I wasn't having a go, obviously this sort query comes up time and time again. So I was just wondering... a 4K car should not have to cost you anymore in repairs than a newer vehicle if you choose wisely. I have a 73 Spitfire, all we've ever done is insure it and put petrol in it.

If you ever want to flog it give me missus a shout.

It might, it might not. On average an older car will need more in repairs though. There are no MOTs here either which makes issues much easier to hide/miss, and even if nothing major goes wrong, components like exhausts, tires, brakes etc will wear out regardless and all cost a lot of money.

I chose the finance option for many reasons,I had set out to buy a car at around $4000-$5000 with $1000-$1500 down,but I am clearing over $2000 every 2 weeks and will clear at least this much for the duration(with a payrise due next month),have a few $k banked and a few quid back in the UK,but I left that for my missus and the kids to live on.
It also builds my credit rating for when I chase a mortgage down the line,like others have said I have owned older cars in the UK and footed expensive repair bills to keep them running,and also like others have said,with no MOT over here it can make things a bit of a minefield when it comes to buying an old beater.
I was a mech years ago so know my way around a car,and there are a hell of a lot of cars on the road here that would be illegal to run back home.

I also did not see the point in remaining in the UK and just getting by when over here,like others have said,I have much more disposable income.
In the UK I was offered overtime once in 5 years,over here I can get as much overtime as I want.
I have been using my credit card to get a credit rating,but I clear the credit card every couple of days,I do prefer to use debit though.
As long as you are sensible about it,it isn't a bad move,I have no need for ATV's,boats,6ltr V8's,60" TV's,etc.. my car,my family,my dog,my job,and a roof over our heads will do,well ok a 40" TV will do lol.

Going up for sale in a couple of weeks once it has been titivated, I've got a capri going on the road this summer

Tyres, brakes, exhausts and other consumables wear out on new stuff too, so many people don't realise that

We have just bought a 2003 PT Cruiser for 1800, it needs nothing doing to it, new tyres and brakes and only 120k on it, its rare to find one of these so good for so cheap though. DD's car, a 2003 chev malibu, again low 100k miles also needed nothing. They are surprisingly good cars too and pretty strong if being used as a demolition derby car as we found out last week

There was a explorer we had that we bought and sold three times a 1990, oh did fix the rusty seals, where they always rust, other than that just consumables it eventually blew up at 350k kms, the guy buying it still bought it.

As you can see we buy older cars and very rarely if it a daily driver does it need a ton of work, OH, is too busy spending time on the cool stuff and the money.... Good luck in finding a decent low priced car, it can be done if you don't mind hunting for them.