First car I ever drove by myself was a 64 1/2 Mustang. Still love those cars.
As for buying as opposed to repairing, it’s a lot cheaper to put out a few hundred every now and then than to make a payment every month. My wife bought the 2007 4runner. I have a Volvo and RAV4 that are paid for. I repair them when needed.
I was offered $3,000 not long ago for the RAV4. It’s got 190,000 miles on it. Probably should have taken it but I bought it new in 1996 and it has a special place in my heart. Besides, when I bought I said I hoped to put 200,000 miles on it.
If I remember what she said, this Mustang had just over 100,000 miles when she went to get it. Since it has been restored, she loves to drive it on the beach roads.
It gets a good cleaning before going back into the garage and covered. Some car buff offered her a nice price, but she turned it down.