[donquixote99]

Please tell is model, year and mileage. Also, how many miles do you drive each year?

If it is a good quality car with not too many miles even some repairs every year will be cheaper than car payments, that's how I basically look at it.

I'm sorry to have to say that many shops see someone who defines themselves as 'knowing absolutely nothing about cars' as money walking in the door. Paying top dollar for dealer maintenance is, alas, no guarantee of honest service. You might decide to learn about vehicles and change your self-definition, and that can be done more easily now than ever, thanks to You-Tube. Or you need a more-knowledgeable person to go to service providers with you. Major expensive repairs require more than one estimate unless you're dealing with a provider who has previously earned your trust.