"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 31 Jan 2006 01:27:34 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:

Let's talk again after 100,000 miles.

I'll be out of it before 40,000 miles. ;-)

Fair enough but have you ever calculated your cost per mile?

Let me help, using your numbers:

"I leased the car. 39 months, $422/mo (includes tax), $1850 out of
pocket."

That comes to $18,308, divided by 40,000 miles = 45.8 cents/mile
before insurance, fuel and maintenance.

If you purchased a Lexus for about $45,000 and drove it 100,000 miles
you'd get about the same numbers but the Lexus would still be worth
somewhere between $5 and $10K, possibly more.

The advantage of leasing is getting a new car every 3 or 4 years with
minimal transaction costs, but it is still cheaper to purchase and
hold if you buy quality.

Using my numbers, the second 100,000 miles is almost free!

I don't totally disagree with you. Buying and holding a quality car is the
cheapest way to go. Usually.

But like I said, the primary advantage is that leasing allows me to get into
a new car every 3 to 3 1/2 years.

And one thing you're forgetting about is the cost to drive that Lexus for
the 50,000 miles *after* the warranty has expired.

Even if nothing breaks, you'll have tires, brake pads, rotors, spark plugs,
etc. to replace...where I'll simply turn the car in before it's time to
spend money on all of those again.

Then, if you have a major mechanical issue arise at 80,000, what does that
Lexus cost you over the 100,000 mile lifetime?