Congress should not be screwing around with people's delinquent loans.
Granted, beaters are more expensive than they were, but brand new vehicles generally suck as an investment.
They lose a chunk of their value with the first few miles as they become 'used' cars.
A good used car will have some repairs in its future, but most of a vehicle's longevity is a combination of being serviced regularly (oil/filter changes) and driven reasonably.
That said, rental car outfits roll over their fleets regularly, at about the three year mark. Those tend to be well maintained, inside and out.
Estate auctions used to be a good place to go, as the 'kids' already have vehicles that suit them, and grandma/grandpa's old boat is often garaged, and well serviced. Avoid ones which show signs of neglect, or belonged to hard drinkers/druggies, as they are often neglected.
If you have the means to track a vehicle's history, that might be worthwhile, too.
