[spkthed]

Borrowing someone else's car is probably more hassle than it's worth. You'll have to deal with insurance, maintenance and there's problems, you risk that relationship.

You assume that older cars are cheap and newer ones aren't. Get something reliable (good engine, good transmission) that's ugly or damaged in some non-functional way. I've had friends that have driven $500 cars all their lives and had them work. The secret is finding something that nobody else wants for non-functional reasons.