Get the buy-out number in writing. I leased a skid steer once, it looked like a decent deal up front.....I was told the buyout would be a minimal number($2-3K). When the lease was up, the lease company wanted $12K(for a machine that was ~$17K new). When I turned it back in rather than purchase, they billed me absurd numbers for "cleanup" and new tires(over $3000 for 4 skidsteer tires-worth maybe $800, tops). It got ugly.

Every time I have compared numbers of a lease versus purchase, the outright purchase has been a better deal. When you consider the down payment or the value of your trade and the timing of the lease payments, it only makes sense. There is no free lunch.