Quote:
Originally Posted by eric9610
In CA it makes more sense to lease electric and hybrid cars since BMW will apply the $7,500 as part of the down payment (Ford and Nissan offer similar programs on EV's). The total down on the i3 would be $11,500 ($7,500 tax credit + $4k) and the payment will be in the $720 dollar range. BMW knows new tech will be out in 3 years and does not want to get stuck with a bunch of lease returns that is why the residual is so low(43%, i don't know any bmw that has less than 50% currently), this does not bode well for resale. The i3 will suffer the same problems all hybrids and EV's do and that is that technology changes fast.
Also in CA you can apply for a $2,500 cash credit from the state. I had a Leaf for a while and was really interested in the i3 but when I saw the program BMW is offering I will pass. I plan on buying a 228I with m-sport.
I feel the lease price won't hurt sales since many of the people that were testing the cars appeared to be interested in them as status symbols.
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I'm not arguing with you 'cause I don't know for certain but my sales person did say explicitly that the rebate from BMW on a lease was $4800, not $7500 and second, that the CA state rebate was not available for leased cars.
But you are right that the low residual suggests a brutal retail in 3-4 years. It's the biggest reason I wouldn't buy an i8 - that car will likely be obsolete in 4 years.