2001, 4 cyl, 5 speed, 215K

Alright, My 2001 is running fine, with the exception of timing belts/water pump, brakes/tires the car is all original. Original clutch, starter, alternator you get the idea.

I've been told to leave the clutch alone until it goes, no big deal??

should I replace the starter or the alternator before they go kaput?? or what else should I look at replacing to avoid any major issues later.

 

wait till they start acting up.. as to avoid major issues make sure that oil and filter are replaced 3 to 3.5k miles, coolant, tranny fluid,, repair any oil leaks and coolant leaks that come up,,make sure that fans work properly ,,

 

I wouldn't do them until they need it.

But at that age (215k) I'd probably get emotionally & financially prepared for that stuff. If you have some money squirrelled away for those repairs, then whichever one happens next, you won't have to wait 6 months to save up for the repair.

Clutch...
Find the slave cylinder & throw-out lever down between the trans & the radiator. You should be able to push the throw=out lever over towards the slave (compressing the slave piston). As the clutch wears out, the amount you can compress gradually gets smaller & smaller until there's no compression left. It's just one way of giving yourself a bit of warning before the clutch begins slipping.

Alternators sometimes make whining noises for months before they give up. That's another potential early warning.