Don't forget it helps deter thieves as well. Smash and grabs, catalytic converter thefts, etc. Also if you have other vehicles like bicycles/motorcycles then you'll definitely want them inside a garage vs outside where they're visible and more vulnerable.
Depends where you live; large garages can be normal. Obviously not 60% of the space, but garages can seriously help protect vehicles and you from the elements. They're great if you have severe winters, frequent rain, strong sunshine, and are now helpful for electric car charging.
@EnglishMobster@kbin.social was making the point that $12k is typically not enough for a down payment on a house. They did some rough math as an example showing that a $500k house would require a $100k deposit if you're putting 20% down. You nitpicked this number. However $500k for a house is a very reasonable number, so I'm nitpicking your nitpick. I guess we're all assholes here.
Anyway, USA median house price is $420k. For a 20% deposit you'd need $84k. Canada is worse than the US with an average house price of almost $670k.
That's called hearsay.