<prompt> Human: Issue: Should my family spend money to keep a 1995 vehicle with 265,000 miles that will not pass smog unless it is repaired? We would have to pay the car registration maintenance costs repair costs for the next 12 months. Facts: Money is tight, I am a recently unemployed attorney. I have 12k in savings. I live at home with my parents because they partially rely on me to pay the utility bills and other misc bills that they have. I benefit by not paying rent. My parents have a 1995 Toyota with 265,000 miles on it that currently does not pass smog. The car is paid off. They do not drive it because they have access to my brothers car for exactly 12 months while he is out on business. I have recently cancelled insurance on the 1995 Toyota, saving me 756 this next year. the 1995 Toyotas car registration of 112 will be due August 2012. The Toyota has minor mechanical issues, and a bad catalytic converter, and other unknown problems so it will not pass smog. The Toyota also has a bad power steering pump.This car is my moms only mode of transportation to and from work, a 70mile daily commute. She is not driving the car this year because she can use my brothers honda. She will be needing a reliable means of transportation after 12 months when my brother needs his car back.  <response>: and other unknown problems so it will not pass smog.This scares me. Theres no guarantee that youd be able to even get it to pass smog with a complete engine teardown and rebuild and that would be a waste of money. That vehicle is at the end of its life cycle and the costs to keep it on the road are going to go up exponentially with time. Id suggest to look around the classifieds and Craigslist for a good deal on a car thats in better shape and, when you find it, take the Toyota to the scrap yard. Scrap metal prices are at insane levels right now and youll easily get several hundred dollars for it, even if it doesnt run, and you can put that money towards buying a different car that has less mechanical issues and lower miles. Youll save on repair costs now catalytic converters arent cheap and hopefully in the future. 