4-5 years? No. 2-3 yes. And totally depends on your state and how they handle sales tax and registration. Also just really depends on the deal. Special lease rates are effectively 0% loans for the length of the lease or sometimes even better.
There's good leases and there's bad leases. You just need to do the math on your own based on the deal, your state, and your driving habits.
Leasing's fine if you can get the deal and live with the mileage/customization restrictions.
I don't really know the details about how leases work. Will I got reamed on extra fees for minor damages when I turn the car in?
I don't really know the details about how leases work. Will I got reamed on extra fees for minor damages when I turn the car in?
I've had two leases, one through Mazda and one through Toyota and both were very forgiving about minor dents and scratches. Toyota made me get a new set of tires before turning in my Highlander. But otherwise they didn't care much for basic stuff.
I dont like borrowing toys, I like to own them.
I had a scratched to death windshield and a chip the size of a dime, and VW forgave it. They usually don't ding you much for wear and tear. Like vi edit said, they want usable tires when you give it back.
I wouldn't lease again. Even though I don't put much mileage, I still used to count the miles whenever I drove. It's annoying enough to make me not want to touch a lease again.
How restrictive are they on mileage? I currently do about 15k a year.
if you go to a leasing company (D&M leasing down here in houston advertises a lot, i'm sure there are some in austin) you can write a lease to whatever specification you want.
leasing usually doesn't have as good interest rates as purchasing.
leasing hides the interest rate by dividing it by 2400.
WTF are you talking about? Leasing doesn't have an interest rate.
P=(Cr(1+r)^N -Fr)/((1+r)^N -1)
guess what r is?
Leasing = buying the depreciation.
Buying = buying the depreciation.