Barrelfish

I am sure there are people like myself that read about the cars people get and wonder if they were bought or leased. Hopefully this can give a better idea of the direction people take! Note that this poll is not about which approach is 'better'...both have pros and cons.

Gene

I'm on a 36 month lease...I like the ability to change cars every 36 months
In the end...it doesn't matter financially how you got into your e60, the fact that you get to drive it everyday and call it yours is what's important

JSpira

You are leaving traditional financing out of the picture with the choices of "bought" or "leased".

steve_gus

this is an international site, and you are missing out a method called PCP. This is a UK method. Essentially, you buy the car, paying approx 2/3 the cost of the car over the term. At the end of the period, you give the car back or pay the remaining balance. (baloon payment). Its not a lease, the car is registered in your name and as far as the law is concerned, you are buying it. You can pay the full balance at any time - which you cant with a lease - its a tied in contract. Its an adapatation of a method called 'hire purchase' in the UK

NJREDZ06

I bought mine.

5er Sport

+1

luigi524td

Leasing is more viable if business accounting benefits from easier calculation or reporting of tax write offs.

Generally, in the United States, leasing permits easier ['less expensive"] access to vehicles that are (too) expensive for someone to purchase outright. I don't feel that it is the [easier/cheaper] way of getting a different car every 24-30-36 months. If you run the numbers, leases are one of the least cost-effective means of automobile use/acquisition.

Let see what that stirs up!

jes0331

Based on my history of owning a car for 7-11 years (my current Volvo is 11 years old), buying makes the most sense for me.

Barrelfish

Interesting numbers so far!

Based on a couple of the responses, I see that by setting the options to "bought" and "leased" was a bit simplistic. The original intent was to see how many people end up owning their car (regardless of how it was bought) versus how many people lease it for a period of time and then move on to something different. (Ok, some people lease and then buy...they can vote somewhere else! )

I just find I always wonder what people mean when they say they have a new car "on order" or that they just "picked one up". Sometimes it seems the way a person words their post, I would think the Bimmer was bought when in fact it was leased and other times it seems someone may be leasing (already talking of getting something else) but they really bought!

Ok, so this probably isn't the most exciting Poll for most people but it fascinates me for some reason!

MidnightRider

As a high milage driver I would get killed in a lease. I need to purchase outright.