Brain Fertilizer

Last month I replaced the sideview mirror on my 1991 Toyota Corolla. Last week I used some Armor All on the dash, and made those interior surfaces look nearly new (the carpet and some of the other surfaces still need some work...).
Over the weekend, I managed to get a replacement brake-light assembly and a replacement for the right rear passenger door that had broken a year ago.

Total cost for improving the car's value and serviceability by about $500? Less than $100, less than $50, and even less than $30.*

Next up: replacing the sagging roof liner, shampooing the upholstery, and maybe even replacing the instrument panel facade, because while it looks clean and shiny, there is a major split in one place and one corner is broken off completely.

And I've only had to put $350 of repairs into it since I bought it 3 years and 40,000 miles ago.

The only problem is that I don't think there's any way to get a decent paint job for less than $500 (no, I don't want the cheapest level), but that's what it's going to take to make the car seem totally new. But when you compare that to a new or nearly-new vehicle, that still can only be considered cheap. The car has enough power for me and gets 30 mpg in commuting. If it doesn't actually die on me, I may keep this car for another decade.

*$27 plus change