Should I buy newer and repair or older and repair?

I am thinking of buying a Chevy Astro, GMC or Chrysler or something
like it (don't care which minivan acutally, but I know I cannot afford
the foreign ones).

My question is if you think I should buy an older one with a V6 and fix
it when it breaks or buy a newer one with a 4 Cyl. or maybe V6 and fix
it when it eventually breaks.

I figured since they are both gonna break why not get the older one and
fix it. At least I would not have already spent my repair money on the
car. I know a guy who paid $1500 for a Chevy Astro with 129,000 miles
on it. He said it only leaks oil a little when it sits and a little
"puff of white smoke" when he starts it up. I don't know how bad that
is.

I thought this might be the kind of vehicle that as long as you liked
the inside of it you can fix it forever....thoughts please. Thank you
for any insight.