I don't buy my cars to impress people, I buy them to have means of getting from Point A to Point B.
The last car I paid cash for was a 2006 RAV4, purchased in 2008. Hardly a "junker". And I drive my daughter home from her after school care less than a mile each day, hitting one light and topping out at about 25 mph in a suburban neighborhood. I think we'll be fine, but thanks for your concern.
2006 Toyota RAV 4 is a junker. I had one of those cars for a loaner when I took my car in for service once. I had no leg room. It had no acceleration, poor handling and poor braking. I can only imagine if it was such a poor car when it was new how bad it would be now. And you bought the car for your wife. It wasn't for you.
I don't buy cars to impress people. I like safe cars. And a 19 year old car isn't safe. I certainly wouldn't drive a child I claim to care about in it. And I am guessing it was a pretty awful car when you bought it.
But the whole point is you can't afford a decent car and you can't afford concert tickets and you can only afford half a beer a night which is all fine but you somehow think you are better than everyone else and you are giving people life advice.
I put the maximum into my 401k each year. I know how to save. If I am paying 0 percent interest on one car and 3.19 percent on the other with a good size down payment on both. I don't have any credit card debt. I owe a pittance on my mortgage. My total debt is less than my yearly income. There is a difference between being responsible and being cheap. I don't give anyone life advice as I am certainly not an expert.
You can keep driving your broken down cars but don't act like you know everything.