A new car would cost you several thousand for a down payment, plus at least 300-400 in monthly payments. Include depreciation and increased insurance, and the first year of ownership is extremely expensive. You will lay out 4000 - 5000 a year thereafter until the vehicle is paid for.

Used cars are also expensive. Here in California, your typical 3-5 year old used car has a Blue Book value of 12,000-15,000 dollars.

I think that the cost of repairing your old brick would almost never exceed the cost of replacing it with a new, or newer used, vehicle.