Effendi
LE

We experimented with leased cars for two out of the last three.
”Fcuk, no”, would be my assessment. We had an Audi Q7 and traded it for a Merc. The residual were we to have bought it was “x”. Trading it for a different marque meant that it became “y” to acquiring dealer. Y>X.
I expect much the same with the Merc, which is also leased. Done with that kind of shenanigans. I dont want to tie up tens of thousands in capital, so leasing seemed attractive. The nickel & dime shit kills the deal. Nicht Mehr.
That said, for a long time (maybe still), you could ONLY lease many EVs because of the unknowns of the batteries and their eventual recycling. Until they’re in the 300-400 mile range for reasonable money, then they’ve got a way to go. That said, the F-150 train demo last year blew my socks off. Want one. But not leased.
The Mrs did the maths years ago when she could either take a car allowance and sort out her own wheels, or take a BMW 5, or similar level car. To her a car is a means of transport, unlike moi who would fill a garage with pretty ones, so she took the allowance of 6K and just used to buy herself cars like Renault Clio's.
Put a deposit down, pay $1000 a month for three years and at the end effectively just give it back with nothing to show for it. We buy them, put the money away over the period of resent car ownership so that when the time for a new one comes the cash is in the bank. I did initially pick up my present Merc on a Merc finance deal as they were offering the first three payments for free - its a late in the year incentive they offer when the market is cool. Basically I bought the motor, made the first three payments totalling around $4500, they returned the payments, and then I paid off the finance - the effect being I saved $4500 on the purchase price.
That said; as I am a few years away from pensionable age I thought I might go and splash on a Porsche GT3 as a lease through my company accounts so that if I peg it they just come and collect it and the Mrs has no liability. Alternatively take out a small life insurance policy to cover the cost of the vehicle and the nipper has it.