Here's a really useful tool to help you look at the lease vs. buy decision. Go to
Find a credit union on CULookup.com - Your Credit Union Locator then
"Calculators" and finally
"Should I lease or purchase a car" under the auto calculators section. The only thing missing from it is plugging in the federal and state tax credits into the buy side. But you can factor that in manually when making your decision. Benefits to you will depend on how long you want to keep the car (in a rapidly advancing technology marketplace), your individual tax situation and write offs and the flexibility you'd like to have. With a lease, you are committing to the entire 3 year term but can walk away at the end. With a purchase, you can dispose of the car (or in our case upgrade) when you want. Hope this helps. Disclaimer, this is general info and I am not a financial advisor. Your mileage may vary!