You know, this whole leasing vs. buying thing is B.S. anyhow. Consider that buying a new car is just about the worst investment you could make. Leasing might be just a step worse. Either way, you're spending tens of thousands of dollars on something, with little chance of ever getting it back.

Want to have a car, and come out ahead? Then I suggest you spend a measly $700, like I did on my winter beater (93 Escort). Bargain the price way down (like I did when I talked the guy down from $1,100). Keep it in decent shape, change the oil, piece things back together with used parts from the salvage yard when you have to. Choose right, and you may not have to fix anything. Regardless, put some miles on it, use the cheap oil (but change it per the recommended interval), keep the tires aired up, and enjoy killer gas mileage. Keep the cheapest insurance you can on it (covering only liability to others). When you get sick of it, e-Bay off the car for what you bought it for. At the bottom of the market, when all of the depreciation is done, you'll never lose a dime on it if you keep it in good shape. If you know how to unload it, you might even make enough extra afterwards to put the money back in your account, and enjoy a nice steak dinner with your wife.

But, buy or lease a new $30K car? We are all playing a loser's game on that one. It's just that some are bigger losers than others. Sure, I'm a sucker too. But, I love cars, I'm NOT "taking it with me" someday, and I believe that some things are worth spending a little money on. I would only be a fool if I couldn't afford it.