DW> My last couple of cars have been like this and I'll never
DW> buy another new car again.

AA>I've had financial and ownership/trade convenience with 3
  >leases - ie. total 12 years in a row.  However, I "bought out"
  >my last lease when I wasn't prepared to dole out any monthly
  >payments at the time. Now I regret I didn't take better care of
  >the purchased vehicle in my total ownership.

Yes, I've leased a couple of cars over the years but you really
best come out ahead with those if you do buy the car out at the
end of the lease. You get it MUCH cheaper than the usual used
car cost and you know how it's been treated because it was you
treating it that way..

DW> Anywa, the best deal that I found was something similar at
DW> the dealerships.  They have "courtesy" cars that they
DW> sell.  These are the vehicles that they use to pick you up
DW> or drop you off when bringing in your car for maintenance.

AA>I've heard someone mention "courtesy cars" for the first time
  >last year or so.  I don't think dealers advertise them as such,
  >do they?  ..or do you have to ask?

I think that depends a lot on the dealership and the area.
The car I traded in on my Escape was a Ford Taurus I got
from my father when he staopped driving. It was in pretty
good shape with very low miles on it for the age of the car
and the dealership told me later than they planned to just
auction it off but, after getting a good look at it, they
decided to keep it to use as a courtesy car. It was 16 years
old.

DW> ... Classic: A book which people praise but don't read. -
DW> Mark Twain

AA>He has many good ones, including "A clear conscience is the
  >sure sign of a bad memory."

It's better to have people think you're a fool than to open
your mouth and remove all doubt..    Mark Twain    B)

Or if you want to stick with Books:
The man who does not read good books had no advantage over
the man who can't read them..

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 * SLMR Rob  * Invisible Tagline --> "                               "
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