paradoxsm:lxsw20: I'm far to much of a fan my Japanese reliability/cheap parts/parts availability/things mechanics don't go ewwww at.
You don't want the bad luck I had with my 2002 nissan primera then, cost me 75% again what I paid for it ($10,000) over just two years of driving it for 40,000 KM's and still did not have a heater that worked or started on cold mornings. The 1956 car I was driving could at least acheive those things.
Have the MR2 as my interim car until I upgrade after recovering from the financial pain it caused.
Ouch. I don't envy you there. Having a father and flatmate as a mechanic, its hard to fathom what people pay in repairs.
Have an MR2 my self. The more rounded 90's shape. Had it 3 years, done 40 thou in it. Apart from maintance items (clutch/brake pads/tires/oil changes) Its cost me the grand total in $160 on a set of new handbrake cables.