[Rick Lee]

These new/used/lease threads just prove that anyone can rationalize any car-buying philosophy in the world. My folks used to believe in the drive-it-until-the-wheels-fall-off thing. Then my dad got a job with a company car that got replaced every three years, company paid for everything, even gas for personal use. Live with that luxury for 20 years and then retire with a lot more money than time and patience for repairs and maintenance, and you see things differently.

I can't stand the depreciation hit either, but sometimes you can strike a pretty good deal on a two year lease of a car that doesn't depreciate much anyway.

A wealthy, elderly buddy once bought the newest, greatest Jaguar and decided he didn't like it, told me he'd trade it in as soon as the newest MB model came out. I said, "Geeze, that depreciation is a killer." He replied, "Life is too short to drive cars you don't like. What do I have to spend money on? My daughters are married and successful doctors. My second wife has her own money (and a 993 she bought new in 1997)." He was about 75 when he told me that, so it's not like he'll be driving the next few generations of nice cars.