<prompt> Human: I read somewhere probably here that this might be the cheapest way to own a car: Buying a shit car, driving it until it breaks and then getting another shit car. The math looks like it works out great, but Im not a numbers guy. Can anyone confirm this idea, or tell me why its too stupid to do?Just to be clear, I can afford a much better car right now, but would rather use my savings for other things - like saving.  <response>: If you buy a used shit car, drive it until it breaks down, rinse and repeat. Youre playing the odds, which only get worse the more you go through this cycle. You will also end up wasting a lot of time. When you go with these shit cars you can very occasionally find a good deal, but more often than not youre buying from someone who has taken a junked car got it running as cheaply as possible in order to sell it as quickly as possible, to make as much money as possible. You will be better off buying a moderately priced used vehicle from a reputable dealer, or one that you had a mechanic look over. Then keep up the maintenance. Regular maintenance oil changes, brakes, etc is something most people can easily do themselves. It doesnt take up a lot of time and cost significantly less than 500 a year. 