Lease ending in 6 months...lease return experiences.

[S4am]

Hi,

The lease on my 2007 S4 DTM package is ending in August. So I was just wondering what kind of experiences fellow Audi owners had when returning the car. Also, the front carbon fiber lip has a few scrapes, does anyone know where i can get a replacement one? Because I'm sure Audi will ding me for it.

Thanks

[B6bomber]

Good luck with the return, i hope you didn't go too far over your allotted mileage.

[S4am]

as far as mileage goes, I'm about 12,000 miles under, so i don't foresee me going over. If anything I'll be 2000-3000 miles under.

[B6bomber]

Well that's a great thing because depending on the dealer and the lease agreement they will charge anywhere from $0.10 - $0.25/per mile; just make sure you put all the stock parts back on, and I wouldn't worry too much over the lip, if the damage is on the underside I doubt they will even see it.

[2PUTT]

they get really picky with the tires. all 5 tires should match. the 4 being used should be at about 50%.

[serumk]

FWIW, I know Honda "allows" you to have up to $1,500 in "damage" or "overages" on your vehicle, but I don't know if Audi does that. It might be worth checking with Audi -- if so, you wouldn't have to worry about some things.

[ZONAWILDCATS4]

They shouldn't make you pay for normal wear and tear so I don't think they will ding you for the front lip scratch.

The tires is a big one. 2Putt is correct, if they are not all the same brand (including the spare) they will ding you, and they must have at least a certain tread depth when the car is inspected.

Also make sure to schedule your inspection ahead of time...I remember doing mine 30 days in advance.

[Sharkfin]

Since the front lip is about $600-700 from the dealer (or ECS or genuineaudiparts) you might as well go with it scratched and I doubt they will charge you the price for a new one if at all.

[B18b1ex]

They shouldn't make you pay for normal wear and tear so I don't think they will ding you for the front lip scratch.

The tires is a big one. 2Putt is correct, if they are not all the same brand (including the spare) they will ding you, and they must have at least a certain tread depth when the car is inspected.

Also make sure to schedule your inspection ahead of time...I remember doing mine 30 days in advance.

I'm 99% sure the spare just has to be the same size with the acceptable tread depth, and the four tire on the car must be above the minimum, I've heard that all four tires must be the same brand but not sure on that one. For most everyone here that is a non issue.

When I returned my tt they had a template, it the scratch or ding is larger you get hit if not they move on.

[Mello]

I turned in an '04 a4 15K under miledge in pristine condition(or so I thought). They spanked me for a warn steering wheel and a slight imperfection on the rear bumper the size of a pencil tip and a curb mark about 1/4" which they charged me for a new rim. And I got charged a $350 turn in fee. And that was after I just put 4 brand new tires on it.

I personally would never lease again.

[eweu]

I turned in an '04 a4 15K under miledge in pristine condition(or so I thought). They spanked me for a warn steering wheel and a slight imperfection on the rear bumper the size of a pencil tip and a curb mark about 1/4" which they charged me for a new rim. And I got charged a $350 turn in fee. And that was after I just put 4 brand new tires on it.

Wow. That's pretty strict. I leased a Passat, and any cosmetic damage that would fit under a credit card was ignored. I only got dinged for a chip in the windshield that required it to be replaced. I opted to replace it myself before turning it in rather than paying the fee since it was cheaper that way.

[sakimano]

it all depends on what is going on with the company at the moment.

when I returned my B6, the guy went over the car for 2 hours, and even though I had 2 door dings, he let me slide.

returning it now, I can pretty well guarantee they don't want to just 'take it back'.

My suggestion is to meet the lease return inspection guy at your work or in an underground garage at your office or condo or something. Then the lighting will be shit so he may not see all the imperfections. I made sure to drive a dusty street before going to work on inspection day...every little bit helps.

as for tires, wait till inspection...you never know, but you may make it through. if he asks you to replace them, just get some used dogs from craigslist between the time you get inspection and the time you hand it in.

Good luck!

[S4_Saloon]

If you also don't want to go through the headache of the return, you can sell the car on ebay or craigslist of the lease buy out value. I am assuming you brokered a good deal but even with a great deal, it actually might be difficult in this economy. It might be worth a $20 posting on ebay and a free posting on craigslist.

[sakimano]

not sure how it works in the US, but in Canada that means he has to buy the car from Audi, then certify it/inspect it etc.

Then sell it.

Here we'd pay about 8% in tax as well on the transaction, so almost impossible to do effectively.


If you also don't want to go through the headache of the return, you can sell the car on ebay or craigslist of the lease buy out value. I am assuming you brokered a good deal but even with a great deal, it actually might be difficult in this economy. It might be worth a $20 posting on ebay and a free posting on craigslist.

[S4am]

wow, that's alot to take in. well, at the end of the lease, the residual value is roughly 33,000. Do you think there is any room for negotiation on the buy out price?

[2PUTT]

wow, that's alot to take in. well, at the end of the lease, the residual value is roughly 33,000. Do you think there is any room for negotiation on the buy out price?

you can discuss that with the dealer you are returning it to. you can return/buy the car to any dealer that can give you the best price.

[ZONAWILDCATS4]

Here is a good resource for anyone returning a lease...straight from Audi.

http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/FinancialServices/Wear_and_Use.html

[B18b1ex]

you can discuss that with the dealer you are returning it to. you can return/buy the car to any dealer that can give you the best price.

The buy out price is set by Audi Financial not the dealer, the dealer can only buy the car from AOA and then resell to you.

[S4am]

Here is a good resource for anyone returning a lease...straight from Audi.

http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/FinancialServices/Wear_and_Use.html

That's a excellent resource. thank you. the only thing i noticed was that "any aftermarket item would be charged" specifically the window tint. I paid $500 for huper optic ceramic tint, but its very light and within california legal limit. but either case i think i'm looking pretty good. I just need to check the condition of the rims and tires.

And i need to put the stock suspension back on the car. so I'll be selling PSS9 coilovers in a couple months.

[ed@mtl]

Do you have to return it with a full tank of gas?

[Stone825]

Do you have to return it with a full tank of gas?

lol they would do that too. Then under the sheet it would say "$50 dollars a gallon if not filled to the brim"