I overheard someone talking about not having enough money to buy a new Audi, and that the used/older ones are more affordable but maintenance costs kill for VW engine vehicles. Then someone else chimed in, saying that leases now include maintenance on the new vehicles. This particular person happens to drive a GOLD Jaguar X-Type (hideous if you ask me). I googled the lease cost for this car and it’s somewhere around $500/month. That’s before taxes, before comprehensive insurance, and the big fat scrape across the entire rear left door from hitting a pole at the ATM drive-thru. Now let’s see, $500 x 12 is… plus tax, insurance (ouch) and oh! that repair fee…

Yes, I’ll be keeping my paid-for-twelve-year-old-Ford-Escort with the missing wheel cover and bad engine mounts. I’ll take humiliation any day over being up to my eyeballs in debt, thank you very much.