Kicking Cybertires

I hate my car. I really hate it. I mean, the poltergeist was kind of the last straw. But even before that:

  • It gets terrible gas mileage.
  • I bought it because I thought keeping the dogs in the way back would help keep it clean, but it doesn’t.
  • I’ve spent a TON of money on repairs already. Plus, I have to get a new catalytic converter before my next inspection, and when I went to get the oil changed yesterday, “rear brakes blah, CV joint blah, struts blah blah”.

I’m done. I still owe $4,200 on it because I borrowed against it to do repairs and upgrades on my old house, but I don’t care. I want a different car.

I can’t afford a new one, naturally, but I want to get a one- to three-year old, manual transmission, smaller/less heavy, Japanese automobile. I probably can’t afford that either, but let’s say I could. What should or shouldn’t I get?