# Subscribing a car vs buying or leasing **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [August 27, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635 "2019-08-27T22:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Marnet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/marnet/32/41_2.png) [@Marnet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marnet)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/1 "2019-08-27T22:02:43Z")
> **[California could shut down those popular car subscription services](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/california-could-shut-down-those-popular-car-subscription-services-n1046481)** > > Dealers objected to signs at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show that declared, “Don’t Buy Our Cars,” and “Subscribe, Don’t Buy.” Hmmmm, “subscribing” one’s vehicle as opposed to buying or leasing. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/2 "2019-08-27T22:09:06Z")
Other than the dealer angle, I don’t see how subscription services are any different than leasing. seems the dealers have the argument, not the consumer. Restricting these deals only hurts the consumer’s choices. ---
**Author:** ![Marnet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/marnet/32/41_2.png) [@Marnet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marnet)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/3 "2019-08-27T22:14:00Z")
Yeah, without knowing more details it sounds like leasing with some possible differences in details. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/4 "2019-08-27T22:19:30Z")
I think that article WAY overstated how “popular” those subscription programs are. And $750/month seems steep. I bet I can beat it getting the items on my own. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/5 "2019-08-27T22:35:48Z")
While it doesn’t say so, my guess is that the dealers make less on a subscription than a lease. It seems to me that the maintenance part of the subscription could be tied to the dealer tat sold the subscription. Again, the reimbursement for maintenance by the dealer might not be adequate. None of that I suggest in the article. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/6 "2019-08-27T22:49:21Z")
Like multiple “owners” of an airplane? Next thing you know, people will be leasing wheels and tires for their leased or subscribed-to cars. Oh wait, it’s here. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/7 "2019-08-27T23:25:15Z")
I’ve heard of airplane sales and leases, but no subscriptions. My wife’s cousin has owned several planes with at least one partner. Even a 4 seat, single engine propeller plane can sell for well over $100,000 used. No wonder airplanes are multi-owner ventures. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/8 "2019-08-27T23:29:04Z")
It makes sense for airplanes, whose owners are responsible and adept enough to have earned a pilot’s license. (My dad was part-owner of an airplane in the WW2 era.) My skepticism is directed toward users of automobiles. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/9 "2019-08-28T00:19:36Z")
Most of these subscription programs are like a lease but closer to a fractional ownership where you can switch to another model of the same brand during the year without having to get out of a 2yr lease to do so. Insurance and maintenance is part of the package so harder to compare to lease costs but unless you have a wondering eye and need to try out various cars it doesn’t make sense. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subscribing-a-car-vs-buying-or-leasing/147635/10 "2019-08-28T16:11:36Z")
I just read an article by Edmunds about subscription vehicle programs. First thought , this is the answer to a question no one asked. It seems to be for people who have too much money or a real ego problem.