Iteresting info, Nicole. It's not that I have to have a "new car" all the time, I just thought it might be a relief to have a relatively new car rather than drive an older one that's getting a bit dodgy and undependable.

However, all this is strictly theoretical right now. I'm not in need of another vehicle in the near future. I've got a '92 Subaru which still feels like a new car, and almost looks like one...it's truly a great car. When it will begin to lose its pazzazz I don't know, but it's showing no signs of doing so yet.

The lease I was looking at did include the option to buy after 4 years, but I'm not sure of the details. I was over at the Mazda dealer just checking out what is possible to do right now...out of curiosity. I have a very high opinion of both Mazda and Subaru (not to mention Toyota and Nissan as well). Darn good cars. I like the MPV when it comes to minivans, and have been using my father's old '92 MPV for years now for the occasional cargo carrying job (business stuff) or musical trip. Phil Edmonston (Lemon-Aid) seemed to be disappointed with more recent MPV's up until last year...I don't know what the problem was, though. They seem to have got their act back together since 2002, according to him. The old one is rear-wheel drive (hell on slippery winter roads), the newer ones are front wheel drive, a good idea in this climate.

My solution to expensive cars for the last 20 years has been to buy used cars privately from reliable owners whom I knew personally. I have saved mucho dinero by so doing, I can tell you!

But I got curious about the leasing thing.

It's incredible what a new car costs these days. I am reminded of the old spiritual tale of the master who pointed out to his students a man leading a cow along by a rope. He said, "See that? There is a man tied to a cow." The man overheard and was quite upset. "I'm not tied to this cow!" he objected. "Yes you are," said the master. "You must feed the cow, provide it with water, guard it from thieves, keep it safe from illness and harm. If you are not tied to the cow, then simply release it!" "I can't do that," said the man, "I might lose the cow." "Exactly," agreed the master. "You are tied to that cow."

I figure it's best to think carefully before tieing a rope onto the financial equivalent of a blue whale... :-)

- LH