car died - fix or replace
 

99 altima, 176k, no compression. Est fix cost is $2600.

Fix it or spend up to $3500 on a running used car w/ less miles?

Junk it and buy an 86 mk2 Golf GTI.

Anything can be fixed in less than six hours for $400 or less. And I do mean anything.

Don't spend that much money on that car. Either diy repair or replace car. Just my opinion.

Toss a junkyard motor in it, or chit can it.

Where is the car? I need a project!

+1 swap in a good used motor on the cheap, or junk it.

Why no compression? Broken timing belt? Seems odd the engine lost ALL compression at once

It's a chain drive on that one, but they were known for upper chain guide failure.

I'd say junk it. At 176,000, it may be within a short time that another big-ticket repair item has trouble, and would require you to drive it for many more years to get the value of your repairs out of it.

I vote a 2nd on the GTI suggestion.

You have been able to keep a Nissan alive for 15 years! Well done and carry on. I just picked up an old Jeep and its the best purchase I've ever made. The 87-99 4.0 inline-six engine is literally bulletproof.

The car is 'totalled' so why would you consider fixing it when you can buy another for less than $2600??

$2600 will buy you another decent used circa-nineties used car

it's an "appliance vehicle". when it's dead, toss it. like a 924.

I'm sure there's plenty of spoon toting Pelicans that could prove you wrong...:D