Second hand motor will cost a lot less than pulling yours down. Depends how long you want to keep it though. As with the 'old fella' cars too, my XR6 copps a bit of a hiding, but gets serviced every 3000km (its cheap enough so why not) and not 1 noise, leak or problem goes without immediate attention with the best fix i can afford. Buying off an old dude may mean he doesnt thrash it, but also maybe doesnt give it the care a car nut who does will. Im sure we all agree.

My xr wagon is the best driving e-series i've ever been in...owned by my parents since brand new, used only for family holidays or towing/bootspace duties...~120,000kms (should try sell it to that mickyyyyy guy for $10k lol). Never had major problems with it and feeling how it drives, how smooth the gearbox is compared to other e-series I've been in, it just feels like a much 'newer' car.

It only gets driven like once a week, so why would that be in so much better condition than other grandpa cars that seem to just die as soon as they get thrashed a bit lol, i've given the xr a go a few times and nothing bad ever happened...

Would you go as far as to say its "immaculate"?

Obviously its been maintained properly. Point is a mechanically well maintained car is always a safer buy than one that simply comes from one who is less likely to put the boot in. Theres nothing wrong with giving a car a bit, in fact its good for them, so long as its maintained accordingly.