+1.

Only thing I can add is this:

An $800 car is an $800 car all day, every day. Your brother, being a mechanic, has zero idea why the car is being sold for $800. I've had $2500 cars that my mechanic told me were in great shape, only to have them blow, throw or fail within days of that "inspection" twice in my life.

On the other hand, my wife's parents forced me to buy her a new car, via a long - steady - attack of the brows, that proved the other side of the dime to me; a new car isn't going to fix all your problems either.

If you buy the $800 car are you prepared to do proper maintenance on the vehicle? Are the tires going to work in the weather conditions you've mentioned? Is the battery less than a year or so old? Heat for defrost work?

On a whim, I'd prepare to spend (at least) the following:
$800 - car
$120 - registration, tax, title, license, blah blah (assuming 10 percent) - this is an annual investment
$100 - insurance (recurring, monthly bill)
$100 - battery
$250 - new tires, balanced
$45 - oil change
$75 - tune up. plugs, air filters, fuel filter, wires. It could be less depending on the car. My Ford cost me close to this
-------------------------------

$1490, not including the first tank of gas.

So, if you're looking at buying a $800 vehicle, you've probably gotta have at least $1600-$2000 to get that vehicle on the road, safe, legal and that's the beginning.

I'd hate to be the gideon of reason (I wave my clenched fist at you bikeforum_craigslist mafia!) - but you need to consider public transportation or going and buying a used bike on craigslist.

Sorry, that's my opinion.