Honda Pilot Lease Questions

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Comments

  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    There is only a $1k dealer cash on leases, but $3,500 dealer incentive for sales.

    Invoice on the 2wd EX-L w/Nav is $31,639, less the $1k puts you at $30,639 so your price is into the hold back.

    If you want a lower price, you will have to either buy the Pilot or lease it 3rd party (not a good deal).

    The residual is what it is and can't be changed by the dealer. Nav systems and leather do not hold value well, nor to 2wd SUVs. So you have hit the trifecta for a lower residual. If you drop the Nav and leather then your residual would be higher or if you opted for 4WD it would be higher as well.

    Try Hennessy in Woodstock and see if they can do better, but if you are under invoice including dealer fee and less the $1k incentive it will not get a whole bunch better.

    Dennis
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    The VP and the SE both have a "special discount" on the sticker, the other trim lines should be easier to figure out. You are correct in that on the special models they add the discount back into the MSRP to figure out the residual. Heck, on our VP the $800 does not even appear on the sticker at all.

    The residual is based on the full MSRP including the destination charge.

    As we have mentioned before, going with 15k miles rather than 12k miles reduces the residual percentage, going with 2wd rather than 4wd reduces the residual, going with Nav, leather, or RES reduces the residual (going with those in combination reduces it further still). So a 2wd leather and Nav Pilot leased with 15k miles per year will have quite a low residual.

    Dennis
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    The MSRP including destination on an 4wd EX-L Pilot is $34,080, 53% of that MSRP is $18,062.40 .

    Dennis
  • eoreoseoreos Member Posts: 18
    I'm about pick up my Pilot the Tuesday after President's Day. Here are the details. I'm in NJ.

    The MSRP is 35,680.00
    Invoice is 32,362.85
    Selling price is 30,960.00
    N.J. Tax 7%
    money factor .00030
    Residual is 52% (18,553.60)
    Total Out of Pocket $1500 (I know, but we need a lower payment)
    Monthly Payment $393.80 (includes taxes)

    Whats the opinion? Thanks...
  • tifightertifighter Member Posts: 3,797
    Thanks Dennis.

    So in theory, the residual on an EX AWD for a 3/36k lease should be $17161.20 based on a full msrp of 31780 (includes destination). This helps....bought many cars but still new to leasing. ;)

    25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0

  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    I am sorry, but I don't know the actual residuals for all the different trims. Others have posted what they got in their lease deals - and since the dealer can't change the residual what they get for the exact same model and options should be what you get as well.

    The residual is always based on the full MSRP including the destination charge. The only strange things are on these "value packs" and "special editions" where the MSRP on the car shows a discount - Honda removes the discount when they calculate the residual, which makes it a better deal for the lessee. They did the same thing when they introduced the value pack on the Accord last year (07 model).

    Dennis
  • steevosteevo Member Posts: 389
    How many miles? See my post above....I have 15,000 and the residual was 49.. But I think I lose points for NAV. :( FWIW I show your invoice as 32612 so deal looks pretty good to me!
    I am on Long Island and tax is 8.625.
  • crbiermancrbierman Member Posts: 8
    I’m new to this forum, so I have only read the last couple of pages. I have picked up a lot of great info. I have leased two Pilots in the past (03 and 05) and am ready to get a good deal on the 08 since the 09 will be a new body style.
    On my previous two leases (in Texas) I have had a rent charge. The description next to it is: ‘The amount charged in addition to the depreciation and any amortized amounts’. What exactly is the ‘rent charge’? It isn’t the interest I’m paying because those numbers don’t add up.
    Here are the items I have listed on my lease:
    Gross Capitalized Cost
    Capitalized Cost Reduction
    Adjusted Capitalized cost
    Residual Value
    Depreciation and any amortized amounts
    Rent charge
    Total of base payment
    Lease payment
    Base monthly/single payment
    Sales/use tax
    Other
    Total monthly/single payment

    Thanks for your help.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 267,528
    The "Rent Charge" is the finance portion of the lease..

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  • eoreoseoreos Member Posts: 18
    Thanks, glad to know it doesn't seem too bad. By the way, its 12000 miles.
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    On our VP lease this is less than $200 :D .

    Gotta love them low money factors.

    Dennis
  • tifightertifighter Member Posts: 3,797
    Yeah, understood. I was trying to see if my methodology was correct in taking full published msrp + destination in figuring out the residual. I have looked high and low on this forum to find other EX AWD leases to see if someone else had posted the info, but it seems like the order of lease popularity is VP, EX-L, SE, then EX. I'll probably stop my the dealer tomorrow to take a closer look, just wanting to know what to expect.

    25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0

  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    From what I can determine, you leave out the destination charge when computing hold back.

    Edmunds shows 3% for Hondas, but I have been told for quite a long time that it is 2%.

    Dennis
  • crbiermancrbierman Member Posts: 8
    Do the add ons (side steps, etc) add to the MSRP when calculating the residual or is the residual amount calculated based on the MSRP before the extras. Thanks
    PS I'm at the dealership right now. Thank goodness for instant communcation!
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    Usually, dealer installed options can't be "residualized" so the residual is based on the MSRP including destination.

    Normally, I would say buy your accessories online at discount and install yourself (most of them are quite easy to install), but with the near 0% lease rate you could roll them into the lease and come out OK - as long as you don't over pay. The running boards/side steps, for example range from $411 to $477 online plus shipping.

    Since they don't add to the residual amount, you are paying for the accessories, so be sure to remove them if/when you turn your Pilot in (where practical).

    Dennis
  • crbiermancrbierman Member Posts: 8
    Thanks Dennis. I just sent you an e-mail for your comments. Please let me know your thoughts.
  • steevosteevo Member Posts: 389
    FWIW, they told me that the running boards could be residualized, but, for example, a remote starting system cant.
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    Sounds good then, most dealer installed options can't be - but I can see where the side step/running board would add to the value at resale.

    I sent you a reply to your e-mail, but without knowing if your payment includes taxes (and at what rate) I can't say if the deal sounds OK or not.

    Just remember if something does not sound or look OK either make them explain it to your satisfaction or walk out. Never sign anything if you have any doubts or questions about the numbers or if they don't match what you calculate for yourself.

    Dennis
  • dtannenbaumdtannenbaum Member Posts: 5
    I just leased an EX-L, 12k, w/out RES or Nav. I know from all the info here that I did well. I understood the factors going into the calc. and the end result is a monthly payment that matched what I expected. AND I paid nothing up front.

    However, when I was at the dealer their initial monthly payment was higher than what I calculated. In addition, they were either unwilling or unable to explain their lease calculation. They kept referring to the computer program. I had all my supporting info. including a written confirmation of the deal I wanted. The end result is I got the lease on my terms, but I'm wondering if I'm the only person to go into a dealership and have them push a bunch of buttons on the computer but claim to be unable to explain anything.
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    I would doubt they know how to calculate a lease w/o the computer doing it for them. So if the computer says it is $xxx per month then that is it, they think. If they put all the numbers in correctly, then their number should match yours exactly. If it does not, then it needs to be explained why not or fixed to match.

    Some times they "always add" some fee or tire and wheel warranty or some such and that makes the payments higher than expected, unless you catch them at it. Since the "computer always adds that" they can play ignorant if caught padding the numbers. They sure seem able to figure out how to remove that when you catch them, though.....

    Notice that on most lease contracts the MF never even appears - so you can only see what MF you have by checking the finance charge or just making sure the payment and residual match what they are supposed to be.

    Congrats on the new Pilot, by the way. What color did you get?

    Dennis
  • dtannenbaumdtannenbaum Member Posts: 5
    Thanks, Dennis. I'm still puffed up with all the knowledge and power I've gotten from these posts. Just a short 2 months ago I never would have thought about leasing. But after all my research I was confident and empowered. My fingers were flying across my calculator keys!

    I decided on Aberdeen Green. I had a bit of concern about the "trendy" color, but figured if I hate it in 3 years the truck goes back! I am confident I can find the next great lease or purchase. But maybe I'll love the Pilot so much that I'll still think fondly of Aberdeen Green. I was one of those Ford Explorer people who had teal green back in the early 90s. I ended up keeping the truck for 14 years. We stuck out like a sore thumb, but it was a great ride.

    After the Explorer my vehicles have been dirt colored (silver, light taupe, etc.). Can you tell I have kids? Now that the youngest boy is 7, it is time for a change. I didn't like the grey interior on the Pilot and decided to take a chance on something different. I think the olive green leather interior will withstand the rigors of my 4 growing boys better than tan or grey.

    And if not, I still got a great deal!! Thanks to all for the amazingly helpful information...
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    My wife liked that green as well, but they do not make VP Pilots in that color so that was out for us.

    Enjoy your new Pilot!

    Dennis
  • crbiermancrbierman Member Posts: 8
    I know this is not the right forum for a question about the optional service contract, but after a quick search on the other threads, I couldn’t find a clear answer.
    The dealer wants to sell me a lease vehicle protection plan for $400 ($11 a month).
    The benefits are Towing/Roadside assistance (flat tire, batter jump, lock out, out of gas), rental car coverage ($35 a day for 10 days), travel coverage ($375) for mechanical breakdown. I can get all that through Allstate Motor club for $300 ($100 a year, $8 a month). The one thing this plan has that Allstate does not is the Road Hazard Tire coverage (fix or replace a damaged tire at no cost). I do see some value in that.
    The other thing he said, which is the reason for my post, is this plan covers more bumper to bumper problems than the standard Honda warranty.
    Isn’t the standard Honda warranty sufficient? If the window doesn’t roll down after two year, Honda will fix it correct? What type of issues would I need for a 36 month lease?
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    The Honda is covered bumper to bumper for the 3 years and 36k of the lease, so no need to buy any kind of extended warranty. If you think you need roadside assistance or towing you can get it from AAA and/or your auto insurance company for a lot less.

    Dennis
  • forschreiberforschreiber Member Posts: 5
    dtannenbaum - That is exactly the vehicle I am looking for . . .would you mind sharing what deal you got?? The nearest Honda place (Lia Honda) is never too keen on dealing.
  • jackson11jackson11 Member Posts: 8
    What do you all mean by "hold back"? Sorry if this is a dumb question.
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
  • dtannenbaumdtannenbaum Member Posts: 5
    Forschreiber: I'm in NJ. If you still want additional info, feel free to send me an e-mail. It is a story and no sense going into all the details here. -Donna
  • jackson11jackson11 Member Posts: 8
    Thank-you Dennis for all of your help. It's greatly appreciated.
  • bcj0915bcj0915 Member Posts: 3
    In NJ:
    was told that the $3500 in marketing incentives did not apply to a lease, only purchase? but they said they had $1500 towards a lease? Can't seem to validate anywhere - are they lying to profit the difference of the $2000 + their holdback?

    SE Model 4WD - no NAV
    $298/month

    36 mo term
    $12K mi/yr
    $2500 down includes all fees and 1st mo pmt
    54% residual
    MSRP - 34,430
    net price - 29,010
    cap cost red of $1023 (included in $2500 above)
    money factor 0.0003
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    The incentive for leases is either $1k or $1,5k, then dealer only gets the $3.5k if you buy the Pilot.

    Whatever you do, do not put all that money into the lease - the lease rate is way under 1% effective APR so use Honda's money and not your own. Pay at most the first month's payment at signing and keep your money in the bank.

    Dennis
  • forschreiberforschreiber Member Posts: 5
    I have until May to lease a new vehicle. Two questions. (1) When are the '09 Pilots due out? (2) Historically, how is Honda when they release a new model. Do they provide good lease support? Bottom line . . .would I be better off trying to make a deal now on an '08 EX-L or do you think I could get a similar deal when the '09 are released this Spring.
  • nettaxinettaxi Member Posts: 3
    That deal is better than anything i have been offered so far
    What dealer are you working with
    Thanks
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    If you want to lease, I would do it before the current offers expire in a few days.

    Why? The rate can't get much lower than it is now. They COULD increase the dealer incentive for leases, but you don't know that they will. They may or may not continue cheap lease deals after these expire and the current deals are really nice.

    To me, the problem Honda has is that they can't sell Pilots (or Ridgelines for that matter) and never have been able to. If, by offering huge incentives for PURCHASE along with cheap money in some states, they are able to move Pilots then they get rid of them. If they offer cheap leases then they may move some more Pilots, but then they have the problem of what to do with them when they get them back at lease end. I think they would much prefer to "sell" you a Pilot than to lease you one cheap, then they never have to sell that Pilot again. They will do cheap leases on slow movers from time to time, but they only delay the inevitable problem of having to sell them again once they are all turned in. It is different when they have cheap lease deals on Civics and Accords, they can easily CPO them and sell them after turn in for a nice profit (more than they made when new in most cases), but on the slow sellers they have a real problem.

    You have to decide for yourself, but if you can lease a new Pilot for $1k under invoice and maybe down into the hold back and get 0.3% - .7% lease money to do it that is a nice deal. Could things get better if you wait? Maybe yes, maybe no.

    Dennis
  • spoon6spoon6 Member Posts: 5
    I have three months left on a 2005 Honda Pilot EX lease at $357/mo. I was looking to wait for the 2009 Honda Pilot to come out in May, but with the deals out there on the 2008 (plus I am not thrilled with the preliminary look of the '09), I am re-thinking my position. If I were to walk in tomorrow in the tri-state area (NY/NJ/CT), what sales price should I expect to work with on a lease?

    Thanks

    Incidentally, I just got an offer of $382/month lease payment on the '08 SE based on a net sales price of $29,111 ($30,511 plus $100 less the $1,500 holdback). All I would be paying up front is taxes, title and first month plus the dealer will cut me a check for the last three payments on my current lease. Am I crazy not to jump? Still questioning the net sales price of $29,111. Can I do better????
  • uscguyuscguy Member Posts: 5
    I leased an 08 SE, I live in Arizona, and the sales price was $28,500. My price came in at $300.00 a month, plus tax, paid each month in Arizona (about $27.50) but that was based upon $1500.00 down plus about $700.00 in license, Ist Month, Doc fees, etc. Payment would increase of course, if less is put down.
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    Honda makes reliable vehicles, but even Honda has more problems at the start of a new design than they do at the end of that design's life. An 07 Accord is a lot less likely to have problems than an 08 Accord, the 06 Civic is more likely to have problems than the 05 model and I would think the 09 Pilot would have more problems than the 08. That said, during the course of a normal lease you would probably not have that much trouble.

    When a design comes out normally Honda does not have cheap lease or finance money on it nor are dealers very willing to bargain. So the price difference and payment difference between an 08 now and an 09 when launched could be staggering.

    I assume this is a 4WD SE? The invoice is $30,510 and the dealer is offering it to you for $100 over invoice less then $1,500 dealer incentive (this is not hold back, that is something else) ? That leaves the dealer making $672.60 hold back plus the $100 profit. Any other dealer doc/prep fees hiding in there? That would be a decent deal, then you say they are giving you a check for $1,071 to cover your last 3 lease payment? Are you keeping the current Pilot or giving it to the dealer?

    If I put in the MF and a guess at residual (50%) and your cap cost of $29,111 into a lease calc I get a payment of $355.33. If I had about $1k to your cap I get about your payment. So either the residual is lower than 50% or they added some money back on top of the selling price.

    I would get all the numbers pinned down - net cap and residual, then if they are letting you keep your current Pilot as well as the new one it would seem a nice deal, as long as they didn't add those 3 payments back on top of your new Pilot.

    Dennis
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    I sounds to me like it is $1,500.

    I wish I could just buy a car off the rack at Target....

    You can, but you end up with a Saturn or a way overpriced used car from Carmax :D .

    Dennis
  • spoon6spoon6 Member Posts: 5
    Dennis,

    Thanks for the insight. It is a 4WD. I would be giving my '05 Pilot to the dealer and pay the remaining payments with the $1,071 that they give me. Should I be pushing hard for a lower cap cost given the $672 hold-back or is this unrealistic?

    Dave
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    They may be adding the 3 payments back on top of your new Pilot - I could not get the numbers to work out with what you gave me. If they are, then they are "giving" you nothing - and you are doing without the use of the Pilot for 3 months you are paying for.

    If I were doing a deal like this, I would want to keep driving my old Pilot and use the dealer's money to pay the lease payment for the next 3 months. Then you are REALLY getting what you stated you are getting - the dealer paying your lease for you.

    Find out the current buyout price on your Pilot lease from AHFC and see what KBB, Edmunds, etc say it is worth on trade in. Then get the dealer to BUY your Pilot for the pay off on the lease (if the numbers support it) then lease the new Pilot at the negotiated price w/o this funny business of them giving you a check and you payment the 3 payments, etc. You payment should go down and things be a lot more clear cut this way.

    They either need to buy you out of your lease (buy the car so you don't turn it in) or you get to keep driving it. If they take your car as trade and give you lease pay off money for it, then that wipes out the old lease deal and you owe no more payments and no over mile charges (if applicable) and no dent and ding charges (if applicable) - a much better way to do things.

    If you are going to keep paying on the old lease then you need to have possession of the vehicle and keep driving it.

    Dennis
  • spoon6spoon6 Member Posts: 5
    The trade-in, per KBB, is $15,870. The current buyout price on my lease is $19,918.46. If they are taking possession of my current Pilot and effectively giving me a check to cover the last three payments, with no obligation for dents/dings/over mileage, etc., isn't this comparable to buying out my lease? I'm not convinced that any rational dealer would actually agree to make the last three payments AND let me retain possession of the car IN ADDITION to leasing the new Pilot at a profit of $100 (exclusive of the dealer hold-back, which is rarely negotiable anyhow).

    Dave
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    I have no idea what they are doing.

    If you have to pay your last lease payments then you are turning the Pilot in and are responsible for over miles, dents, dings, etc. If they were buying it out for you then there would be no need for them to give you a check and have you pay payments on it.

    Did they tell you to pay the last 3 payments all at once? I guess they may be getting you to do an early turn in, but that does not excuse you for miles and damages.

    As I said, I can't get the payment you state to work out given the $100 over invoice less $1,500 dealer incentive. So unless we find out why, my assumption is that that are adding the amount of the check on top of your new Pilot price so you are not "getting" anything at all - you are paying it to yourself. This makes your net deal $100 over invoice less $1,500 plus the last 3 payments. Which is NOT a good deal at all. For sure if you are essentially paying yourself the payments and surrendering the old Pilot 3 months early. You have to pay for it but can't drive it.

    Dennis
  • pjrohrpjrohr Member Posts: 1
    I'm in NJ and have an offer from our dealer to turn our '05 in early and get into an '08 EX-L with DVD for $1040 out of pocket and $459 per month for 36 months with 12k miles per year. Dealer says the price is $1,000 below invoice, any comments?
  • calypso7calypso7 Member Posts: 1
    Could someone please confirm what the actual lease incentive (marketing support) is on the AWD EX-L? I have not been able to get the same answer from different dealers...or even from the same dealer for that matter!

    I wish I could just buy a car off the rack at Target....
  • leninatorleninator Member Posts: 6
    I just leased a 2008 Pilot SE for $343.00 per month, that's 12,000 annual mileage and includes MA sales tax of 5%. That was with no money down and the dealer gave ne $500 towards the last 4 lease payments on my 2005. These incredibly low interest rates may not last as they are based on national inventories. I was going to wait until May but there was no guarantee that the rates would remain this low so I went for it.
  • forschreiberforschreiber Member Posts: 5
    Can anyone else confirm that the lease incentive cash is $1500?? I am expecting a call from my sales guy this morning.
  • ohkakaohkaka Member Posts: 1
    I would like to lease 08 Honda Pilot VP 4x4 under national offer of $259 for month. I am OK with $1999 but taxes, title, registration and other fees extra. Myquestion is how much i can expect for the tax, title, registration and fees? I am in NJ, 7% tax.

    Did anyone in NJ utilised this offer. If yes how much is paid? One of the Dealers telling me that it will cost $2000 for all that tat, title, registration and fees etc. I feel this is on higher side.

    Thanks.
  • mattndaymattnday Member Posts: 16
    I am getting a quote on a 4 X 2 and a 4 X 4 PIlot. Both are EX-L with Nav. Numbers are coming out as follows:
    4 x 2 4 x 4
    MSRP 34880 36280
    CAP COST 30910 32587
    EDMUNDS INVOICE 30917 32905

    MF and residual on the 4 X 2 are .000140 and 46% and the 4 X 4 is .0003 and 49%

    With the $1000-$1500 lease incentive going to the deaer I am thinking I am leaving dollars on the table. Any comments on these prices? I really would like to save about another $1000 of of these prices but so far I have not had any luck
  • dwynnedwynne Member Posts: 4,018
    That deal, as they advertise it, is not that great a deal. There is about $1k left in dealer profit (or more) at that price. Also, the interest rate is under 1% so you do not want to put $2k or more into the lease - roll everything into the lease and borrow Honda's money at the cheap rate. Your payment will go up, but you keep your money in the bank.

    Someone else from NJ can probably list out what other expense you look at - tire fee, taxes, title, etc. If you go in and say "I want that deal I saw on TV and the Honda web page" you are leaving a lot of money on the table.

    Dennis
  • steevosteevo Member Posts: 389
    Sounds high to me. The dealer is adding the payments of the 05 you are turning in to the lease.
    You need to find out the actual selling price of the car, the lease money factor, and the residual percentage or dollar value. Then you will know exactly what you are paying.
    Go back a few pages and read all the posts here for February and you should get an idea.
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