Buy a car coming off a three year lease that is certified pre-owned by the dealer.

OP, keep in mind that DMV appointments are hard to come by, so a private sale isn’t a good idea right now.

Carjacking? It's the DC way!

Most financial people will tell you never lease. Search DCUM and the Internet.

OP, what kind of car(s) are you considering?

Some cars lease well; others do not. Some automakers have strong lease incentives; others do not.

Without knowing the make/model, my rules of thumb:
--Most normal people in most circumstances should buy
--People with a decent amount of excess income who want a sexy German/Italian/British car for a few years and don't want the hassle of dealing with expensive maintenance after the warranty runs out should lease
--People who are self-employed and use the car for work purposes often should consider leasing, pending consult with their tax advisor

Winning the fabulous showcase showdown on the Price is Right. Otherwise, it depends on your circumstances.

Um, the answer is pretty subjective depending on what you want and how you use your car. Do you hold on to cars forever and drive them into the ground? Or do you like to get new cars every few years? Do you put a lot of miles on your cars/drive them a lot, or not so much? Don't lease if you drive a lot or have a long commute or like to get new cars more often than every, say, 10 years. Don't buy if you barely drive and prefer to trade in/trade up/get something different every year or every few years.

Lease or buy?