sorry I haven't gotten back----I am going to get it today to limp it home and take the good snow tires off it so I can put it on Craigslist.

Upshot is that the valve is shot--no compression, they put air up in it (bear with me, I don't know about this stuff), and he said it leaked all over the place. Tried the little endoscope thing, and he said he really wanted to have it bend so he could look back UP at the piston, but it won't bend. He thinks the piston self destructed. Reality is that it will cost a bunch to drop engine and fix or replace engine.

Car has enough other issues it's not worth me fixing. Mechanic recommends putting ad to see if someone wants a project car....if that doesn't work, it goes for parts. It has a new heater core, new turn signal stalk and new front suspension.

I am leaning toward Honda or Toyota at this point, though will admit to test driving an Accord the other day. Most vanilla pudding car I've ever driven. Nothing fun about it, looks, drive-ability etc. Only thing is that I know it's reliable and gets decent mileage.

So, if you all know a decent way to word this ad...or someone who wants part/or a 95 850m holler.

I think the big piece here is the ability to do one's own work--if I had those skills like you, my choices would be different. This is why my brother and I don't see eye to eye---I just don't have those skills, so I have to pay someone, and it's expensive.