Hey guys,

I'm trying to figure out what extent I can go to with modding a leased vehicle...I've only modded vehicles I bought so this is a first...and I'm not positive if I want to keep the avenger :P So I was looking over my contract and all I was able to find was this:

You will not change or modify the vehicle's body or interior in any way unless you first get our written consent. If you add parts to the vehicle that cannot be removed without harming the vehicle's usefulness or value, you understand that these parts become our property. We may inspect the vehicle at any reasonable time.

So does this basically mean, I can modify the hell out of it, but I won't be able to keep any of the non-removable parts if I return it? (sounds fair to me) LOL

Hey guys,

I'm trying to figure out what extent I can go to with modding a leased vehicle...I've only modded vehicles I bought so this is a first...and I'm not positive if I want to keep the avenger :P So I was looking over my contract and all I was able to find was this:

You will not change or modify the vehicle's body or interior in any way unless you first get our written consent. If you add parts to the vehicle that cannot be removed without harming the vehicle's usefulness or value, you understand that these parts become our property. We may inspect the vehicle at any reasonable time.

So does this basically mean, I can modify the hell out of it, but I won't be able to keep any of the non-removable parts if I return it? (sounds fair to me) LOL

I think the problem will be once you turn it in, they will try an charge the hell out of you for them. I'm sure their argument will be, that it affects the resale of the car in a negative way. BS we all know but, how many times have you heard a dealer low-ball a trade-in because it had mods..

I think the problem will be once you turn it in, they will try an charge the hell out of you for them. I'm sure their argument will be, that it affects the resale of the car in a negative way. BS we all know but, how many times have you heard a dealer low-ball a trade-in because it had mods..

Actually it happened w/ my last car that I traded in - they lowballed the hell out of out...telling me it will cost them more to replace everything back to stock as it's not a "normal consumer vehicle"

So what I was thinking was if I do parts that I can swap back to stock, I think I would be ok...such as as you and me were talking before, the rear bumper, if I swap it for a kitted one, then lets say I don't want the car and swap the stock bumper back on...I should be ok I think? lol

There was a discussion here about this a few weeks ago.
A leased vehicle does not belong to you. So treat it like you borrowed it. Mod the hell out of it if you want, but put it back the way it was before turning it in. They expect to get it back exactly the way it was when they 'loaned' it to you - minus normal wear and tear.

There was a discussion here about this a few weeks ago.
A leased vehicle does not belong to you. So treat it like you borrowed it. Mod the hell out of it if you want, but put it back the way it was before turning it in. They expect to get it back exactly the way it was when they 'loaned' it to you - minus normal wear and tear.

Actually that other lease post was not related :D

So if I were to say, swap the muffler for aftermarket, but before I return swap back the original, do you think they would actually check to see the welds?

Actually that other lease post was not related :D

So if I were to say, swap the muffler for aftermarket, but before I return swap back the original, do you think they would actually check to see the welds?

I doubt it and if they did, just tell them it was damaged and you replaced it with a factory original part. Should be the end of it at that point.

I doubt it and if they did, just tell them it was damaged and you replaced it with a factory original part. Should be the end of it at that point.

Awesome, thanks for the advice... I want some sound out of this baby :D

Actually that other lease post was not related :D


I was talking about the other other one. :)
http://avengerforumz.com/showthread.php?t=8898

I was talking about the other other one. :)
http://avengerforumz.com/showthread.php?t=8898

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I missed that one LOL

Personally, I think they are going to care less about tinted windows and things they can't see when you turn the car back in. Now if the tint is peeling off and looks like **** then they will care, but if not I doubt they say anything. But replacing body parts...thats another ball game.

I think a good rule of thumb is not to turn the car into a pos when modding it. If it looks stock and runs good and not trashed, you will probably be fine. All depends on the dealer though I guess.

The one car I leased (a grand am gt), I went the 36k miles almost to the mile, turned it in, and got my security deposit back, no problems at all. It ran fine, had a clean non trashed interior, and the original tires (which just barely made it without me having to replace them). I left the road salt all over the car to hide a nice size scratch in the rear quarter when I rubbed it up against a brick house. They never said anything about it at inspection or even later on.

Aside from the scratch which would have been easily fixable, the car was in perfect condition. I did have them repaint the mirrors though about 2 years in, which was a pain to deal with, but if I would have left them I bet they would have tryed to get me on that one...and maybe noticed the scratch.