Before you buy any car, do the 5-minute "Cars From Home DNA Test": Google "[Year] [Model] reliability" for red flags, then "[Year] [Model] longevity" for long-term issues. Next, assess repair costs. For a Honda, self-insure. For a Mercedes or Volvo with $3,000 repair bills, get a dealer extended warranty—aftermarket ones fail daily. Always call multiple finance departments for quotes.