I have a 2001 Corolla with 185K miles. It has various problems. Hail damage, paint is in bad shape, locks don't work, antenna is broken off/tape player broken (I have considering getting a new radio unit but I think it would get stolen considering the doors don't lock), needs new brake pads and rotors, and needs new valve cover gasket and timing cover gasket. It serves my purposes fine right now, I probably drive it 10 miles a week. It's just that it leaks oil at such a rate that I honestly feel guilty. I would say it leaks at least a quart a month, and that is only driving it 10 miles a week.
I have been debating doing repairs vs. just replacing it. The repairs I am considering are the brakes and fixing the oil leaks. I could probably do the brakes myself but the oil leaks are looking like about $1k for the work (which would include a new timing belt since that would be easy with the timing cover off). I could sell it for maybe $1500. If I would be putting $1k into it anyway, that's $2500. Should I just take that money, and add a few thousand more and upgrade the car? I really don't want to spend a lot of money on a car, but I have enough saved that I could use that money plus some extra to get a car for $6K - $7K.
Am I thinking about this correctly? Should I just repair the car despite the fact that it won't do much other than assuage my guilt? Should I just say screw it and leak oil all over God's creation? If I sell it someone else will probably just leak oil all over as well, and likely blow the engine shortly after if they neglect to add oil frequently.
Thanks for your advice.