So I've been going through a moral crisis as of late. My wife and I will soon (spring) be taking on a cross country trip from New England to the other side of the country. Her 244DL has 175000 miles on it and other than needing, what I suspect, new U joints is cherry. My 88 245 5 spd is getting a little rough around the edges and has 275000 on her.

I was thinking about giving in and getting another 245, but I can't find anything in proper shape that is a 5 spd. I've heard they are increasingly hard to find, but I don't want an auto for the wagon because I will be hauling a small utility trailer and they are dogs to begin with.

So the question is this: Is the old girl worth fixing up proper and keeping her going for another 50k? I know she needs a new exhaust, cat included, O2 sensor, headlight buckets and lenses, front calipers, rotors and pads, rear rotors and pads, probably do tie rods while I'm in there, new motors mounts, trans mount and all new U joints and center support, and just to placate my own personal worries new rear wheel bearings (which I can't tell if it needs or not), along with rear struts. I'm sure it needs other things, but I don't know what they are yet.

She starts, runs and drives fine. The 5 spd sticks a bit going into 1st most of the time, and when your not reving the engine sometimes it doesn't slide into 4th real slick, but the clutch feels good, no slipping.

Another note is that I got her for a song ($117.00) from a friend and put about $500 into her right off the bat to get her on the road. Body is in good shape except that I put new hood hinges on her and can't get the hood to sit properly. The rear of the hood is about 1.5 inches up in the back. May have been hit in the front at one time. All in all she looks pretty rough outside but the interior is good.

So what do you think? Sink what I suspect will be $800 - $1000 into her, or find another 245?