<prompt> Human: I loved browsing this sub in college and making plans for post graduation.I recently graduated from a very specific engineering program. A lot of my classmates are struggling with employment. I was very fortunate and found a super interesting job which allows me to live at home and work on something that makes me happy. My salary is 45k but I expect to make closer to 53kyear with bonuses. My base salary will increase to 50k at 6months in and potentially more at a year. I am currently 22 years old and unfortunately have student loans 35k.The problem is that by living at home and saving a few hundred dollars a month! my commute is about 30-35 minutes. This is not an issue for me as I love driving but it is an issue for my car 1998 Chrysler Sebring. I used this car throughout college I commuted for a year and it is basically junk at this point. The AC doesnt work well and the heat does not work at all. Mechanically it is very iffy. I was advised, during college, to just run it into the ground by my mechanic. At this point I am getting very nervous my car wont start one day and I wont make it to work which could easily cause me to be fired. Additionally I occasionally drive for work. I have concluded that within the next months I need a new car. I am extremely interested in the Civic. I love the 2016 version. A major issue I faced toward the end of college was that the used car marked in my state is very full of scams. I looked at 2 cars as a senior that both had huge issues that the seller did not disclose and my mechanic found. Hence I stuck with my 98 Sebring. So I have been looking at used Civics 2012-2014 and there are some good deals but I am very nervous about potential issues as well as the time that it takes to go look at a car, the cost of mechanic visits and all of the potential issues that might arise within a month of owning a used car that I might struggle to afford.I am already at work and have paychecks coming in. After looking at Costco financing, new graduate financingrebate I could get a pretty killer deal on a new Civic. This car has been keeping me up at night haha. I would love some advice on what you would do in my shoes and how long I should wait to make the purchaseanything I have forgotten. I should mention that insurance is almost identical between 2012-2016 civics from my insurer. Thanks for your time guys, I am super excited with everything and hoping to get started on my student loans 35k and cant wait to read everyones input. I promise to update this post if that is allowed? when I make a decision and will include some numbers!  <response>: Without a budget we cant tell you if you can or cannot afford the car. Even if we had that wed still need the price of the car estimated insurance costs, etc.Looking at how you omit that information but talk at length about the car you want makes me think you have the I-want-it-nows. Learning to recognize that feeling and handle it properly is a great skill to have for a nice life.Either way, youre getting generic information:Youre monthly payment on a new Civic with a 5 year low-interest loan will be around 350-400month. Dont forget to also add in insurance. If you finance it youre going to have to carry collision and comprehensive. This could easily be another 100month, possible a lot more depending on where you live and your driving history.Youre doing the right thing getting the cars inspected, always do that. Just know that there is a big difference between a scummy seller selling a bad car with known issues, and a clueless owner not knowing about issues. When its the later as long as the issue isnt major you can always ask them to either fix it and get it reinspected after or deduct the price of the repair a bit more from your offer. The latter is much riskier as youre SOL if another big issue is found during the repair, or the repair needs to be more extensive than you originally thought.If you are really worrying about buying a clunker used, go get one from a dealership. Most will either extend the factory warranty or offer their own. It will be more expensive that buying from a private party. But if that warranty and peace of mind is worth the extra cost to you, then that isnt a bad thing.Couple things to really think about. How easily can you find a new job if you have to? Layoffs can come out of no where. Also you mention living at home, so Im assuming thats parents? Will having a large car loan you are financially committed to hamper your ability to move out? I dont know youre exact age, but given that you mentioned graduating recently Im assuming you are 22-24. You might be comfortable now living at home, and thats great. But in a couple years you will most likely want to start branching out on your own. Do not let a car loan force you to stay home because its preventing you from affording rent. 