I don't think it would be wise for me to try to fix my car myself. I'm terrible at this sort of handy stuff. I like MMM's attitude about learning new skills, but I think that it can be unreasonable in some circumstances, and I think MMM and other people like him often undervalue a natural giftedness at doing handy DIY stuff. I really don't have that gift.
The mechanic I spoke with today is actually the second mechanic I've tried to find the fuel leak, and he believes it's in a location that requires dropping the fuel tank. So it's going to cost a lot of money to find out whether he's right about that. He wasn't confident, and suggested waiting until the leak gets worse so that we can see actual fuel leaking (right now, it's apparently small enough that it's only vapor leaking out). But screw that--I can't park the car in the garage if it is leaking vapor, and winter is coming.
So if I'm going to keep it, I'm going to pay the guy to go on a fishing expedition, and he may not find it, in which case I'd have to pay him to try something else, etc. From my perspective, this sucks.
Add the 1000k repair (or maybe I could get it done for 800 by some inferior mechanic who I don't trust as much), and add the additional little stuff that needs to be done (maybe another 200), and I'm just feeling like my 21 year old car is not worth this headache and cost.
Anyway, if you guys are not persuaded by that, I'm still interested to know what car you would advocate for a four person family. So maybe you can pretend I don't have a car and I need to buy one for whatever good reason.