That is the question posed in this slightly curious YouTube video:
My experience with the Blue Rascal has apparently been much better, although I suspect that the subject’s is an example of deferred maintenance. However, I think the government-supported-by-continuing-tax-revenue analogy is not far off. My advice is to buy in at whatever price point you can — getting the best one you can afford — then monthly salt away into an ongoing maintenance fund something on the order of what you might pay in monthly installments for a new or newer “mainstream” car.