Hmmmm..., To keep or not to keep, that is the question Options

[jtmlb3k]

So I'm moving to Philly to start a new job in mid-August, and am trying to decide what to do with the Celica. It's 16 years old, has 130xxx miles on it, and while I've kept it in as best shape as I can (3500 mile oil changes, new fluids whenever needed, a car wash and vacuum once a week), some things are starting to go.

Brought it by a mechanic today who quoted me for the following:
New front rotors and pads (old ones are warped)-- $180
Power steering pump-- $125
Transmission flush-- $150


Not sure if this includes labor or not, but I'm looking at a decent chunk of dough for those repairs. And that's not to mention the new bumps, dents, and peeling clear coat the car has acquired over the last 6 months (when my sister drove it). It's not looking good, but it still cruises on the highway and it's paid off, which is a big factor-- and plus, it's my first car.

So my question to you guys is: what would you do? Would you pay the money to fix it up and hope it lasts a couple more years (would be huge to not have a car payment to worry about in addition to college debt), or would you say sayonara and go trade it in for something more reliable (my commute each day will be roughly 40 miles, so that is a concern)? And are any of those repairs things I can so myself with a mechanic's wrench set and very limited knowledge of cars?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[PaukST]

My vote totally goes for keeping it. Mechanics are super expensive, but you can do a lot of your own work... A shop near here wanted to charge me 15hrs labor (like $400?) to change the distributor o-ring and valve cover gasket on my girlfriend's 5s-fe Camry to fix a "profound" oil leak, got the gasket and o-ring for like $26 and changed it out myself. I'd be broke 4x over if I paid a mechanic for all the stuff I've done myself by now - and I knew absolutely zero about cars prior to getting my Celica like 10 months ago and getting my hands dirty. 6GC and RockAuto all the way!

...
(and they recognize me at the Advance down the street)