Worth rebuilding??

[how_U_doin]

I've got a 94 Tracker 1.6, 8v, 5spd. It still runs well but the body is absolutely toast (rust). I've replaced it with it's twin with a solid body (and less km).
My question is this: the original has 270K on it. Is it worth keeping in the garage and rebuilding the engine and tranny to have a replacement for the one I just bought? I'll likely need it eventually as I commute about 50K/year to work. Would I be better off just buying low mileage ones for cheap? (the replacement I bought recently was only $1,300).
Thanks
Roy

[JamesG]

Having a spares car is nice, but unless you like tinkering its usually easier to just buy a factory remanufactured transmission or engine when you need it. Parting out the rotted truck would probably raise enough money to afford one or the other...

[rickf]

james g was right on about tinkering. + how long are "low mileage" ones going to be available. You have to realize as the cars get older so does the technology. 95> went to OBD2 so all the sensors are different. I don't personally know about basic block or heads to know if they are interchangeable.
I drove old bugs for years and then went to Subaru's till the supplies started drying up before I got into Suzuki's in the late 90's. I would just buy the old ones up and throw some $ at them to get them to work for a few miles.If you have the space, store cars and parts,it is cheaper in the long run.I also put 50k + on my cars each year so a new one was out of the question. So my comment would be to just buy old ones till you have to upgrade into something newer.
I still drive my old bug to this day all over the country.
rickf