I've driven Chrysler all my life since 1968. Mind you this was only included a 62 Valiant, a 75 Valiant, an 81 Horizon, an 88 Aries and a 90 LeBaron convertible.

I still have the 88 Aries as my utility car.

When my  90 LeBaron blew a head gasket, I decided I wanted a newer "fun" car. I have never owned Japanese before and I saw on the Internet a guy in the San Fernando Valley selling an 02 with only 30,000 miles on it for $8,000. And an automatic to boot.

Yes, I am one of those people who prefer an automatic, even in a sports car. I an a professional engineer and I feel manual transmissions are obsolete.

Yes, the title checked out OK. The car did have a salvage title but I looked and looked and could not see a thing that was not perfect on the car. The price was so low because the guy was a curber but no one wanted to buy it because the salvage title scared them off. So I got it for $5500 off blue book. I can replace a lot of stuff for that amount.

I have to say the thing has been a gem. And when I did a run down the Arroyo Seco Parkway with the top down, from Pasadena to Los Angeles, along all the twists and turns, at 80+ the sh.t eating grin I had by the time I got to the I5 was worth the price of admission. My 18 year old daughter calls it sex on wheels.

My only problem was a check engine light which came on because I did not realize how tight you have to do up the gas cap. But it was free because Auto Zone stores here will lend you a code reader for free and it lets you clear the codes too. I heard the dealers charge $150.00 to read the codes.

The EPA is 20 city and 30 Highway. I have gotten as high at 32MPG and never less than 25 MPG driving it around Los Angeles and Orange County. Then 2 days after I get it, my utility car, the 88 aries station wagon got jealous and blew its head gasket. I'm fixing that one though, myself because let's face it, a Miata is a great ride but you need a crap hauler too.

I'm so happy with it I may consider Mazda for my next car too.

Dan