I know I am preaching to the choir, but here goes:

I caught myself telling my wife today, "You know, most Americans simply
want a car that will last 10 years and 100,000 miles."

Then I looked at the Volvo and realized it was 20 years old and had
200,000 miles. (1987 740 GLE).

We're planning to buy a house soon, so I sold a GREAT 2001 Honda Accord
EX. I loved that car - but owed about 10K so I let her go.

I bought this Volvo for $500 from it's one and only owner, never even
having started the car!  It looked like hell, and then ran like hell,
and leaked oil all the way home.

Now, this car has become the BEST project I have ever had. There is so
much natural, solid material to work with, that it just keeps getting
better.

Normally we buy a car for mucho money and watch the numbers decline. In
my case I bought in at rock bottom and am building up!  I love that
thought.

The car is paid for, it's a labor of love, and in the end - who cares
if I've spent a bit more than her book value.