@moneycoachdave: One Car Choice Could Make You Broke or Wealthy. Don’t Get It Wrong. My car is worth about $2,000, but my portfolio is around $350,000, and I think those two numbers are related. Buying a used car in cash helped me avoid a car payment, which gave me more money to save, invest, and build wealth. This does not mean everyone needs to drive a car with 280,000 miles on it. But it does mean your car choice can have a massive impact on your financial future. What did you pay for your first car?