A car has obvious practical utility if you live in a country where a car is the only way to get around. In many places it's basically essential to having a basic life where you get to your job, and so on. A television has comparatively little such practical utility, and the downsides to setting your sights on a cheaper one are much easier to live with.

The value of a car is also substantially greater (making a cash purchase less practical) and your odds of recovering a substantial portion of the purchase price through resale are much better (indeed with a TV you'll likely pay to get rid of it).