I am ready for a new car but I'm not sure that I want to buy, just yet. I've had my '99 Saab Convertible since 2001 it currently has 207k miles & it's not working right. I love it, but it's time for a new one. I would rather do a short term lease until I decide what to get. How many of you lease your vehicles? Does it help you with your taxes? My accountant says no, but another accountant told me yes.

I leased a car a few years back but went way over the allowable mileage. I ended up owing a ton when it was time to turn in the car so I won't be doing that again.

If you do 20,000 miles per year (as the numbers you provided imply), then you're probably a borderline candidate for leasing.

I do 37,000 to 44,000 per year and leasing has never been an economic alternative for me. No one has ever offered me more than 15,000 miles per year as part of the Lease; but I wouldn't mind a problem-free New Car every 3 years.

We drove our car out of state, several times. With a lease we will not do that. I know that we have to keep an eye on the mileage that is the only draw back, right now.
Vermont, you said the key word, "problem-free new car"!

I want one too, but the numbers don't work. I put in about $1500 per year into my paid-off 1998 Infiniti, most of that normal maintenance. Don't know where I'd be able to find a vehicle that I'd want to drive for $125 per month.

The age of the vehicle certainly hasn't hurt business. When we meet, my clients, mostly first time buyers, also roll up in vehicles about the same age.

In my opinion, there is nothing worse that worry about your annual car mileage as you're showing houses near the end of the lease's year. None of us need this added pressure while trying to solidify a sale! =) However, if you are a pickier person when it comes to cars, then I think a short lease is a great tool to help you make a lower stress decision. Good luck!

My wife leased once to get more car. I was against it, i'd rather own an ugly car, than pay for a new one. At the end we ended up having to buy the car because of the dings and mileage.

I say buy a short-term lease car, there is a huge discount. Even if you only keep it for a short time, the value is still their.

Ironically, right next to all of this discussion about how leasing is not a good option for real estate agents, I see not one but *two* banner/sidebar ads promoting car leases. I do love keyword-targeted advertising.

[quote=Andy Perkins]Ironically, right next to all of this discussion about how leasing is not a good option for real estate agents, I see not one but *two* banner/sidebar ads promoting car leases. I do love keyword-targeted advertising. [/quote]

Yeah probably not the best arena for their ads!