Cars are simply over priced in America based on average income.     A new car will set you back at least 16K or so. A used car can set you back $500 and up, and quality is not assured. A $3000 used car is no more guaranteed to function longer than a $500 car. Car repair fee's can be through the roof, coming up to hundreds or thousands of dollars.     For most people, cars are more for business than pleasure. Sure you use that car to go to a pub with friends....But it's primary use and mileage usually comes from commutes to and from work. Combine that with the cost of gas, and you're paying a lot out of pocket just to get to work. Many people might be spending an hour or two worth of pay just to get to and from work, which if you work 10 hours a day, would equal 10-20% of a paycheck.....before taxes...just on gas.     then there's license and tag fee's, which can go well over $100 a year, and insurance which in some states can be as high as $300 a month for minimal coverage.     Then there's the inevitable false tickets you'll get somewhere down the line, which can run you $100's of dollars more.    Cars are simply too expensive to where if you can do without them, that's the best option for saving tons of money.