Why do you own the car you do?

[necso]

107. I bought my car because of (in no particular order):

* a relatively inexpensive purchase price;
* economy/ease of ownership/operation/maintenance;
* utility/performance;
* reliability/quality.

(Good, dependable, long-term, low-cost performance, basically.)

And 28 years (original price, $5,558) and 176k (almost 177k) miles later, it turns out to have been a good choice. (Pfft, it doesn't even have a hatchback. ... You going shopping anytime soon?)

There were other cars in the same price range (bottom of the new car market), and that might have had comparable economy and utility, but without comparable confidence in reliability, they weren't really an option. (I checked what was available; gave it my best judgement... I'd have kept my old car (a gift, used, and only previous vehicle), but it got towed for no good reason and the (automatic) transmission wrecked.)

(If they give you any crap, just order them into retirement.)

(And if I may make so bold: proconsul of the church, but tribune of the people.)