<prompt> Human: Hi, I drive a 1998 Toyota Rav4 with 170k miles on it. I dont drive a lot; maybe 2-3k miles per year. This week, I had to spend around 1,000 on new tires and new brakes. In February, I also had to spend around 500 because of an issue with a valve in the engine.When I had them look at my brakes, they mentioned as a heads up that Im going to need to replace the timing belt within 10k miles though for me that could be 3 years from now, and they also mentioned that the clutch will probably need to be replaced in the near future though for me that could be months or years too. However, both of those things could be around 1,500 each to repair.I know that all cars need some maintenance, but Im starting to wonder how much money is actually worth it to keep putting into this old car.I have a good job and a 6 month emergency fund. When it comes time to make these repairs, I dont know if it would be better to just say forget it and buy a new car. I could afford it, but I wouldnt want to use up my whole emergency fund, and I like being debt-free so Im not sure if I would want to get a loan. I could also get a newer used car for less, but that might end up needing a lot of repairs and getting expensive too.Anyway, Im just not sure what makes the most sense financially so wanted to see what people here think.Thanks!  <response>: Its almost always cheaper to repair a car than to buy a completely new one. However, at some point the car may become so unreliable that its either inconvenient because youre having to leave it at the mechanics every 2-3 months, or else the lack of reliability is a problem because you cant get to work or are afraid of driving out of town because you might get stranded. Its at this point that you should consider getting a new car. Or, ideally, shortly before this point. 