<prompt> Human: So heres a little background of my career and expenses.. I make 53k - my cellphone bill is paid by my company, I get about .55 a mile when traveling to customer site. If I dont travel to customer site I work from home. I can expense tolls as well.. I have a student loan that I pay 400 a month. I believe there is something like 34k left - I can check exactly if needed. When I get my biweekly check - I put 400 into a savings account, 100 into a sharebuilder mutual fund account, 200 into a bill pay account which is used for my college loan. The rest is used for spending - I usually have extra by the time my next check comes around so I throw whatever is left into my savings account. I also have a 401k that I put 300 into every paycheck. I dont have any other expenses as I live at home and will have a place to stay with zero expenses for a couple more years.Im reaching 10k in my savings account and im looking to put 5k down on a car with 5k emergency cushion left over in savings account. I have around 2k in mutual fund and around 6k in 401k. My father thinks buying a brand new car for around 30k would be worth it in my situation.. since I dont have many expenses now and since im consulting I need a reliable car to get around to customers. 30k kind of scares me so I have come here to ask for help! Do I need to provide more details? I know this post is kind of all over the place.. Is 30k a good idea? too much? how can I make myself more comfortable if I do buy this car? I think I can afford it but im scared that I will not have much spending money which I enjoy because im young and like to travel and have fun!---EDIT--- First time posting here and let me say this community is freaking awesome. Thanks guys for the discussions - Going to have to discuss this with my father. I know ultimately its my decision just want to see what he says advice wise if I say im going to buy used. Any tips for buying used cars _...? Still looking at maybe a mazda... was looking at the suburu crosstrek new as well. could look around for used as well.EDIT2 not sure if you all see updates when I edit.. but I think im leaning towards a cheaper new car.. maybe somewhere around 20k. no more then that.. I didnt know this but the 2004 not 2006 my mistake has a defect in the airbags and it could shoot out metal... thats no good so I want to get a new car by summer.. I also cant really be driving the civic to and from my gfs 130 miles away every weekend having to worry about breaking down and having no car for work.. Im not too fond of buying someone elses problems.. I know you could find a great used car and not every car is like that.. but I guess why risk it? 20k for a new car I think is doable and worth it in my situation. thanks for all the help and advice guys - really appreciate it.Assistant: Yes its too much. I think by asking this you feel this in yourself. If you consider the immediate depreciation from buying new meaning the moment you drive off the lot plus the interest you would pay on the loan, its not an asset worth 30k. It also has expenses and maintenance that you will accumulate annually. If youre buying a entry model luxury car like a BMW, some of that may be included in price, but unlikely. Tires alone on cars like that can run 500 a tire. I know, Ive bought them. I also would suggest at 23, you are doing everything else really well, so why take on this obligation? Do you have a girlfriend or other person because if you do, odds are you are going to have your life turned upside down in 5 years with settling down. As for reliable, there are a lot of cars in the world now that are reliable. Barely anything new these days is going to not get you around well for 5 years or more. Hell, there are lot of recently used cars that will do this for you. With that said, if you want it, go get it, and work harder so you earned it and the next one. If you have a bit of hustle in you, the world is your oyster and get it. You are your own best resource. Human: Was looking at the Mazda CX-5, or mazda 6. base msrp is like 24kishhh I think. I get the whole depreciation thing once its off the lot but then why does anyone buy a new car... I feel like its a reward for my hard work. a brand new car no one else has driven just sounds nice to me haha. 5 years into the future is scary though - who knows what ill be doing.. hopefully though I will have a much higher salary.. my company is not afraid to give raises given I get my certifications. decisions decisions...  <response>: Why do you deserve a 30k reward when you already have over 30k in debt? Give yourself a much cheaper reward. Youre already falling into lifestyle inflation. 