evaluate this car please

[amdforever2]

SC1

My uncle agreed to cosign a car for me when he's in town the week of the 25th. I was supposed to have saved $2000 by then. Since I'm going to be around $500 short of that, I'm preparing for the worst: a horribly slashed budget.

So, under $5000. I've found this. I don't think it looks that bad. It's had one previous owner according to Carfax. The 68,000 miles isn't too bad. It has air and is automatic, my only real needs. It doesn't look TOO terrible, in my opinion.

The $4,875 is high according to Edmunds.com TMV, so I'll try to negotiate the price. If anyone knows of anything better in the Kansas City, MO area for under $5000, let me know.

The one owner, decent mileage, ok appearance is what makes me think it's ok. Saturn's are supposed to have ok reliability too, right?

Does anyone know how the interior is on these cars?

 

[amdforever2]

bump

 

[BatmanNate]

I've never owned a Saturn (personally the look disgusts me, especially the headlights) but my buddy has one. They are really hard to work on yourself, even simple things like changing the battery and oil requires non standard tools. (on his at least) I think he's had a few problems with it, but their customer satisfaction is rated pretty highly. If you like the car, check it out yourself, have a mechanic evaluate it, and make sure it falls within acceptable price of bluebook value, then go for it.

 

[GasX]

If your needs are basic, get a 4 door car. The insurance will be much cheaper.

 

[DrumminBoy]

How about this car? The mileage may look like alot, but that car will run just as long as that saturn, if not longer, with less problems.

 

[amdforever2]

Carfax reports that honda has been in a accident. it was rear ended.

hennesy auto center or whatever also isnt a new car dealership. its like an honest bobs used cars dealership.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
How about this car? The mileage may look like alot, but that car will run just as long as that saturn, if not longer, with less problems.

You don't know that, you're just trolling. If it was in a wreck already, it's very possible that it was driven by someone who didn't take care of it at all, in which case it would not be a good candidate for longevity. That fact that it's a Honda means nothing in and of itself, it's a car by car basis on which the decision should be made. I would be very leery about buying any Honda Civic or Acura Integra in my area used, (assuming I liked the car at all to begin with, which I don't) because of how many reckless people drive that kind of car around here.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
If your needs are basic, get a 4 door car. The insurance will be much cheaper.

Good advice. I get raped for insurance, being under 25 with a two door FI vehicle, even though I have a clean record.

 

[wnied]

Here is some seriously good advice for you when buying cars. If you want any particular brand of used car, goto that cars local dealer and look over their stock. DO NOT BUY FROM FLY-BY-NIGHT used car dealers. It will save you thousands of hours in headaches when your used vehicle inevitably breaks down.

~wnied~

 

[halik]

you can do much better than that...any honda will outlast that saturn, plus paying blue book value is dumb. I got my car for 1G under BB

 

[Thegonagle]

Saturns are all right if your needs are basic and your priorities are in order. They're buzzy, loud, and cheap feeling, but they sure as hell get the job done. The twin cam versions are even somewhat fun to drive around town because of the quick steering ratio, reasonably flat cornering, and an engine with decent low-end power.

That car sold by a private party should be around $3000, IMHO. Saturns only fetch good resale value at a Saturn dealer. Other dealers don't want them because they don't sell well.

They are very cheap to insure, and parts are also a very reasonable cost (my 94 SL2 was one of the cheapest cars I've ever had, insurance and parts wise).

My 94 SL2 has 217,000 miles. It's been driven quite hard since about 176,000 miles, when it went into pizza delivery service. It's maintenance was largely ignored for the next 26,000 miles, until I took possession of it for $250. It's still running very strong, but it uses a little bit of oil (1 qt in about 500-750 miles) and only gets about 22 MPG in hard city driving, and 30 MPG on the highway.

It's time for me to say goodbye to the Saturn though, since a few days ago, a front wheel bearing became a wheel bushing, and I don't feel like fixing it anymore.

I'd buy another one for the right price, not because they're great stylish comfortable cruisers, but because they're very cheap to insure, fairly reliable, and cheap and easy to work on.

PS, I think Hondas are wonderful cars, and a Honda a Saturn is not, but 200,000 miles is just as easy in a Saturn as a Honda. Saturn engines, like Honda engines, are known for great longevity.

 

[amdforever2]

How would you say the interior is, compared to say, a 1997 sunfire?

 

[Ryan]

are you snorting coke? I would save up and buy a used 1989-1994 Maxima.

 

[amdforever2]

I am not snorting coke, and I can't wait for a maxima to be available.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
How would you say the interior is, compared to say, a 1997 sunfire?

Probably same quality, different design. I personally like the pre-95 Saturn interiors, except for the motorized belts. They're basically an imitation of the average late 80s-early 90s Japanese interior, but with lower quality materials. After 95, they started trying too hard to be unique, IMO. (But they did get rid of the motorized belts!)

 

[DrumminBoy]

Originally posted by: BatmanNate

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
How about this car? The mileage may look like alot, but that car will run just as long as that saturn, if not longer, with less problems.

You don't know that, you're just trolling. If it was in a wreck already, it's very possible that it was driven by someone who didn't take care of it at all, in which case it would not be a good candidate for longevity. That fact that it's a Honda means nothing in and of itself, it's a car by car basis on which the decision should be made. I would be very leery about buying any Honda Civic or Acura Integra in my area used, (assuming I liked the car at all to begin with, which I don't) because of how many reckless people drive that kind of car around here.

trolling? I was just trying to recommend a car for the guy. Based on personal experience i think honda's are great cars, and i dont think its fair to assume that every honda civic and acura integra has been driven hard and/or been in an accident.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I have to agree with the fellas on this one. Don't buy a Saturn unless you HAVE to. They're alright looking cars, but extremely cheap. Expect a Saturn to get around 120,000 max (maybe more, but who knows).

I have some friends that said the frame started to rattle after they got over 100,000 from general wear and tear. So....I would look into getting an import and seeing if you can find something in a Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi (galants are better than advertised), toyota, etc....

 

[RGN]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
I am not snorting coke, and I can't wait for a maxima to be available.

I would. They are awesome for the money. I own 2.

 

[BatmanNate]

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy

Originally posted by: BatmanNate

Originally posted by: DrumminBoy
How about this car? The mileage may look like alot, but that car will run just as long as that saturn, if not longer, with less problems.

You don't know that, you're just trolling. If it was in a wreck already, it's very possible that it was driven by someone who didn't take care of it at all, in which case it would not be a good candidate for longevity. That fact that it's a Honda means nothing in and of itself, it's a car by car basis on which the decision should be made. I would be very leery about buying any Honda Civic or Acura Integra in my area used, (assuming I liked the car at all to begin with, which I don't) because of how many reckless people drive that kind of car around here.

trolling? I was just trying to recommend a car for the guy. Based on personal experience i think honda's are great cars, and i dont think its fair to assume that every honda civic and acura integra has been driven hard and/or been in an accident.

Just as fair as it is to assume that it will run longer than the Saturn. I drive a Toyota (which is another company with a pretty good record for reliability) and when I was shopping for it I drove some Supras that had been abused to the point where I wouldn't give them the benefit of the doubt against an 80's Hyundai. It took me a dang long time to find a nice condition MKIII Turbo 5-speed because so many of them were abused. Regardless of the make of car, if you don't change the oil and drive like a mad idiot then your car isn't going to last long.

 

[Thegonagle]

Once again, 200,000 miles is easy from a Saturn, if reasonable care is taken. 120,000 max? What's that based on? I could tell you to expect 130,000 miles max from a Civic because that's all my cousin got from his 95. Of course he didn't take care of it at all.

BTW, I hereby revise my $3000 estimate down to about $2500 after checking edmunds. My brief experience in the car trade usually has me guessing a little closer to Edmunds reports. I guess Saturn resale values are really starting to crash.

 

[DrumminBoy]

Originally posted by: Garfang
Once again, 200,000 miles is easy from a Saturn, if reasonable care is taken. 120,000 max? What's that based on? I could tell you to expect 130,000 miles max from a Civic because that's all my cousin got from his 95. Of course he didn't take care of it at all.

BTW, I hereby revise my $3000 estimate down to about $2500 after checking edmunds. My brief experience in the car trade usually has me guessing a little closer to Edmunds reports. I guess Saturn resale values are really starting to crash.

I currently have 183,000 miles on my '92 Civic.

 

[RU482]

I'd hit it

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

I have a 99 Honda Civic with 60K I'm selling. Perfect condition. Factory Warranty til 72K. Runs like brand new.

 

[CraigRT]

SC1... hmm
that might be the 100 hp engine
if it is.... SO SLOW!!!!!!!!!

 

[slikmunks]

Originally posted by: Yield
SC1... hmm
that might be the 100 hp engine
if it is.... SO SLOW!!!!!!!!!

not everybody needs a fast car... it would do the world some good if some people didn't have their fast arse cars....