In this crazy market often times it makes sense to buy? Does anyone have some good rules when evaluating a lease vs buy? Would it always be good to look at 60 or 72 month financing so you have the least amount of money into a car when you decide to sell it? Assume that I would be selling the car in 3-4 years if I go this approach. The car in question is a Highlander Hybrid XLE. Lease would be around $600 which seems like a good amount off MSRP using the calculator.
The other option I have is buying a non hybrid XLE with 36 month 0% financing and just keep it forever untiil it dies. I am not doing any trade-ins. I am keeping our Rav4 for me to drive to work as a beater
Estimate the total cost of ownership over the period you want to hold, based on a few different final selling prices. Should tell you everything you need to know regarding which option is better.
That’s a fine deal in this market. I’d probably buy but it could go either way.
My only other comment is that you have the default dealer fee and government fee in the calculator. I very much doubt a dealer in North Carolina only has a 85 dollar fee (that’s the California max dealer fee).
it may be incorrect but I still dont know what the battery service would be like in say 10 years. Just to give you some background, my Avalanche is an 04 and my Rav4 is a 10. It’s not perfect and only worth about $5k, to me I would rather keep it and keep the Avalanche for when I need a truck to tow my racecar or pick up parts for my side business
I’ve read that the Gas models keep their value better than hybrids because of the battery replacement. Doesn’t account for gas savings, but on a pure depreciation perspective gas is the way to go.
