Should I buy my leased car at the end of the lease?

It makes financial sense to buy your leased car if the residual value (buyout price) is lower than the car's current market value. If you can buy it for $20,000 and it is worth $24,000, you gain $4,000 in instant equity. It does not make sense if the residual is higher than what the car is worth, because you would be overpaying compared to buying the same car on the open market.