OP here. End of the story: S bought a lightly used car today–got a great deal. It was financed by the dealership (not the same as the one that declined to lease him a car), which had no problem with his credit situation. The financing person was so impressed with his salary, etc., she told him he wouldn’t have the car for more than a couple of years because he surely would be trading up to something nicer by then.
I don’t understand how these decisions get made. Was hoping someone in the banking or finance industry would chime in with some enlightenment on how it all works, but even though it seems we have one of everything on CC, that didn’t happen.