If you know anything about cars (Hondas!) I need your help!!

[DynamiteRave]

SO. I'm driving a 2002 Honda Accord. The base model. Not LX or EX, just the one that you get with the LEAST amount of options possible.

About Oh.. a month ago my engine started rattling.. Never thought much of it till now because I have to make another trip to Indiana in early October. I took it in to get looked at and the dude finally comes around to tell me that the engine is falling apart internally. And while its not going to break down on me now, it's only going to get worse and it needs to be replaced. This replacement costs $6200. :vomit:

Considering I don't handle the money or the business (my grandmother does) I didn't happen to ask WHY this happened so soon. My car only has almost 68,000 miles on it. It seems like after 6 years and only 68,000 miles, it seems waaaaay too soon to be needing a new engine. Or maybe I'm just not car savvy and its not too soon.

Anyone have any ideas? And any way I could prevent this from happening after I get the new engine? At this point I'm afraid to drive to Indiana anymore because I'm afraid of running the new engine into the ground.