Dandy,
Just you asking me and getting my brain in gear made me remember (something uber obvious lol) that I DO have a better vehicle for me. It is four doors, leg room for kiddos and much more reliable. it has been sitting in our garage needing some work, but it would be much more affordable than buying something else with unknown issues. All mechanical problems are good to go on this vehicle, just tires/brakes kind of stuff...
Would be a few hundred dollars to get going, perhaps I could take out a small loan from parents or best friend to take care of this...ideas...
So I guess I can check that off my list.