[old guy]

The average age of cars on U.S. roads is at a record 11.5 years, according to research firm IHS Automotive. Automakers say they are building the best cars ever, and there's proof on the road. The average age of vehicles in the U.S. has climbed to a record 11.5 years

I'm surprised at your comment about "Ol' Bessie" - the 2006 car (not just you, many others seem to have the same opinion about cars). Almost any modern car provides over 200,000 miles of trouble-free service. And they are definitely not 'deathtraps' if you perform the proper maintenance (good tires, good brakes, etc).

 

[old guy]

300K and had a major problem with the steering column and was leaking gas fumes into the cabin. I had to make a decision... spend 3 grand to fix it or just start over. They gave me $800 for Bessie, I added $2,500 for a down payment on a reliable used car,

Good job, that's "use it up, wear it out!"

I got a 1.99% interest rate and will start tripling the payments soon.

I sure wouldn't prepay on a 1.99% loan, keep it for the full term - and use your money to earn more.