Don took his life into his hands test-driving my car. Who else would do that for you? Although he only drove it a half mile round trip, he came back to inform me of his nightmarish -- and potentially life-threatening -- road experience . He said he normally drives the car around the block but "re-routed" after listening to my 192,0000 year-old standard transmission "singing". Apparently like a grenade with the pin pulled, it's ready to explode any day now. Don's diagnostics are not to be doubted. When I headed into town after receiving the news of my car's imminent demise, the transmission "played" some new and funky-sounding musical tones, possibly good enough for incorporating into a low budget rap. I eventually -- and thankfully-- made it without incident (and explosion) into our church parking lot in downtown Concord --- a good place for its memorial service should one be necessary. Like Don, I also struggled to get it into reverse, -- to even find neutral -- and ended up pushing it backward enough to catch some gravity from the sloping driveway, with the hope of hopping in before it rolled into one of the parked cars on South State Street. After the successful execution of this plan, I was able to get it into 1st gear -- but not without applying pressure almost equivalent to that of a hydraulic lift. I was then able to pull forward and park it. As far as I know it's still there, awaiting its fate: a new transmission and clutch or a burial service -- whichever comes first. I'm seriously grateful Don knows cars as well as he does and for further fine-tuning my limited understanding of mechanics. Don kindly searched for and found reasonable prices for a new clutch and used standard transmission and Monique got back to me with this information by the end of the day. Although uncertainty remains about my car's future , I am certain to have whatever I drive serviced by the wonderful and knowledgable gang at South Main Street Auto. You should, too!