Calculator: Should I Purchase or Lease?
The question of whether to
buy or lease a car can hinge more on how you'll
use the vehicle, and for how long, than on what the monthly cost will be.
That's not to say the money doesn't matter. With the average price of a new car approaching $25,000,
financing—through an auto loan or a lease—is likely. Lately, consumers acquire about a third of all new cars
through leases.
You should know that, to make up for recent lease losses, monthly payments for new leases could be going up $80
to $100, reports Bankrate.com, a financial trade monitor based in North Palm Beach, Fla.
Talk to the people at your credit union
about leasing and loan options. You may find that the credit union has a loan with all the features you're looking for in a lease. And use this
calculator to help you compare your lease vs. borrowing options. (Remember to factor in the cost to purchase the
vehicle at the end of the lease. That typically brings your total lease-to-own cost higher than the
purchase-to-own cost.)
This calculator is solely for informational purposes and provides reasonably accurate results; the calculations are not intended to be relied upon as actual borrowing/savings results computations.
Published July 2, 2001
Federally Insured by NCUA. Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency.
