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I normally up 'til now I would only buy a 2YO lease return. However being where I am , and doing what I do has presented me with the unique opportunity to purchase a NEW 540Xi for the same or similar price I would pay for a 2YO lease return. Because of the tax-free program available to me, plus the BMW Discount for Service Members and Civil Service stationed overseas, I can buy (Have already paid for, just waiting for build and delivery) my NEW car, and take delivery and drive it tax-free in Spain for as long as I am stationed here. When I return to the US, The Government will ship it home for me for free, and I will pay taxes on the depreciated value of the car at the time in whatever state I move to. Most likely that will be back in Seattle, or San Diego.
Now, while I was in the process of deciding whether I wanted an Audi A-6, or a BMW 5er, I took the opportunity while visiting my Daughter in the SF Bay Area, to test drive both. While looking into it I noted that both vehicles require a break in period from new. However, the SR at both dealerships encouraged me to "Just Punch It" during the test drive to show off their power and acceleration of the engines. Is that not violating the break in? So if 30 people test drive that car could that not create reliability problems in those motors? Granted, most people who walk into these dealers test drive the top of the line, then look at the price tag and start looking at their less expensive models, and hope they will drive as well. (It's a sales tactic when a salesman KNOWS someone can't afford a specific car. They test drive them in the one they want, then show them them the one they can actually afford and tell them the only difference is......which they don't really need anyway.)
Not to mention the many people I have heard on this and other forums talking about how they abuse their Leased cars, because "It's just a lease. That's the next owner's problem" So they don't worry about preserving battery life, performing temporary Reversible mods to increase engine output, Taking their new cars to the track to test launch control, etc...
I am starting to re-think my prior policy on 2YO Lease returns. I think from now on I am only going to buy new cars. And I am going to custom order any cars I buy even if there is an identical one on the lot already, just to make sure the car I buy has not been beaten up, then made to look pretty. Maybe if I buy a car that the dealer ordered and it just came off the truck and has not been prepped yet, maybe I would buy off the lot if it had all the options I wanted.
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