re: Financing vs. cash

The biggest question I would have is what interest rate you qualify for. If you can borrow at a really low rate then I would do that and put your spare cash that you didn't use in a tax-advantaged account like a 401 or IRA. That gets you the best of both worlds. There's nothing wrong with borrowing money if you can invest what you have at a higher return, in fact that is exactly how bankers get rich.

That said, if you don't qualify for a low rate (you mentioned you're just getting started) then it may be better not to do this if you have the cash.

Another option is to go ahead and finance the car and next month pay off as much as you can. Dealers will sometimes knock money off the sticker price if you finance with them, just be sure there is no prepayment penalty in the financing contract.