better option than SM465 manual trans?

[tucsonjwt]

Another economy car is a crapshoot, but one I am willing to take. I always spend a lot of $$$ to insure reasonable safety in my used vehicles. I got the Cav for $2500 a few years back but put another $2500 in replacing just about everything but the engine and transmission (brakes, struts, tires, alternator, radiator, hoses, motor mounts, etc.) Most of those repairs were not necessary, so I probably could have limped along for the past 3 years for about $500 in repairs.

Regarding plates, insurance, oil changes, etc., that only costs me about $400 per year.

A lot depends on your prediction for gas prices in the future. I thought gas prices would be low when I filled up the 20 gallon dual tanks on the C20 for $1.14/gal. last month. Gas is now around $2.00, so I think we are headed back up to the $3.00-$4.00 range.

If my gamble pays off, I will have the Cav beater for another 10 years with minimal further repairs (I only drive it 3-4,000 miles per year.)