<prompt> Human: 22 y.o. son just moved to LA. Net monthly income around 4400. Needs a car. He has no real savings. Wants to buy a used car for around 5000-6000 and get a loan through my credit union 2.5. Maybe can afford 24-months term, or worst case, 36 months. Concerns - maintenance costs are open-ended. One big repair job could cost thousands. Pros - insurance will be cheaper. As a parent, dont feel comfortable with getting a cheap used car, and not knowing what your future expenses for it will be.Other option is a 36 month lease for a compact car Ford, corolla, etc. More cost up front, but lots of deals now with full maintenance. Car is under warranty for lease period, so no maintenance cost worries. After a few years, he can save up and buy a nicer car. Cons - mileage limits most are 12k, and insurance is going to be much more expensive. Thoughts?  <response>: Never lease a car! If you are worried about future repair expenses, have your son put away 150 every month into a car repair fund. That way if something does arise, he has some cash flow to toss at the repairs. Both of my vehicles are 15 years old and have 200k miles on them. They rarely need big repairs done to them. Keep up on routine maintenance and most cars will last a very long time. 