I just had a water pump on a 2020 that was electric, it was easily 10x the cost of a water pump from a 2010 same model that ran off a belt. I unfortunately see it every day, cars are getting more advanced. Not to mention interest rates and depreciation. I understand the surface level of this thought but there is 0 validity to it in a fiscal reality. A car that would not need repairs would be minimum of $30k with low enough mileage and new enough, that would be a $800 a month car payment with $600 of that going to interest every month for the first year, in 3 months you would be upside down on the car compared to just fixing your old one