DAE think the $500 beater is smarter than the $4,500 "clean" car?
I bought a $450 Corolla with 210k on it, put $300 into tires and a battery, and drove it for 14 months without a single problem, while my buddy's $4,300 Civic needed a clutch within 6 weeks. I know everyone says buy the nicest car in your budget, but my cheap one gave me a $3,500 cushion for repairs and I still came out ahead. Has anyone else had better luck with the cheapest car on the lot than the shiny one?
The real trick is the $500 car already lost all its value so you're driving on house money. Nobody's gonna steal a 210k Corolla either, and insurance is like $30 a month. The "clean" car guy is just paying extra to feel bad when the first scratch shows up.