Posts by neontiger4

electricsailor33 said:On the other hand, leasing interest rates can be significantly lower than standard loan rates. Even the processing fees tend to be about five to six times smaller compared to a traditional loan. Given those perks, the whole point of leasing isn't necessarily about switching assets frequently; it’s simply about securing cheaper financing for your car, and once it's paid off, it's yours.
And while some claim things will only get worse over the next two years, that's just one perspective. For me, and many others I know, things seem to improve year after year. In fact, the best is yet to come. 🙂

It’s great that the people you know are doing well, but let’s be real—you probably all hang out in the same circles or work in the same industry. Of course, one slice of the population is thriving, but I’ve seen plenty of folks swear everything was perfect right before the rug got pulled out from under them overnight. Sure, some are doing fine, but there are way more people struggling right now.
Personally, I don't think leasing is any cheaper. I mean, obviously, you'd need to sit down with the actual paperwork and run a side-by-side comparison of leasing versus traditional loans from places like Chase or Wells Fargo to prove it... so, yeah... I won't get bogged down in a massive debate about it. My take? Don't lease a car, and honestly, don't even bother with a loan unless it's an absolute emergency.

I'm looking at buying a car as an individual, though I'd probably pull $40 from a loan to cover the down payment. My main banks, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, only offer auto loans in dollars. Is it actually worth looking into operational or finance leasing with a residual value option?

Anyone got some advice? A standard loan seems like the best bet financially, but since they're only offering them in dollars, I'm a little paranoid about currency fluctuations given everything happening in the USA lately. I don't want to get caught in a depreciation trap.

Honestly, leasing is a bad move.

First off, if you pick up a traffic ticket, my guess is it goes straight to the leasing company, and then they just tack it onto your bill. That means you end up paying sales tax on top of the fine.

Second, leasing makes sense for companies that put massive mileage on their vehicles—they know they need high turnover, so they just swap for a new lease once the old one is worn out. As an individual, I highly doubt you're putting in that kind of mileage. The whole point of leasing is easy asset replacement. In the US, they push it on individuals mostly because it's easier to qualify for than a traditional loan, especially for people with shaky credit or low purchasing power. It’s easier for the bank to get their money back if you default because they technically own the car and can just come grab it.

Third, leasing usually comes with those annoying currency adjustment clauses.

Fourth, the late fees for missing a payment will absolutely kill you.

Fifth, stay far away from that "residual value" thing. Don't kid yourself thinking you'll just have a nice chunk of cash sitting there at the end of the term. You'll likely just end up having to take out another loan to cover the balance or fall for some "clever" deal the leasing company tries to pitch you.

Sixth, for heaven's sake, don't go buying such an expensive car in 2012. The worst is still coming over the next couple of years. Save up some cash if you can and buy used, or if you already have a car, just drive it until it finally dies on you.

I was wondering if anyone has any idea what a larger Šebaljev Pušać oil painting might go for? Also looking for some insight on a wooden sculpture by Vulas Šime and a stone piece by Fabris.
I’ve also got a hand-colored ink and watercolor drawing by Ivan Lacković here, so I'm curious about the market value on that too. I have photos ready to go if anyone wants to take a look.