Thoughts:
Someone, somewhere in your area, has a car they dearly love and cherish but they have to let go. Your task is to find that person.
In my case it's a 1979 VW Dasher diesel
It has a five-speed conversion and gets 41-45mpg. The big selling point of the Dasher/B2 Passat is the 'rifle-bolt' shifter. No cables.
Right-of-first-refusal goes to the son of the Previous Owner. He's been asking about it. It needs to give up room for a [half paid off] 1990 Metro XFi. It's pre-1996, but has an 'Eco-light' that trains you to short-shift up through the gears.
Opinions:
I'm glad I worked my way through college in the 1960s. Went in with $1K in savings and came out with $1K in debt I paid off the first summer.