My thought is this.  If I lease, I can keep my Subaru, which I need in the winter (live in the NC mountains) to get to work, and have it to drive long distance trips to keep the mileage off the leased car.  Also, having a 2nd car is always nice just in case.  On the other hand, my Subaru is 13 years old, and not worth much.  If I trade it/sell it, I can get a little more cash for the used car, which I’ll still have to get a small loan from my bank (which is a credit union with killer rates), but my payments will roughly be the same, and I have no warranty or help should the car crap out on me.

Which route do you guys think is the best?

If you must get something, go with buying the used ride.  Leasing looks nice because you get something nicer for about the same monthly outflow, but you are forced to turn it in and re-lease/buy again very soon, which negates the savings by prolonging the outflow while getting you in the habit off always forking out cash.  You buy, you own.  Pay that s~~~ off and drive it into the ground.

I still say if you own the Subie outright and it look/runs fine, don’t waste your money.  Save it.

I like Toyota, I don’t know what the insides of their engines, transmissions, or rear ends look like???? I can’t say the same thing for most others!!!

Keep the Subaru and save enough cash to buy outright after searching for a deal, I mean really searching!

That is what a money-wise friend does. He puts the amount of a car loan or lease in savings until he has enough. Then he buys a used car in really good condition. Let someone else enjoy the new car smell and pay the depreciation.

Pay that s~~~ off and drive it into the ground.

I bought a new car once.  20 years ago.  I’m still driving it.

A new car today is 3 times as much, and will only last half as long.

Im not badly off and drive a rusty old Jeep 2003, old cars have character and you’re saving money for trips/packing in working/hookers or whatever 🙂

Always buy imo.

After that, if you want a newish car, I’d recommend just buying a newish used car.  Leasing you end up paying a lot of money to end up with nothing…at the end of a lease you could have just bought a 2-3 year old car instead and kept it for as long as you want.  Leasing only makes sense if you have lots of money to blow and know you want a new car every few years.  Buying new, you just lose too much the second you drive it off the lot.  You can probably find a 2-3 year old car for like 50-60% of the price it was brand new if you look.  I think a lot of cars like that are cars that came back off a lease and usually are factory certified if its from a dealership.

Just some advice too…it seems like you want a Velostar for a toy.  If you can’t pay cash for a toy you shouldn’t buy it.

Let someone else enjoy the new car smell and pay the depreciation.

Fact: Buy a new car on Monday, drive it till Tuesday, sell it on Wednesday, and you loose 15% off the purchase price.

Another thing about a lease few people realize; when they reinspect the vehicle they devalue it by each and every scratch, chip, dent, tear or lose stitch, I MEAN EVERYTHING! They’ll f~~~ you for thousands, even if it was repaired properly, they go over it with a jewelers loop, a fine tooth comb, with a clipboard and camera! They’ll “overcharge” you for ALL DEPRECIATION! Your only option is to pay the extortion, or battle them in court! Leasing is an ugly option I strongly recommend staying away from.