[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

What do you get at the end for putting your $20,000 into something?

Nothing, that is what. You are paying for something you do not own.

I get that Leasing can be cheaper than financing, but at least with a finance you are using your money towards owning something.

What you fail to see is that putting more money into a depreciating asset that you own, can end up being a worse value than putting less money into something that you don't own. It's actually pretty common for people to owe more on their car (that they are buying) than it is worth, in fact, that's true as soon as you drive it off the lot, only over time do you end up with a car you owe less on than the actual value of it. If you intend to get out of the car prior to that happening, leasing is ALWAYS going to be the better option. If you're going to hold onto the car longer than that, then buying is USUALLY the better option. In my case due to financing, and the length of time I'm paying off the car, leasing and then buying out was actually the cheaper option.