Visual car decision studio
Compare buying cash, financing, leasing, and investing instead.
GARAGE
$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
Financial insight
Selected-year comparison of each option against investing instead.
Compared with not buying/leasing and investing instead.
Best: Cash
Negative values show how much wealth this option gives up compared with investing instead. The less negative option is financially better.
| Option | Impact | Net position |
|---|---|---|
| CashBest | -$58k | $131k |
| Lease | -$64k | $124k |
| Finance | -$66k | $123k |
Year 5 wealth impact versus investing instead: Cash -$58,153, Lease -$64,292, Finance -$66,107.
Your Money
Four inputs. No spreadsheet mood.
Quick Outputs
This is risky unless your income rises, expenses drop, or the down payment grows.
Monthly Money Left
Before this car: $4,000
After this car: $2,332
This car would leave you with about $2,332/month after normal expenses.
Assumptions used
Estimated for good credit, a used car, and a 72-month loan.
Estimated for a $70,000 mainstream vehicle with full coverage insurance in US.
Estimated from 1,000 monthly miles, 25 MPG, and $3.50 per gallon (US).
Estimated for a 4-7 mainstream vehicle with average reliability, average mileage, and gas powertrain.
Annual value-drop estimate for a 4-7 mainstream vehicle in used condition with average reliability; actual resale value varies by vehicle and market.
Cash vs Finance vs Lease
5 years
Best by net position: Cash ($130,502)
Cash invests the avoided finance payment, financing invests upfront cash not spent buying the car, and leasing invests unused upfront cash plus the monthly difference versus financing. Monthly payments are assumed to come from paycheck cash flow.
Cash
No loan payment. This model invests the monthly payment you avoided.
Finance
Invests unused upfront cash while loan payments come from paycheck cash flow.
Lease
Invests upfront cash not spent buying the car and the monthly difference versus financing. No vehicle asset is owned.
The net-position comparison uses invested cash value, owned vehicle value when applicable, and remaining loan balance.
Cash buying adds the future value of avoided finance payments. Financing adds the future value of unused upfront cash and subtracts the remaining loan balance. Leasing adds invested unused upfront cash plus the signed monthly difference versus financing.
This assumes finance and lease payments are made from normal paycheck cash flow, not withdrawn from invested upfront cash. Lease includes no vehicle value because the vehicle is not owned.
Cash
Total paid: $70,000
Invested avoided payments: $84,366
Net position: $130,502
Finance
Total paid: $78,892
Invested unused upfront cash: $89,391
Net position: $122,549
Lease
Total paid: $52,500
Lease net investments: $124,363
Net position: $124,363
Estimates only. Not financial, legal, tax, insurance, lending, or car-buying advice.