Cash
Upfront cash paid$70,000
Monthly payment$0
Vehicle value after 5 years$31,059
Car net position-$38,941
Investing opportunity cost$104,289
No monthly payment, but the cash stops compounding while the car depreciates.
Visual car decision studio
What Car Can I Buy?
Compare buying cash, financing, leasing, and investing instead.
GARAGE
Sport
$70k tier
Price tier
Est. $70,000
The garage displays an optimized 3D preview for the selected vehicle tier. Tier buttons change the preview and price assumption. Zoom buttons enlarge or shrink the vehicle preview.
Affordability signal
Risky
BadStretchGood
Financial insight
Car Net Position
Hover or tap the chart to see the car-specific breakdown.
Car Net Position Over Time
Higher is better. Shows your car-related position after payments, depreciation, and loan balance -- not your full net worth.
$0 reference
Higher is better. This is your car-related position, not your full net worth.
Car net position includes paid cash, depreciation, and loan balance. It uses only car-related cash, debt, and asset value.
Year 5 car net position: Cash -$38,941, Finance -$53,143, Lease -$52,500.
Your Money
Fast budget check
Four inputs. No spreadsheet mood.
Required
$
Before taxes.Required
$
Normal monthly costs.Optional
$
Cash down today.Advanced assumptions
Optional
%
Estimated annual loan rate.Optional
mo
Estimated loan length.Optional
$
Monthly premium.Optional
$
Fuel or charging.Optional
$
Service and repairs.Optional
%
Used to estimate how much the vehicle is worth over time.Optional
%
Annual investing return.Optional
$
Estimated monthly lease.Optional
$
Cash paid when signing a lease.Quick Outputs
Risky
This is risky unless your income rises, expenses drop, or the down payment grows.
Monthly payment$1,037
Total monthly car cost$1,957
Income used19.6%
Monthly Money Left
Before this car: $4,000
After this car: $2,043
This car would leave you with about $2,043/month after normal expenses.
Cash vs Finance vs Lease
Payment method comparison
5 years
Finance
Down payment$10,000
Monthly loan payment$1,037
Paid so far$72,244
Interest paid$14,202
Vehicle value after 5 years$31,059
Remaining loan balance$11,958
Car net position-$53,143
Investing opportunity cost$91,124
Lower cash up front, but interest and loan payments reduce the car position.
Lease
Due at signing$0
Monthly lease payment$875
Paid so far$52,500
Owned vehicle value$0
Car net position-$52,500
Investing opportunity cost$64,292
Lease payments buy use of the car, but no owned vehicle asset remains.
How this is calculated
The main car position uses only car-related values: paid cash, depreciation, remaining loan balance, and owned vehicle value.
Cash subtracts the upfront purchase from the depreciated vehicle value. Finance subtracts paid cash and remaining loan balance. Lease assumes no owned vehicle value.
Investing opportunity cost is kept separate so it is not double-counted inside the car net position.
Cash
Total paid: $70,000
If invested instead: $104,289
Car net position: -$38,941
Finance
Total paid: $72,244
If invested instead: $91,124
Car net position: -$53,143
Lease
Total paid: $52,500
If invested instead: $64,292
Car net position: -$52,500
Estimates only. Not financial, legal, tax, insurance, lending, or car-buying advice.