My CU keeps offering me 4.25%.
Regarding the whole loan monthly costs more than a lease thing… a loan payment is principal + interest while a rent charge is depreciation + interest (aka a rent charge). With a loan, you’ll eventually “build equity” in your car since those higher payments eventually result in a net benefit principal pay down.
Cars depreciate the most up front, but eventually each new month of depreciation on a loan is net cheaper than the depreciation on the lease.
If your plan was always to sell your CLE53 in 36 months with reasonable miles/usage, buying with a loan then selling is going to cost more than had you just leased anyway. Because, you’re selling the car before you enter the better part of the depreciation curve.
But if you’re willing to buy and keep your CLE53 for a while, eventually your cost of ownership is cheaper on the loan than a lease.
I wrote about that breakeven point here - the LH calculator has a lease vs buy analysis for just this reason (thanks to @ursus). But I wish the opportunity cost of those higher monthly payments on a loan were also factored.
@delta737h can also enlighten more about this.