First part: Yep, I’m making a decent buck now and gotta have something reliable. Also why I’m iffy about getting a beater. I’d have pretty much the only beater in the lot here. As much as image doesn’t matter, it does.
Second part: I bought a house about a year ago, which is why my budget is tight. Oh well, aside from the Jetta, it’s tight for all the right reasons at least.