Newer cars are more reliable than older cars. Older cars are cheaper to buy. Thomas Stanley’s book “The Millionaire Next Door” says that a car that is 2-3 years old is a good buy to get a reliable car at the cheap purchase price.
Buy a used car that’s 2 years old. Let somebody else eat the steepest part of the depreciation curve. To save even more off the purchase price get a four year old car. This isn’t an exact formula. Different cars yield different depreciations. You need to research each individual purchase. One thing is certain: Buying a brand new car isn’t the best investment.