Why buy?

 

Because then you have an asset. A depreciating asset, but an asset. It's like renting an apartment because you don't want to buy a home.

You're going to incure maintenance costs whether you lease or buy. Leasing is for two situations:

1) company vehicles that are able to be written off for taxes
2) people who want a nicer car they can afford, i.e. morons

I don't see an arguement.

 

say you lease a car for 5 years at 300 a month. That's ~18,000 you've paid at the end of the four years and you've got nothing to show for it.

Net Gain/Loss: <$18,000>

say you finance the same car for 5 years for 400 a month (finance payments are always more than lease payments), at which time you have paid the car off. That's a total of $24,000 you've paid, but now this "asset" is yours. Assuming a normal depreciation, As long as the car is worth more than $6,000, you've lost less money than you would if you leased the same car.

 

Renting instead of buying a home /= leasing vs buying a car.

First of all, a house is an appreciating asset that you purchase for a long-term gain. As time goes by (unless you are stupid enough to go interest only) you pay down your mortgage while the value of your home increases.

Automobiles lose a significant value as soon as they are driven off of the lot and depreciate heavily for the first two to three years. If you lease, you pay a premium to use the vehicle while it is depreciating, return it when you are done, and repeat. Obviously, the best way to purchase a car is to pay cash for it but I have no desire to keep a car long term and that cash is now tied up in a depreciating asset. If I am just going to trade a car in every few years, I would rather lease and keep that extra money invested so I can earn a return on it. Hell, I could probably earn a better return than my leasing money factor (interest rate).

As far as maintenance costs go, of course you will incur basic maintenance. I am referring to the costs after you have exhausted your warranty and the car starts to nickel and dime.

 

tsx is the "sporty" car in that price range I would probably go with. If you want something a bit bigger/heavier, subaru gt is pretty swell also.

 

I'm aware of all those points, and mentioned them briefly. But regardless you still have an asset and that's the bottom line. When you lease, you have nothing.

If you're worried about expensive costs later down the road, then trade in or sell the car.

With leases you also have to worry about the cars condition, mileage, and you can't do anything to it (not that you neccessarily would).

I don't know, your call. Huge waste of money in my book

 

I consider a car a liability more than an asset. Sure its worth some money, but its also rapidly depreciating and costing you maintenance, insurance, gas. Basically a car is a big hole in your pocket, any way you cut it. (unless its a well-chosen collector car)

 

:doh:

Why the fuck does it matter what other people drive as long as he likes it? If that was the case you wouldn't be driving your 'weightless' evo.