<prompt> Human: Hey guys. So. I need a car. Currently, my wife and I have 6k in savings and 2k in checking. We make around 4k a month with a lot of bills coming out for student loans, wifes car payment and rent. Is it financially smarter to buy a car new around 12k or buy a beater that will get the job done around 2k or 3k We are trying to save for a house so it worries me to spend so much on a car that I will be paying in for 3-4 years.  <response>: Look at it this way, how much would you be spending per year on the new car, and how much on a beater? Now, factor in repairs on the beater not the same stuff that you would on both like tires and oil changes. Now, whats the monthly difference? Is that amount worth th possibility of a breakdown and how much you want something that looks nicer.I had a car that I had to put a new muffler on like every other year. Burned oil too. Cost me 750 and lasted 4 years. Thats less than 200 per year. I was fine with that. Beat paying 200mo IMO. 