My opinion, and it applies to all 200 series, is based on the fact that even the youngest is 13 going on 14 years old. If you can't or don't get satisfaction doing most of the work yourself it is not cost-effective to own. Sure the engine and tranny may last forever but that is irrelevant if, as you have found, you are nickel and dimed and thousand dollared to poverty paying someone to repair basic components. Not to mention the inconvenience. And you are still driving an 18 year old car. No airbags, no ABS. Take the time in months over which you have spent $$ on repairs and divide it into the $6k. Does that come close to making part or most of a monthly car payment on a new basic car? Sure, insurance will be higher but it will pass smog. I can hear the howls of heresy from all the bricksters but for some people this is not the right car. In my area you can purchase the base model PT Cruiser for $12K or less; a Chevy HHR for $15K and even find some new Corollas for $13k. These cars will have found their great reward in less than 10 years but you will get some peace of mind in the meanwhile. Now I'm going to take cover...

Present: 1988 245A Past: 1971 164A; 1979 245A; 1987 244 5 spd.