Three grand vets you one third of the way to a new engine. Not all that big of a bill today. Ten grand is common for repairing a sixty thousand dollar vehicle.
My most expensive car is my current one, a 2003 Honda Accord that I bought for $8,500
I cannot imagine spending $60,000. If I could afford that then I could afford the repair bill so I figure this lady must have felt she was being ripped off. Of course I would not have driven off....