Ok...so I am trying very hard to stay in a positive mind frame here. Got a call from my mechanic in regards to my car. It seems that the $1000 I just spent to get it up and running again will do only that. It makes it go, but alas only barely. There is some damage of sorts to the cylander? Yes you can tell my long ago class in HS of auto shop taught me the very basics of auto ownership. I can tell you where the major engine parts are and can my own oil & tires thank you very much! However this bit of mumbo jumbo in relation to the rest of what had been wrong...replacing my water pump, radiator, resurfacing the heads and replacing various hoses & gaskets means very little to me. All I know is the car may run rough, but it runs. Now how long it will run is the big picture. See I need it to last me thru this year. Just for my local get around driving, groceries, to the gym, etc. So that I can save up for the car I really want. Do I know even what this is yet you ask? Heck no, but I know it will be newer and less likely to spend hours upon hours visiting my favorite mechanic! Hope your car is snug in it's garage and not your mechanic's like mine is at the moment   : )

princess