That's the first problem. I've never had a "car payment" in my life, and as a corollary, have never spent a penny on collision insurance. Even though my income is well into 6 figures, the most I've ever spent for a car was $3500, cash and drive (my current car, a 1992 Buick which I've had for about 6 years, and averages $500 a year in repair/maintenance costs). Needless to say, I'm not living paycheck to paycheck.
That phrase alone marks you as a smart investor. Buicks are good, safe, dependable cars which are generally owned by elderly drivers who take meticulous care of them and don't rack up the miles. They are also negative status symbols for young people, so they be bought used for a reasonable price.