THE ANSWER
If you enjoy choosing a new car every few years and don’t mind perpetual car payments, leasing is the more gratifying—if expensive—choice. Buying new means higher monthly payments than leasing, but payment-free living after a few years, which makes financial sense if you plan to keep your car for at least two years after that. (Don’t forget a third option: Buying certified used. These are reconditioned one- to four-year-old used cars offered with a manufacturer warranty, which won’t get you with a major depreciation hit like brand new vehicles will if you sell them within five years.)