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Hedonic adaptation: I think I've kicked my beater habit
I realized recently that I may have kicked my $1500 beater habit.
My lifetime vehicular pattern has been buying "as-is" beaters that need some repairs, fixing them up, driving them for a year or so and then selling them "certified" (meaning with an Ontario mechanical inspection) to make a few dollars profit or break even.
It's been an entertaining way to experience many different cars, learn how to wrench, and basically drive for free.
But I think the supply of cheap used Mirages is spoiling me.
I can buy a "conventional" $1500 beater and put $1k of work in it... OR... I can just wait for a $2500 Mirage to come up that's a lot newer, likely needs no significant mechanical repairs or maintenance, and will be infinitely more reliable (and more efficient) than the net $2500 beater.
My guess is the Mirage will be cancelled in North America sometime in the next model year or two. So that means there's probably about a decade's worth of decent and cheap used Mirages to come.
After which I'll figure out Plan C.
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