Customizing a Leased Vehicle

[jasch1124]

This is my first leased vehicle and wasn't really sure how modifications work. I'm confident I'll buy the truck at the end of my lease as long as it doesn't turn out to be a lemon, CarFax is clean and if it's actually worth the buyout at the end of the contract.

 

Of course bolt on pieces are a no brainer: simply remove them before turning the truck in and sell them off for whatever someones willing to pay. But the quiet exhaust note is killing me. It's a pickup so I don't feel a full performance exahust is worth much to me but what about replacing the muffler with something along the lines of a welded on Flowmaster? I would think holding onto the stock one and swapping it back before turning it in would be ok. Then the question becomes how would this effect the Bumper-to-Bumper warranty? If I'm diagnosed with a bad Catalytic Converter or a bad sensor in the exhaust does it become my problem because I modified the exhaust?

 

Before I get the comments on how 'modifying a leased/rented vehicle is dumb', I get where you're coming from but I have to be happy with it for 3 years and that's if I turn it in at the end.

 

Thanks for your responses in advance!

[tnchevy]

If you don't mind droan then throw the flowmaster on there. I know it is not what you want to hear but it just does not make sense to me to modify something I don't own.

[Phillip123]

Maybe it will become your own ride if the modifications go right

 

Do you have any pics? Or is it the one in the signature?

[jasch1124]

Maybe it will become your own ride if the modifications go right

 

Do you have any pics? Or is it the one in the signature?

The one in the picture. Add ons I already did that you could see in the pictures are the running boards and the tonneau cover.

 

Like my orginal post says, I have intentions on buying it out if it makes financial sense to do so.

[jasch1124]

If you don't mind droan then throw the flowmaster on there. I know it is not what you want to hear but it just does not make sense to me to modify something I don't own.

I had the Series 40 on my SSR and absolutely loved it. Not extremely loud but a nice, deep rumble even when idle.

[MikeNH]

I had the Series 40 on my SSR and absolutely loved it. Not extremely loud but a nice, deep rumble even when idle.

 

They have a nice sound but don't hold up in states that see winter weather.

[jasch1124]

They have a nice sound but don't hold up in states that see winter weather.

Thanks for your response MikeNH! I had the SSR through the past 3 New York winters without issue. What kind of failures have you seen?

 

 

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[Imcrazy]

It shouldn't much matter. To those who say, "don't mod what you don't own" mods rarely add value anyways and you only really own your truck once the note is paid off anyways.

[MikeNH]

Thanks for your response MikeNH! I had the SSR through the past 3 New York winters without issue. What kind of failures have you seen?

 

 

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They rust very badly. Maybe it's improved but the one I installed on my 2003 in 2004 had the clamps from the kit rot off a year later and the muffler never rusted through but it looked like crap. After my 2011 I'd say Corsa is the best out there. Not the loudest but the quality of the parts is outstanding.

[jasch1124]

They rust very badly. Maybe it's improved but the one I installed on my 2003 in 2004 had the clamps from the kit rot off a year later and the muffler never rusted through but it looked like crap. After my 2011 I'd say Corsa is the best out there. Not the loudest but the quality of the parts is outstanding.

I've never clamped a muffler, always had it welded. If rust is a concern, last I checked Flowmaster offered stainless steal versions of their more popular selections with lifetime warranties.

 

Well regardless of which, how would my warranty work with these types of setups? Think I'm risking losing part of the warranty?

 

 

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[MikeNH]

Thanks for your response MikeNH! I had the SSR through the past 3 New York winters without issue. What kind of failures have you seen?

 

 

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They rust very badly. Maybe it's improved but the one I installed on my 2003 in 2004 had the clamps from the kit rot off a year later and the muffler never rusted through but it looked like crap. After my 2011 I'd say Corsa is the best out there. Not the loudest but the quality of the parts is outstanding.

[MikeNH]

Exhaust stuff won't affect warranties. Unless you're 100% sure you'll buy it at the end of the lease I'd do a cat back so you can keep stock parts and easily reinstall them though.

[El_Diablo_John]

I sell new vehicles, so for me, leasing is practically a requirement of the job to keep up to date on the product. That being said, I love to modify my vehicles.

 

The key is to return them to stock or close to it before you turn it in. Also, turning it in where you purchased it lessons the likelyhood of the vehicle being inspected.

 

My recommendation would be to get a bolt on cat-back and keep the factory exhaust stored intact. I actually have a dedicated storage area specifically for all of my take off items so that it takes about a day at most to stock out my truck.

 

With that being said, window tint isn't a big deal. They wont notice additional holes drilled as long as its not on the outside of the body or in the lights. You have a lot of freedom but you do need to be smart about it. Honestly, I doubt anyone would even notice a body lift but my levelling kit will come off when I turn mine in.

[07Softail]

Flowmaster makes Stainless mufflers I thought.

 

RT

[S9779]

I have leased 7 cars in the last 10 years all have been modified. Not once had a problem when returning. I have left exhausts on a few of them. My ram had an 18 inch MagnaFlow swap not a problem. I deleted the mufflers on my gto with no problem. Don't repaint it or return it with non stock wheels. They don't like that.