Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
If you're tough on cars, and now have kids, I would've bought a 2010-2012 Sienna with ~70k miles for around $15k and planned to keep it until you're done hauling kids around after 15 years.
Assuming $1,000/mx a year and a value of $0 at the end of that period you're at a yearly cost of around $2,000 vs $6,000 leasing that new car. After year one you've saved $4,000 (simplifying it), at 7% rate of return plus adding $4,000 savings every year, at year 15 you have $100,000 in your brokerage account ($85k after capital gains) or 529 plans. Total cost was around $30,000 to run the car. Cost of ownership leasing, assuming a modest increase over that time period, runs around $110,000.
So... in summary it will cost an additional estimated $165,000 leasing that car vs running an older one until your kids are driving themselves or rather a self driving car is driving them. That is a true opportunity cost of $916 a month post tax or $16,000 pretax/yr (!) assuming 30% bracket. Maybe your wife makes really good money and this is a drop in the bucket, I know a guy whose wife is a dentist and they spend money like it's an unlimited resource because it basically is, so I can understand both sides.
Now you know why I drive an old car. The time value of money is too strong a pull, but I would really like a Panamera, one of these days.
Sorry, I enjoy decisions such as this.
Did you just say Sienna? The minivan? HANG THE WITCH!!!!!!!!!!! (@Derg)
What about that new car smell? First time I've ever smelled it (first time having a brand spank new car). The leather smell. How do you put a price on that

Somewhat related note, I just flew for the first time the only A321 NEO in the western hemisphere and man did it smell nice! Holy cow. And those engines. Something is just so smooth about that whole thing. The takeoff roll whine, the climbout, landing. It's noticeably different than the 320s and 319s I fly.
Took this picture on the walkaround:
