Reliable transportation is more than just a field to select on a job application. It is the reason we’re able to leave the house to get to our jobs, the grocery store, visit our families, and meet up with friends. My car allows me to get to work, class, church, and back home all within the same day. Being able to turn the key and hear the engine come to life is taken for granted by many. For me, that sound is relieving. It means the battery isn’t dead, the fuel and oil pump, the alternator, spark plugs and ignition coils are working. The ECU hasn’t died from exploded capacitors and all the drive belts are taut.

I have a habit of buying bad examples of cars I’d really like to own. The barrier to entry is much lower when your dream car is high mileage and rusty. This is not buyers advice. One of my dream cars was a third generation Toyota 4Runner. I always loved the styling and the bulletproof reputation really sold me. For about 60% of average market value the 1998 example I bought had 224,000 miles and 2 owners. The paint was faded and the wheels were corroded. There was surface rust on the frame and a lot of clunks and whines from under the hood. I got to work painting the plastic fender flares, overhauling the audio system, scrubbing and coating the wheels, scraping and painting the rusty frame, and redoing nearly the whole top end of the motor. In the end, I spent more time worrying about new creaks and squeals than I did enjoying the car. I sold it after just shy of 3 years of ownership. It sat for most of that in some state of broken down or disassembly. I certainly got what I paid for.

On the other hand, another one of my dream cars was a Lexus LS400. The original Lexus. I chose to purchase a 1996 to 1998 model because it retained the boxy front end glass headlights but had the benefit of OBDII. The one I found came to me by providence. I found it on CarGurus located in San Clemente California listed for $3,500. Single owner, no accidents, stellar maintenance report, 120,000 miles, gold 1996 Lexus LS400. I saved it, but had no real intentions of buying a car on the other side of the country. The listing was removed and I presumed it had sold. A few weeks later, a listing for a 1996 Lexus LS400 appeared in Flint, Michigan. Luckily I had saved the VIN to get a full report and, to my surprise, this was the same car from San Clemente. I later found out that the sellers mother had purchased it new and had just passed away. Her son listed it for sale and later had it transported to his home in Michigan where he remade the listing. I spent a few hours with him on a very cold winter day and, after some polite discussion, we settled on $3,300. I had it. My dream Japanese luxury sedan. 4.0 V8 paired to the smoothest 4 speed automatic I had ever felt. The suspension was incredible and the interior was immaculate. This car got me everywhere I needed to go without hesitation for years. I loved it. Nothing lasts forever though. On my way home from the gym one evening, in my 1996 Lexus LS400, I was cruising along at 45mph when all of my dash lights came on. I thought maybe my alternator had died. I then began to lose power and I could feel that cylinders were one by one misfiring. White smoke billowed out of my tail pipe and I made a quick move to crawl the car down a side road. Luckily, a trusted mechanic was just down the road, so I coasted into his parking lot. After a month of tearing into the Lexus, they determined that no damage had been done to the car other than a cooked ECU. All of those 1990’s capacitors had blown and made a mess of the board. That was bad news, but also a huge relief. I could get on Ebay and easily order a new ECU. Then I ran across some forums posts about ECUs melting down all around a similar age. So, I decided to send my ECU off to a tuning shop to be fully rebuilt using modern components instead of replacing it with another ECU that would surely come to a similar end sooner than later. I never experienced another issue. Ultimately, I sold that Lexus at 160,000 miles for $9,000. It’s nice to get paid to drive, but I know it’s unwise to expect that from every car. And I learned that even the most legendary Lexus can be brought to a halt. It was nearly 30 years old anyways.

I’m looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with friends and family. I’m going to ask my brother about his 4Runner, my father about his Bronco, and my brother-in-law about his Odyssey. Car enthusiasts don’t always own their dream car or even an exciting car, but their passion for driving lives on regardless. I would prefer to own a basic economy car that gets me around than my dream car on jack stands anyways. A pickup truck isn’t glamorous and isn’t always exciting, but it starts right up every time I turn the key and runs without complaint. It’s made it almost a year of ownership with no breakdowns. Does your car treat you the same? Whether you just signed the dotted line on a 2026 or are halfway through a timing belt job on a 1998, our cars are our most valuable tool and become an extension of ourselves. Without our cars, we wouldn’t get very far very fast. The guy next to you might be enjoying massaging heated seats and surround Bang & Olufsen audio while your fan motor winds and speakers rattle, but I want to remind you of the immense privilege we have in personal transportation. New or old. Luxury or beater. If it runs, it’s a blessing. And so, this year I’m particularly thankful for reliable transportation.