Leasing Questions for a Newbie

[Luckypants]

So, even though I've been driving a lease car for the past 30 months, I have little idea on what constitutes a good deal, insurance, maintenance, ordering process and the like. My current vehicle is leased through work on a salary sacrifice scheme and appeared a good deal to me. It turns out from reading on here that it is not! I'm pretty happy with my current car, so for my next lease I'd probably go for something similar but at a much more competitive price! I'm hearing about some stunningly long lead times on factory orders, so I'm looking now to replace my Seat Leon.

So my first question is:- The deals seen in the leasing deals thread, are these (in general) for stock cars and you have to take pot-luck at change time that something, somewhere will be available or is it possible to order now at a good deal for delivery in March/April?

[wemorgan]

So my first question is:- The deals seen in the leasing deals thread, are these (in general) for stock cars and you have to take pot-luck at change time that something, somewhere will be available or is it possible to order now at a good deal for delivery in March/April?

Both in stock and built to order.

Built to order cars are typically 3-4months waiting. So if you want a car in march/April, best order in January to get the best deal at that time.

[Luckypants]

Thanks. For some Seat Leons, lead time is 22 weeks!!! Hence I'm looking now.

If I see a great deal on stock vehicle, can I hold it until I need it? Even if it is January and I don't need it until March?

[anonymous-user]

Maybe, the only way to know is to ask the people providing the car. There are often delivery date constraints on the best deals, but when you sign up can be more important than when the car is delivered for some of the deals - it just depends on the deal.

[wemorgan]

Luckypants said:

If I see a great deal on stock vehicle, can I hold it until I need it? Even if it is January and I don't need it until March?

Often they'll keep the car for the same calendar quarter.

[covmutley]

I think there are lost of reasons why good deals come about; end of quarter and trying to meet sales targets, cancelled orders, factory not busy enough, stocks of cars too large- my dad got a cheap fiesta because they had too many white ones floating around.

my Octavia is special edition (oorr eerr!) and rather than the dealer placing confirmed orders skoda made the dealers order them in advance of finding customers apparently.

I understand dealers would rather push cheap cars through a lease than discount heavily and set a trend?

good deals go quick!