Och

iTrader: (3)

Whats the least painful way to do it? I'm leasing this Mazda 3, and I'm only about 13 month into a 39 month lease - and I'm already sick of it. Trying to see if there's an easy way to get rid of it without paying all sorts of fees.

JDR76

Many times. I just trade it in. As long as the trade in value is more than the payoff (residual plus remaining payments) you are ok.

pbm317

Depends on what your lease paperwork allows for. You could list it on sites like swapalease etc and try to get someone to take it over. Or, you could get a trade in/sell bid on it and see how it compares to your lease buy out quote, likely a bit underwater on it in the first year I would imagine.

blacksc400

iTrader: (4)

You will probably take a 4000 loss if you didn't put a down payment.

I'm in the similar boat to trading in the Civic for an Odyssey, but with the up side down owed on the Civic, I think

I would just lease another one and keep the Civic as beater.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

get a quote at carmax, that's a good indication. if you go with them, they will even get all the paperwork done for you and deal with mazda lease so it's most hassle free.

changing lease is a very painful process as mazda has to approve, never easy

Sulu

Here in Canada, we have a service called LeaseBusters (leasebusters.com). This is from their introduction page:

Find someone who is willing to take over your lease from you. I have leased for a number of years and when I have asked the dealer what I should do if I wanted to end a lease early, this is the first thing I was told: find someone to take over the lease.

The second option, that I took advantage of once, is to have the dealer buy back the car for a price that is at least as much, or greater than the value of the remaining payments on the car. I have been told that this option is usually only worth it in the 3rd year of a 4 year lease (I lease Toyotas for 4 years up here). Of course, it works for you if your car is worth something on a used car lot.

If the Mazda3 is in such high demand that people are busting the doors to get one, even a slightly used one, it may be worth trying to see if a dealer is willing to buy your 3 from you.

What's the problem with the Mazda3 that you want to get rid of it so early?

Fizzboy7

You'll get the most money for your car by selling it privately. Then pay off the lease and use the extra money to offset the fees.

tex2670

This is a good way to get screwed. Most dealers are going to roll your buyout payments and fees into your new car payment.

Have you tried SwapALease.com?

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

dang that's quick - why are you sick of it? you seemed quite positive when you got it.

JDR76

Never been screwed so far. In fact, I've come out way ahead with this.

Och

iTrader: (3)

I don't know, I just though it was a smart idea to have a beater car, but as it turns out - the beater is the one that gets driven the most, and its just missing out on all of the conveniences, comfort and fun. I've only been driving it for a year, and already tired of it. I'd like to upgrade to something cooler.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

good for you. not surprisingly the 'beater' gets driven the most as it's meant to take the brunt of the 'abuse' of driving. i've spent quite a bit of time struggling with what i should get next, from econoboxes to luxury vehicles to two vehicles, etc. but like you, i've concluded i wouldn't enjoy driving something with few frills or conveniences. i even looked at a 2015 fit, which is a neat small car, but i didn't even bother to drive it once i got the feel for the interior which just seemed so cheap and funky.

obviously not everyone can afford a nice vehicle.

but if you can, life's too short to drive a cheap one.

Och

iTrader: (3)

Well, if I do upgrade, its not necessarily going to be something very expensive. It's still going to be a lease, and its still going to take some beating. But the thing is, cars like IS250 and 328 are not much more expensive to lease than the Mazda, but far more pleasurable to drive. Shouldn't have cheaped out a year ago.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

exactly... add a $100/mo to the lease and you can move up a good few notches.

i recently drove 1000 miles in a new, but base (i think) corolla. it was absolutely awful.

chikoo

apart from being a luxurious drive, I am not sure what convenience the Mazda3 does not offer that a Lexus offers.

http://www.edmunds.com/car-compariso...atorId=3282634