Tomx said:
One more question - if I move to another state during the 3 year lease period, can I return the car to the local deal in the new state at the end of the lease?
Yes, but it's not just a matter of driving up and leaving the keys in the car, even if you go to the same dealer as where you originally leased the car. If you lease through NMAC (Nissan's own financing arm), you are supposed to contact them to have a preliminary inspection report done before lease-end. This report will tell you if there is anything about the car that is considered beyond "normal wear and tear" and will tell you what you will be charged if the car is returned in that condition. You can then opt to pay that fee at lease end, or find someone else to make those repairs and corrections for a cheaper price before turning in the car.
Then, when you are ready to turn it in, you make an appointment with any Nissan dealer to turn in the car. You sign a bunch of papers and walk away upon paying the Disposition Fee and any Excessive Wear and Tear Fee. They make you turn in the car at a Nissan dealer in the hopes you will lease or buy another Nissan; some, but not all, Nissan dealers will absorb the Disposition Fee and even a limited amount of Excessive Wear and Tear in exchange for getting another car from them. If you plan on getting another Nissan, it's definitely a good negotiating tool.
One thing you do need to be aware of is that if you lease for 3 years, you are eligible for the $2500 CVRP rebate, but if you take the rebate and move out of state (or get rid of the car for any reason) before the 3 years are up, you are required to pay back a pro-rated portion of that rebate. So if you move out of state after 2 years, you would have to repay 1/3 of that $2500.
Sorry to hear that this "too good to be true" deal was indeed too good to be true, but don't despair. If you are patient, and bargain hard enough, you might be able to get a similar deal at a different dealership. Boardwalk Nissan is offering a a 2014 Leaf S (no charge package) for $69/month, $3000 down payment, for 24 months (so not eligible for the CVRP rebate). Taxes (on both the down payment and monthly payment) are not included, and neither is registration fees. Assuming a 9% sales tax rate, you would need another $1,000 to keep the $69+tax monthly payment, and I highly recommend rolling that into the monthly payments as well. If you can bring the down payment lower (and roll that into the monthly payments) that is even better.
