This car is worth repairing; you couldn't buy a decent car of any kind for what it will cost to repair it.
You gotta do it yourself, the cost is much more reasonable. That is how these cars go down: they get old and cost so much to repair at dealers and garages, that people junk them.
I was buying tires Friday; heard the shop quote an old guy $1100 to replace the ball joints in a Ford Ranger pickup. What a shame. Truck looked like it was about 3 years old.
Don't be afraid; it's not any more difficult to repair than anything else.
By the way: I have one just like it: 1986, Diamond blue metallic.