Every two years?
If we imagine having had a new car every two years throughout our lives, I would like to ask why anyone would put themselves through that. We're trying to put ourselves in their shoes right
now
and we just can't stop being amazed.
Our car is now a little over two years old. Except for one minor issue, we are satisfied with it, and we are determined to resolve that minor issue as well. But start the whole process all over
again now?
That's crazy. It's so hard these days to be satisfied with a product. You always end up thinking of something later on that you could have done differently when making the purchase, especially
when
you hear different opinions from friends later on.
We are not opposed to two-year leases in principle, provided there is an option to keep the car if it has proven itself. But there are just some people who want to experience the thrill of
shopping over and over again, without considering that it might eventually fade.
s
On average, cars in Germany are over ten years old. But many of them are even older, because more and more leased vehicles are being added, reportedly half of all new cars. Actually, it's
nothing more
than a massive waste of money.
Why is that? Isn't leasing often cheaper than paying in cash? That's certainly true, but why don't you think this through a little further? The more people lease, the closer that figure gets to
the true cost. Otherwise, the leasing companies will go out of business.
No one keeps doing something for a long time while constantly losing money. And the depreciation curve is, after all, exponential. In other words, the value drops rapidly at first and then at an
increasingly slower rate. On average, a car is worth only half its original value after 3 years and 50,000 km.
If the curve were to continue falling linearly, the value would be zero after 6 years and 100,000 km. But if cars last an average of 10 years, for every two-year-old car there must also be an
eighteen-year-old car that retains its value as long as it runs.
The winners in this situation are buyers of used cars. They make the lessees pay first and then skim off the rest. We don't know how the manufacturers or leasing companies do that,
but they probably aren't getting any poorer in the process.
With the (few) new cars we've bought, all paid for in cash, we've gotten some great discounts, but we've almost always been laughed at when we mentioned this to people who know the ins
and outs of the trade. Nevertheless we're sticking to our principle: One-time costs: yes; ongoing costs: keep them as low as possible.
And then there's all the hassle. Doing research online is one thing, but going from dealer to dealer, checking and locking in delivery times, and test-driving cars that almost never fit just right.
Special offers, extras, between desires and sacrifices.
Then there was the family discussion, with its lack of objectivity and differing opinions. I'd rather spend my time doing a little crafting, going for a hike, or going to the theater. In the worst-case scenario,
the whole thing would happen again with the second car.
There are people who enjoy driving to the car dealership, being treated like a customer, and dreaming about a new car. It's nice, sure, but not every two years. Yeah, the new car is clean, smells good,
and makes the next few days, and maybe even weeks, more enjoyable.
But at some point, you have to give it back. They will likely inspect the vehicle thoroughly for even the slightest damage. No long period of unrestricted use; therefore, inspections every two
years. The TÜV gives you more time, at least for a new car.
| Once: maybe, but over and over again: absolutely not. |
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