A minor update.

I've been comparing buy back costs for the same type of car (Citroen Berlingo/Peugeot Partner Tepee or Renault Kangoo - we're choosing this type of car as it would be wht we'd buy if we did move to France). A Citroen is much cheaper than the sister Peugeot or Renault equivalents. Level of equipment is also higher with the high-power turbodiesels available for a nominal extra cost.

While rentals are cheap for small cars, they certainly rise sharply in price for larger ones (anything above a compact). Nothing specifically compares to the Berlingo/Partner/Kangoo so a bit hard to compare. General idea is that this lease/buyback is more economical vs. renting for big cars but less so for a smaller one.

Stays can be extended in country but cost a lot more than prepaying/extending before arrival/pick up.