A private seller has one in exc. condition, for $6K, his pay-off
amount. I like the 33 MPG HWY gas mileage....but it is a negative for
me that it has auto trans. The Blue Book value for a private seller is
$6700. Its 4-DR sedan, AC, AT. Has abt 87K miles. I see that the
value has gone down abt $800 from last years' Blue Book compared to
this years'. Would it be a reasonable assumption that it will go down
in value another $800 after one year (summer of 2007)?
Also, it is being financed by Navy Federal Credit Union by voucher
check. I have not had good luck with transmissions.... if it breaks,
the car is dead, as there is not $2 or $3 K (or whatever) to
replace/rebuild it. So is it possible to buy a waranty for late model
cars purchased from private sellers? I am expecting to leave the
country in another year, and so will be selling it then. Just need a
short-term waranty.

The last question is---does the engine have interference-type
valves that damage the motor if the timing belt breaks? Does it need a
timing belt change at 100K miles? Is it particularly difficult or
expensive on this 2 L 4-cyl engine?