Just wait till something goes out on the Toyota! You'll wish you had two of those Saturns!
Well, let's face it, getting ANY kind of work done on a car or truck today is pricey. Get your oil changed lately? In one of those quick change places, they cost more than $30. (I don't use 'em unless I'm on the road somewhere and even then, I watch 'em like a hawk.)
On this Toyota 2004 mini-van with 120K on it, the only things I've done to it were part of regular maintenance, but even still, changing out the timing chain is pricey - because, of course, if you're gonna do that, you might as well change out the water pump while you're there.
Platinum spark plugs (try getting to the rear bank of the transverse V-6 sometime!
) at about $10 a pop, brakes, transmission flush & fill a couple of times now (due again soon), tires, and yes, even a new battery this winter.
Oh, and a set of rear shocks.
When it's time to do the boots and front axle, that's when I take a second mortgage out.
But even with all that, this car is going to LAST.
I didn't trust that Saturn. It might well be running today, but I didn't trust it.