Usually, I would say buy a used car then... but right now, used cars are ridiculously priced too! The used car dealerships are making money hand over fist too, and some people are out there paying ridiculous prices for old cars, probably because of the wait times on new cars. And you know the dealers are lowballing the fuck out of people who don't know any better, and asking stupid prices.

It also doesn't help that every manufacturer has basically stopped selling their low-end small cars. No more Honda Fit. No more Ford Fiesta or Focus.

The thing is, I don't think that most people buying cars right now even 'need' them. So people like you who do need one are also getting screwed by that.