My experience regarding lease vs. buy is a bit different.
For example, take my '95 RX-7. Bought it new in April '96 for $39k including
all taxes, fees, etc. Sold it in August '00 for $25k. Paid cash so no
interest paid. Total cost of ownership: $14k + maintenance and about $2.5k
of high performance addons. The maintenance was purely oil changes, the car
had only a single minor problem and that was fixed under warranty at no cost
to myself.
If I had leased the car, it would have cost at least $400 per month. Call it
only 48 months for round numbers. That's $19200.00 in payments. I'd still
have to pay the oil changes even if I were leasing, and I still would have
bought the extra parts, so they cancel out of the equation.
When all was said and done, I saved $5000 by buying instead of leasing, and
this is estimate is conservatively low. Not a bad chunk of change even for
guys who don't worry too much about money.
As you can see, if the RX-7 did not hold its resale value, and I sold it for
$20k instead of $25k, then it would have been a break-even between leasing &
buying. This is what people mean when they say it's better to lease a car
that doesn't hold its value over time.
I won't even mention my Honda Civic (OK well I guess I just did), which I
bought new for $7k back in 1990. The only unscheduled maintenance it has
ever had was a headlight that burned out. Cost me $10. The car still runs
like new and is about as close to free transportation as you can get. Glad I
bought it instead of leasing!
Now I'll pass on to you the advice my Dad gave me way back when, which is
the same advice that thousands of other Dads have given their kids, and that
has saved me money several times since:
If you intend to keep the car for its useful life (or at least several
years), and you expect it to be fairly reliable (or hold its resale value),
then buy it.
If you want to drive a new set of wheels every 2-4 years, and you will be
driving cars that you expect might not be ultra reliable, or that might not
hold their resale value well, then consider leasing it.
The future always has a degree of uncertainty so the buy/lease decision is
always an educated guess. My personal experience makes me lean towards
buying unless there is a really compelling reason to lease.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of James Creasy
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 19:00
To: Anthony Tabacco; Kelly, Katie
Cc: ba-autox@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Leasing Versus Buying
> sometimes cars that are expected to hold their value
> well can be decent candidates for leasing.
the nice thing about leases is that you know in advance exactly how
depreciation you will paying.
but buy or lease, you pay the same depreciation. more on a fast
depreciating car, less on a slower one. typically the slower ones are
slower depreciating in percentage, but are more in actual dollars. in a
purchase, you can kind of hide the depreciation, but you are paying it
none-the-less.
the big disadvantage to a lease is that it is harder to get out of than a
purchase.
-james c
----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony Tabacco <atabacco@california.com>
To: Kelly, Katie <kkelly@spss.com>
Cc: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 6:20 PM
Subject: Re: Leasing Versus Buying
> Katie, last time I looked, whether the 2000 will live or die in AStock
> (they're going to rename the classes though) depends on the classing of
the
> Boxter S. This is still under discussion. If the BoxterS stays SS, the Z06
> will likely be able to edge it, if it goes to AStock, the S2000 could have
a
> hard time.
>
> In response to the leasing question, I would note the old truism that
there
> are only three things that ought to be rented. Propriety (and undoubtedly
> diligent webmasters) would forbid their mention in a forum such as this.
> Suffice it to say cars are not one of them. I do understand that
dependiing
> on market conditions, sometimes cars that are expected to hold their value
> well can be decent candidates for leasing.
> Tony
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kelly, Katie" <kkelly@spss.com>
> To: <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 5:21 PM
> Subject: RE: Leasing Versus Buying
>
>
> > A new car doesn't really make much sense. I've just been corresponding
> with
> > Brent at SF Honda. He threw some numbers at me. A lease almost sounds
> > reasonable, except for one thing. I can't afford it. Not right now,
> anyway.
> >
> > Any ideas as to how the Honda S2000 will fit in Solo II's new classing
> > structure next year?
> >
> > Doesn't matter. It's the year FOLLOWING that I'll even be able to think
> > about it.
> >
> > In the meantime, anybody know anything about road bikes?
> >
> > Katie
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: James Creasy [mailto:black94pgt@pacbell.net]
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 5:23 PM
> > To: Clifford Richardson; kkelly@spss.com; ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: Leasing Versus Buying
> >
> >
> > if you want to drive a new car, then i see no reason not to lease,
> > financially.
> >
> > new cars, leased or bought, cost you big time in the hidden specter of
> > depreciation.
> >
> > > -Buy if you don't intend on paying for a car for the rest of your life
> >
> > but you see, this isnt true. you pay depreciation. at least with a
lease
> > you can get out of it when the lease ends, or buy the car if you like
it.
> > (only true for closed-end leases)
> >
> > however, to me all new cars are pretty much the same as the next, so i
> dont
> > bother much with them.
> >
> > -james 'never bought a new car' creasy
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Clifford Richardson <the_brain7@hotmail.com>
> > To: <kkelly@spss.com>; <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 4:48 PM
> > Subject: Re: Leasing Versus Buying
> >
> >
> > > Not sure how my thoughts would rate since my first autox run is yet to
> > come
> > > but here goes...
> > >
> > > My car's leased. An advantage for me is that I don't worry too much
> about
> > > pushing her too hard. She's still under warranty and after I've
whipped
> > all
> > > the performance out of her, I get to give her back and get a fresh
car.
> > The
> > > minus is the possibility that she and I may become a perfect
driver/car
> > > combo after so many miles. Returning her might set me back a bit while
I
> > > essentially build a whole new relationship with a new vehicle. You
> > > know...learning how that car handles, it's moods, limits, etc...No two
> car
> > > is ever the same, just like no two g/fs...um...nevermind.
> > >
> > > Did any of that make sense? :-) didn't think so...
> > >
> > > General thoughts:
> > > -Don't use your leased car to auto-x if you're afraid of extra charges
> for
> > > dings, etc...
> > > -Lease if you don't drive long distances and you have excellent credit
> > > -Lease if you're loaded
> > > -Buy if you don't intend on paying for a car for the rest of your life
> > > -Buy if you're gonna customize the car
> > > -Lease if you want a brand new car every 3-5 years
> > >
> > > Just thoughts, I'm sure some of you may disagree.
> > >
> > > -Arnold
> > >
> > >
> > > ----Original Message Follows----
> > > From: "Kelly, Katie" <kkelly@spss.com>
> > > To: "'ba-autox@autox.team.net'" <ba-autox@autox.team.net>
> > > Subject: Leasing Versus Buying
> > > Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 15:59:18 -0700
> > > MIME-Version: 1.0
> > > Received: from [207.173.21.42] by hotmail.com (3.2) with ESMTP id
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> 16:12:35 -0700
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> > (8.11.0/8.11.0)
> > > id f6BN8QJ04434for ba-autox-actors; Wed, 11 Jul 2001 17:08:26 -0600
> (MDT)
> > > Received: from hqmrelay.spss.com ([64.16.210.2]) by
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> > > (8.11.0/8.11.0) with ESMTP id f6BN8Mx04429 for
> <ba-autox@autox.team.net>;
> > > Wed, 11 Jul 2001 17:08:22 -0600 (MDT)
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> Wed,
> > 11
> > > Jul 2001 18:08:16 -0500 (CDT)
> > > Received: by SFEMAIL1 with Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) id
> > > <3TQSVFRG>; Wed, 11 Jul 2001 15:59:20 -0700
> > > From ba-autox-owner@autox.team.net Wed, 11 Jul 2001 16:13:43 -0700
> > > Message-ID: <93456CB7A08FD211B33D00A0C99D6373701E19@SFEMAIL1>
> > > X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21)
> > > Sender: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> > > Precedence: bulk
> > >
> > > Hey, anyone out there leasing their autocross vehicles? Can you tell
me
> > the
> > > pluses and minuses?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Katie K.
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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