<p>@Longsx3–I suppose one reason I fall into the “somewhat older car” camp is that I don’t envision either of my new drivers taking a car with her to college. So the advantages of a new car (e.g., warranty, belts and hoses and tires that are all brand new) don’t seem as great to me.</p>
<p>It’s not that I think oldness is inherently good. It’s more that I don’t want to put more money than I have to into something that’s going to lose value and that’s quite probably going to be subjected to some hard treatment.</p>
<p>Of course, YMMV.</p>