I have put over 320k on a 1980 wagon that I bought with 100k already on it. Some years it has been expensive. Others, very little. I do less repair work myself than I used to, so I really notice when the car keeps hitting me up for a fix.

Buuuuut...The benefit of brick ownership comes if you let the thing hang around for a few years. Considering the miles I've gotten from it, my 1980 has been extremely cheap to maintain. It is DIY-friendly, parts are readily available, and when all else fails there is the Brickboard.

Now I have a 1992 that I got with 163k. It has cost more the first two years than I hoped it would--but it's getting better, and now the long-term payoff begins.

Unless you live in a heavy-road-salt area, the only real risks are getting caught in a hail storm or someone hammering you on the freeway. Otherwise, it's all energizer bunny from here on.

You said you were worried about your car suddenly quitting on the freeway. I suppose that purely as a precaution you could replace the 1. main fuel pump 2. fuel pump relay 3. Hall Effect sensor/crank sensor (which it is depends on which year your car is), and carry a cell phone.

Good luck.

Doug Harvey