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GasBuddy News Article


Gas prices take a toll on car lease business
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Los Angeles Times -- High gas prices are stalling the once-popular car leasing business. Chrysler, the nation's third-largest automaker, said Friday that it would stop offering leases on its vehicles through its in-house financing arm beginning late next week. The surprise move, the first by a car company, is an alarming indicator of how the downward spiral in truck and SUV resale values is pummeling the auto industry, especially American makers such as Chrysler, whose product mix is heavy on gas-guzzlers. On Thursday, Ford Motor Co. said it was taking a $2.1-billion write-down on its financing unit, largely because of losses on its lease portfolio. And Wells Fargo & Co., a leading provider of outside auto lease financing, confirmed Friday that it would leave the auto lease business this month.

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JT
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Message Posted: 7/26/2008 5:53:24  Ignore JT Report Abuse
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Los Angeles Times -- High gas prices are stalling the once-popular car leasing business. Chrysler, the nation's third-largest automaker, said Friday that it would stop offering leases on its vehicles through its in-house financing arm beginning late next week. The surprise move, the first by a car company, is an alarming indicator of how the downward spiral in truck and SUV resale values is pummeling the auto industry, especially American makers such as Chrysler, whose product mix is heavy on gas-guzzlers. On Thursday, Ford Motor Co. said it was taking a $2.1-billion write-down on its financing unit, largely because of losses on its lease portfolio. And Wells Fargo & Co., a leading provider of outside auto lease financing, confirmed Friday that it would leave the auto lease business this month.

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REPLIES (newest first)
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/7/2008 2:12:52 PM  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
wonder, wander, I just pay and go on
dmatte85
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Louisiana

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Message Posted: 8/6/2008 3:47:53 PM  Ignore dmatte85 Report Abuse
i wonder why?
POLELANE
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Ohio

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Message Posted: 8/6/2008 10:13:24  Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse
rental prices waaaay up too
FawltyPawl
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North Carolina

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Message Posted: 8/2/2008 8:16:59  Ignore FawltyPawl Report Abuse
What with gas prices, it is hard to justify a rental car's cost
rumbleseat
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Winnipeg

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Message Posted: 8/2/2008 12:51:20  Ignore rumbleseat Report Abuse
Funny, I mentioned Chrysler in Canada is going to continue to offer leases, because it is working for them. However, GM is cutting out leases in Canada immediately. Different balance of vehicles going out on lease, I guess, which is weird in the same market.
magnumCA
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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 3:40:18 PM  Ignore magnumCA Report Abuse
I pay cash for cars
flatcoatfun
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Orlando

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 9:04:18  Ignore flatcoatfun Report Abuse
Never leased a car and never will!
tr77379
Rookie Author
Houston

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:58:39  Ignore tr77379 Report Abuse
Good...never saw the benefit to leasing anyway.
DarthDadJr
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Virginia

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:57:59  Ignore DarthDadJr Report Abuse
...only if is a BIG SUV...try finding a hybrid at a good price!
lindact
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New Haven

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:56:17  Ignore lindact Report Abuse
Hmmm...may be able to pick up a previously leased car at a good price.
DustyRanch
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Texas

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:53:43  Ignore DustyRanch Report Abuse
Never saw the benefit in leasing.
jeteye
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Austin

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:50:03  Ignore jeteye Report Abuse
This is strange?
Pede
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New Jersey

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:46:02  Ignore Pede Report Abuse
I never leased a car and do not see how it benefits the person leasing the car, except the lay out of the money to buy the car. This encourages people to spend money on other things that they do not have. It makes no sense to do this thing.
NavyEOD
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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:42:28  Ignore NavyEOD Report Abuse
This problem is nation wide.
emosley007
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Raleigh

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:39:25  Ignore emosley007 Report Abuse
this is very interesting news. but I guess the gas really affects everything that we do.
TONYRON
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South Carolina

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:38:31  Ignore TONYRON Report Abuse
This is not good news at all.
hblee
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Ontario

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:34:37  Ignore hblee Report Abuse
Everyone is feeling the pinch. Who can afford to keep the cars.
They should reduce the outrageous prices charged at the dealership for
repairs. The going rate is over $100/hour for labour. It's insane when
the minumum wage is only about $8/hour.
copperhead8
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Boston

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:33:52  Ignore copperhead8 Report Abuse
You don't have to lease a car if you don't want to.
EarlyMoose
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Seattle

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:32:58  Ignore EarlyMoose Report Abuse
One more reason to say no to leases.
Lonewolftx
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Houston

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:30:48  Ignore Lonewolftx Report Abuse
They just walk away from them . . .
rbrowdersr
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Detroit

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:29:44  Ignore rbrowdersr Report Abuse
How soon will car rental companies be affected?
pickemup
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Austin

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:26:39  Ignore pickemup Report Abuse
ok...old news
ardmoretoday
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Oklahoma

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:26:16  Ignore ardmoretoday Report Abuse
It is bad for all business - well unless you are in the "Oil Business" taking money like candy from a baby.
PokerAce
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Louisiana

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:25:58  Ignore PokerAce Report Abuse
normcrocker---good point...
SeerLV
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Las Vegas

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:24:09  Ignore SeerLV Report Abuse
Gas guzzlers are now really too expensive.
bicycler
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Ontario

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:23:25  Ignore bicycler Report Abuse
normcrocker; A point that I never thought of.
normcrocker
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Tennessee

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:20:55  Ignore normcrocker Report Abuse
The largest impact on a decline in leasing will be a shortage of program cars for the used car market.
tomok
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Portland

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:20:36  Ignore tomok Report Abuse
Gas prices affect all areas of the economy.
Brn2bEvl
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New York

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:18:33  Ignore Brn2bEvl Report Abuse
Everyone is feeling the pinch.
RPetty
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Maryland

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:12:58  Ignore RPetty Report Abuse
hello, ya think? prices are forcing All Businesses to take a beating...
REVLAW
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San Antonio

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:12:01  Ignore REVLAW Report Abuse
Some folks seem to be surprised about the far reaching and detrimental aspects of increased energy costs.
roydarecker
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Minnesota

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:10:01  Ignore roydarecker Report Abuse
ok
CoolFuel
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Utah

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:07:40  Ignore CoolFuel Report Abuse
Leasing was a great option when I got my Ranger in 2001. It kept the monthly payment down and then I bought it after the lease was up. Might have cost me a bit more in interest, but the payments were always really low. Now I'm selling it find the Blue Book is still over $6K. Considered the idea for my new truck, but the lease options are crappy now and payments were cheaper to buy outright.
bluebird1
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Toronto

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:06:55  Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse
If vehicle sales are stalling then doesn't that mean leasing as well. Big impact here is leasing firms will have many large vehicles depreciated much more than allowed for in the leases. You think you have problems selling off 1 gas guzzler...imagine having thousands.
niceguytx
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Houston

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:05:47  Ignore niceguytx Report Abuse
The cost of gas is leading people to travel less.
Chazzer
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Nevada

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:05:44  Ignore Chazzer Report Abuse
Yes, there is a plethora of cars for rent ... except in Las Vegas! They are all booked.
krell58
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Missouri

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:05:24  Ignore krell58 Report Abuse
Watch the Energy Non Crisis.
http://tinyurl.com/33l95c
AC-302
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Los Angeles

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:04:34  Ignore AC-302 Report Abuse
Saw this last week in the paper and on the news. Someone is going to fill this market need. Just not CFC, FMC and GMAC. There's a definite market need for businesses to lease cars. Someone will provide it.
SummitSkiBum
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Denver

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:04:12  Ignore SummitSkiBum Report Abuse
The more gas costs, the less everyone has to spend on anything and everything else. It's not just leasing companies, its EVERYONE!! The SPECULATORS are robbing EVERYONE BLIND!! Including businesses that rely on money from people that are spending ALL of their EXTRA money on higher gas prices.
acknot
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Seattle

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:03:55  Ignore acknot Report Abuse
Every business.
z1000
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Indianapolis

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:02:59  Ignore z1000 Report Abuse
Leasing is Fleecing
kissel
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Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:02:27  Ignore kissel Report Abuse
I've never leased a car - I put too many miles on to even consider it.
RLH68
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Orlando

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:01:21  Ignore RLH68 Report Abuse
Never could see the benefits of leasing.
cresovia
Rookie Author
Tallahassee

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 8:00:16  Ignore cresovia Report Abuse
Stop leasing expensive cars???
amearly
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Michigan

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 7:58:11  Ignore amearly Report Abuse
Welcome to the real world.
Ty55
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Wyoming

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 7:47:39  Ignore Ty55 Report Abuse
My lease is working for me right now, but I am definately planning to buy outright with the next car.
cableman31
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New York

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 7:44:32  Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse
Leasing is not in the best interests of most people.
mplato
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Columbia

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 7:43:49  Ignore mplato Report Abuse
stalling on old news
rodmiser
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Missouri

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 7:41:47  Ignore rodmiser Report Abuse
late
CruisinLinda
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Tallahassee

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Message Posted: 7/28/2008 7:41:13  Ignore CruisinLinda Report Abuse
Car leasers can make a profit if they lease cars which will sell after the lease. Gas-guzzlers are not in demand any more.

Leasing a car doesn't make much sense for the driver, even for one who wants to drive late-model cars. You can buy a car with a low down payment and sell it three years later.

[Edited by: CruisinLinda at 7/28/2008 9:41:57 AM EST]
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