I think my '93 Accord is cursed! Up until the start of this year, it had
been rock solid with very few non-routine problems. But since the start of
the year, it has experienced a handful of silly and/or annoying problems.
They include:

- Bent shock sleeve causing an annoying squeak over the slightest bumps;
- Stiff climate control slider switch (I may have posted about this issue
here); panel was replaced with a used one;
- Hood release cable broke;
- Clogged fuel filter;
- Muffler, catalytic converter, and some other exhaust parts replaced due to
years of corrosion--not to mention loudness under acceleration;
- Left front upper control arm replaced due to play in the ball joint.

The first 4 items were minor in severity and cost, but the last 2 items set
me back considerably more financially. And now, some more issues have just
popped up:

1. When the control arm was replaced a couple weeks ago, my mechanic
suggested that the EGR ports be cleaned. OK, I have no problem in getting
that done, about an hour of labour. I had felt for some time that the car
had been slightly "missing" at times (in fact, I had previously thought it
was the tires).

2. This started a few days ago... I have been noticing gas fumes both in and
out of the car but it's not always there. It's most evident upon starting
the car (cold or warm) and just after it has been turned off, although
sometimes it could be detected while driving. I checked for leaks
underneath and there were none. In fact, the tank and fuel lines were
replaced a few years ago. Would something else cause a non-liquid leak?

3. This started yesterday... the car is once again very loud under
acceleration (louder than before the muffler, cat, etc. were replaced). I
don't remember what other parts were replaced before besides the muffler and
cat, but could there be some other part on the exhaust that would need
replacing? I saw something on Tegger's site about an "A-pipe" that is known
to cause buzzing, but I do not know if that was ever replaced.

4. Finally, my mechanic (who has always been honest and has done good work
on my car) advised me that the radiator will likely need to be replaced by
next spring.

I have already spent $1700 (CDN) on maintenance this year (above issues and
some regular maintenance). But with more money about to be spent on these
new issues (radiator will wait for now), I am now wondering if this is the
time to consider a newer car. I know that what I have spent so far this
year averaged over 12 months is still lower than monthly car payments, but
there's no way of telling what will go wrong next and how much more I will
have to spend. And I would prefer to spend less time at the mechanic than I
have been this year.

Then again, even though the car has only 241,000km (~ 150,000 miles), for a
car of this age to live through all those harsh winters and numerous trips
over ridiculously rough roads, I suppose it doesn't owe me a thing. :-)

So what do you think I should do? Should I keep it and maintain hope that
next year will be better? Or should I start looking for something newer?