lease or buy?

[guapo337]

upon getting a better job, im thinking of leasing or buying a =/-$15,000 car. lease or buy? why?

 

[dullard]

Welcome to Anandtech.

How long do you want to keep this car? How many miles do you drive per year? And do you keep your cars in perfect condition, or do they end up looking like garbage trucks?

With those answered, we can answer your question. In most cases leasing is really dumb. But there is one case where buying is even dumber and you choose the lesser of two evils and lease. In all other cases buying is better.

 

[Judgement]

Originally posted by: arsenal1414
upon getting a better job, im thinking of leasing or buying a =/-$15,000 car. lease or buy? why?

I always thought buying was better... when you're done with a lease you're pretty much left with nothing to put towards your next car, whereas buying leaves you with a downpayment on your next car.

 

[guapo337]

other thoughts?

 

[LSUfan]

Originally posted by: dullard
Welcome to Anandtech. How long do you want to keep this car? How many miles do you drive per year? And do you keep your cars in perfect condition, or do they end up looking like garbage trucks? With those answered, we can answer your question. In most cases leasing is really dumb. But there is one case where buying is even dumber and you choose the lesser of two evils and lease. In all other cases buying is better.

 

[MrBond]

Depending on how long you plan on owning the car and it's resale value, you may be better off buying it.

Take a honda civic. Buy one, put only 36,000 miles on it, and in three years, you can probably sell it for $5000 less than what you paid for it.

A car gets cheaper to own the longer you own it, usually.

If you can get some sort of financing, buying may be a better deal. I know with a lot of the 0% financing offers, you can buy for $50-100 more am month then the lease cost. In that situation, buying is the much better deal.

 

[FoBoT]

very,very, very few people should lease a car, you probably aren't one of them or else you wouldn't have to ask

so buy a cay, have a nice day! :gift:

 

[jagr10]

If you run a business of some sort then i would recommend leasing. If it's for personal use then i'd buy it. If you're one of those people who likes to have a new car every few years then lease it, and when the contract is up, lease a new car.

 

[tcsenter]

Leasing was created as an alternative for companies, and later individuals, who for whatever reason, were already replacing their vehicles every two to three years, anyway. Leasing to individuals was first pitched as an alternative for those upscale buyers who already liked to get into a new vehicle every two to three years (and could afford it).

Leasing to the masses, however, has become somewhat of a misapplied racket.

If your goal is to drive a new car every two to three years, then yes leasing can be a better deal, though not always, by virtue that you don't pay sales tax up front on the entire cost of the vehicle, among a couple other points.

If you would not buy a new car every two or three years, then you would not lease a new car every two or three years.

 

[WarSong]

I would buy if at all possible

 

[Vic]

As a rule of thumb, inexpensive cars should be bought, expensive cars ($35k+) should be leased.

 

[BigSmooth]

Buying is usually the best option financially, especially with the 0% deals that are available right now.