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A pair of Chevy Camaros at sunset

The Best Leased Cars to Buy Back and Sell for Profit According to iSeeCars

You've heard the schpeal by now. "Blah blah chip shortage... no new cars... yada yada." Unfortunately, that's still the case and you can't get a whole lot in the way of new cars right now. Evidently, that's good for those in a lease. A recent study found that several models, including the Volkswagen Tiguan and Chevy Camaro, are able to be bought out and sold for a profit because dealers need the inventory so badly.

You’ve heard the schpeal by now. “Blah blah chip shortage… no new cars… yada yada.” Unfortunately, that’s still the case and you can’t get a whole lot in the way of new cars right now. Evidently, that’s good for those in a lease. A recent study found that several models, including the Volkswagen Tiguan and Chevy Camaro, are able to be bought out and sold for a profit because dealers need the inventory so badly.

Forget the lease. Is it expensive to maintain a Volkswagen Tiguan?

Even in the typically sedan-heavy UK market, the Volkswagen Tiguan is a hit | carwow

Regardless of your lease, the prospect of buying one of these cars from the recent iSeeCars study means paying for maintenance, at least for a while. Of course, the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Charger will probably be more expensive. So, let’s look at the most reasonable option before we get going. Per Edmunds, it’ll cost you about $4,000 in maintenance and repairs over five years (I don’t know why those are separate categories either).

That said, that’s really not a lot of money. Hell, my M3 has cost me $5,000 in three months. Count your blessings. Cost of ownership aside, the Volkswagen Tiguan is an excellent cheap crossover/lifted hatchback option. VW’s interiors are hard to beat, and evidently, they’re fairly reliable things. That said, they aren’t very fun.

You could make a profit on a Chevy Camaro

A grey Chevy Camaro in the booth at an auto show
The Chevy Camaro is peak American muscle car | Raymond Boyd via Getty Images

The Chevy Camaro on the other hand, is fun as hell. Granted, it’s been a while since I’ve been alone in one to test that theory in newer models. But, you can’t really go wrong with a 400-ish hp V8 and rear-wheel drive. Moreover, per that study, there’s roughly a $12,000 predicted market price increase as a result of the shortage.

Frankly, this is much more of a win-win than that Volkswagen Tiguan in my book. The Chevy Camaro is going to be way more fun, and if you’re flipping it for profit, who cares how impractical it is? Better to go have some fun (and probably spend some more money) and enjoy that temporary car you’ve got there. Of course, you’ll probably also spend more on gas than you would in the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Sell that leased Dodge Charger right now

A white Dodge Charger Scat Pack on track at Willow Springs Raceway
The Dodge Charger is my pick if I’ve got to keep one | Dodge

Of course, you’re far more likely to burn even more gas than the Chevy Camaro than the heavy, burnout happy Dodge Charger. Again, this makes much the same argument as the Camaro, and the opposite of the Volkswagen Tiguan. Lot’s of fun, (maybe) lots of money. However, you’re likely going to get that back when you go to sell, based on the Charger’s predicted $11,800 increase in value.

Honestly, be it Volkswagen Tiguan, Charger, or Camaro, anyone selling a car right now is going to be laughing all the way to the bank. So definitely don’t go buying a new car right now. The best thing buyers can do is wait.

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