[Flakbadger]

Long-term and short-term payoff is important too. My pickup was paid off, but when I got my Yaris, I ended up with a $161/month payment and $20 more a month for insurance.
Of course, I'm getting about 2.5 times more miles per gallon, and basically "made my car payment" plus saved $111 in the first 3 months alone.

Long term, I'm spending ~$13,000, but short term I'm saving myself $40 a month, and with my limited income, that makes all the difference in the world.