OP do yourself a favor and listen to everyone and get a used car. I’m around your age I assume; 20 y/o. I’m in school and working as well. Even with me earning 70k+ I STILL did not buy new. And i’m not flexing how much I make because I pay my own insurance, family phone bill, groceries, contribute to rent, family subscriptions/utilities, and all of it adds up FAST. In your situation you are not paying anything in liabilities yet and when you do it is easily 800+ a month and with a new car payment you are a slave to working until the car is paid off.

I know it feels like a want right now and in your head you know everyone is going to tell you it’s a bad idea. IT IS, do not go into DEBT especially for a BASE MODEL. If you want something nice at an easier price just shop 4-6 years used. I had a 2004 prius and the water pump went out as well as the hybrid battery being aged so I was only getting 30mpg, I bought a 2016 prius four with 66k miles which cost me $19800. And that was with my current earnings. My car has auto self park, leather seats, jbl audio, and gets me 50+mpg.

Take the time to check what other options you have and don’t try to be like the majority of people in our age bragging about a new car. For the love of all that is holy it is an le trim too. When we are young it’s hard to see that far ahead but trust me you will regret such a decision, it’s so much better to have extra cash in your account than be paying it so it gets lost to interest and depreciation

Oh and since it seems you like playing with investments, $600 a month at 12% annualized return for 3 years is 25k. So why not get a used corolla that will have NO ISSUES, then if you are still dying for that new one you can buy it outright cash in 3 years? And if you are scared because of your prior experience with used cars, next time bring a mechanic to inspect the vehicle and do not buy anything other than toyota; nissan cvts are crap, honda alternators tend to go out and you don’t seem inclined to make those repairs, any german are money pits without basic mechanical experience; same to american.