5. The lease versus purchase analysis - Part 2 Which Is Better: To Lease or To Buy? A car buyer has two financing alternatives: to lease or to purchase. It is important to evaluate all the options and analyze the consequences of lease jersus purchase decision. The understanding of a comparative worksheet that analyzes the automobile lease versus purchase decision will help in naking an informed choice. How should a lease-versus-purchase analysis be conducted? How can this worksheet be applied to help you or someone else make their financing decision? Consider the following scenario: Should Mai Lease or Purchase? Mai is considering the purchase of a Mini Cooper and has negotiated a final price of $23,450.5 Sh's trying to decide whether to lease or purchase the vehicle. - If she leases, she'll have to pay a $550 security deposit, a capital cost reduction (down payment) equal to 10% of the vehicle's cost, and monthly payments of $415 over the three-year term of the closed-end lease. The Mini Cooper will have a residual value of $9,380. - On the other hand, if she buys the Mini Cooper, she'll have to make a 10% down payment, pay sales tax equal to 5% of the vehicle's price, and make monthly payments of $623 on a three-year loan that charges 4% interest. - Be aware that funds used as down payments and security deposits incur an opportunity cost of 3%, as they could have earned interest for Mai over the period of the lease or loan. Use the automobile lease-versus-purchase analysis worksheet that follows to determine the total cost of both the lease and the purchase and then recommend the best strategy for Mai. To complete the worksheet, enter the appropriate values in their corresponding blanks. (Note: Round each value to the nearest whole dollar.) Based on this analysis, Mai should: Use the loan to purchase the Mini Cooper, because its total cost is less than the total cost of a lease transaction Use the lease to purchase the Mini Cooper, because its total cost is greater than the total cost of a purchase transaction Use the lease to purchase the Mini Cooper, because its total cost is less than the total cost of a loan transaction