My first car was financed by my parents because my $9500 car turned into $14000 after all the paperwork was signed. My dad was*****ed at the dealers, turned around and paid them cash, and put me on a finance plan. They got their money back, but it wasn't in any way reliable or on time, for which I am ashamed (but thankful to them).

The second car I financed was $11500, which cost me nearly $17000 all told over 5 years. I bought a payment plan, not a car. I learned an important lesson - never buy on impulse, and never buy debt. Didn't help I also had about $8000 in CC debt at the time, too.

The last car I bought, I paid cash, knew what it was worth, and offered the little old lady a bit more than that simply because she was nice and wanted to redo her roof. Could have been a lie for all I knew, but she didn't dick me around.

I'll never buy a "new car" again.

My SO was rather credit ignorant in many ways before we got together. She was bright enough to not depend on credit cards or anything like that (she did finance a refrigerator because she had to have one.)

However, when she needed a new car, they talked her into leasing it and then she bought it when the lease was up.

I made her cry (and really felt ****ty about it) when I pointed out that she would end up having paid $58K for a $22K car by the time it was paid off.

The one good thing that came out of it is that she's now quite aware of how much "deals" like that end up costing and wouldn't ever do it again.