Final answer:
Leasing the car would be more advantageous as the total cost of leasing is lower than the total cost of buying. The break-even resale price of the car three years from now would be $17,779.36.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether to buy or lease the car, we need to compare the total costs of each option. For leasing, the total cost is the sum of the monthly lease payments. In this case, it would be $400/month for 36 months, which amounts to $14,400. For buying, we need to consider the purchase price of $30,000, minus the expected resale value of $20,000 after three years, resulting in a net cost of $10,000. Additionally, we need to factor in the interest on the loan. With an APR of 8%, the monthly payment for the loan would be approximately $618.28. Over three years, the total cost of the loan would be $22,179.36. Adding the net cost of $10,000, the total cost of buying would be $32,179.36. Since the total cost of leasing is lower than the total cost of buying, it would be more advantageous to lease the car.
To calculate the break-even resale price, we set the total cost of leasing equal to the total cost of buying. Using the same calculations as before, we can rearrange the equation and solve for the resale price:
(Lease cost) = (Purchase cost) - (Resale price) + (Loan cost)
Substituting in the given values:
$14,400 = $10,000 - (Resale price) + $22,179.36
Simplifying the equation:
(Resale price) = $10,000 + $22,179.36 - $14,400
(Resale price) = $17,779.36
Therefore, the break-even resale price of the car three years from now would be $17,779.36.