Tips on Buying Cars: Refinance a Lease, volvo xc90, ford motor credit

Question
I will be ending my lease in September for a 2004 Volvo XC90 and thinking about buying it instead of turning it in.  The buyout is 25,000.  Can I negotiate a price or should I turn it in and buy another used Volvo?  The models of 2004 are going for 20k to 24K.
v/r
Randy

Answer
It depends on the leasing company.  When I worked at a GM dealership, GMAC would renegotiate the lease-end selling price all the time.  But when I worked at Ford, Ford Motor Credit would NEVER change the price, no matter how much they might lose at the auction with the vehicle.  The only way to know is to present the finance company an offer, as long as it isn't Ford Credit.  BUT- you have to present the offer in the right way.  Show them that you've done you're research ("Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, Black Book and NADA all show that the current selling price of the XC90 is thousands below the price stipulated in your contract..."), and that you're serious about buying the vehicle for less than what they want for it.  Good luck.