i agree with mostly everyone on here. we know what it is like because we have been through it. I was 18 and signed my first loan, it was for a 2000 civic ex. i paid 12,000 for it.
I was a the office manager of Mr. Mulch on 161. I moved up quick and ended up blowing by school because i had something better at the time. I really regret not going to school, because i had way too much going on as to where i couldnt not work and go to school.
At this time i still had my very first car, a 1987 dodge shadow, granted the car was a piece, but it got me to where i needed. It took miles off of the civic when i didnt want to drive it.
After two years of having the civic i ended up buying a 91 tsi awd talon for 900. worst decision ever. So i then bought the Rx-7. Loan went through on this while i still had civic and everything. Next day i go to work and i was fired. I went in for our regular monday morning meeting at 6am and come to find out i no longer have a job.
Things can turn on a dime and screw you. I had the best credit rating, money and everything yet that can go away in an instant.
So all in all, if i had to do it again i wouldnt. For you i would suggest buying a 4,000 -5,000 car and pay that off first. when that happens sell it, buy something more expensive and so on. this way you do not wrap yourself up in a long term loan, and its not something to god awful expensive. You credit stays good and you dont over work yourself and take time away from school.