I've just discovered that I may have been wasting time, money and thrown away the possibility of some street credibility, or even a chance to better my reputation. I have spent many years driving an assortment of mid-range cars, much to the embarrassment of my children when it comes to the school run or being dropped off at a friend's party. These cars have not cost me that much money to run, but I've always aimed at the best of what I could afford and driven it until the value has depreciated to around about zero. Such is life I thought. Swings and Roundabouts they say. And on life goes.

It turns out that this thinking may well be flawed, and in fact, there is a way I could be improving my sense of self worth and confidence by getting my hands on a better vehicle for life if I so wish. The answer is in leasing a car as opposed to buying one. Leasing has many advantages over buying a vehicle, the main one being that from the off it is possible to have a car that is not an embarrassment to the neighbourhood. Depending on your budget, you can get anything from a Fiat to a Ferrari, but rest assured that whatever make and model you decide on, it will be clean, tidy and as good as new.

Unlike with buying a second hand car, with leasing there is no risk of ingrained dog hair, mouldy foodstuffs and odd smelling stains all over the seats. All the cars have undergone a full valet so that you don't have to find any surprises under the carpet, in the boot or stuck in the sunroof. The other bonus of taking out a 12 month lease with a car means that every year, you get to have a change, update your style, or get a vehicle to match your new cardigan. Or if you find that your lifestyle has changed, and that you need a 4X4 to get down the new country driveway because the chassis on the Porsche is just too low, having a lease car is the way to go.

It avoids all the fuss of buying and selling a vehicle, and to be perfectly honest there are not that many cars out there that hold their value. It is common knowledge that the minute a new car is driven off the production line its value instantly drops by several thousands of pounds. When leasing a car, there are other monetary and hassle free bonuses. Servicing and MOT are included in the price, and should anything go wrong with the car, it is the responsibility of the leasing company to pay for any repairs. Road tax is also included in the monthly payments, so all you need to sort out is fuel and insurance.

With a leased vehicle you get the opportunity to choose your car just as if you were buying it brand new. From requesting a certain paint colour to specifying the interior, as well as the obvious make, model and number of doors. When buying a second hand car, there is not as much freedom, you are at the mercy of your budget and the market. Opting into a leasing contract is a hassle free way of having a brand new vehicle that is out of the range that you would ordinarily be able to afford.