<prompt> Human: not sure if this should be hereHelp I need to buy a car and have no idea what Im doing. My car is broken down and was suggested by my mechanic to replace it rather than do a full repair. My problem is I dont know cars or how to finance. I do know I want a compact or subcompact with back seats and not a KIA soul. Most importantly, Im looking for one with the lowest long term prices like mpg and maintenance and initial investment. I have 10k in the bank but dont want to have to spend more than 6k from my account. My current car can sell for 2-4k according to kbb but I cant sell that till have a new car to drive, so I have no idea how much I will sell it for. I do make about 2080 gross month in ohio. So what make, year, and how would you suggest me pay for it?  <response>: My problem is I dont know cars or how to finance. Pay in cash: Self explanatory Finance: You get a loan and you pay it off over 345 years. The exact payments depend on your initial down payment, the length of the loan, and your interest rate. Your interest rate itself depends on your credit score. Generally the best rates are for scores 750 with established credit history, with higher interest rates for lower scores. Lease: Basically, youre renting a car. Okay option if you need a car but are tight on cash, but not a great option in the long term since you wont own the car at the end of your lease.I do know I want a compact or subcompact with back seatsIm looking for one with the lowest long term prices like mpg and maintenance and initial investment.Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are the best for reliability cheap maintenance cheap repairs. Mazda3 if youre willing to sacrifice some reliability for something much more fun to drive. Avoid Chrysler like the plague. I wouldnt go Ford either, as theyre dropping the FiestaFocus so any repairs could get pricey due to lack of parts on top of their reliability reports with the automatic transmissions.I have 10k in the bank but dont want to have to spend more than 6k from my accountThats actually not a bad amount at all.My current car can sell for 2-4k according to kbb but I cant sell that till have a new car to driveThats a good chunk of money too.so I have no idea how much I will sell it forGet the best realistic price for it. It doesnt sound like youre hurting for money so you can afford to sit on your car for a few months trying to find the right buyer. You will get a ton of lowball offers, but if youre patient you should get good offers in too.So what make, year, and how would you suggest me pay for it?You can likely afford a ten year old CivicCorollaMazda3 outright. Theyll be older cars lacking modern features, but its definitely something you dont have to finance. Youll 100 need to pay for a mechanic to inspect the car thoroughly before you buy it. Any seller that doesnt let you do this is one you should walk away from. Period.That said, if you can afford it and you have good credit, I would recommend financing a newer car.You can find a 4 year old car for 10k-12k. These cars obviously have better features and lower mileage, but the reason I suggest this route is warranty. Certified Pre-Owned CPO cars are dealer used cars that carry a warranty. Youll be paying more for both a higher value of the car and a dealer premium but depending on your financial situation I think this could be a good move. A dealermanufacturer warranty with a used car can be a big deal.Again, the financing depends on if you can afford it. Theres two major factors to consider: How much you can pay per month. You listed your take home, but you didnt list your cost of living and other expenses. Make sure that you actually have the money to make payments on top of other obligations slush fund, savings, retirement investments, etc. Your credit score: Generally if youre over 660 you should get good rates. 750 youll get fantastic rates. Below 660, I wouldnt bother. Be sure to go by your FICO score too. CreditKarma gives you your Vantage score which no one uses. Use CreditScorecard to see what your Experian credit score is and go from there. 