New car procrastination

I love my car. It's a 1999 VW Golf. It's tough and solid. I like the shape of it. It's like an old friend. But I should get a new car.

Or that's what Adam and my father keep telling me.

Some problems:

- an orange side light is broken out
- all 4 hubcaps were stolen 6 years ago, now I have plastic ones
- the bar detailing along the doors is coming unglued
- the cover for the rearview mirror on the driver's side fell off
- there's a hairline crack in my windshield
- and last June, two different mechanics told me I needed a new transmission... everything is still working fine, though!

I could buy a new Golf, but they're more sporty-slick than I like. I've looked at other cars... last summer, I had a big crush on the Toyota Matrix.

I still like the Matrix. And I like other hatchbacks, too -- the Honda Fit,

And the Nissan Versa,

But buying a car isn't a simple exercise. And I'm finding it hard to think about junking my Golf. I keep thinking, wouldn't it be cheaper just to fix all the bumbly parts of my old car? Insurance would stay cheap. And these other cars don't seem as solid and safe as my Golf. Sigh. Too, I've had so much other change in my life this year, maybe I just want my car to stay the same.