Scrap is definitely the way to go. I can get 18- 10 from my work. 

Go to the dealer to have things diagnosed, do the work yourself. 

My wife and I were 5 months away from being free of car payments when the engine blew on her car. We had to roll that 1400 in on to a new loan. 

Agreed. 

A nice suit, but way above what I should have been wearing while driving that truck. 

You have me beat. I have used a valet exactly 0 times. Although, a few years ago, my wife and I were going to a fancy dinner in downtown Kansas City (Missouri) and I insisted that we take my janky ranger. 2.5 liter 4 cylinder, 5 speed, dual fart can exhaust and 3 exterior colors. I was dead set on having it valeted.

And this is one of the reasons why I like taller sidewall tires. 

Good God. 

Good God, that thing was terrible. Stupid fast, guaranteed to wreck. 

That is true. Spark plugs are cheap, but there are 2 per cylinder and it’s individual coils, but the service interval is 120,000 miles.

Almost always I would agree with you. However, at the end of last year, I got a 2000 e320 wagon for 1,400 with 150,000 miles. I have done a tune up and replaced a few wear items and it has been great so far. There are a few things that need to be done to it still, but it is in great shape. 

My "first" car was a 1981 Dodge diplomat wagon that my brother "gave" to me when I was 15. It sat for a few months until my mom voluntarily returned her van to the bank. And then she proceeded to drive it in to the damn ground. Like, drove it for 40,000 miles and never bothered to change the oil on an engine with…

Same mentality that a guy I used to work with had. He was in his early 60s and the only thing on his credit was a $1200 loan he took out 20 years ago. Had enough cash to cover 40% of the house he wanted. Could not get a mortgage through any one. He had to work it so his mom was buying the house and he was renting it…

Yeah, but then you would need to have a new key made to unlock the door. 

Not even kidding, I see this a lot on school busses. 

My second car was a 94 escort in white. Bt the time I got it in 2009 it had more than 350,000 miles on it and still ran decently

Up until ~2010, you could get a c-class with a 6 speed and a v6. 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/koenigseggs-camshaft-less-engine-explained-watch-it-in-action-video

When driving, I put my butts in an old water bottle that I have in the car. After a few days, I throw it away and use another. When not in the car, I flick the burning part off, step on it to put it out and pocket the filter. 

My older e class wagon has 3 ash tray, one up front and one in each back door. They don't get used. Ashes go out the window, butts go in a water bottle. I smoke and I can't stand the people who throw them out of the window.