FWIW my first car i bought with cash for $500 but i crashed it, so i swapped my dodgey bung car for a car from my uncle (complete piece of cr@p) and drove that around until it kept dying.
I was 18, i was booted out of home and was living with a friend, working full time but with no savings and no-one to lend me money so i got a loan, then we traded that car and got a loan for my subaru as the cycle kept going.
We have just paid cash for this new car (my most expensive yet) but only because we got 'family money' - i don't see an issue with getting a loan, i worked full time but needed a car for travel as i did shift work and it was my only option back then.
I have a great credit rating now though