Cost of buying a car

You are in the market to buy a car.
How much would you be prepared to payfor a car?
A new Caddy or BMW costs a great many thousands. But you have the money or else your employer has. The moment you take the car on the road it begins to lose money, but it might make the folks next door green with envy. It might attract the attention of crooks who will try and steal it. Maybe a drunk driver will redesign your pride and joy for you. Shorten the wheelbase or lower the roof line. All of these things cause grief and heartache plus your time and money. Insurance not withstanding, car ownership can be a major trauma.
So why not buy something cheap and cheerfull. Recently my old car was trashed by would be thieves and had to be replaced. The insurance ran one of their we aren't paying scams past me, so money was tight.
I bought a Nissan Bluebird for £400, about $600. 12 years old, 96,000 miles on the sundial. Bodywork tidy. The electrics work fine, as does power steering, brakes and auto transmission. It starts 1st time on the key and i'll cruise at 80 plus on the hiway and is rock steady. What more can I want.