My Mercury Cougar no more go VROOM!

Well it had to happen sooner or later, but my car is officially DOA.

It can be driven short distances, but nothing much else. I have a 2000 Mercury Cougar which is Sapphire Blue, but now is just sitting. Just after dropping $280 for brakes & pads, the engine decides it wants to be a problem. Seems that while it is idle, the RPM's drop to 250 ( should be a min of 750 idle) and then stalls. If I am drive a steady pace, she is fine. Otherwise, DOA and a money pit.

Here is a picture I found on the net of it (missing the rear Spoiler, but the same otherwise) :


I figured after moving up to Maryland and the Winters would take it's toll on her and it did. While she sits in the parking lot, I am carpooling with my wife. We are planning to donate her as a tax write off before the year ends as I am sure she would not fetch much of a trade in.

Now the search is on for a new car, I guess I know what I am getting for Christmas.

If anyone has any ideas on a new car (looking for small SUV or Car), let me know. Here is what we are thinking of as a possible replacement that is under $22k

• Scion xB / xD
  
• Toyota Matrix / Camery / Corolla / Tribute
  
• VW Jetta
• Kia Soul / Sportage
  
• Hyundai Tuscon

What I really hope to do is make it a Itasha Car using Yoko from Gurren Lagann - dreams - like below.