The purpose of a lease is to not put ANY money down. If you are putting money down - you need to buy! I used to be in the rental and leasing business - all those things they tell you about how you should lease - all BS......UNLESS the car has a residual that is not realistic. This will happen SOMETIMES (but VERY infrequently) when the mfg wants to move the vehicle (Mitsubisihi did this with some of its cars), or it is a new and hot vehicle that the NADA book thinks is going to be a hot resell number (some new and hot vehicles fall into this category - but fewer and fewer these days). Basically, the rule of thumb is - if you aren't a car person, have plenty of money, and just want to drive a new car every 3 years - lease. If you somewhat know what you are doing and can sell the vehicle yourself - BUY. I'm assuming that ALL VX owners fall in the later category - NEVER lease a car unless it is a mfg subsidized deal where the monthly rate is too good to be true!! It happens VERY infrequently anymore. You build ZERO equity, and most often (as in the case of the guy who posted this) NEGATIVE equity. There is NOTHING worse than paying for something you don't have!! The dealers and finance companies have made a new business model out of financing negative equity - DON'T fall into this trap!!!!!!