Repair or Replace my 1986 Crown Vic? Please advise.

I'm new to this forum and need some advice. I'm the proverbial "little old lady" gentle driver, and only drive about 6,500 miles per year. For seven years I've been driving a 1986 Crown Victoria LTD sedan, 5-liter V8 fuel injection. It gets between 19-21 mpg. While it has a leaky oil pan, the engine compression, transmission and A/C are great. It drives like a dream. I LOVE this car!

But with 205,000 miles on it, it's starting fall to bits, becoming less roadworthy. Gas gauge doesn't work, dashboard lights have failed... It needs paint, a new windshild, brakes, shocks, weather stripping, door handles, window controls, seat bolts and seat belts... I think it's probably reaching the end of life. Condition would be rated as "Poor".

Rather than pouring money into it only to have new things break, I'd like to replace it with a similar car with fewer miles. I like the big old beasts, but prefer the '86 and newer because the fuel injection makes them more fuel efficient. Can anybody here recommend specific years and models that are equally safe, reliable and low-maintenance? Can you warn me away from any specific years or models? Or do you think I should stick with this one?

I'd greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thanks!

Think twice with $100.00 fill ups it depends on how much you drive. I would check as the prices have dropped drastically on these vehicles. They have a problem with plugs blowing out on the late 1990's and earlier 2000's.
If you can afford it try for a 2004 or newer.

Thanks, but I can't afford anything near a new one. I'm looking for something under $2,000 and actually like the old "tanks" like mine because they seem so reliable. I drive less than 500 miles per month and get about 20 mpg..

In this case get one with as low mileage and body quality as you can afford.