There’s nothing more frustrating than a car that constantly needs to be repaired. Not only is it aggravating but it becomes expensive. I don’t know about you but as a college student working in retail, my hours fluctuate according to the time of the year - which means I don’t have a ton of money set aside for car repairs.
Eventually we will all face the complication of looking for a new vehicle, but there are only so many options to choose from: buy used, lease or buy new. Unfortunately, all of these options will be pricey - but it’s a matter of deciding which investment is best for you. Purchasing a used vehicle is risky; who knows if the seller speaks true facts of the car and reveals all that they’ve had to fix to keep the car running. Meanwhile, buying a new vehicle seems impossible to someone who has an income like mine and other bills to pay.
However, I do think that leasing is possible for students who have a monthly income. Leasing a vehicle has many pros, while it also has cons just as buying a vehicle does. Many people view leasing as a waste of money because you are given a limited amount of miles to drive, and if you go over them you must pay for each additional mile. I have found that 12,000 miles a year is enough for school and work, but that I do need the wiggle room for leisure so I pay for 15,000 miles a year. If you take the time to list out the pros and cons, the pros might outweigh the cons for you.
As a commuter, I knew that I needed to find something reliable yet affordable - because I cannot afford to be fixing a car each time something goes wrong. With much thought, my parents helped me decide that leasing was the best option for me. With leasing, you are protected by warranty and can receive free maintenance such as oil changes (which can get pricey). What I like most is knowing that my car has the latest safety and technology features to keep me safe.
Because leasing allows us to drive cars we could not afford to purchase as college students, we have the opportunity to experience driving a safer vehicle to reliably get us to our destination - whether that be to campus for an exam or to an internship interview. There’s nothing better than driving a vehicle and not worrying about it breaking down. Not only that but leasing allows you to experience the excitement of getting into a new vehicle - although it might still be stressful because you are spending money.
It is argued that leasing is a waste of money because over a long period of time you will pay more than if you purchased a vehicle. But you must look into the future: if you buy a new vehicle, it will eventually get old and you will need to make repairs in order to keep it reliable. So, in the end, you may end up paying the same amount of money.
Higher monthly payments are something that I could not have and a new car was something I needed. And a new, used car was something I did not want to experience again. I am not saying that leasing is the best option for you, but I recommend you consider looking into it if you’re searching for a new car.
