Mercedes Finance Lease

[SLW79]

Hi Folks
I have a 61 SLK200 AMG Sport on lease from Merc Finance with 12 months remaining.
My fiancee is due to give birth in 1 week so the SLK is not suitable. When we explained to Merc our situation they said there is no way we can get out of the contract unless we buy the car at £32,000!!!
We even offered to swap for another 2nd hand car eg) a class or something. They said no.
Has anyone got out of a lease contract or swapped for another lease car or sold their lease on??
Any help would be much appreciated
Ta
Steve

[CYMR0]

How much are the remaining ~12 months' payments?

Because even if they somehow won't accept the car back, your worst case scenario is that the car is parked up and you pay what, £3k?

Not ideal of course but noticeably less bad than paying £32k for a car that books at maybe £21k?

[SLW79]

£307 + £100 insurance and because no claims used on the Merc a 2nd car for her the insurance is ridiculous plus the fact her pay is decreasing monthly plus we need to buy another car means it's more like £1500 pm we are down, therefore every penny counts!
I'm fook'd lol

[GoneAnon]

I've heard of people transferring leases but it is vital to note that it is extraordinarily unlikely that you have a contractual right to do so - the car belongs to the lessor, it forms their security, and they have the final say in any sub-hire or assignment.

Apart from anything else, if you do it wrong and the new third-party don't pay up, you are still liable!

You will have a right to terminate the lease but the termination charge may be equivalent to paying the sum of the remaining rentals. At least, though, it frees up your insurance NCB for a more appropriate car and that looks to be a significant issue at £100pm.

On the other hand, if you can avoid any unnecessary travel in the next twelve months and get a duplicate set of baby paraphernalia that they seem to need, to keep the extra set at parents or wherever else you may need it, that could be cheaper than chopping the car early.