Figure out what your needs are, buy used from someone that serviced the car properly. I prefer vehicles that have a history of long life with high mileage and low maintenance cost as well as ready availability of parts. Cars are tools they are terrible places to park your life force. As a tool you may be able to stack more sats with a car. If you live in city with good public transportation maybe you can get by with a bike. To me a vehicle is freedom. If stuff goes sideways I can leave. I can haul things to fix things for my home. I can haul things I need to grow food. It is a tool and I don't waste money to buy a fiat trophy.