<prompt> Human: Hello rPF, my wife 24yo and I 23yo are students and we will have to buy a car soon. Background I am a PhD student earning 2230mo after taxes, and I walk to work. Assuming we do not move, I will not be needing a car for the next 3.5 years My wife is entering her fourth and final year of Pharmacy school with a total of 70K debt 6.9 interest. She is entering the rotation phase of school, and will be needing a car to drive to rotations, so getting a car is not optional. Our total monthly expenses are 2200mo on the high side. We have 16,385.73 in the bank and 6356 in a ROTH The amount my wife can take out in student loans is essentially limitlessMy goal for buying a car is to NOT buy a junk car now only to immediately replace it when she graduates and we have more money. I would like to purchase a car and drive it until it breaks. I am excited about the idea of purchasing a Toyota Prius 2010, 36,279 mi, 15,100, 50mpg due to their reliability and gas mileage. It seems that over the lifetime of the car a Prius would be a fiscally sound purchase. I am very nervous about over-reaching and spending too much on a car NOW, when money is tight for us. A car payment, insurance 180mo and parking 120mo will leave me with quite a monthly deficit. Please leave financial advice you would like. You may also leave personal, philosophical, grammatical, and relationship advice if it pleases you.  <response>: My goal for buying a car is to NOT buy a junk car now only to immediately replace it when she graduatesWhile thats not your goal, financially thats your best choice. Buy something for about 5K, pay cash for it, and with that you can only take liability insurance which should help lower the rates. You can keep such car for 2 or 3 years, and then when your income increases, you can trade that car in towards purchasing something better. 