<prompt> Human: My thoughts, somewhat hypothetical, are as follows.. buying a used car around 5-10K usually results in a piece if sht. I dont want a car payment. My logical side says get what I can with the cash I have. My gut tells me to put the 5K cash down towards a vehicle that will be more reliable. In the 15-20k range. Knowing im buying for the future. Buying to stay in the family for as long as it can. Cars are usually a poor investment. I feel they can be a better investment if you have reliability, warranties and longevity. You cant get any of that for 5k. Someone with greater knowledge than I please help.Thank youNickP.S. The clock is ticking...Assistant: buying a used car around 5-10K usually results in a piece if sht.Drop that ridiculous notion before you ruin yourself financially. Human: I had a 08 Impala. 150000 miles paid off and was happy. Car accident put me in this and I feel I have a hard time of finding anything close to what I had before. I have two small boys. Safety is a concern above all.  <response>: An early 2000s corolla are great cheep cars that last a long time. They might not look great but run like a champ 