My parent's last remaining car just had the engine mount/block (sorry not a car person...) crack in half on the expressway. They were able to get to a parking lot and all the oil had gushed out. Black smoke was so thick they couldn't see. It's done.
My husband is rescuing them now and they are going to borrow one of our cars for the time being.
My theory is their new neighbors all sabotaged their cars to get them out of the way since they just moved into a beautiful new subdivision, but were parking 4-5 hideous old cars on the street.
Update: my dad found a way to get the bad car to the junk yard pretty affordably. yay. An elderly relative feels SO awful about their car issues and tight finances that she decided to gift them her car. What a blessing. They'll be able to get it in about three weeks. It's a certified old lady mobile, but in great shape with low miles. It will be better than anything they could afford to buy. I'm so relieved for them.