2003driver

That car would never be resold with a Mercedes CPO warranty

kalantar

How would they ever find out?

SL2003driver

You make a good point. I don't know if they can read the computers and tell? But it just lets you know why you should only buy one that is CPO'ed and get the CPO extended to 3 years and sell it before it is out of warranty. Its a crap shoot with a used car. I've already had the electric trunk lock replaced, rear strut and they are still trying to fix my alarm system. I paid $3995 for the extended 3 year 100K mile CPO and I know that they have already done close to $2K in warranty covered repairs and I have only had my SL for 2 months. Don't buy a used one without a warranty.

TchrzBenz

Ditto on that...

kalantar

leased car?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hNiM4lo0cQ

Does this even damage the vehicle?

SL2003driver

Just wears out the tires