10-year cost of ownership · adjustable

Special lease vs. buying the same car

An all-in lease with a new car every year, against financing one car and owning it for ten.

Comparison A · Without maintenance

Lease Buy · 5 yr Buy · 6 yr Resale at year 10

Sales tax. Michigan may tax the price before rebates. Tick “Tax the price before rebates” to see that case, and confirm with your dealer.
Registration. Michigan registration is based on list price, so a pricier car costs more to plate. The default is one flat amount for each of the 9 renewals in years 2–10; the first registration sits in the title, plate and doc fees.
Maintenance & repairs. The base schedule totals $19,650 at 100% in today’s dollars. It covers routine service rising from $500 to $1,300 a year, tires at $1,200 in years 4 and 8, brakes at $700 in years 5 and 9, a $250 battery in year 6, and an out-of-warranty repair allowance of $800, $1,000, $1,200, $1,400 and $1,600 in years 6–10.
Resale. It’s subtracted from the buy side because you still own the car at the end. The lease leaves you with nothing to sell.
Lease. It’s treated as all-in: insurance, maintenance, warranty work, unlimited miles, registration and tax. Use “Extra lease cost per year” for anything it doesn’t cover.
Left out. Fuel, inflation on buy-side costs and investment returns on cash aren’t included.