I have 220,011 miles on this car, buther days may be numbered. To begin with, the engine is bad. It has a busted cylinder which ulitmately contributed to the demise of the catalytic converter and as a result, it wont pass emissions (and renew my registration). I suppose I could just pop a new conerter in and get it tested and be on my merry way, but it's just a matter of time before it would be damaged without major engine work and then being that it's almost 10 years old who knows what else might need to be repalced or rebuilt. And now, the brake light is on and the driver's side windshield wiper is not working. I think it's time to put this car out of its misery which is a shame because it's still rolling (of course with the brake light on, it's parked until I can get it evaluated). But it looks like I'll be taking over our '96 Ford Windstar while I look for a good, used 2001 - 2002 MVP for my wife to drive. Since we are now a family of five (just had a little girl last week), it would be beneficial for us to have another van any way.

 

Congratulations on the new baby girl 93greenstrat.

Sorry to hear about the eventual demise of the Protege. Sometimes not worthwhile to do major repairs to an older vehicle as everything else is wearing out too. They can start to nickle and dime you to death. Is the brake light possibly on due to low brake fluid level or stuck e-brake switch?

 

you don't have to tell me about an older car nickel and dime-ing you to death. i have a little 1995 Geo Metro that i still drive for work. it has done me well over the last 5 years considering the fact that i pulled it out of the junk yard for $50. since then it has undergone new; tranny, clutch, 3 water pumps, two alternators, rods, rings, pistons, seals, gaskets, countless plugs, wires, cap, rotor, throttle linkage, seats, struts, control arms/ball joints (they come as one part on this car), radio, starter, fuel pump, and i know that i am still forgetting something. (still gets 45 miles to a gallon)

i justCANNOT bring myself to get rid of the car though. my mom says that it's the packrat gene that i got from my dad but i think it's the cheapskate side that i got from him. it's at 190,000 miles and i think that i can push it over 250,000.