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Since it is a hard market to get rid of the Vette, I'm considering either financing or leasing a 2003 Civic LX, since I am rolling over some negative equity. If I get an LX, I can finance it pain free according to my calculations. My original plan was to get an EX. I still can if I lease, can also finance with some pain.. I have not done anything yet. If I lease a vehicle, it will be with intent to own. I know leasing is mostly a ripoff, but I also now that is lowers your car payment, which comes in handy since I am paying for graduate school. Do the aftermarket guidelines at SEMA.org apply to leased cars? What do you all think?

 
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IF you definately are going to keep the car it won't matter. New leasing guidelines makes you the owner of the vehicle, not the company, and if you dont make the final payment, they reacquire the car. Therefor as long as you do not default on your payments and buy hte car at the end, you can do anything you want.

Basic removable bolt-ons will also be fine. If you return the vehicle just remove the bolt-ons and replace the oem parts.

You will get 10000 replies telling you how evil leasing is. Do concider how many miles per year you drive, and be sure to buy the appropriate number of miles in the beginning of the lease. This will ONLY matter if you do not buyout the car. IF you buyout the car they will not check miles. I've leased cars before, and am currently in a lease. The greatest part of a lease is if you dont like the car you dont have to keep it. Many times you can work a deal out where you're paying less than MSRP even after interest AND the final payment. For example, if I buy out my car, which I got for 21k, plus 2 k in interest, it will cost me 23k. MSRP on it, however, is 27k.

 
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I know exactly how evil leasing is, but I also know it is better than purchasing depending on the scenario one is in. That's the tricky part. Leasing is a convience compared to purchasing, therefore you'd be paying higher price. Like I said, I have not done anything yet. I'm about 90% toward buying over leasing anyway. Just checking to see if that 10% is viable.

 
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Hehe, you and I are almost in identical situations. I'm getting my civ just so I can have reliable transportation through graduate school. I brought up leasing to the dealer because of the seeminly cheaper total drive off costs and montly payments. I chose to buy, mustered up 5g's and my payment is all of $190/month. The 12k a year limit on a lease is not enough for me. A friend of sister leased a Miata a few years back, he went over the alotted 10k in 4 months, and it was $.30 a mile after that. The car spent the next 8 months in a garaged...

As far as modding a leased vehcile, I don't think it matters. I've known people who have put show quality custom stereos in leased cars. As long as you can bring it back to stock upon return, you're fine. Since you plan on owning it, I don't think this matters to you.

 
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Can you convert to purchase any time you want? I'd like to convert to purchase immediately after graduate school.

 
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At the end of the lease period you have the option of 1.) financing the remaining money. 2.) paying it all at once. 3.) not paying it at all.