Seems like I might have to get a new car. At 110,000 miles I’m not into sinking that much more money into the thing, and there’s a little squealing in the front brakes that makes me think that money might soon need to be sunk. I’m figuring somewhere in the realm of $500, and plus when they take my front end apart they’ll also see that my shocks are blown. Then they’ll look at the concrete-scraped side and want to replace a door or something, and then they’ll notice that my sideview mirror is bolted on with metal screws.

The car, you see, is no Lexus.

On top of all that, I’ve had a sneaking suspicion that a new clutch is somewhere not far off the horizon, although I have no basis for thinking so other than the fact that I’ve never replaced it. This worries me. I’m a worrier.

I have some money saved up I could use for a down payment, but I’m doing a serious cost/benefit analysis of the situation. And I figured, hey, why not ask the Internet? The internet always has such great advice. What would you do with the old car? Which new car would you get? Or would you just sally forth with worthless brakes, no shocks, and a clutch whose days are numbered?