My first lease was in 2006 - a 2006 Ram Quad Cab 4x4 Hemi - the sticker was around $36,000 as I recall. I put a total of $600.00 down, & my monthly payment was $162.00/mo. This was for 27 months. That's $4974.00. I probably could have bought the same truck new for $32,000 + tax - add on another $1920.00 for the tax, plus with other dealer doc fees & such, I'd be at $34,000. $34,000 financed at 5 years at 0% interest, would cost $567.00/month. Do the math. After 7 years, I'd be ready for another truck, & in Michigan, my 7 year old truck would be getting rusty most likely, & I might be able to sell it for $12,000. Then, I'd want another new one, but by 2013 that same truck new would be a $42,000 truck.

I was leasing at 10,000 mile/yr. as I don't drive it that much. Leasing worked beautifully for me - I drove a new truck every 2 years or so. I leased a 2006, 2008 & bought the 2008 off lease for a GREAT residual, then leased a 2012, 2014, 2016, & just a couple years ago bought a 2017 for a great price. The most I ever put down at lease inception was $600.00, & my highest payment was $272.00/mo. It all boils down to this: if you are going to drive anything, it is not going to be for free. If you buy a used beater, you are going to be paying someone to repair it, or you are going to be wrenching on it. Two years ago, I bought my wife a nice 2013 Edge while on a business trip in Vegas - it was mint & only had 63,000 miles on it. Paid $13,000 for it. Almost as soon as I got it home, it started "eating." Needed better tires for our winters here, then things started going wrong mechanically (probably because it is a Ford product - never again!), some things fairly major. Anyway, this turned out to be a bad deal for us! We are now looking at getting either a brand new Durango, or a lower mileage nice 2017+ used or certified one.

Leasing would be great for her if she does not drive many miles (under 10k a year), IF the lease deals are good! Personally, I would never pay over $275.00/mo. for any lease, & I would never put down more than around $600.00 at inception. Those were just my thresholds. Either way, none of us will never drive for free.