OK, here is the situation in NY. GM does not lease in NY anymore. GM does the smartbuy program in NY. Summed up, with smartbuy you buy the car and pay tax on the whole thing (say sticker of 33400) then with the program GMAC determines the trade in value of the car (56% for three years for my 04 with 12k, 54% with 15k a year). The trade in is your "residual". What you are doing is a balloon finance arrangement.
You pay down the loan for say 36 months and at the end of month 36 you either make a payment of the residual (18685 +- in my case) or turn the car in and get the trade in value from the dealer, and that money goes to GMAC to pay off your loan.
Where you are getting kicked in the crotch is the sales tax on the residual. I am in nassau, and the rate is 8.75%. I had to pay about $1600 in sales tax on the trade in/residual.
I bought two Oldsmobiles form Mack Markowitz Olds which is now Mack Pontiac Buick in Hicksville. When I was getting jerked around by GM customer service the owner of the dealership helped me out. His name is Marty Nix, and their number is 516 931-0900. Ask for Marty and tell him Tom R with the silver aurora sent you.
I bought my GTO from Arnold Buick Pontiac in Babylon. I did that deal over the phone (mack didnt have any GTOs left in December) and dealt with Bill Tuchler. Arnolds number is 631 661-7000. Tell Bill Tom R with the silver GTO and the insane PITA aunt (uncle bought a rendezvous from him in march) sent you.
One of the salesman from Arnold (joe i think) was advertising on the other board that he was selling GTOs for 500 over invoice a few weeks ago, thats befoer the 1000 hot button and gm card earnings.