I think I just sold my Prius, sigh (sad face)

That's exactly how I look at it. The lease removes an unknown (e.g., what it can be sold for later). Thus, it can be looked at as simply an amount of money spent over 3 years. For example, mine was $220 mo x 36 months or about $8K plus the $1000 down, so $9000 total for three years.

I knew I wouldn't keep the car after the lease, and I knew I wouldn't go over the miles.

As it turns out, I was only into the car about $3800 to date (13x pmts plus my $1,000 down) and I just deposited a check for $3900, which was the excess after the payoff. And I saved a ton on gas

I was against leases for most of my life but I'm at the point now where I'm willing to pay a bit more for convenience and predictability. I'm not yet convinced it does cost more either. We'll see.

I also have a '11 Sienna minivan which was about $34K, and the lease payments are $365mo. That one we'll keep until the end of the lease, but not thereafter. Not sure yet if we'll try and sell, trade in, or release it to the leasing company (toyota financial). But we have no plans to keep it. When we got it, we traded in a Nissan Quest that I purchased outright when it was about 3 years old. So we walked away with a $10,000 check and a new van from the dealer. That was kind of weird. But I ended up paying about $11K to drive that car for 3 years (in depreciation), versus about 14K to drive the new toyota for three years ($365x36mo + $1000 down). So for a difference of just $3000, in my mind, we might as well get the new car, and not have the hassle of a used car, or having to try and sell later.

The lease vs buy thing is a tough one. But for me, I'm liking the lease.

 

I respond to the charges as follows:

I hereby stipulate to the allegations and plead guilty as charged.

Agreed. I again hereby stipulate to the allegations and plead guilty as charged.

Oh and if it isn't stating the obvious, aren't all lawyers pricks? I can barely stand to look in the mirror each morning. But its a really nice mirror, with gold inlay painstakingly applied by the small hands of third-world children.

Ok, the last part is just sarcastic joke.

On the up side, I tell my kids that *they* should be good world citizens

 

I live in a rural area and there are multiple opportunities for 100+ MPH runs.

For those that disagree with my ways: Yes, I'm a prick. Yes, I am evil. That's not being argued. Allegations of what an donkey I am will be met with fierce agreement. Just ask my 15yo.