Share your insights or perspective on the financial matter presented in the input.

Pay down the student loan, or buy the car with cash?
To directly answer your question, the best choice is to pay cash and place the rest on your student loan. This is saving you from paying more interest.  To offer some advise, consider purchasing a cheaper car to place more money towards your student loan debt. This will be the best financial decision in the long-term.  I suspect the reason you are considering financing this vehicle is that the cash payment feels like a lot. Trust your instinct here. This vehicle sounds like large splurge considering your current debt, and your gut is telling you as much. Be patient. Use your liquid funds to get a more affordable vehicle and attack the debt. That is setting yourself up for financial success.