Is that a bad thing?

"Yes ma'am, it's a very bad thing?"
"Like how expensive of a bad thing?"
"Anywhere between $2,500 and $5,000. We are not finished with the diagnostics yet, so it could be more."
"Finish with the $99 diagnostic and then do not touch it again!"

That was the coversation between me and the auto shop today. Apparently the minivan has a broken valve spring, whatever that is. And it's not good! So it looks like I will be car shopping over Thanksgiving.

Pros:
-It's always nice to get a new car.
-It's the end of the year so I should be able to get a good deal.
-With gas prices so high, I should be able to get a good deal.
-I won't have to feel bad about getting a new car because I don't have any choice.
-I got a decent raise the first of October and it hasn't really been absorbed into my budget yet, so that will help with the payments.

Cons:
-I'm going to have to spend more than I wanted to.
-I've become used to living actually somewhat comfortably instead of paycheck to paycheck and I'm scared to death to end up in that situation again, especially being a single mom.
-I'm going to have a car payment again. In the 11 years that I've been living on my own, I've been fortunate to only have a car payment for 14 months and that was when I was married.

Bottom line....
God is good and he has the perfect car out there just in my price range. Please pray that I find it without too much hassle!