No, but a 10 year old car isn't exactly a cash purchase when you are in debt trying to get out of debt. A 10 year old car means... a car payment, usually pretty darn close to what you would pay brand new because of very short terms and higher interest rate.
I have a 20 year history of buying used cars. At 10 years old, you are pretty much figuring above 100,000 miles. We put about 20,000 miles or more on per year for each car. At 140-150,000 miles you can start expecting the larger repair expenses. So, there's only 2-3 years of life with that car until the bigger stuff starts going (clutch, head gasket, etc.)
A "beater" car is just that, one that cost nothing but will cost you in repair. Here up north, that means you are buying right around the end of life as far as corrosion. The rust starts happening anywhere from 150-200,000 miles. Once that starts, there's no stopping it. It's a bodywork repair every year for state inspection. I know, my previous 3 out of 4 cars I've been through have been 185k, 165k, 189k. All have had extensive bodywork and expensive maintenance/repairs ($1000+) over the final 5 years I've owned them.