I have an '83 244GL that's done about 307K miles. The car is a joy to drive when it's running. It's comfortable, has decent power, and gets great mileage. It also feels extremely solid and safe, a kind of feeling that I have yet to experience behind the wheel of any other car.

Problem is that I have put more money into it than I care to think about and it keeps asking for donations. Had the rack replaced at 150K by the dealer. Think I got taken at $1200. But I figured that the car was good for at least another 100,000 miles and I dreaded the idea of car payments so I wrote the check. Radiator went at 170K. Bought a Nissens from iPd and put on new hoses at the same time. Had the trailing arm bushings done and installed new shocks 'n struts at 200K. New clutch at 220K. At 236K, the engine threw #1 con-rod. Put in a used motor from a low mileage totaled '84 wagon. Spent over 3 grand on the engine swap and then two months later my fuel pump crapped out and left me stranded on the side of I-5. Since then have replaced wire harness, FPR, air mass meter. All of this within the last 18 months. And now my blower motor is dying and the front suspension is getting loose again. Mechanic wants to replace bushings and struts. O/D is also non-functional.

I could have this work done...but how much longer will the car last? Is it really worth it??