One issue is whether to buy expensive vehicles. I agree with you that people can get by with relatively inexpensive vehicles. Of course there are downsides to this, but there are downsides to every choice. So to each his own on this issue.

A different issue is whether to pay cash or to finance said vehicle. And what I'm saying is that that choice is relatively inconsequential in the overall cost of a vehicle. People will have their preferences between cash vs. financing, and for good reasons, but neither choice is going to make a meaningful difference in the person's long-term wealth.

In your OP you said, "Seems like some people make the choice to make car payments a massive chunk of their take home pay." And all I'm saying is that the choice to "make car payments" is not the issue. I think what you mean to say is that people make the choice to "buy expensive cars." That's the issue, not the payment method.