The first car I owned was a Pontiac Astre. It was 12 years old when I got it for $250 in 1987. The tires were bald and the steering had a dead spot between 11 and 1 o'clock. You could turn the ignition without a key. The muffler was held on with a coat hanger and the exhaust wrapped in asbestos and duct tape. Beneath the rubber floor mats you could see the roadway through the rust. The gear shift often came off in your hand. Heck, at least it got me from point A to point B.