Except that if they are "insured to the hilt" they/you become a bigger target for the sleazy lawyer who would take the case - and then you just perpetuate the system.

While I agree with much of what you wrote - I don't understand how being "some of the most lost people [you've] ever known" can possibly be a good thing. As I stated above, when I came back from a year(ish) in SW Asia / NE Africa I immediately surrendered my passport - during my travels I met a few of those homeless,…

Interestingly enough - I found Turkish food in countries near Turkey (e.g. Bulgaria, Jordan), but not actually *in* Turkey, better than Turkish food in Turkey.

My own trek to the NE Africa and SW Asia for a year simply cured me of any wanderlust. I surrendered my passport immediately upon reentry into the US.

I totally disagree. I lived for a year in the middle east as an ex-pat and I was so happy to come home to the US - I surrendered my passport immediately.

Check - thanks for your honesty.

Only one question, "auto broker": what (including all fees and taxes) did you pay for it?

You're just moving the goalposts to make your point - this reminds me of a Jezebel discussion. If Nissan-Renault had made it lighter, more exotic looking, and given it a proper stick shift - they would have had something IMO. As it is? There are a plethora of sub-$60K (used) sports cars that I'd rather have over one.

If you are serious, then your $3K will easily buy you a 10-15 year old, slightly crunchy, liter class sport bike.

Yeah, if a Toyota product is going to appear on this list - I'll take this over the (wrongfully anointed reliable and easy to work on, lol) LS400 any day of the week.

Not at all. Do you realize how many CV's and Gran Marquis are sitting in Grandpa's garage in Sarasota with about 4K miles a year put on them? These cars go to Estate auctions because a 15 year old car (even with 60K miles on it) isn't worth quabbling over in the will. I'm here to tell you (again, from personal…

I see your point. I guess what I'm saying is that for a "$3K beater" (which I've absolutely bought and driven) I could live with the 'marshmallow ride' of a Crown Vic that was garage kept by somebody's grandmother in Sarasota (estate sales, FTW!) easier than I could live with the spray painted yellow and cut-up…

Not unless you pull some really sneaky stuff with open source intel and then run it through Equifax without the SS#. We only did that if the car didn’t show back up right away (which happens).

In the most hetero way I can say this : I <3 you, Doug.

Absolutely wrong. Harley-Davidson / Buell, BMW, and Truimph all STRONGLY ENCOURAGE test rides - and I test rode all of my motorcycles before purchase.

They are rare here too (in the southeast). To be honest, there is almost nothing for sale here that starts, runs and has stick shift for less than about $1500, regardless of aesthetic condition.

While I agree in principal, could one find four decent five-spoke wheels, most of a new interior (installed), a full refresh (fluids, filters, hoses, belts, etc) and keep it under $3K?

Great buy. What area of the country?

1998 N/A whiteblock is a more reliable engine than the Lexus (in my experience). I do wish there was a stick shift example - because that heft and transmission coupled with the weakest engine make for a dog slow car.

Just wait until your power steering unit fails and the fluid leaks onto the alternator and wiring loom. I'm pretty sure the idiots who got fired from Lucas (when Jaguar went to Ford electronics) went and learned Japanese sometime in the late 80's / early 90's.