$500 for my 95 Mercury Mystique LS Duratec Automatic with 142k on the odometer. Runs like a champ. Only needed $3k in parts and recon

Maintenance on these cars is killer, my friend. BTW, if at all possible I'd recommend that you get a manual. The auto may sound convenient, but if you drive like I do then you're most likely going to end up rebuilding it; MTX all the way.
Tim