Originally posted by Kremithefrog:$3k used car with major troubles cost at most $3k to fix (the cost of another $3k used car). Still much less than a $14k+ new car, or the lease payments on said car. Obviously buying a ragged out car is not cost effective.
Warranties add to the cost of a car. Yes, a good idea if you don't know what you're buying or how to do repairs. I do some warranty work on a dealership's used vehicles here, so also helps my income.
You may want to check with other insurance companies. Yes, I'm sure georgia has cheaper insurance, but I could be paying $110 as well, through a different company and without multi-car discounts and other discounts.
However ... $3K car with "at least" $3K of troubles (I assure you I've paid well more than that on repairs in the past year on my Contour) leaves you without a car for potentially weeks or months out of the year. No good if you drive an hour one way to a job ... I'd MUCH rather pay even $30K if it can ensure me peace-of-mind and a loaner when I need.
