In 1983 my Parents matched my $400 savings for a grand total of $800 towards a car. I bought a '78 hatchback Honda Accord which I drove for 2 years. It had over 200000 miles on it when my Dad took it away from me to trade in on a new car for himself.
I gained an '83 Buick Century (his old car) out of the deal, and the Century had a 6 cylinder!
Then I crashed the fuck out of it and had to buy my own car.
been buyin' a new one every 2 years since then!