I am not fully up to speed on your sitch but I'll offer my 2 cents (okay...maybe 5 cents)...
List of considerations...
1) How many miles do you normally drive?
2) Based on your location, I believe that it snows a lot up there, so do you need 4 wheel drive or not?
3) What can you realistically afford?
4) I would first consider a used car but not one with a great deal of miles on it.
5) Go to kbb.com and do research on cars that you may be considering.
6) Go with the extended warranty if it make sense, especially if you buy used.
7) if you purchase a certified pre-owned, some come with an extended warranty.
8) The key to car shopping is this....you have to be willing to walk away.
9) if you are buying used, know the value of the car you are looking at.
10) See what your L says, you do not want to come across as a gold digger nor do you want to settle for something that is going to break down in a few years.
BTW, what do you drive now?
"The difficulties of Life are intended to make us BETTER,not bitter". "Fear is a prison, where you are the jailer. FREE YOURSELF!" "Life is usually all about how you handle Plan B." - Jack3Beans
