the health of a used engine in a used car when you buy it, but it's worse to have to worry about the health of a used transmission in that same car. In most used cars a new engine is upwards of $3000. It's getting that way with transmissions now too. I'm talking on used cars. they too cost upwards of $3K and $4k. It's crazy. Especially the new electronic all-wheel drive transmissions. Crazy. With a manual transmission, worst case scenario-replace the clutch every few years - $500, I can handle that.