[!LittleDragon]

Leasing is basically paying the depreciation. If you buy a car and sell it 3-4 years later, you'll suffer a loss anyways. With leasing, the loss is set and negotiated with the dealer... Just give the car back after and walk away.

Say you lease a $60,000 car for 3 years at $1000/month, you'll pay $36,000 during the lease period and you have the option to buy it out for another $24,000 at the end of the lease. That means the dealer expects the car to be still worth $24,000 after 3 years. If you don't want to buy it out, the dealer can take that car and sell it for $24,000. If the market value after the lease is higher than $24,000, let's say $30,000, you can buy it out for $24,000 and flip it for more. If the market value after 3 years is lower than the buyout price, give it back to the dealer and let them take the hit.

This is why GM doesn't lease anymore, they were expecting all these SUV's to have a decent value after the lease but when gas prices soared, everyone was walking away at the end of the lease and the demand and value for gas guzzlers wasn't there anymore so market values tanked and GM was taking a huge hit for every lease return.

If you plan to drive the car to the ground before dumping it then take whatever route you want.