[kaisen]

Mike, your options are pretty much the same as if you had purchased the car (not leased) and taken out a long term loan. Your eight payments haven't done anything to lessen what you 'owe' and haven't even come close to keeping up with depreciation.

At this point, you need to call Infinity/Nissan Financial and ask them what your buy-out is on the lease.....what you still owe. Take that number, add sales tax (you're buying it and you haven't paid sales tax yet) and that is what you need to consider when you sell it. Again, just like calling your bank and asking what you still owe on your loan.

OR

If your dealership buys out your lease, sales tax is not due. But it will be a wholesale offer, surely.

OR

You can pay the remaining 31 payments and give it back. Doesn't sound too appealing, but it's one option you wouldn't have on a loan. Worst case scenario.

OR

You can find someone to assume (take over) your lease obligation through Infiniti. They must qualify financially. You may need to incentivize someone to do this. It has to be more attractive than just walking in to an Infiniti dealership and leasing a new one. But you may fare better than selling it outright, or selling it to a dealer.

You're probably best served selling it yourself. Like just about any other time a car is to be sold.

It will be painful. But no more so than if you would have walked in and paid cash for a brand new car and eight months later want to sell it. The fact that you leased it doesn't really change the pain. Depreciation on a new car is never pretty.

You also may want to calculate your taxable income calculation or imputation on a company car. A "free" car can cost a lot. Beware.