The meteoric rise of inflation has affected some markets more than others, including the resale of used cars. This has disproportionately affected people of lower socioeconomic status and those already in debt, such as students. The result is that many young people are holding tightly onto their hunks-of-junk, because their commute depends upon an asset that cannot be replaced.

“We have to make due with the worst of the worst when it comes to used cars,” said Caden James, 20, “my license plate is currently held on by a single rusty bolt, and my air conditioner hasn’t worked since the senior Bush administration.” Caden currently uses her car, which she has dubbed “El Peligro” for her gig economy side hustles with TaskRabbit and DoorDash. “Lyft said no. They laughed me off of the phone when I applied,” she added, patting El Peligro on the hood, as gently as possible.

Car, hideous, being towed away. Several of the cars were towed away during the interviews contained in this article. We have blurred this vehicle for your safety. — Car, hideous, being towed away. Several of the cars were towed away during the interviews contained in this article. We have blurred this vehicle for your safety (Illustration by Alexander Toftness).

“My car’s turn signal, whether I flip it up or down, always signals that I’m turning left,” said Andrew, 19, “I’d get it repaired if I had the money. Instead, I plan all of my driving trips to only involve left turns.” We asked Andrew to demonstrate such a planned left-only trip, but when he climbed in behind the wheel, his car’s engine refused to turn over. “I think she’s got stage fright,” said Andrew, as he slipped a Xanax into one of the dashboard vents.

“I think it’s charming to drive a piece of literal history,” said Lizzy, 18, as she walked us to where she had parked in a side alley near main street. At first, our reporting team believed the car to be parked behind a dumpster. We were surprised when Lizzy jumped in and started up what turned out to be a green 1995 Nissan Versa. “She’s a little worse for wear,” Lizzy admitted, pausing a moment to cough through a plume of jet-black smoke, “but that’s what gives her such character.”

“I admittedly have to add a bunch of lead to the gas tank in order to get out of my parking spot,” said Gavin, 20, “but it makes sense to use fossil fuels for such a fossil car—” Gavin was then cut off from speaking by the guttural sounds coming from his Geo Metro, whose muffler had fallen off months ago. When asked whether his ride was street legal, Gavin said “it's not like I will ever pay off my existing loans, anyway, so what’s another fine really gonna do to me?” At press time, Gavin was last seen heading to his shift at the Starbucks Drive-Thru, where his manager asks that he park ten blocks away so as not to “spook the customers.”

“Whenever I honk my horn, my bank charges me a $35 overdraft fee,” said Tanya Williams, 21, “but I mean, it’s not like I use the horn that often, so it’s fine.” When asked about her car insurance premiums, Tanya added, “oh, you mean prayer?”