Buying a car 2025

I probably need to buy a "new" car but uncertain on the best plan.

For context, I've owned four cars in my life - a Ford Fiesta inherited from my mum that eventually just needed replacing, a Suzuki Swift bought new and run for about a decade (until the repair bills stopped it being worthwhile to keep), another new Swift that lasted for another decade (until I hit a deer and the car was written off). After that, I bought a cheap second hand Toyota Yaris but it was shitter than anticipated and I hate it. I'm not a "knows lots about cars" sort of person but do tend to keep them in decent condition/serviced and I do like that early few years of not having expenses.

The latter Swift was around £9300 bought new, although I guess fifteen years ago. They seem to be closer to £20000 now.

I don't have the cash to buy new though could get a loan (from the bank).

I could do some kind of car leasing deal but they always seem crazily expensive to me (and looking at the Suzuki website, it looks like I'd only be able to drive 8000 miles a year).

Any ideas on the best way forward?

No, but I’m following. I have to buy a new car this year, and it is looking like it’s gonna be a near-decade old Accord Hybrid

Bf swears by old Elantras, his just gave out tho so idk

Currently driving a 15 year old Prius, no issues, but bf hates the high dashboard (it is really high)

I am also driving a 15 year old Prius. I recently replaced the head unit.

Last year I revived a thread about buying a car after having my car totalled in an accident. I got a nice polite “FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS” reply. I’m still pissed off about that, of course, because I’m a child.

A friend has suggested to avoid a lease in favour of a loan and then owning the car - they found keep the car scratch-free too stressful, lease-wise.

Leasing is just renting a car for several years. Despite being someone who will never, ever buy a house and will happily rent apartments until my body is found rotting in one, something about leasing a car doesn't sit right with me. I bought a Subaru Crosstrek last year and will be paying it off until 2028, but my understanding is that they are strong, reliable cars that last forever (I see Subarus from the 80s and 90s on the roads all the time) and mine is both four-wheel-drive and slightly higher off the ground than most other cars, so perfect for this area, where it snows a lot starting around Halloween and ending around mid-March.

i'd kill for one of the subaru suvs, any of them. small trucks are sexy to me, i like old tacomas, but the covered space in a small suv is a lot more practical.

i'm following too. my car has issues. i'm scared about how long it will last. i have so much debt and when student loans come back next year i don't know what i'm gonna do. no idea what i'd be able to afford other than: the cheapest. i'd actually rather have something pre-2012. hate computer cars.

hate computer cars.

We also still have a 2009 Nissan Versa, which came with a 6CD changer and without a goddamn iPad mounted in the middle of the dashboard.