Hacking your dash - lease vs. buying

**4thephil** · 07-20-2008, 12:12 PM

I'll be (hopefully) getting a new car in a year, but I'm not sure whether I should buy or lease. I've heard that, in general, if you plan on keeping it for over 5 years, you should buy. But, I think I'm leaning towards leasing so I can get a new one every 3 years.

Has anyone hacked their dash to install a carpc in a leased car? How much damage costs do they/would they charge you? I'm looking to cut away enough to recess the screen, and for security, put the non-functional radio buttons over the screen when not in use.

**blackcobra487** · 07-20-2008, 07:15 PM

You could avoid charges at the end of the lease by returning the vehicle to factory condition. Sometimes you may be able to find spare parts in a junk yard that would cost pennies compared to the amount the dealership would charge. Overall, it would probably be a better idea to own the car if you intend to cut it up. That way it isn't a worry.

**Woofnstuff** · 07-20-2008, 09:59 PM

perhaps after 3 years the screen may be needing replacing and the PC itself might want upgrading.. just leave it ion there

**Chairboy** · 07-20-2008, 10:59 PM

Don't get new cars. Smart money is to buy a car that's at least a year old. Let someone else be the sucker who eats the massive depreciation.

**4thephil** · 07-20-2008, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by Chairboy

Don't get new cars. Smart money is to buy a car that's at least a year old. Let someone else be the sucker who eats the massive depreciation.

I never thought about that in that way - isn't the fact that as soon as you buy a new car and drive it off the lot, it depreciates 30%? After a year, you could buy the car, mess it up, it wouldn't have many miles on it after a year, wouldn't require a lot of fixing after a year...I like it

**Ramanator** · 07-21-2008, 01:07 AM

If you are gonna lease then i highly recommend that you find a bezel (dealer order, ebay, junk yard, etc.) that you can modify (custom) because you donot want to incur the cost of replacement for a dash bezel at the lease turn in. That can be pretty expensive.

**Bugbyte** · 07-21-2008, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by fillthemup

But, I think I'm leaning towards leasing so I can get a new one every 3 years.

Just remember that what you are doing when you lease continuously is agreeing to a perpetual car payment. Your lifetime costs for transportation will be much higher than if you purchase and keep a car.

Sure, it's nice to have a new car and if you only look at the cost of the payment, you can drive a nicer car than you could afford to buy but Chairboy is right about buying a slightly used car and holding on to it.

**greatwhite** · 07-21-2008, 05:52 AM

leasing is for suckers.................just another way for the car companies to suck more money out of our pocket. And lord knows, they get enough of your money as it is......

I've leased before and the only way I'll ever do it again is if it's a company vehicle and they are paying for it.

BUt, if you do lease, pick up a spare bezel and hack on that. Then when you trade it in, just swap the bezel out.

Or use a motorized flip screen.........

Keep in mind, you don't own the vehicle you're driving on a lease. It would be like ripping a wall out in your apartment and expecting the landloard to be alright with it when you move.

Not gonna happen............

**HiJackZX1** · 07-21-2008, 11:31 AM

I agree, owning is much better. With a lease you have to return the car back to them as they gave it to you. They will charge you per damaged areas. My boss leased a Cadilac CTS and had to pay almost 5,000 dollars in repairs, like scatches, dents , interior damage. His may have been so much because it was a Cadilac. I love that I own my truck... and now i have made so many changes i doubt i can sell it lol, unless its to another Technosexual.

**CwF** · 07-25-2008, 02:57 PM

Often when you buy new, the right somewhat unique, special, or under produced higher end vehicle, there is little depreciation short term(1-3 yrs), some mid-term (4-on), and possibly some recovery long term (20+).
It took 20 months for my truck to depreciate below purchase price according to the online quotes. It is proving to be a best case , but still. At the 1 yr mark I could have commanded a 2-3k premium. Now at 3 years I'm at 14% depreciated.
If anyone really wants to avoid depreciation the range starts at 3-5 years old.
Long term, leasing should always be considered reaching beyond your means.