Question

We need a 3 row vehicle. We are almost up on our lease. yes I know leases are useless because you get nothing in the end. BUT we can’t afford the 700+ payment to purchase one so we leased it. We need to again but I can’t find a used large suv in our price range so leasing may be our only option again. (My husbands mother has no debt and great credit so she will co sign for a new lease so we can get a cheaper rate. ) Is there a better way to keep the payments down? We will be in a much better situation in 3 years when I’m back to work full time. So at the end of the lease we will be buying this next one. Any tips or advice to get a better deal? We need our payments to be under 425.  

Answer 1

Shop around and go a few years older. We were able to get a an 2014 buick enclave. Seats 7. 40k miles, paid 16k and our payments are 330 a month

Comments

@tome105 we’ve been looking for a few months there hasn’t been one of the brands we need that’s not too old or too many miles near us.  

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@mazurek1142 we drove about 2 hours away to get ours but it was worth it. We also go it at a random dealership, that specializes in new cadillacs lol it was a trade it. We went on I believe autotrader. com we also used a cosigner bc our credit sucked

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Try carguru

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@thirzi ok I lied it was that one bc it told us the good/great deal lolol

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That was the name I was trying to remember lol

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The nice thing is you can set what you want for a vehicle. My requirement was great on gas and cheap! I owe less on my car then what people who bought it new owe, granted it's high milage but for the most part as long as it is maintained properly the mileage doesn't matter.  

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@tome105 and @thirzi I’ll take a look.  

Answer 2

We have a minivan for less than $350 a month. Buy used and not new.  

Answer 3

Uh. I have a 2012 suburban that I JUST bought with a payment of $300 that I’ll have paid off in 6 months. I’ve never had a car payment over $350 and always had a big SUV.  

Answer 4

We have a 2019 Chevy traverse that we LOVE and we got it brand new for 25k. Shop around. It’s possible! You might just have to get base model, but into this journey I found out that the price tags on having the “fancy” stuff in cars was really high and I didn’t make a difference to me. This is our favorite car we’ve had yet!  

Comments

@mazurek1142 Price I like the traverse. I have a 2017 pilot now.  

Answer 5

You can absolutely get a used SUV with 3rd row in your price range. Shop around and be willing to get something a little older or without all the bells and whistles! If you want an affordable car payment you have to be willing to make some compromises!  

Comments

@kenley I only need the captains chairs for the second row because I have three kids in car seats and sometimes take my MIL with us places so I need one car seat in the back but easy to get in and out of. I’m not needing anything fancy just reliable I drive a lot with Drs appts for my daughter

Answer 6

We bought a used 2008 Highlander last year and it’s literally the greatest car I’ve ever owned. It has a third row.  

Answer 7

I have a minivan that I bought new and my payments are 410 a month. So its possible to buy with in your price range.  

Answer 8

Don’t lease again! It’s money down the drain. I’m on my second lease and wish I wold have just bought. $382 a month being wasted vs could have been going to actually having a car. I’ll never lease again. Ugh. I feel your pain. Keep shopping around. Spring and summer they will start to get more cars

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@woodland1536 the only reason I would lease again is if I was going to buy it in the end. The pilot I have won’t work in the long run it doesn’t seat our kids good since they are all in car seats

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@mazurek1142 that typically isn’t a good deal though. Like let’s say I wanted to buy my lease right now it’s $23k cause that’s what I owe but I can go buy the same car for $17k. So just make sure you look at how well those cars hold their value!  

Answer 9

Leasing a vehicle is not benefitting you at all. I would shop around and find a used vehicle you can afford. Have you looked at mini vans? They are also cheaper than SUV’s, but if you’re set on an SUV, just go a little older. $425 a month is doable.  

Comments

@belch69 i live in a super hilly area where it snows. I need all wheel drive and three rows.  

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@mazurek1142 that excludes the mini van then. A 4. 2% interest loan for $27, 000 is $425 a month. Good luck with the search!  

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You can get an all wheel drive mini van look at the Pacifica’s. And can always put snow tires on too it’s what I do

Answer 10

Caravan might be a good option for you. There are tons of 3rd row suvs out there in the under $425 budget . you may not get all your bells and whistles but there are options

Comments

not sure if the link will follow all , y settings but you can filter by your payment and under $425 and 50k miles there are many very nice options for you
https://www.carvana.com/cars/suv

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@chromolithography10 thank you!  

Answer 11

Leasing is equivalent to renting a car for 3 years. You hold no value in the car even though you likely put “money down”. We leased once and I regret it. Our buy out price was actually more than the vehicle was worth so we had to walk away from it. Your best bet financially is to find a used car.  

Answer 12

VW atlas is definitely affordable

Answer 13

We bought a 2015 Highlander

Answer 14

We love our minivan. Bought used.  

Answer 15

I love my chevy traverse with the 3rd row. It is amazing I have a 2014

Answer 16

I got a certified pre-owned Nissan Pathfinder that was 3 years old, 44, 000 miles, and only 2. 99% interest rate. The price was about 20k less than what it was worth new. I $400/month. Oh, and it's the Platinum edition with all the bells and whistles. I'd look at ones 3 years old (coming off if someone's lease) instead of getting another lease.  

Comments

@behrens66 thank you! I will expand our search area

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@mazurek1142 the Pathfinder is a great car too. I'm now spoiled with my heated steering wheel and 360 view camera! Both top trim levels have those.  

Answer 17

Can you get a minivan? They are sometimes cheaper than a SUV

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@hannus I cant  we have tried it didn’t make it up the hill in the snow  

Answer 18

Used Ford Expedition. We’ve had ours for 6+ years 4 kids lots of car seats and no captains chairs seats flip easy enough.  

Answer 19

An older/used base model Dodge Durango. Super roomy!  

Answer 20

A van has more cargo room with the 3rd row up than an SUV and more choices in seating arrangements to carry cargo and passengers. We love our van, and there are LOTS of used options.  

Answer 21

We bought a used (it was one model year off the current year) mini van and our payments were $350. If you want the most bang for your buck, a van is the way to go. And we didn’t lease! So now that’s it’s paid off we have no car payment!  

Answer 22

Ours is a 4Runner and has 3rd row seating! ☺️

Answer 23

I love my Dodge Journey and it’s third row seat!  

Answer 24

I bought my 2015 Ford Explorer private party 2 years ago for $24k and my payment is $360/mo. I even financed the sales tax into the loan.  

Answer 25

I have a 2005 Chevy suburban and I will drive it until it’s in the ground. Check out used lots, FB marketplace, etc.  

Answer 26

Don’t be afraid to do financing through your credit union either, typically you can find a better interest rate than going through the car lot.  

Comments

Or check your insurance company. When we bought our last vehicle State Farm had a better interest rate than our credit union.  

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@kayser7 there ya go!  

Answer 27

We just traded in our 2013 Equinox last month (which prompted me to sit down and look at our budget. and ultimately find TBM) for a 2016 Acadia. My husband was able to pull the loan without a co-signer (my credit is not good right now and I have no income) and our payment is $398/mo

Answer 28

Where do you live? We are going to be selling our loaded 2016 Ford Expedition EL. Still has extended warranty on it. We love it but don't need the "people mover " like we use to  (husband wants a truck again). I am located in Illinois though.  

Comments

@shaunna thank you. I live in Massachusetts that won’t work. Thank you though. Yea we don’t have luck with fords. I’ve had a focus, my husband has had three ford work vehicles have many issues. Unfortunately we drive a lot more now.  

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@mazurek1142. I just got the Subaru Ascent for my work vehicle. It has 3 rows and I love it. Good luck in your search

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@shaunna thank you. I have looked on some of the used sites people mentioned and they have a Subaru and a nice travers near me and an Arcadia a little further away but it isn’t that much. I’m going to see if we can check them out