Car Lease

[RHPF]

I searched but didn't see anything on the forum.

I am starting a new car lease, and have only averaged 12k a year for the past 5 years of my life. My question is this:
1) What do you guys average in the military? With constant moves and everything else, do you guys end up driving a lot? Or does the fact that you are so busy during the week prevent you from putting many miles on your car.
2) I assume not, but is there any form of stipulation/regulation for vehicle leases, and official orders requiring moves and their mileage impact?

 

[Brett327]

have a different financial philosophy than most.

And what might that be?

Brett

 

[Brett327]

to honestly live below my means (ie one paycheck)
To not have to have the newest and bestest of everything
Stay out of debt
not keep up with the Joneses...need I explain further?

I'm with you 100%. Sometimes the amount of conspicuous consumption (and high debt to income ratio) around SOCAL makes me wonder about people. I prefer to measure my success not by how much money I've spent, but by how much I have left. There's a certain peace of mind in knowing that my only debt is my mortgage and that I could continue living comfortably for at least a year if my income suddenly ceased.

Brett

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Are we having a Dave Ramsey reunion here or what?

BTW, to the OP, just say no to the lease. Buy a decent used car and save your money. Get yourself an emergency fund set up for.....well, emergencies. And then sock some money away for a downpayment on a house for when you're ready.

 

[BurghGuy]

Agreed about the lease. If you don't want to go as old as 5 years ago, I'd recommend about 2 years. It worked for both my cars. A lease is stupid because you pay almost as much as a guy with a loan for a slightly newer car... ooohhh.... ahhhh. But in a few years that car won't be new anymore, you don't own it, and you just wasted $20k, that if invested, could have bought you a newer, better car.

 

[Machine]

Just like anything...it depends on how good of a lease you get. It'd say it's hard to say that all are bad when there's no numbers to back it up. This is similar to saying that buying a house is always better than renting.

Anyway, to the original question...It depends. I think the biggest factor is how far you live from work. When I was living on base, I think I did about 8000 in a year. Now that I live about 30 mins. away, I've put 15k on my car since June. YMMV.

 

[Sly1978]

I think my biggest concern with the lease would be how willing the company is to work with my military orders. There are a lot of companies out there that won't let you take a leased vehicle overseas (some even restrict you from permanently moving it out of state). Check on that before you sign anything. As for mileage, the mileage I put on my car has actually gone down since I joined, but that's probably just me.

 

[Brett327]

I think my biggest concern with the lease would be how willing the company is to work with my military orders. There are a lot of companies out there that won't let you take a leased vehicle overseas (some even restrict you from permanently moving it out of state). Check on that before you sign anything. As for mileage, the mileage I put on my car has actually gone down since I joined, but that's probably just me.

I can't think of too many instances where one would take their car overseas in the Navy. Can't do it for japan, and frankly, having a big American car in Europe would be a hassle. Maybe Guam, I dunno.

Brett

 

[Lawman]

I can't think of too many instances where one would take their car overseas in the Navy. Can't do it for japan, and frankly, having a big American car in Europe would be a hassle. Maybe Guam, I dunno.

Brett

We had a full size 9 pack fan and an 4 door pontiac in Italy, no big deal. Granted Dad had to leave his love the 77' Lincoln Town Car in Florida but the majority of Europe works fine with american non-suv/tank cars till you get into the old tiny street villages that dot the countryside.

Im suprised you cant take them to Japan. My Uncle took his Beetle and Volvo wagon to Okinawa last time he went. I know people in Atsugi with the Air Force that took a car. Whats the Navy's beef with you bringing a vehicle over to Japan, yeah their smog laws are a PITA but I know for a fact if you can pass Cali Smog with your car you can get the forms to have your vehicle certified in accordance with Japanese laws you just gotta do the leg work.

 

[scoober78]

I would think that the biggest problem wouldn't be size, but petrol was running about 1.25 pound per litre...That's 7 dollars a gallon for you American types...Now I don't know about you...but that would make me leary of driving a Hummer to work...let's see...15 mpg...at 7 dollars....That's .50$ per mile!

 

[boobcheese]

I think my biggest concern with the lease would be how willing the company is to work with my military orders. There are a lot of companies out there that won't let you take a leased vehicle overseas (some even restrict you from permanently moving it out of state). Check on that before you sign anything. As for mileage, the mileage I put on my car has actually gone down since I joined, but that's probably just me.

Under the new Service Members' Civil Relief Act, "Any active-duty servicemember who has received PCS orders outside the continental United States, or who is being deployed for 180 days or more, may terminate a motor-vehicle lease. The law prohibits early termination charges."

 

[Brett327]

We had a full size 9 pack fan and an 4 door pontiac in Italy, no big deal. Granted Dad had to leave his love the 77' Lincoln Town Car in Florida but the majority of Europe works fine with american non-suv/tank cars till you get into the old tiny street villages that dot the countryside.

Im suprised you cant take them to Japan. My Uncle took his Beetle and Volvo wagon to Okinawa last time he went. I know people in Atsugi with the Air Force that took a car. Whats the Navy's beef with you bringing a vehicle over to Japan, yeah their smog laws are a PITA but I know for a fact if you can pass Cali Smog with your car you can get the forms to have your vehicle certified in accordance with Japanese laws you just gotta do the leg work.

When I was last there, the Js wouldn't allow it.

Brett

 

[Intruder Driver]

I can't think of too many instances where one would take their car overseas in the Navy. Can't do it for japan, and frankly, having a big American car in Europe would be a hassle. Maybe Guam, I dunno.

Brett

I took two cars to Puerto Rico. None to Japan. One to Meridian. Oh, that's right, I should focus on real foreign countries.

Agree with the above. Don't ship a car overseas. If you're lucky enough to get PCS orders, and I say it in a positive way since I really enjoyed both of my overseas tours, there is a good chance you'll want to ship a car back. The deals are plentiful in Japan, Guam and Europe.

 

[lowflier03]

You can ship a car to Japan. The Navy just tries to talk everyone out of it. There are a few extra fees and inspections before the Japanese will let you register it. Though there is really no reason to bring a car over here. My first car over here was free, my second only cost $700 and my wife's cost $800.

 

[Brett327]

You can ship a car to Japan. The Navy just tries to talk everyone out of it. There are a few extra fees and inspections before the Japanese will let you register it. Though there is really no reason to bring a car over here. My first car over here was free, my second only cost $700 and my wife's cost $800.

Yeah, one of our JOs got a JOPA moblie for ~$400. You really only want to use it to get around town because the toll roads will absolutely drain your wallet. If I brought anything it would be a motorcycle.

Brett