I really don't want to rain on your parade but a car is never an investment...it's always an expense.
The advice given by Steeler is something you might consider before falling into the trap of indebting yourself for many years to come. When I was your age I walked into a Datsun (Nissan) dealership late one night and several hours later drove out in a brand new 4x4 king cab truck on top of the world with a huge grin on my face.
The payments were within what I could afford, but the vehicle, even brand new, had hidden costs (higher insurance and registration) that I'd never considered.
I faithfully payed every month the $372 for 6 years and eventually clocked over 180,000 miles on the odometer. Counting oil changes, tires, shocks and everything else imaginable that broke after the warranty ran out... my total actual cost was utterly ridiculous especially considering that interest way back then even on a new vehicle was 14%+
I eventually traded it in on a used CJ-7 jeep and was thrilled to get $1500 for it. The Nissan was tired, worn out and in need of many more repairs. Sadly I did not have the money to spare to fix it.
The lesson I learned though is that ALL vehicles are simply an expense to own. Just like buying a new pair of Levis...they rarely appreciate in value and other than making you feel special for the moment, you really can't ever get back the money you spend up front.
Find a good used Honda or something similar and make that 5k work for you. Each monthly payment you don't have to make will pay for a ton of repairs in the end. What you don't need in repairs you can sock away in the bank or find a way to invest it.
It's hard to see others your age driving around in newer vehicles and not want the same, but all the money you start saving now, really comes in handy when you most need it for the things life will unexpectantly toss your way later.
