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This is what I recommend to all my friends. Go cheap ("bangernomics" is what we used to call it in the UK, from "an old banger" car), or go newer (<5 years & <60k miles & full history, or leased from new) because the middle ground is too risky.

It's incredibly hard to convince them though.

What are your definitions of the 3 different levels of car?

Not him, obviously, but for me:

> cheap rubbish car

Something for $1,000-5,000. It's a gamble buying this type of car. It's either going to be a gem that was well-maintained by a senior, or an absolute nightmare of tow-trucks and repairs.

> okay-ish car

$6,000+. Car comes in decent shape, is clean, ready for the road, but is still in midlife. You can probably get at least 5 years out of it, most likely more, but things will start breaking.

> good car

Brand new car. Minimum $15,000+. Can last a lifetime, depending on how much you drive and how well you maintain it.

I felt exactly like this on my last car. That made me decide to never, ever get a car loan again. I'd rather drive absolute trash beater cars before ever getting stuck in a loan.

Best option is to save up ~$10,000 and get something decent outright.