Opinion & Advice wanted buying the wife a car...

I guess it depends on what else you have in the stable.
I love to drive my ol Barracuda but I dont like to leave it in a public parking lot.
When I glace out the grocery store window and see someone looking in the car window I dont know if they are just gawking or about to steel the sterio.
When It comes time to load up grand parents or grand kids and go a comfortable 4 door is the only choise.
My wife drives a new RAV4 today. She drove a 04 RAV4 for 6 years. I replaced the serpentine belt, the battery, and nothing more. Dealership did oil changes, filters, etc..
We put over 60K miles on that RAV in 6 years without 1 problem.
A few days ago we learned that the wifes twin brother has testicular cancer :(
We'll drive to visit 400 miles one way several times during the comming months along with the daily commute. Seems that having someone total or 04 and our buying a new one a few months ago was truely a bressing. The airbags saved her and her passengers from serious injury.
You wont get any of the above from a 40 yr old car.
I could go on about finamcing, keeping my money in the bank, and more.
they say that wisdom comes with age. Truth is wise decisions are the result of previous bad decisions.
And by the way... The RAV4 was built in Virginia where the only other good paying job is in a coal mine.