What do you do to get a 24 yr old car as good as a newer one when you dont have the $ to do all at once

[car10002]

hi

just been asked this

how do you get a old car as dependable as a newer one when theres things that need fixing and you cant afford all the repairs/parts at once and have to do it bit by bit,

need to get newer engine as oneday the head gasket will need a proper fix and itll be just as cheap to get newer engine, also need to get ac fixed and some suspension work, but at same time once theyre wll done itll only be little things after that anf should be good for years

also have to at some point fix paint up

want to go places and you cant go to some places like going seeing cousins until all things or atleast big things are fixed and not everyone wants or is intrested in a update and some have already put good $$ into their current ones