I've never owned a new car, no real interest in buying one either. I drive used cars until they die, then buy another, pay cash. Never know what I'll end up driving. I've had some fairly nice, sporty cars. I've had some really torn up beaters. Most of the nice ones have gotten in accidents (not my fault), and it really sucked seeing the go to the scrap yard, but usually not worth using the insurance check to get them fixed, not to mention I needed transportation before that check ever came. I buy the minimal insurance, only needed it twice in my whole life. It's just transportation to me, I'm not living in it.
My clutch went out on my '94 Ranger, couple weeks ago. Think I'm going to have someone else do that for me, not that much fun. Paid $2140.00 for a '99 Grand Prix, 117k miles on it. Seems to be running good, haven't had it over 70 MPH, yet...
It just seemed insane to me, what some people's month car payments are at work. Heard about a few, that were more than my mortgage payment, when I still had one. Never had full coverage insurance, but not real sure they are going to pay for a brand new car, if it's stolen, or completely destroyed, least not within a few days. My experience has been that the drag their heels, and very reluctant to cut that check, for a well used car, pretty sure they aren't going to be any quicker on a much bigger check.
They did do a bailout for cars, sort of, back in 2008, called Cash-4-Clunkers. The government paid quite a bit, to get people into new cars. The downside, was those clunkers had to be scrapped, and couldn't be re-sold. A lot of good cars and trucks destroyed, so people could have that new car experience, for a little while, until they got repossessed. Great for the auto industry, scrapyards, but not so good for guys like me. It took some looking to find something decent running, cheap.