I'm trading in a 99 Taurus with about 150K miles, no muffler (got torn off a few weeks ago on something, don't know what), a crack in the exhaust line and they need to mount a new muffler bracket(the original is rattling in my trunk), a minor gas leak (which is why the two garages I've talked to wanted a premium on fixing the exhaust) and a very talkative power steering pump. And that is just what they can any fool can see. Rear suspension needs work, rear break lines should be replaced before this winter, exhaust manifold might be iffy from the pull on the muffler, and there is a lot of under carriage rust from having lived in VT it's whole life.

If I make her inspectable and replace the power steering pump, it will average out to about $200 a month for the first six months of the year. For a ten year old car with rot that I paid $1000 for two years ago. It will cost less in the long term to replace than repair.