If your car is broken, don't trade it in for a new car. Just fix it. You don't need a new car. Any feature you (think you) can't live without is available as an aftermarket installation.

Obviously, some cars are more reliable than others. Do your research. If your car has reliability issues, get rid of it and get one that doesn't.

As soon as you buy a car, buy the Chilton or Haynes manual for it and start reading it. Don't wait until something is broken to learn how to fix it. Oil changes, brakes, spark plugs, fuel injectors, alternator, battery, and tires are all required reading.

If a fix call for tools you don't have, make a list, and start saving and buying them. Don't wait until you're half eay through a repair to find out you can't finish and your car is all apart. Buy the cheapest piece of shit tools you can find. When one breaks, that means you use it enough to make a better version worth your money.

Obviously, this only applies to people who actually need a car. If an e-bike or something else is viable for you, don't waste your money on a car; it's not an asset, no matter what that guy at the dealership told you.