[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Will

How about a '72 Formula 400? Worked for me.

(It is seriously a matter of luck that I didn't total that car and/or kill myself on more than one occasion)

upon thinking about this myself, I'd have to say my instance is less about luck, and more about the following factors:
1) I only got a car after graduating high school.
2) I respected the car, felt it was special, and truely appreciated having it.
3) my car as purchased was far from perfect - so I needed to put in 'sweat equity' to get it running right, and keep it running well*.
4) I had to pay insurance, and for any gas in the tank - so I needed it to run as well as possible - which brings us back to point #3.

* = To the best of my recollection, nothing was mechanically wrong with it, but that didn't prevent me from doing probably too many oil changes and "tune up's" than it really needed...