Horatio8,
Thanks, I appreciate the tips. So, looking at the current lease deal, we have the following:
msrp: 55,475 (but i believe they market adjust it down to 53,752, which is the # I use in the calculation)
term: 39 months
cap reduction: 3,000
purchase: 28.4k
payments: 699
all numbers without taxes or licenses.
By my read, that equates to @3.85%. Does that sound rate? Current 5 year rates are anywhere from 1.9 to 2.9% (at least based on what i can find). Not quite the spread that you encountered...this one is a bit closer.
So, I guess it comes down to this:
If I lease, I pay a point more, but 12k less down, for the same monthly payments. I am overpaying on the depreciation, but i can make that up by buying the vehicle if in 3 years the purchase option is substantially less than market value...like it is now. So, how much is putting 12k less as a down payment worth to me? Suggestions? I probably will drive it around 10k a year, not much more, if any, but I never turn a car over within 3 years...but if the diesel came, and it met my probably unrealistic expectations, I would flip the car.