The studies are completely flawed.

Capitalism is extremely flawed but it’s the best system we have.

Forbes.. https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/06/12/dont-buy-the-hype-college-education-is-not-an-investment/#6440f2175e02"...The most glaring flaw is that it draws a conclusion about future conditions (earnings that people who go college now can expect) from data based on earnings for college graduates going decades back.

I'd rather spend some cash now on an inspection than be stuck with a property that had a flaw I missed.

When you surround yourself with like-minded people (such as on this forum, or in a local networking group) you end up talking to a bunch of people who all think alike, and sometimes it takes an outsider to point out a fatal flaw in what you're doing, or to anticipate a risk that you didn't see. 

Crashes require a systematic flaw to be present and triggered.  

Now, back to the subject, the entire idea of sacrificing to get ahead is flawed.

there is a huge flaw in your story.   

I suspect most people on here consider 'beaters' to be perfectly fine mechanically, mostly visually OK vehicles with some flaws that are reasonably comfortable and serve the purpose without costing an obscene amount of money.

Your flaw here is that you project YOUR life and YOUR situation onto HER options.