<prompt> Human: I am graduating college this semester and am phasing into the new adult life, looking to BUY a USED CAR with CASH.I have no debt. I have about 20k in savings right now. I have been offered a job that pays 59k before taxes approximately 3500month take-home by my calculations. I have not accepted this job yet, but if I do, I will start February. Heres the catch - I plan to go to med school at some point as early as in two years, which would effectively halt my income after that time period. With this in mind, how expensive of a car can I afford? I would like this car to last me at least until the end of med school, or at least 6 years. I like buying American, so Ive been looking at perhaps a recent model 201416 of a Chevy Cruze or Ford Focus with an ideal price range of about 10k... what are your thoughts? Assistant: If you really want to fit in with the doctors who are financially savvy, buy a 15 year old beater for 1500 or less. If it breaks, you still have 18,500 to buy another 1500 beater. Plus youll always have around 500 in scrap for a car, or youll be able to sell it for a similar value if you have it a few years. Plus, insurance will be dirt cheap for a car thats already paid off. Remember, financed car car car payment insurance higher registrationplates higher maintenance costs espcially at the dealer or shameless mechanic Stressdealing with a dealer and their games. look out for upsell tactics, walk out if they take your keys into the management office and refuse to give them backAnyway, I would suggest a 1992-1997 miata if you want fun, cheap, and rear wheel drive. ford had a stake in mazda foreverReliable car is a relative term. If you have brain cells and a cell phone, you can do all your own maintenance for 13 the cost and better parts and even if your car isnt reliable it will be a part of you if you do your own work for fun and will a much closer meaning to you.Dont be stupid and buy a recent year used car.Human: Why exactly is buying a recent year used car a stupid thing to do? Genuine question here.. I thought a big reason to buy used was to dodge the giant depreciation that occurs to new cars in their first 1-2 years, salvaging as much losses as possible when time comes to re-sell, while getting something more modern, reliable, and safe.  <response>: I would be careful with this advice. Youre going to want something that will still be reliable in 6 years when youre finishing med school. Theyre not going to cut you a ton of slack when you show up late to the wards in 3rd or 4th year. A series of beaters may be cheaper, but the costs of them breaking down at the wrong time in med school would be more than financial, Id imagine. 