Wow, you triggered some memories of my GTA repairs. None really expensive except the ECU. The guy who did the ECU was a fellow church member and I thought I had the inside track to a good deal. He knew his stuff, but he was expensive. Charged a lot for diagnosis. And he left my beautiful GTA baking in the hot sun for like a week while he got around to it. He had a lift in his own garage at his house! Anyway, he fixed it up like new. It would start but ran horribly, before the new ECU.
Your intake manifold gasket twice? Wow.
My trans mount is OK so far. I do have a trans fluid drip, though. It drips for about an hour after it is parked, then stops. Don't care, not gonna mess with it.
Radiator still OK! I know, amazing. I change the antifreeze every 5 years or so. I did need a new waterpump, now that I think of it. I do my own labor on the basic stuff, so water pump only cost me $29 or so.
Had to put in a new alternator. I got a good one even though it cost more, (only $85 I think at Autozone) so it would possibly last longer. Easy job.
Air conditioning died one week after I bought it. Never fixed it. Don't care.
MAF sensor light came on right after I bought it, so dealer gave me a brand new MAF for free! I was shocked.
MAF sensor light is on again, off again, now, but passes inspection somehow, probably since I drive it less than 5K per year.
The motors for the flip up headlights!! Yes, I had to fix both headlights. Youtubed it, and took it slow, spent weeks, an hour a day or so, taking them apart, dabbing on some Liquid Wrench and waiting, loosening all the old fasteners one by one. The only cost was $7 per headlight, for some new soft plastic bushings (little cylinders) that got destroyed with age and wear. I really enjoyed beating the Stealership on this one. They wanted something like $400 per headlight!! They wanted to just put a brand new motor assembly in. No way, Jose.
I think my car had brand new paint on it when I got it, because I think the dealer bought it from an auction as a wrecked car, for nothing, and had it repaired and painted. They were asking $3,800 for it. I saw it sitting on the lot for months so I went in snagged it for $2,500. Had 112K on the odo. Paint still looks OK since it has a garage.
It has the whale wing. Cracked and rusting. Don't care. I never drive it in the rain. Stays in the garage when I'm not driving it.
Brakes! Yes, I failed inspection once when the mechanic said it pulled sharply to the right when braking. I hadn't noticed. So I replaced the 2 front calipers and put new pads in. Problem solved.
My struts/shocks are probably worn out. The mechanic who inspects it always complains that it is hard to get the lift foot under the right spot due to sagging in front.
Spark plugs are a major PITA to get at. I had a mech change them. He ended up not charging me for the job since he accidentally hit my car with his truck. Argghhhh... His insurance paid for the repair.
I have the enormous tires on her and they are not cheap.
Hadn't heard about the qtr panel bending problem. Unibody frame, I think, right?
Oh yeah, the headliner is coming down somewhat, so I have a few strategically placed pushpins holding it up.
Oh my God, I've written a whole book here! Sorry about that.