It can seem sad for teens, but requires perspective:
Value of the Dollar is what, 1/8 what it was when I bought my 1st car in 1969 ?
('64 Corvair for $500, which soon needed an engine rebuild, so about $1200 all in.)
In that timeframe, the maintenance & small repairs were required much more often than on newer cars.
Most of us in high school weren't driving performance or sporty cars.
But it's a completely different world now; from what's available, what's expected, ad infinitum.
Seems like $2500 - $4500 is the entry price now for something decent, and that's likely 70s-90s stuff.