LeaseTrader.com app picks leads to ‘Wheels of Summer’

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LeaseTrader.com app picks leads to 'Wheels of Summer'

From the good folks at LeaseTrader.com came an e-mail announcing their picks for the top car leasing apps for smartphones. While I personally have not explored the depths of the auto lease, I know it is a choice many consumers have made.

Not to kill their thunder, I got to wondering that with summer upon us, and folks turning their attention to vacations, what about those of us just looking for a temporary detour from the reality of the daily drive. You know, a very VERY short-term lease.

I took it upon myself to check out any car rental apps that might be available for same said smartphones and discovered 28 of them in the Apple iTunes app store when searching “car rental apps.” Some, including the most expensive TravelTracker, included airline tracking software. Most, however, were free, including those from Avis and Hertz. Not all were usable globally. Take, for example, RoadTrip, which is New Zealand specific. What I did find intriguing was that most of these car rental apps received quite a few low marks. I guess this may be one area to stick to full internet access and a good old-fashioned phone call.

My recommendations for your “Wheels of Summer”

Minivans are great for hauling the whole crew AND the gear. The Chrysler minivans offer interior options for the kids to keep themselves occupied in back and the new Toyota Sienna offers fully reclinable second row chairs and a wiiiiide screen video monitor for viewing pleasures.

LeaseTrader.com app picks leads to 'Wheels of Summer'

If you plan on hauling a boat or trailer you will need a full-frame Sport Ute like the Chevy Suburban or Ford Expedition (which are both offered with four-wheel drive should you come to a fork in the road) or a crew cab pickup. If the load is really big both Ford and Ram have launched their newest heavy duty trucks and GM offers its Silverado and Sierra in hybrid versions for the environmentally conscious.

LeaseTrader.com app picks leads to 'Wheels of Summer'

Download the latest weather apps to your smartphone and spring for a convertible this summer. Passenger and cargo capacity is sacrificed but usually only at the expense of coming home with some of the best memories and least stress. Here I suggest the Ford Mustang convertible (with its new 305hp V-6) or maybe something like the MINI Cooper convertible. If you plan on getting your kicks on Route 66 there can be only one clear choice – Corvette.

For those of you contemplating a longer-term change to the scenery in your driveway or garage, here is what LeaseTrader.com sent us:
The number of smart phone applications on the market is an incomprehensible number to download and see which ones work best for car leasing. The experts at LeaseTrader.com, the company that helps people trade their car lease to someone else when they want out of the contract, spent several months testing various apps on each platform to see which ones make LeaseTrader.com’s top five car leasing apps. If you have an iPhone, Blackberry or Android phone, here’s a quick rundown of the best 5 car-leasing apps:

PocketWear – PocketWear car lease kit is a comprehensive collection of essential tools for car leasing consumers who want to be in full control of their lease deals. With the smart phone application you’ll be able to understand leasing concepts, spot dealer abuses, save money, and avoid costly mistakes.

Lease Meter – Lease Meter allows you to track your lease miles and end-of-lease possible penalty costs. The application adjusts to your driving habits and calculates the average miles you should drive (daily or monthly) to avoid excess miles at the end of your lease.

Carticipate – Trying to cut down on your lease miles, Carticipate helps you find other’s in the area (who are Carticipate users) so you can find a buddy to carpool with. Simply drop in where you are going and when you want to go and you will find others in your area that are on that same route so you can work out some traveling options.

Viper SmartStart – Have you ever wanted to warm up or cool down your car before getting in? Now you can remote start or lock and unlock your car just by pushing a button on your mobile phone. The company points out that, as the app runs over the internet rather than traditional key-less entry signals, it has a virtually unlimited range.

VehiCal – VehiCal makes it easy to record and manage vehicle mileage and expenses for personal and business use. You can keep tabs on fuel efficiency, maximize potential tax reductions by keeping convenient records of business and personal trip miles, and allows you to email yourself or your accountant, selected entries by specific dates and categories.

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About the Author

David Goodspeed
David was editor of AutoworldToday at Today Newspapers in the Dallas suburbs until its closing in 2009. He was also webmaster and photographer/videographer. He got started doing photography for the newspaper while working as a firefighter/paramedic in one of his towns, and began working for the newspaper group full-time in 1992. David entered automotive journalism in 1998 and became AutoworldToday editor in 2002. On the average, he drives some 100 new vehicles each year. He enjoys the great outdoors and as an avid fly fisherman, as is his spouse Tish. He especially enjoys nature photography and is inspired by the works of Ansel Adams.