Originally Posted by bri3d
Late-model doesn't need to mean hard to maintain or expensive - I've got a '97 4Runner with over 240,000 on it and all it's ever needed beyond oil/timing belts/brakes/one clutch (all normal maintenance for any vehicle at all) is a starter and a sway bar (and that was my fault off-roading). It's a tank and is still going strong.
Fire coming from the middle of the car sounds like it could very much be cat-related... too early to say, but I think you or your insurance might be doing a bit of battle with the shop that redid the cats.
I 2nd that, We've got a '94 jeep Grand called "The Hulk". (yes it's green) it's got 220k miles on it and only had oil changes/brakes/tranny serviced. Needs a new radiator right now, but that's no biggy. I drive it anytime I need to haul something the SRT can't and anytime we get a dusting of snow.