Hit 100k miles on my $500 Civic and the timing belt finally said enough

Honestly, I bought this 2003 Civic for $500 with 198k on the clock, just needed a clutch and a fender. Ngl, I figured it would die around 220k, but last week I rolled past 298k and the original water pump gave out on the interstate. Some folks say a cheap car ain't worth fixing past a certain point because everything else is rusted or tired, but I've spent maybe $1,100 total over three years on parts, and it still gets 34 mpg. Tbh, the belt snapping is the first real failure, so is the 300k mark actually a wall or just a number? Has anyone else pushed a beater past what felt like the sensible limit and regretted it or been glad they did?

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river18215d ago

300k is the point where the car owes you money, not the other way around. That thing already paid for itself twice over.