[Mark_T]

You seem to be copping a bit of an attitude. People are trying to help you so maybe back off on the caps lock and listen to what you're being told, know what I'm sayin'?

You asked your question and you have several answers. Pick the one you like. If you think you made a mistake, then you made a mistake. If you're going to lose sleep worrying about mechanical failures, you made a mistake. If you can't afford a couple of grand a year for maintenance, you made a mistake. Given your limited budget, if you're not the type to learn to do your own repairs and maintenance then you made a mistake. These cars aren't for everyone, and maybe they're not for you.