Volkswagen Owner Loves Reliability, So He Also Owns a Toyota
One car for reliability, one for reasons he is still trying to understand.
DAYTON — Meet Kyle Harrington, the man completely unaware he is a JDM enthusiast. He prides himself on loving Volkswagen despite it always betraying him. So, he keeps a Toyota parked right next to it, like a backup parachute.
“The VW can be fun,” Harrington says. “The Toyota is for when I have to make it to work.”
Surprises are part of the Volkswagen package. His car has thrown more codes than an old GameShark. Random electrical failures, sensors that tap out without warning, an engine that occasionally stalls just because. The ignition coils have a standing bet on who will die first. Even the interior seems to have abandonment issues.
Friends have stopped asking why he keeps it. “We are at the point where his mechanic sends him Christmas cards,” said neighbor Mike Reynolds. “The Toyota gets an oil change twice a year. The Volkswagen gets an oil change, two sensors, a new harness, and a full body massage every month.”
Harrington swears it is worth it. He talks about the “driving experience,” how it “feels connected,” how it “has character.” Translation: it smells like coolant, leaks oil on his driveway, and he drives it from the street to his driveway and back most months.
When pressed, he admits to at least one moment of clarity. “There was a recall because the engine cover could catch fire,” he said. “That is when I realized maybe I should keep the Toyota.”
The Toyota, a bland but bulletproof Camry, does not care about character or theatrics. It starts every time, never flashes a warning light, and could survive an asteroid strike with just a slightly bent antenna. It has no personality, but somehow still more personality than the Volkswagen.
Automotive psychologists, a real thing according to Harrington’s Google search history, say this is common. “The Volkswagen is the dream,” explained Dr. Amanda Rhodes. “The Toyota is the reality. One is chaos, excitement, and a complete lie. The other is security and reliability. Most people grow out of the dream phase. Some, like us, keep paying for it until they die.”
Asked if he would ever get rid of the VW, Harrington shook his head. “Of course not. Then what would I do with all that space in my driveway?”
As he spoke, the Volkswagen’s check engine light flicked on despite the car being off. Harrington smiled. “Being a car enthusiast ain’t easy.”