How are there so many $60, $70, $80+ thousand dollar cars on the road??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audi A3 is $35k. Audi A4 is $45k.

OP here - I wasn't thinking the low end models like A3 or A4. FWIW, I'd much rather get a Rav4 than either of those. My general comment was that I see so many VERY expensive cars on the road and don't quite fathom how there are that many people buying such cars.

It’s pretty easy to lease a car, OP.

And leasing is 99% of time, a really dumb financial decision. But then again, plenty of people buy homes with 5% down that they really cannot afford (and definately don't need), take fancy vacations that they can't afford and don't save enough for college/retirement. Most Americans don't know how to budget and plan

PP here. Of course leasing is a stupid financial decision. But the kinds of vapid morons who drive cars they can’t afford are already financially illiterate so of course they lease.

Literally everyone who leases a car is dumb.

Yup! There is no scenario where it makes financial sense. Some say "its the way to get a new car every 2 years". Well that in and of itself is not smart. Nobody needs a new car every 2 years. Buy and drive for at least 4-5 years minimum.

And yes, many in America are financially illiterate. Most don't get "wants" vs "needs" and how to delay gratification. Kids start in their 20s and want to live just like mom and dad, but don't realize M&D didn't live in that 3K+ luxury home and drive luxury cars when they were 22. We lived in cheap apartments and drove basic cars while we paid off our student loans and saved for our first home.

There are many instances where leasing is the absolute best choice. You have to find the lease deals that make sense.
I have been leasing cars for the past 10 years. My monthly payments on leases are never more than $350. I lease for 3 years then rinse and repeat.
If you do the math on a $350 lease payment, that’s $4200 per year, $42k over 10 years.
I just started a lease on the Polestar 2 LR. Great deal for $299 a month. MSRP for the car is $56k
https://www.polestar.com/us/offers/new/polestar-2-2024-lrdm-lease/

Could I just buy a Camry or Accord for $35k and drive it for 10 years? Yes. But I would spend another $10k on service and maintenance over that time.
My leases come with maintenance included and warranty. Not spending a penny on maintenance.

Even if after running all numbers it would cost me $5k more over 10 years to lease vs buy. It’s totally worth it. Wouldn’t you pay $500 every year to drive a brand new car every three years and not have to deal with maintenance headaches ever?
That’s what I’m doing. It works with the right lease deal.

You're still pissing money away. Bought my Corolla for 11k and about to hit 350k miles. Original tranny and motor! Just change the oil every 10k and basic maintenance like brakes, fluids, etc.

And not everyone wants to drive a Corolla with 350k miles on it.

So drive a toyota/honda until it hits 150-200K. Do that once, continue to save your old car payment for the next 6-8 years and you will most likely be able to buy a $30-40K vehicle with cash or close to it. Then drive that one for 10 years/200K miles. Fact is I've known many who do that with minimal maintenance from Hondas/Toyotas. Bonus is your insurance is also much lower on an older vehicle, so more savings

Yeah but I dont have money problems. So why should I do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people make poor financial choices. Smart people don't buy expensive vehicles.

The key is to be rich enough where buying a 6 figure vehicle isn’t that big of a deal for you. And not everything in life should be about optimizing net worth above all else.

[Anonymous]

Great insight there. Most people driving these cars are in the normal range of salary levels for the area. They're just maxed out on payments for everything to keep up with the Joneses and otherwise comfortable this area is fairly recession proof. Nothing much else to it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audi A3 is $35k. Audi A4 is $45k.

OP here - I wasn't thinking the low end models like A3 or A4. FWIW, I'd much rather get a Rav4 than either of those. My general comment was that I see so many VERY expensive cars on the road and don't quite fathom how there are that many people buying such cars.

It’s pretty easy to lease a car, OP.

And leasing is 99% of time, a really dumb financial decision. But then again, plenty of people buy homes with 5% down that they really cannot afford (and definately don't need), take fancy vacations that they can't afford and don't save enough for college/retirement. Most Americans don't know how to budget and plan

PP here. Of course leasing is a stupid financial decision. But the kinds of vapid morons who drive cars they can’t afford are already financially illiterate so of course they lease.

Literally everyone who leases a car is dumb.

Yup! There is no scenario where it makes financial sense. Some say "its the way to get a new car every 2 years". Well that in and of itself is not smart. Nobody needs a new car every 2 years. Buy and drive for at least 4-5 years minimum.

And yes, many in America are financially illiterate. Most don't get "wants" vs "needs" and how to delay gratification. Kids start in their 20s and want to live just like mom and dad, but don't realize M&D didn't live in that 3K+ luxury home and drive luxury cars when they were 22. We lived in cheap apartments and drove basic cars while we paid off our student loans and saved for our first home.

There are many instances where leasing is the absolute best choice. You have to find the lease deals that make sense.
I have been leasing cars for the past 10 years. My monthly payments on leases are never more than $350. I lease for 3 years then rinse and repeat.
If you do the math on a $350 lease payment, that’s $4200 per year, $42k over 10 years.
I just started a lease on the Polestar 2 LR. Great deal for $299 a month. MSRP for the car is $56k
https://www.polestar.com/us/offers/new/polestar-2-2024-lrdm-lease/

Could I just buy a Camry or Accord for $35k and drive it for 10 years? Yes. But I would spend another $10k on service and maintenance over that time.
My leases come with maintenance included and warranty. Not spending a penny on maintenance.

Even if after running all numbers it would cost me $5k more over 10 years to lease vs buy. It’s totally worth it. Wouldn’t you pay $500 every year to drive a brand new car every three years and not have to deal with maintenance headaches ever?
That’s what I’m doing. It works with the right lease deal.

You're still pissing money away. Bought my Corolla for 11k and about to hit 350k miles. Original tranny and motor! Just change the oil every 10k and basic maintenance like brakes, fluids, etc.

And not everyone wants to drive a Corolla with 350k miles on it.

So drive a toyota/honda until it hits 150-200K. Do that once, continue to save your old car payment for the next 6-8 years and you will most likely be able to buy a $30-40K vehicle with cash or close to it. Then drive that one for 10 years/200K miles. Fact is I've known many who do that with minimal maintenance from Hondas/Toyotas. Bonus is your insurance is also much lower on an older vehicle, so more savings

Yeah but I dont have money problems. So why should I do this?

Then don't do that. But many people do "have money problems". IMO, if you can't pay cash for the car, then you should be saving more/driving your previous car longer. But that's just me. I prefer to not waste money when I didn't have enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great insight there. Most people driving these cars are in the normal range of salary levels for the area. They're just maxed out on payments for everything to keep up with the Joneses and otherwise comfortable this area is fairly recession proof. Nothing much else to it

Not everyone, but at least 50% most likely are. Most people are not financially astute.

[Anonymous]

I think most people just feel like they deserve X car, the salesman agrees, and poof, they have that car and a $1000/month payment that starts to hurt after a few months. I see lots of folks in this position. During the car-buying process, it doesn't occur to them that they can't afford the payment. Since the dealer said they could, they happily agree. They also feel entitled to new cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audi A3 is $35k. Audi A4 is $45k.

OP here - I wasn't thinking the low end models like A3 or A4. FWIW, I'd much rather get a Rav4 than either of those. My general comment was that I see so many VERY expensive cars on the road and don't quite fathom how there are that many people buying such cars.

It’s pretty easy to lease a car, OP.

And leasing is 99% of time, a really dumb financial decision. But then again, plenty of people buy homes with 5% down that they really cannot afford (and definately don't need), take fancy vacations that they can't afford and don't save enough for college/retirement. Most Americans don't know how to budget and plan

PP here. Of course leasing is a stupid financial decision. But the kinds of vapid morons who drive cars they can’t afford are already financially illiterate so of course they lease.

Literally everyone who leases a car is dumb.

Yup! There is no scenario where it makes financial sense. Some say "its the way to get a new car every 2 years". Well that in and of itself is not smart. Nobody needs a new car every 2 years. Buy and drive for at least 4-5 years minimum.

And yes, many in America are financially illiterate. Most don't get "wants" vs "needs" and how to delay gratification. Kids start in their 20s and want to live just like mom and dad, but don't realize M&D didn't live in that 3K+ luxury home and drive luxury cars when they were 22. We lived in cheap apartments and drove basic cars while we paid off our student loans and saved for our first home.

There are many instances where leasing is the absolute best choice. You have to find the lease deals that make sense.
I have been leasing cars for the past 10 years. My monthly payments on leases are never more than $350. I lease for 3 years then rinse and repeat.
If you do the math on a $350 lease payment, that’s $4200 per year, $42k over 10 years.
I just started a lease on the Polestar 2 LR. Great deal for $299 a month. MSRP for the car is $56k
https://www.polestar.com/us/offers/new/polestar-2-2024-lrdm-lease/

Could I just buy a Camry or Accord for $35k and drive it for 10 years? Yes. But I would spend another $10k on service and maintenance over that time.
My leases come with maintenance included and warranty. Not spending a penny on maintenance.

Even if after running all numbers it would cost me $5k more over 10 years to lease vs buy. It’s totally worth it. Wouldn’t you pay $500 every year to drive a brand new car every three years and not have to deal with maintenance headaches ever?
That’s what I’m doing. It works with the right lease deal.

I can assure you will not spend $10k in service in a Toyo/honda in ten years. Signed - car mechanic

You are most likely spending more.
For the first 5 years, Edmunds estimates the cost of maintenance and repairs at
$945 for repairs and $3946 for maintenance.
https://www.edmunds.com/honda/accord/2023/cost-to-own/

The following 5 years will cost even more as the car ages.

10k is a very conservative estimate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audi A3 is $35k. Audi A4 is $45k.

OP here - I wasn't thinking the low end models like A3 or A4. FWIW, I'd much rather get a Rav4 than either of those. My general comment was that I see so many VERY expensive cars on the road and don't quite fathom how there are that many people buying such cars.

It’s pretty easy to lease a car, OP.

And leasing is 99% of time, a really dumb financial decision. But then again, plenty of people buy homes with 5% down that they really cannot afford (and definately don't need), take fancy vacations that they can't afford and don't save enough for college/retirement. Most Americans don't know how to budget and plan

PP here. Of course leasing is a stupid financial decision. But the kinds of vapid morons who drive cars they can’t afford are already financially illiterate so of course they lease.

Literally everyone who leases a car is dumb.

Yup! There is no scenario where it makes financial sense. Some say "its the way to get a new car every 2 years". Well that in and of itself is not smart. Nobody needs a new car every 2 years. Buy and drive for at least 4-5 years minimum.

And yes, many in America are financially illiterate. Most don't get "wants" vs "needs" and how to delay gratification. Kids start in their 20s and want to live just like mom and dad, but don't realize M&D didn't live in that 3K+ luxury home and drive luxury cars when they were 22. We lived in cheap apartments and drove basic cars while we paid off our student loans and saved for our first home.

There are many instances where leasing is the absolute best choice. You have to find the lease deals that make sense.
I have been leasing cars for the past 10 years. My monthly payments on leases are never more than $350. I lease for 3 years then rinse and repeat.
If you do the math on a $350 lease payment, that’s $4200 per year, $42k over 10 years.
I just started a lease on the Polestar 2 LR. Great deal for $299 a month. MSRP for the car is $56k
https://www.polestar.com/us/offers/new/polestar-2-2024-lrdm-lease/

Could I just buy a Camry or Accord for $35k and drive it for 10 years? Yes. But I would spend another $10k on service and maintenance over that time.
My leases come with maintenance included and warranty. Not spending a penny on maintenance.

Even if after running all numbers it would cost me $5k more over 10 years to lease vs buy. It’s totally worth it. Wouldn’t you pay $500 every year to drive a brand new car every three years and not have to deal with maintenance headaches ever?
That’s what I’m doing. It works with the right lease deal.

You're still pissing money away. Bought my Corolla for 11k and about to hit 350k miles. Original tranny and motor! Just change the oil every 10k and basic maintenance like brakes, fluids, etc.

Well you are pissing money away too. Bought my Corolla for $3k and about to hit 375k miles. You wasted $8k. What a stupid move you made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people make poor financial choices. Smart people don't buy expensive vehicles.

So… since I’m sure you consider yourself a smart person, what do smart people spend money on?

Not PP, but smart people have money make more money. That's more interesting than buying a luxury car. They will still buy a decent car, but they don't think about it much.
I made 12% on my money in the market today. Selling it now and buying low again. It's more exciting than a new car and I would know.
I got my car at 0% a month ago. Sold my old car, used the money to get the 12% and now slowly paying the 0%. I'm able to catch the 8-10% about twice a month. Yesterday was a special day.

And what are you going to do with that money you made? Are you spending it on anything? Or taking it to your grave?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audi A3 is $35k. Audi A4 is $45k.

OP here - I wasn't thinking the low end models like A3 or A4. FWIW, I'd much rather get a Rav4 than either of those. My general comment was that I see so many VERY expensive cars on the road and don't quite fathom how there are that many people buying such cars.

It’s pretty easy to lease a car, OP.

And leasing is 99% of time, a really dumb financial decision. But then again, plenty of people buy homes with 5% down that they really cannot afford (and definately don't need), take fancy vacations that they can't afford and don't save enough for college/retirement. Most Americans don't know how to budget and plan

PP here. Of course leasing is a stupid financial decision. But the kinds of vapid morons who drive cars they can’t afford are already financially illiterate so of course they lease.

Literally everyone who leases a car is dumb.

Yup! There is no scenario where it makes financial sense. Some say "its the way to get a new car every 2 years". Well that in and of itself is not smart. Nobody needs a new car every 2 years. Buy and drive for at least 4-5 years minimum.

And yes, many in America are financially illiterate. Most don't get "wants" vs "needs" and how to delay gratification. Kids start in their 20s and want to live just like mom and dad, but don't realize M&D didn't live in that 3K+ luxury home and drive luxury cars when they were 22. We lived in cheap apartments and drove basic cars while we paid off our student loans and saved for our first home.

There are many instances where leasing is the absolute best choice. You have to find the lease deals that make sense.
I have been leasing cars for the past 10 years. My monthly payments on leases are never more than $350. I lease for 3 years then rinse and repeat.
If you do the math on a $350 lease payment, that’s $4200 per year, $42k over 10 years.
I just started a lease on the Polestar 2 LR. Great deal for $299 a month. MSRP for the car is $56k
https://www.polestar.com/us/offers/new/polestar-2-2024-lrdm-lease/

Could I just buy a Camry or Accord for $35k and drive it for 10 years? Yes. But I would spend another $10k on service and maintenance over that time.
My leases come with maintenance included and warranty. Not spending a penny on maintenance.

Even if after running all numbers it would cost me $5k more over 10 years to lease vs buy. It’s totally worth it. Wouldn’t you pay $500 every year to drive a brand new car every three years and not have to deal with maintenance headaches ever?
That’s what I’m doing. It works with the right lease deal.

You're still pissing money away. Bought my Corolla for 11k and about to hit 350k miles. Original tranny and motor! Just change the oil every 10k and basic maintenance like brakes, fluids, etc.

And not everyone wants to drive a Corolla with 350k miles on it.

So drive a toyota/honda until it hits 150-200K. Do that once, continue to save your old car payment for the next 6-8 years and you will most likely be able to buy a $30-40K vehicle with cash or close to it. Then drive that one for 10 years/200K miles. Fact is I've known many who do that with minimal maintenance from Hondas/Toyotas. Bonus is your insurance is also much lower on an older vehicle, so more savings

You buy a 40k car and drive it for 10y. That’s about 333k per month.
No thank you. I can lease a car for 350k a month, every 3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audi A3 is $35k. Audi A4 is $45k.

OP here - I wasn't thinking the low end models like A3 or A4. FWIW, I'd much rather get a Rav4 than either of those. My general comment was that I see so many VERY expensive cars on the road and don't quite fathom how there are that many people buying such cars.

It’s pretty easy to lease a car, OP.

And leasing is 99% of time, a really dumb financial decision. But then again, plenty of people buy homes with 5% down that they really cannot afford (and definately don't need), take fancy vacations that they can't afford and don't save enough for college/retirement. Most Americans don't know how to budget and plan

PP here. Of course leasing is a stupid financial decision. But the kinds of vapid morons who drive cars they can’t afford are already financially illiterate so of course they lease.

Literally everyone who leases a car is dumb.

Yup! There is no scenario where it makes financial sense. Some say "its the way to get a new car every 2 years". Well that in and of itself is not smart. Nobody needs a new car every 2 years. Buy and drive for at least 4-5 years minimum.

And yes, many in America are financially illiterate. Most don't get "wants" vs "needs" and how to delay gratification. Kids start in their 20s and want to live just like mom and dad, but don't realize M&D didn't live in that 3K+ luxury home and drive luxury cars when they were 22. We lived in cheap apartments and drove basic cars while we paid off our student loans and saved for our first home.

There are many instances where leasing is the absolute best choice. You have to find the lease deals that make sense.
I have been leasing cars for the past 10 years. My monthly payments on leases are never more than $350. I lease for 3 years then rinse and repeat.
If you do the math on a $350 lease payment, that’s $4200 per year, $42k over 10 years.
I just started a lease on the Polestar 2 LR. Great deal for $299 a month. MSRP for the car is $56k
https://www.polestar.com/us/offers/new/polestar-2-2024-lrdm-lease/

Could I just buy a Camry or Accord for $35k and drive it for 10 years? Yes. But I would spend another $10k on service and maintenance over that time.
My leases come with maintenance included and warranty. Not spending a penny on maintenance.

Even if after running all numbers it would cost me $5k more over 10 years to lease vs buy. It’s totally worth it. Wouldn’t you pay $500 every year to drive a brand new car every three years and not have to deal with maintenance headaches ever?
That’s what I’m doing. It works with the right lease deal.

I can assure you will not spend $10k in service in a Toyo/honda in ten years. Signed - car mechanic

You are most likely spending more.
For the first 5 years, Edmunds estimates the cost of maintenance and repairs at
$945 for repairs and $3946 for maintenance.
https://www.edmunds.com/honda/accord/2023/cost-to-own/

The following 5 years will cost even more as the car ages.

10k is a very conservative estimate.

I have a 10 year old Odyssey bought new. We have paid for tires ($1k), battery ($200) and brakes ($450). That’s literally it other than oil changes and tire rotations that all cars need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audi A3 is $35k. Audi A4 is $45k.

OP here - I wasn't thinking the low end models like A3 or A4. FWIW, I'd much rather get a Rav4 than either of those. My general comment was that I see so many VERY expensive cars on the road and don't quite fathom how there are that many people buying such cars.

It’s pretty easy to lease a car, OP.

And leasing is 99% of time, a really dumb financial decision. But then again, plenty of people buy homes with 5% down that they really cannot afford (and definately don't need), take fancy vacations that they can't afford and don't save enough for college/retirement. Most Americans don't know how to budget and plan

PP here. Of course leasing is a stupid financial decision. But the kinds of vapid morons who drive cars they can’t afford are already financially illiterate so of course they lease.

Literally everyone who leases a car is dumb.

Yup! There is no scenario where it makes financial sense. Some say "its the way to get a new car every 2 years". Well that in and of itself is not smart. Nobody needs a new car every 2 years. Buy and drive for at least 4-5 years minimum.

And yes, many in America are financially illiterate. Most don't get "wants" vs "needs" and how to delay gratification. Kids start in their 20s and want to live just like mom and dad, but don't realize M&D didn't live in that 3K+ luxury home and drive luxury cars when they were 22. We lived in cheap apartments and drove basic cars while we paid off our student loans and saved for our first home.

There are many instances where leasing is the absolute best choice. You have to find the lease deals that make sense.
I have been leasing cars for the past 10 years. My monthly payments on leases are never more than $350. I lease for 3 years then rinse and repeat.
If you do the math on a $350 lease payment, that’s $4200 per year, $42k over 10 years.
I just started a lease on the Polestar 2 LR. Great deal for $299 a month. MSRP for the car is $56k
https://www.polestar.com/us/offers/new/polestar-2-2024-lrdm-lease/

Could I just buy a Camry or Accord for $35k and drive it for 10 years? Yes. But I would spend another $10k on service and maintenance over that time.
My leases come with maintenance included and warranty. Not spending a penny on maintenance.

Even if after running all numbers it would cost me $5k more over 10 years to lease vs buy. It’s totally worth it. Wouldn’t you pay $500 every year to drive a brand new car every three years and not have to deal with maintenance headaches ever?
That’s what I’m doing. It works with the right lease deal.

You're still pissing money away. Bought my Corolla for 11k and about to hit 350k miles. Original tranny and motor! Just change the oil every 10k and basic maintenance like brakes, fluids, etc.

And not everyone wants to drive a Corolla with 350k miles on it.

So drive a toyota/honda until it hits 150-200K. Do that once, continue to save your old car payment for the next 6-8 years and you will most likely be able to buy a $30-40K vehicle with cash or close to it. Then drive that one for 10 years/200K miles. Fact is I've known many who do that with minimal maintenance from Hondas/Toyotas. Bonus is your insurance is also much lower on an older vehicle, so more savings

You buy a 40k car and drive it for 10y. That’s about 333k per month.
No thank you. I can lease a car for 350k a month, every 3 years.

$350,000 per month seems like a rather extravagant lease payment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teslas are pretty cheap these days. With the Maryland and federal rebates and an inventory discount our long range Model Y was about 42k. I think they’re even cheaper now. And that’s about the the range for an equivalent sensible SUV like a Toyota Rav4.

Plus anyone with a family basically requires an SUV or minivan, so they may be buying used as well if they can’t afford new.

A new RAV 4 is around $30k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Audi A3 is $35k. Audi A4 is $45k.

OP here - I wasn't thinking the low end models like A3 or A4. FWIW, I'd much rather get a Rav4 than either of those. My general comment was that I see so many VERY expensive cars on the road and don't quite fathom how there are that many people buying such cars.

It’s pretty easy to lease a car, OP.

And leasing is 99% of time, a really dumb financial decision. But then again, plenty of people buy homes with 5% down that they really cannot afford (and definately don't need), take fancy vacations that they can't afford and don't save enough for college/retirement. Most Americans don't know how to budget and plan

PP here. Of course leasing is a stupid financial decision. But the kinds of vapid morons who drive cars they can’t afford are already financially illiterate so of course they lease.

Literally everyone who leases a car is dumb.

Yup! There is no scenario where it makes financial sense. Some say "its the way to get a new car every 2 years". Well that in and of itself is not smart. Nobody needs a new car every 2 years. Buy and drive for at least 4-5 years minimum.

And yes, many in America are financially illiterate. Most don't get "wants" vs "needs" and how to delay gratification. Kids start in their 20s and want to live just like mom and dad, but don't realize M&D didn't live in that 3K+ luxury home and drive luxury cars when they were 22. We lived in cheap apartments and drove basic cars while we paid off our student loans and saved for our first home.

There are many instances where leasing is the absolute best choice. You have to find the lease deals that make sense.
I have been leasing cars for the past 10 years. My monthly payments on leases are never more than $350. I lease for 3 years then rinse and repeat.
If you do the math on a $350 lease payment, that’s $4200 per year, $42k over 10 years.
I just started a lease on the Polestar 2 LR. Great deal for $299 a month. MSRP for the car is $56k
https://www.polestar.com/us/offers/new/polestar-2-2024-lrdm-lease/

Could I just buy a Camry or Accord for $35k and drive it for 10 years? Yes. But I would spend another $10k on service and maintenance over that time.
My leases come with maintenance included and warranty. Not spending a penny on maintenance.

Even if after running all numbers it would cost me $5k more over 10 years to lease vs buy. It’s totally worth it. Wouldn’t you pay $500 every year to drive a brand new car every three years and not have to deal with maintenance headaches ever?
That’s what I’m doing. It works with the right lease deal.

You're still pissing money away. Bought my Corolla for 11k and about to hit 350k miles. Original tranny and motor! Just change the oil every 10k and basic maintenance like brakes, fluids, etc.

That Polestar is not $299 a month. It's $421 when you amortize the $3,300 down payment over the 27 months. And note that the ACTUAL MSRP could be higher, pushing your payment higher. And then, at the end of 27 months, you've paid $11,300 and have ... nothing.

Still isn't a terrible deal; I'd lease an EV before I'd buy one for any number of reasons (and I'm generally against leasing). But don't say it's $299/month. It's not.

I'm against leasing too, and planning on buying an EV in the near future. Curious why you feel a lease would be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people make poor financial choices. Smart people don't buy expensive vehicles.

The key is to be rich enough where buying a 6 figure vehicle isn’t that big of a deal for you. And not everything in life should be about optimizing net worth above all else.

Why would having money change what kind of car you want? Did you just start making money and got euphoria? I didn't want it before, I don't want it now. What else did money change for you and how distressed were you before to get excited about a car?