I got my 1995 Toyota Corolla just out of high school and going into college. This was in 2007. It was my first love, truly. Out of all of the older cars I've driven, it had the smoothest handling, the nicest brakes, and it really was a comfortable ride. The car took me to college and back every day for a year, and then it took me, my belongings, and my pets from LA to OK not once, but twice to evacuate from a hurricane. It was only ever involved in one accident in 2008 when the master cylinder went out. When the vehicle was deemed totaled, some family members fixed it up and it continued to run beautifully. It handled a 250 mile move, plus a 45 minute commute to work every day from 2012 until just a few weeks ago, when the engine finally fell apart. Not many cars can say they've run until they fell apart, and I'm happy for every mile I've gotten from this vehicle.

This car is my buddy. I've only had it for two years, but have moved five times in it. Quality is pretty great for a careless driver like me. It's survived four flats, rims never being damaged. The plastic on the inside of the door is easy to break, but everything else has been durable. Living on a dirt road means lots of maintenance, but it hasn't been excessive with this car.