Hello,

Lot of stuff that can break on that car and price something like a power steering pump on one of those (you may want to have O2 nearby). Looking for a new wife mobile right now and very nice car, we drove one a couple of weeks ago. But not very highly rated and not a DIY car IMOH. For sure when compared to the older 240/740 cars. But truthfully unless you get into rear wheel drive SUV's and such, not a lot of cars you can just crawl under and work on these days. Changed the AC Compressor on my wifes Ford Tarsus this fall and lets just say things are a mite snug under the hoods these days and you remove lots of stuff to reach things. Lots of plastic stuff that covers more plastic stuff before you can find anything. You need Houdini like skills to pull a compressor out once you get all of it loose (so I found out). It is the BB's fault that I even tired it, see what happens when you start learning to fix 240's. Did save over $800 however and most of the skin on the back of my hands has grown back.

If you plan to have a car you can work on, the low mileage one you have now is the best bet. And yes a car with less than 175K is low mileage. It's brick thing.

Regards,

Paul