Longevity of the '89? & trans. swap?

[nhartswick]

Hey all,

Thinking about buying an '89 'lude Si with 166k on it. Good shape, blue book is about 1,500 with the power locks, cd player, etc. Need it for a long commute (50 mi.), much of it in winter conditions.

Is this car going to last me another couple years? Am I going to sink 2 grand into repairs over the next year like I have with my old Saturn? Or will I be satisfied?

Also: it's an automatic, which I hate. Anyone know anything about whether a 5-speed swap is possible/economical/worth it on a $1,500 car?

THANKS!!

N