schvetkaaks

Let's assume the new E55 will be 80k - one would fairly say that its residual value is quite high, right? What, say, 55k in 3 years? If that is the case, the lease on this expensive vehicle is quite low, as in around $900.00 because the residual is high. Even if you put the residual at about 50k (which I think would be on the low end, considering the current E55 at 3 years old has a suggested retail of $48k) the payment is still relatively low for the price of the car, again, because residual is relatively high. The lease company would not want to set it low to get a higher lease amount because you could purchase this car for $45k that was actually worth $55-$60k or whatever, make a profit, and do it again - they would obviously want the profit there, not give it to the individual leasing it.

I'm starting to wonder about this E55 - if it has a great residual, it might be my best option for leasing should I choose to go M-B over the RS6...

E55 KEV

Mercedes-Benz has the highest Residual Values in the entire Automotive Industry according to ALG.

schvetkaaks

Then one might assume that the lease payments would be the lowest among similarly priced cars, but that is not the case...

I wonder why?

In fact, if you take an S500, for example, which is priced base at about 81,000, the typical lease rates are $1150 - $1300/month for 36 months. Granted, the residual is perhaps not as good as an E55 would be, but it's not THAT much less! Something is wierd about it all if MB's have such great residual values, then they should have great lease rates.

jl88

High residuals yes, but historically high money factors also.

.003+ is pretty common, even for tier 1

schvetkaaks

Why high money factors? Lending rates are at historic lows (30-year lows, anyway) so the 'cost of money' should be reflective of that, with money factors in the .0021-.0026 range, no more. (5% is .0021, and in this economy, 5% is pretty high)

(Just found Auto Spies article on Mercedes money factors - .00314 - http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e...e000091023.cfm)

jcjmw

I believe you can get better lease terms on leasecompare.com (I believe that's it). You plug in your cap reduction payment and etc and it provides the lease terms in less then seconds. I hope this sorry.