[Tbirdas]

Hey folks,
I’m now within a year from the end of my 2023 iX 50 lease. Love it, but for obvious $$$ reasons, I am not planning to keep that particular car. I wonder if others are in the same boat, and what might be the strategy. Do you just wait for the lease to end, turn the car in and then find another one? Do you try to negotiate a pull head lease or is there any cross shopping. I would like to stay with an EV so the options are another iX, a Macan (the lease deals are terrible), a GV70 (wife has GV60, lovely other than range), Polestar 3 (if they don’t go under) or Lucid Gravity (prob limited availability).
I’m guessing I’d gladly go with an LCI iX, if deals are good!

[thebishman]

Originally Posted by Tbirdas

Hey folks,
I’m now within a year from the end of my 2023 iX 50 lease. Love it, but for obvious $$$ reasons, I am not planning to keep that particular car. I wonder if others are in the same boat, and what might be the strategy. Do you just wait for the lease to end, turn the car in and then find another one? Do you try to negotiate a pull head lease or is there any cross shopping. I would like to stay with an EV so the options are another iX, a Macan (the lease deals are terrible), a GV70 (wife has GV60, lovely other than range), Polestar 3 (if they don’t go under) or Lucid Gravity (prob limited availability).
I’m guessing I’d gladly go with an LCI iX, if deals are good!

Your best option for a deal to get you out of your iX early especially if your lease is with BMW FS, is another iX or other BMW, as the dealership/BMW FS can work together to make it happen. Hopefully!

[exxxviii]

I have about 18 months left on my lease. Although I absolutely love the car, I am unlikely to buy it at its $56K residual. I am curious to see if others before me get compelling offers from BMWFS.

So, I have no clue what my next car will be. The iX M70 and Gravity Grand Touring are probably the only two cars I would consider, given what I know now. But I am watching a lot of cars...

1. BMW iX M70 - the favorite
2. Lucid Gravity Grand Touring - I like the pictures, but they will need a showroom near me so I can get a great test drive
3. BMW iX3 Neue Klasse - if its big enough, quick enough, and has a great audio system...
4. Genesis Electrified GV70 - the current model is fantastic, but it lacks range; my interest hangs on the 2027 updates (Genesis version of the rumored Ioniq 7???)
5. Lucid Air - these cars are stunningly beautiful, and if I could fit my bicycle in the back without removing the wheels, then it is promoted to a contender
6. Porsche Macan EV - smaller than I want and stupid expensive
7. Cadillac Lyriq V - has promise, but GM needs to stabilize the software and give it a better audio system
8. Audi - no models are compelling until Audi solves the lack of range and performance
9. Mercedes-Benz - I don't see anything I like yet; the first round EQS and EQE were flops on many fronts, and now M-B is doing a reboot
10. Rivian - nope until they add phone projection (I do like the R2)
11. Polestar - nope; not supporting a Chinese car company

Edit: I bumped up Audi, because I would get one of those before any of the bottom few. And I forgot M-B. But, hey, they are honestly quite forgettable...

[drbluedevil]

Originally Posted by exxxviii

I have about 18 months left on my lease. Although I absolutely love the car, I am unlikely to buy it at is $56K residual. I am curious to see if others before me get compelling offers from BMWFS.

So, I have no clue what my next car will be. The iX M70 and Gravity Grand Touring are probably the only two cars I would consider, given what I know now. But I am watching a lot of cars...

1. BMW iX M70 - the favorite
2. Lucid Gravity Grand Touring - I like the pictures, but they will need a showroom near me so I can get a great test drive
3. BMW iX3 Neue Klasse - if its big enough, quick enough, and has a great audio system...
4. Genesis Electrified GV70 - the current model is fantastic, but it lacks range; my interest hangs on the 2027 updates (Genesis version of the rumored Ioniq 7???)
5. Lucid Air - these cars are stunningly beautiful, and if I could fit my bicycle in the back without removing the wheels, then it is promoted to a contender
6. Porsche Macan EV - smaller than I want and stupid expensive
7. Cadillac Lyriq V - has promise, but GM needs to stabilize the software and give it a better audio system
8. Rivian - nope until they add phone projection (I do like the R2)
9. Polestar - nope; not supporting a Chinese car company
10. Audi - no models are compelling until Audi solves the lack of range and performance

Couldn't agree more with your list on all points.

I too have exactly 18 months left on my lease, and I don't intend to buy it at end-of-lease. It goes to the shop for one electronic gremlin or another every 6 months or so, so why would I get married to the thing?

I wouldn't mind leasing another if the cost is around $1100-$1200/month, but if the EV subsidy goes away and if BMW stops encouraging dealers to kick in extra cash, then the price will be more like $1600+/month for the m70. Maybe more with tariffs, and maybe impossible if BMW decides not to export to the US.

Because of the chaos, I think this'll have to be a game-time decision in the last 2-3 months of my lease. That's why I was asking about the model Y.

One thing that's odd is when I was in a Model 3 rental for 6 months, it had an extremely weird echo in the cabin when I or a passenger talked. I've never experienced anything like it in any other car. And the model Y reviews I've seen with people recording themselves while driving seem to have that same echo. That's a deal-breaker for me.

If there are truly no good alternatives, and if the car world is in total economic chaos, I could see buying it off lease and getting an extended warranty. I *DO* love the car. My math looks like this: the residual is $60k. I could probably get $30k for it 3 years later. I'm guessing a warranty to cover through 6 years would cost $5000. That makes the monthly cost $970.

Whatever option I consider at end-of-lease has to beat that either on price, quality of experience, or both.

There're just too many variables right now.

[LuisBoston]

I want another iX (LCI) and if deals emerge on 2026s I’ll try to get one of those and put mine on swapalease.

If for some reason the iX / iX3 are not available when my lease ends (2 yrs) because of tariffs, I might be interested in going back to Polestar - the 3 is quite appealing in many ways. And it’s US made. The Rivian R3 looks appealing too.

[EV Fan]

My lease doesn't end until mid-2027, so I'm not actively shopping yet. I monitor the market, and in a year or so will more seriously consider EV options. I hope the iX3 comes out on time and meets the specs I expect it to have (faster charging, reduced weight, similar range, smaller size, lower price options), and I'll be watching my email to see if BMW offers any incentives to stay with the brand.

If I stay with BMW I'll lease: their typical lease incentives and the downside risk to massive repair costs are just too great.

[drbluedevil]

Originally Posted by EV Fan

If I stay with BMW I'll lease: their typical lease incentives and the downside risk to massive repair costs are just too great.

How does leasing shield you from massive repair costs? If you break it, you (or more likely your insurance) must pay to fix it.

[EV Fan]

Originally Posted by drbluedevil

How does leasing shield you from massive repair costs? If you break it, you (or more likely your insurance) must pay to fix it.

If I break it, on any vehicle of any age, I and my insurance company will pay for it. If IT BREAKS on an out of warranty BMW, I'm 100% liable. From what I've seen, even extended warranties have an expiration date (or maybe you have to go with a shadier 3rd party), so at some point if I buy a BMW I assume I'm going to be on the hook for any repairs.

Premium European brands' repair costs are higher than I've paid or ever want to pay. Leasing helps me avoid that and makes my ownership costs predictable.

[brettl]

Originally Posted by drbluedevil

How does leasing shield you from massive repair costs? If you break it, you (or more likely your insurance) must pay to fix it.

I think they mean repair costs for factory defects, warranty repairs.
3 yr leases end within the 5 yr warranty period. Many (including myself) see leasing as a way to ‘keep a car in warranty’. BMW’s as a whole are expensive to repair and keep up. With the ev’s, many issues can be software related in a mechanically focused repair environment. Having a traditional mechanic chase down a software glitch sounds like many hours of trial and error while on the clock…

[drbluedevil]

Originally Posted by brettl

I think they mean repair costs for factory defects, warranty repairs.
3 yr leases end within the 5 yr warranty period. Many (including myself) see leasing as a way to ‘keep a car in warranty’. BMW’s as a whole are expensive to repair and keep up. With the ev’s, many issues can be software related in a mechanically focused repair environment. Having a traditional mechanic chase down a software glitch sounds like many hours of trial and error while on the clock…

Tell me all about it. I had an X5m that spontaneously developed metal shavings in the engine requiring a $49k total engine replacement. The extended warranty covered it, and the vehicle was worth less than the cost of the repair! I'll never own a luxury car without a warranty.


And yeah....owning a vehicle for the first 3 years and under warranty is enormously important to me. I don't have the time to deal with the hassles of owning an older vehicle.

[EV Fan]

Originally Posted by drbluedevil

I'll never own a luxury car without a warranty.

And yeah....owning a vehicle for the first 3 years and under warranty is enormously important to me. I don't have the time to deal with the hassles of owning an older vehicle.

Same, and with the state of the EV market, IMO leasing is a more reasonable/predictable way to limit the downside risk of driving a quality EV, then turning it over in a few years for a more advanced one.

[ubercruise]

I have until Dec 2026 so I'm hoping for the iX3 to be out and competitive by then. But if not that, then potentially a 3 row EV like the EV9, Ioniq9, Gravity, maybe even Vistiq? I might be forgetting some. But either wife or I will need a 3-row, and if she gets the 3 row I don't need something too big, but still probably want a smaller SUV for flexibility in terms of kid duty and such. I'm thinking the current/best plan is a minivan for the wife and an iX3 for me. Again, subject to how lease deals look. May try to save some bucks and go downmarket into Kia/Hyundai Ioniq5/EV6 territory or competitive equivalent, depending on how things shake out.

I love the iX and I think I'd be pretty depressed in something way cheaper/slower/basic-er, and I'm willing to use more of my budget on driving something enjoyable, but damn if I don't salivate at those leasehackr deals for some models in the 200-300s at times lol.

[EV Fan]

Originally Posted by ubercruise

I love the iX and I think I'd be pretty depressed in something way cheaper/slower/basic-er, and I'm willing to use more of my budget on driving something enjoyable, but damn if I don't salivate at those leasehackr deals for some models in the 200-300s at times lol.

I've had the same thought. As my first EV even an Equinox probably would've excited me, but after almost a year in an iX I can't imagine settling for that type of vehicle. Hopefully by 2027 there'll be a robust set of "good enough" EVs that the iX3 will have to meet a high standard to prove it's worth the extra money.

[Maverick241]

I still have 2 years to go, but for me most likely iX3 or iX5 (if it's out) for sure. Love the iX but I'm a one and done type. Life is too short to get the same car twice lol

[Tony535]

!4 months left on my lease and the iX50 is one of the best vehicles I've owned. It's great at just about everything (you would think it should be at $107K list) - but after three years I'm thinking I'm ready for a change. I have an X5, so I'm thinking about going back to a sedan if I can get into it easily. My choices would be Porsche, BMW, and then Audi. It must be 800V and NACS, so I'm hoping BMW will do some catch-up work in the next year to keep in the running.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by Tony535

I'm thinking about going back to a sedan if I can get into it easily. My choices would be Porsche, BMW, and then Audi. It must be 800V and NACS

Tough list and requirements. None will qualify...

1. Porsche Taycan - Sedan; 800 V; NACS TBA
2. BMW i5, i7 - Sedan; 400 V; NACS TBA
3. BMW i3 Neue Klasse - Sedan; 800 V; NACS probably
4. Audi - no BEV sedans; 800 V; NACS TBA

[NomoTesla]

Originally Posted by EV Fan

Same, and with the state of the EV market, IMO leasing is a more reasonable/predictable way to limit the downside risk of driving a quality EV, then turning it over in a few years for a more advanced one.

That's what the tech bros want you to do. Keep you in forever leases so you never own anything and are always renting. If you are so beholden to the tech, you will never be satisfied and will always be paying. Sucking on the teet of technology is expensive and leading us down a very destructive path of consolidating power with the few and extremely wealthy.

Can you function without your smartphone for a week? Try it. If you cannot, you are completely reliant on the tech that is designed with obsolescence in mind. All of these products are designed by people who want job security. They withhold features until the next release, to give you reasons to waste money on upgrading. There is no need for a new iPhone model every year. The only reason they do it is to keep the money flowing from our pockets to theirs.

Sloppy designers and programmers get rewarded through upgrade cycles. Their poor designs and coding are called "beta" to make incomplete, dysfunctional products acceptable to the masses. Product managers need not feer releasing products with bugs and problems because those same people will be rewarded with additional employment/hours/overtime/money to fix the problems they created in the first place.

What a racket!

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

That's what the tech bros want you to do. Keep you in forever leases so you never own anything and are always renting. If you are so beholden to the tech, you will never be satisfied and will always be paying. Sucking on the teet of technology is expensive and leading us down a very destructive path of consolidating power with the few and extremely wealthy.

Can you function without your smartphone for a week? Try it. If you cannot, you are completely reliant on the tech that is designed with obsolescence in mind. All of these products are designed by people who want job security. They withhold features until the next release, to give you reasons to waste money on upgrading. There is no need for a new iPhone model every year. The only reason they do it is to keep the money flowing from our pockets to theirs.

Sloppy designers and programmers get rewarded through upgrade cycles. Their poor designs and coding are called "beta" to make incomplete, dysfunctional products acceptable to the masses. Product managers need not feer releasing products with bugs and problems because those same people will be rewarded with additional employment/hours/overtime/money to fix the problems they created in the first place.

What a racket!

It’s not just tech bros. Leasing was a thing long before current tech bros were born

[Maverick241]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

That's what the tech bros want you to do. Keep you in forever leases so you never own anything and are always renting. If you are so beholden to the tech, you will never be satisfied and will always be paying. Sucking on the teet of technology is expensive and leading us down a very destructive path of consolidating power with the few and extremely wealthy.

Can you function without your smartphone for a week? Try it. If you cannot, you are completely reliant on the tech that is designed with obsolescence in mind. All of these products are designed by people who want job security. They withhold features until the next release, to give you reasons to waste money on upgrading. There is no need for a new iPhone model every year. The only reason they do it is to keep the money flowing from our pockets to theirs.

Sloppy designers and programmers get rewarded through upgrade cycles. Their poor designs and coding are called "beta" to make incomplete, dysfunctional products acceptable to the masses. Product managers need not feer releasing products with bugs and problems because those same people will be rewarded with additional employment/hours/overtime/money to fix the problems they created in the first place.

What a racket!

Worth every single penny to me. Im not wasting 10 years driving just one car. I want to drive as many as I can. And I want the latest and greatest. Also leasing was a thing wayyy way before "tech bros"

[ubercruise]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

That's what the tech bros want you to do. Keep you in forever leases so you never own anything and are always renting. If you are so beholden to the tech, you will never be satisfied and will always be paying. Sucking on the teet of technology is expensive and leading us down a very destructive path of consolidating power with the few and extremely wealthy.

Can you function without your smartphone for a week? Try it. If you cannot, you are completely reliant on the tech that is designed with obsolescence in mind. All of these products are designed by people who want job security. They withhold features until the next release, to give you reasons to waste money on upgrading. There is no need for a new iPhone model every year. The only reason they do it is to keep the money flowing from our pockets to theirs.

Sloppy designers and programmers get rewarded through upgrade cycles. Their poor designs and coding are called "beta" to make incomplete, dysfunctional products acceptable to the masses. Product managers need not feer releasing products with bugs and problems because those same people will be rewarded with additional employment/hours/overtime/money to fix the problems they created in the first place.

What a racket!

I think there's a little bit of a difference between development cycles and planned obsolescence. Of course some things get withheld until the next iteration and I don't like or care to defend that practice, but technology also does change and develop over time. There wasn't a LiDAR sensor on the iPhone 4 because it wasn't technically/financially feasible for that time. Now, hamstringing old devices through software updates is a little different story.

However, I lease not because it's financially optimal or because I need to have the next best thing all the time, but because EVs are rapidly advancing (compared to the relatively glacial pace of new advancements in ICE) and I actually would make use and like the new tech and advancements. I don't switch phones until I typically break one because as long as it meets its core functionality, I don't care about most new features enough to take the plunge. Unfortunately, I love cars and so I choose to change mine more frequently (which is of course, way more expensive than changing phones. Wish I were passionate about phones instead!). I could stand to change a bit less frequently, if I could get a 4 or 5 year lease that would be nice. My wife's car I always buy because she doesn't care enough about cars to feel compelled to get a new one as frequently.

Not to mention the lease deals were insane on this car for a six figure MSRP ride. My last car loan I was paying $500 for a $30k car and I'm paying a few hundred more for a car triple its MSRP. Sure I don't own it at the end and I can't "break free" of having payments this way, but again cars are something I place value on.

Originally Posted by exxxviii

1. Audi - no BEV sedans; 800 V; NACS TBA

The A6 is an EV sedan (to me anyway, I know you can call it a liftback or whatever).

Edit to add: The e-tron GT as well!

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by ubercruise

The A6 is an EV sedan (to me anyway, I know you can call it a liftback or whatever).

Edit to add: The e-tron GT as well!

I knew about the e-tron GT, but I did not know they have an A6 BEV. I only see the Qs on their website.
_____________________________

Back up to the discussion branch about the vices of leasing, there is a massive misunderstanding that somehow short-term ownership of a vehicle is inherently bad. That is false philosophy. If you consider that we have a generally set demand for new cars that is driven by a combination of new drivers and vehicles exiting service, then the term of ownership is irrelevant. Term of ownership has no bearing on the number of cars that must be manufactured and sold to satisfy ongoing annual demand. Term of ownership primarily affects the price point of the new cars. That is all.

Leasing is merely one of several available financial tools for acquiring a vehicle. Nothing more.

[EV Fan]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

That's what the tech bros want you to do. Keep you in forever leases so you never own anything and are always renting. If you are so beholden to the tech, you will never be satisfied and will always be paying. Sucking on the teet of technology is expensive and leading us down a very destructive path of consolidating power with the few and extremely wealthy.

You're describing the world as it is, but I live with an understanding of what I can affect and what I can't. Therefore, if leasing an EV meets my needs for cost predictability and management of change in a market that is still rapidly evolving (think iPhone 4, not iPhone 16), then I'll lease.

BTW the most successful businessperson I know NEVER buys when he can rent/lease. His logic is that he can stay more nimble if he hasn't tied up a bunch of capital in stuff, and it's worked extremely well for him.