Leasing is a great way to go. Many valid points above, including
1) generally lower monthly payments because you are only "using" basically half of the vehicle (residual values generally in the 50% range)
2) ability to easily switch to a new model every few years (and no hassle of trying to sell your vehicle or get robbed on a trade-in when you own it)
3) having a vehicle that is always under warranty (general 36-39 mo leases keep you warrantied the whole time), so no out of pocket expenses for out of warranty repairs
4) having generally much lower expenses for items like tires, brake pads, fluids, and other wearable items, since most of these will last the length of the lease if you drive right
5) not having to worry about serious deflation in value - take for example, the guy who thought leasing was stupid, and who went out and bought a 2007 Chevy Malibu...well, here comes the 2008 Malibu, a light years better car in all respects, and his '07 model depreciates like mad! The guy who leased an 07 Malibu simply turns his in at the end of lease and let's the dealer worry about the value. You could insert any number of vehicles here and have similar results...
6) Gap insurance (all GMAC leases have, so do most others) - if you're leased vehicle is in an accident and totaled, you're off the hook, rather than dealing with an insurance company and figuring out how much it is worth, etc...
My 04 GTO was a perfect example...I leased for 36 mos. At the end of the lease, unfortunately, the car was falling apart (rear end whine, driveline linkages clunking like mad, interior pieces coming off, electronics bugging out, door locks having a mind of their own, etc) - if I'd have OWNED that car, and I would have wanted to get out of it, I'd have been stuck fixing all these things on my own...now, you could rightly argue that at that specific time it was still under the 36k warranty (which I was, just barely), I could have had most of these issues fixed at dealer. But the car was just not holding up well at all, seemed like itw as one thing after another, so my bet is that things would have continued to go wrong after the warranty expired. Add in the fact that the GTOs were not selling well at all, and were being cancelled...values were dropping. The biggest problem was that there were thousands of unsold GTOs on dealers lots, and you could get a NEW GTO for less than what a used one should have been getting based on the residual values! So owners of 04s were getting truly shafted... Also, the 05 and 06s had more power, new LS2 (vs LS1), different styling (although I preferred the more low profile of the 04s), and the values on 04s were dead. Sure, some people will hang onto them "forever" (that's always the claim), but for anyone looking to get out, it was horrible for those who bought. Those of us who leased, we simply handed in the keys and said goodbye...now, I loved the GTO, it was a very fun car, but seeing how it didn't exactly last very well past 30k miles, I am super glad I didn't buy.
Now, being someone who likes getting into new vehicles every few years, I love leasing. I also am lucky that I don't generally drive more than 12-15,000 miles per year, so it works for me. If you drive more than that, leasing won't work. And contrary to popular belief, leasing doesn't automatically mean huge down payments - I NEVER pay cash out of pocket on my leases, that's stupid money management whether you buy OR lease...put your money to work! I always do zero driveoffs, except for first months payment and dmv fees...
If you're a GM fan, like myself, then you take advantage of the various programs and rebates - like having a GM Mastercard to earn points on next vehicle purchase/lease, utilizing early "turn-in" offers to get out of your current lease and into another one with no penalties, and of course watching for special rebates and programs!
I leased my 07 3LT, with sticker of $49k (purchase price of $45k-ish), with zero down, 1st months payment and dmv paid, no security (multiple GM customer), 39 mo lease, for $482/mo, including taxes. Now, one caveat is that I did use $2k of GM points (GM was nice enough to "round up" my approx $900 GM points at the time to the $2k figure - thanks GM!) and if I remember right, there was a $500 dealer rebate thrown in also...so theoretically, you could say I "put" $2500 down (although NONE out of my own pocket!), which equals roughly $70 or so in monthly payment reduction (just under $30 per $1000 down is rough estimate).
You just have to know how to play the game with the dealers and GM, or whoever you are dealing with...they all offer programs and rebates and holdbacks, etc...do your homework and you'll be rewarded.
Will some people always want to own their vehicles, just because they like the thought of "owning" it? Sure...does it always make sense monetarily? Lots of variables to consider, but I'd argue the answer is NO for a lot more people than you think...but again, everyone's needs are different. For someone of my profile, leasing is the way to go... :thumbsup:
Wow, sorry for the long post, guess I just kept writing!