Well if he drives 36,000 miles a year at 3,000 gallons x $3.00 gallon
vs a car that would use 1,000 gallons or less. Not everyone drives
3,600 or 6,000 miles a year. But yes, buying an economy car to save
money sometimes does not work out. Yes fixing the car will cost
something.

My father in law has one car they bought new 4 years ago that has
6,000 miles on it. A toy car (Boxster), another grocery getter and an
airplane. It has three wheels so does it count as a vehicle?

Now if he sold the 12 mpg truck and bought a newer TDI then maybe you
could have even more fun justifying or discounting.

My wife says "Why don't you get a motorcycle?" Can't carry work stuff
on a motorcycle. The mileage woudl be less than the car. No time to
exercise if I was riding a motorcyle on the weekends.

OK... at present prices, $1000 will buy you about 300 gallons of gas
which will take you 3600 miles in reasonable safety. And if your
present vehicle is relatively trouble-free, has working windows and
working AC, the first repair will make that equation 500 gallons and
6000 miles. Then fixing the windows...

Unless all you want is a beater-car to drive until it drops, have no
"state inspection" system such as Pennsylvania that requires at least
basic safety stuff to be checked once a year, the math just doesn't
make sense for a 20 year old vehicle that has no other virtue than
decent mileage at the immediate moment.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

I am looking at a 1987 Jetta Deluxe Diesel 2 door that a guy down the
street is considering selling. Runs good, looks fair, 1.8L 5 speed, 210,000
miles. A/C does not work, windows won't roll up or down, and fan switch
isn't working. Also, for some reason the wipers run constantly??
 However, he tells me this car gets over 40mpg. That beats the heack out of
my current 12mpg truck! Could someone advse me what this Jetta may be worth?
He thinks he'd like to get around $1,000.00 for it. And anything I should be
watching for? I assume the windows cranks and fan are minor repairs, not all
that worried about the A/C if it would be a huge expense. This would be my
first diesel vehicle. Is the 210,000 miles too high to consider? Or is it OK
on a well maintained diesel engine?
 Any advice will be appreciated!

 Thanks!
 Tim