Perhaps I am not searching right, but I can't seem to find any discussion on the pros and cons of leasing versus buying a car. My wife and I are planning to come to Thailand early next year to initially rent a house and acquire a car. She will be staying longer durations than I until I retire there in a couple years. We are trying to narrow down the options for getting a car -- used vs. new, lease vs. buy, etc.

Perhaps I am not searching right, but I can't seem to find any discussion on the pros and cons of leasing versus buying a car. My wife and I are planning to come to Thailand early next year to initially rent a house and acquire a car. She will be staying longer durations than I until I retire there in a couple years. We are trying to narrow down the options for getting a car -- used vs. new, lease vs. buy, etc.

An older can can be bought and sold wil little devaluation over a short period. I know someone who bought an older honda civic - like a popular 94 model and solde it a few years later for about the same price. Obviously a new car will depreciate, but still perhaps not as much as what it would cost to rent one. If you only need the car on and off for a few months a year then rent it. But if your wife will be using it when you aren't here then perhaps buy one. Hopefully someone here who has done this can post their view.