Maintenance is negligible. A set of used tires can be had for $200. If it's not part of the drivetrain, most fixes can be done in a couple hours for a couple hu

Maintenance is negligible. A set of used tires can be had for $200. If it's not part of the drivetrain, most fixes can be done in a couple hours for a couple hundred bucks. I've maybe spent $2000 on brakes, tierods, alternators, and starters. I buy cars that are easy to maintain yourself. If I can't fix it, I sell it for parts or junk it. Avg price doesn't matter. You can find plenty of cars in the $3-5k range that are mechanically sound but have aesthetic issues. Imo, buying a brand new car is the biggest waste of money ever.