It is an asset protection vehicle if managed properly. 

I section 179 all my company's vehicles.

My wife and I are real estate newbies, but have been investing in more "traditional" investment vehicles for several years now.

I need a vehicle to find and drive sellers to me .  

I can then find another good deal- used vehicle for below market value, with lower miles, and a bit newer. 

I would suggest looking at the ROI, rather then cash flow, that you are getting for the cash you are putting down, and compare to other investment vehicles.

I have my personal residence and vehicles on the same insurance, and my personal residence (worth much more) is less for insurance.  400-600 is the range i was shooting for. 

@William DavisI can't answer your question, nor can anyone else without knowing the process of accomplishing "a way to minimize your tenant's rent without losing money".I like the sound of "making our air cleaner without switching from gas vehicles" but not if the strategy is killing half the population of people who drive gas vehicles.People are "so quick to judge or make fun of the idea when you don't even know what is" because we don't know what it is and making blanket statements/ asking generic questions and saying "I cant say" when people ask what you're talking about - sounds sketchy.

I was intrigued by the topic of "opportunity zones" discussed on the BP Podcast episode 269 (the one about RE & taxes).As I understand it, it seems almost like a "1031 exchange" type of investment vehicle but rather than property<>property, you could use other equity assets like stocks or mutual funds to invest in designated opportunity zones in low income neighborhoods via opportunity zone funds.

With confidence, I can say that real estate is my vehicle.