I'm surprised at the $1500-3000/year figure. I've had two and I wouldn't put it anywhere near that. Even after re-bushing the entire suspension (minus front a-arms), new stock shocks, aluminum air dam, headliner, radio, O2 sensor, exhaust mounts, cooling system etc, I'm at around $1500 for two years. And most of that isn't maintenance I'm going to have to do again for several years. Mine is at 160k and runs like a top- would drive cross country without question.
MPG's: I average 22 in my '95. It's chipped, has intake, but that's it. I don't beat it up. Maybe the 3.2 has a different character in that regard. I get about 25 going 80. It loves going 80- also, as said above, you are at about 3500 and the engine is right at the "on boil" point.