[Piotrsko]

Ok my tuppence: your 20 year old car has a minor engine failure, say a crack in the exhaust manifold. Makes it non smog compliant if that matters.

Do you buy and install a full long block engine with exhaust system OR do you just get the gaskets and manifold then have a go at it? Or do you junker the car and go buy new if you are on a small budget?

Every battery of some size has modules that assemble it. Replace the bad module, let it fail, rinse, repeat. Will it do another 100k miles? Who knows. Does it even matter?

All I know is there is going to be a learning process the unafraid will embrace and it could get pricey. I used to make $2.50 @ hour, lived on the Beach @Redondo view apartment for $370 @ month, ate in a restaurant with a pretty lady every Saturday. Got over that lifestyle 45 years ago.