Do you lease or buy?

[Pam]

I am in the early stages of thinking about trading my car in. I probably won't buy anything for a couple of months but am considering another Honda CRV or possibly a Toyota RAV-4. Although hubby and I only ever buy our cars, we recognize that many people nowadays prefer to lease. In my office alone, I am the only one who does not lease my car. What about you? Buy or lease?

[shais_mom]

I bought my car ($500 left to pay on it!)
I was going to trade a few years ago for a Honda Element but the LEASE was going to be over $500 a month. And buying it was going to be like $450.

I chose to keep my Alero (thank God) at $306 a month!

In my case leasing - like renting didn't make sense.
when I was moving to this area back in 1999 - the cheapest (creepiest) apartment rent was $320 a month. I found a teeny tiny little house to buy and my house payment is
.
.
.
$200.00 a month!!!

[davidpizzica]

I bought my car ($500 left to pay on it!)
I was going to trade a few years ago for a Honda Element but the LEASE was going to be over $500 a month. And buying it was going to be like $450.

I chose to keep my Alero (thank God) at $306 a month!

In my case leasing - like renting didn't make sense.
when I was moving to this area back in 1999 - the cheapest (creepiest) apartment rent was $320 a month. I found a teeny tiny little house to buy and my house payment is
.
.
.
$200.00 a month!!!

I lease my 2006 chevy cobalt at $118 a month. That'd pretty cheap, and I have a sporty car that's easy on gas!

[Cataholic]

PCB and I were having this discussion a couple of weeks ago. Like Shaismom, I think leasing is alot like renting....and, I prefer to have equity (if one has equity in vehicles..he he he).

[Cookiebaker]

I work for a company that leases equipment to customers. So, I am very aware of the ins and outs of leasing, and exactly where the $$$ goes. I think it is safe to say that I personally will never lease anything. I WILL say that in certain situations, leasing is perfect. But, for the everyday customer, the company that you are leasing from is making a LOT of $$$$. (And from the selling perspective, I love leases!!)

[joycenalex]

a cars' purpose is to get you safely and efficiently from point a to point b. it does not/should not define your self, self esteem or value as a human. very talented advertising and advertisers try to convince millions of us otherwise. leasing a car is bad debt in that it brings you nothing of long term value, when you turn the car back into the dealer, you have nothing but memories. when you sell your bought for car, you only have memories too. leasing a car may let you get something fancier then you can ( realistically) afford. i'll never lease a car, i can buy, drive and own a car for many many years, and when that car is paid off, those monthly payments go nicely in to my 401K or something of value for my house.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I work for a company that leases equipment to customers. So, I am very aware of the ins and outs of leasing, and exactly where the $$$ goes. I think it is safe to say that I personally will never lease anything. I WILL say that in certain situations, leasing is perfect. But, for the everyday customer, the company that you are leasing from is making a LOT of $$$$. (And from the selling perspective, I love leases!!)

I don't work for a leasing company, but what's stated above has been my feelings about leasing for a long time. In my opinion, for the normal average driver, leasing is NOT a good idea and I think I would have a hard time justifying leasing under ANY conditions.

Also, Terry and I ONLY buy used vehicles. The people who buy a new vehicle every two years are really throwing their money away because of the big depreciation hit cars take in the first few years. So what we do is let them pay the high new price - or better yet, we let them lease it - then two years later after they've either traded it in on a new one or their lease has ended, Terry and I come along and buy a perfectly good, practically brand new car for about 1/2 the price. Like Changharris, buying this way also makes it easier for us to pay cash, making the purchase even easier to swallow, and allowing us to spend the money which would have been spent on interest on something WE want......like a nice big motorhome.

In my opinion, cars are only an expense. They are a necessary evil, but are a depreciating asset so the least spent on them the better.

[chrangharris]

We buy and only what we can afford with cash! We have two cars both totally paid for. We have a nest egg going for our next car- which will also be with cash

[Rachel]

We buy and only what we can afford with cash! We have two cars both totally paid for. We have a nest egg going for our next car- which will also be with cash

I just have to give you an *Atta Girl* for that.


Pam, in addition to the reasons others have already stated, the thought of reading and deciphering a *lease agreement* is enough to nix that idea. For me buying is the only way to go.

[Aspen and Misty]

We buy and only what we can afford with cash! We have two cars both totally paid for. We have a nest egg going for our next car- which will also be with cash

The same goes for our family. We bought one care with a loan and never again. Our second car was payed for in cash and we are currently buying our third car and it to will be paid with in cash.

Ashley

[zippy-kat]

Buy.

The first two were actually bought for me (#1 a clunker, #2 a HS Grad gift). The third was sort of a half-and-half deal, dad bought it to replace #2 and also as an early college graduation gift but I had to take over payments upon graduation/FT employment. Last year, I bought #4 and I couldn't be happier with it! I traded up 4 years and only increased my payments by about $30.

[smokey the elder]

I drive almost 400 miles (640 or so km) per week, so I'd get burned by the mileage. I'm in the buy new or lightly used, drive it until it falls apart (well over 100 k miles) school.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I voted "buy", but in fact it is both.

My car: we bought it new, 6 years ago now.
My hubby's car: is leased by the firm where he works. He gets a new one every 4 years.

[ramanth]

I drive a lot so I buy.