I just bought this for $500!

"Long Live the Longdoor" (victoryred08)
06/27/2016 at 22:13 • Filed to: $500 car search

Saturn SL2, 5 speed manual!

300k kms, 200k kms on the engine (the guys son didn’t ran the car dry of oil and had to replace the engine at 100k kms). Needs a muffler, but the clutch is in good condition, suspension is perfect and the engine runs fine. The AC, power doors and windows even work! Might need some front tires for safety but we’ll see.

Can’t wait to learn to drive stick and teach my wife. So excited!

DISCUSSION (20)

Connqr > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 22:17

YAY!

The Lurktastic Opponaught > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 22:22

AWESOME! One of my coworkers just sold their ‘96 (single owner with complete records, no less). With regular fluids and the occasional wear item replacement, that thing just soldiered on. I was amazed.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 22:23

Congrats mate! I’m not a huge GM fan, but older Saturns seemed to be more well-built than some of their other models. Should be a decent car to learn on. I’d had 2-3 lessons for 15-20-30 mins with friends before I bought my 2002 Subie Impreza wagon, then had to drive it home by myself in rush hour traffic in university....’twas an experience :P

I just love the feel of changing gears by hand when driving, to me, it just adds a lot to the experience. As cliche as it is to say, you just feel at one with the car as you have to be an integral part of it’s operation (excluding the actual driving part, of course). It’s fun even in the most mundane cars. I would never go back to an auto if I could help it! :)

Enjoy! :D

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 22:23

Much more interesting choice than the Cavalier. A unique platform but shares enough GM parts that maintence should be pretty easy. That appears to be an SL2 actually. I've seen many of them last a very long time. This looks to be a pretty good deal for $500!

not for canada - australian in disguise > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 22:24

I’ve always had a lust for 90s Saturns. Would DD the hell out of an SC2. Especially an early one with the pop ups.

Kinja'd!!!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 22:36

Nice buy.

Long Live the Longdoor > not for canada - australian in disguise
06/27/2016 at 22:37

That pop up headlight design was awesome! I would have liked an SC2, but this SL2 was too good a deal to pass up.

citrus > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 22:40

I can’t tell if your post says the po’s son did or didn’t run it dry on oil, but watch out for these thing eating oil. My dad’s had two of them (both handed off to siblings) and they consume oil pretty steadily

Otherwise they make great beaters, congrats!

Long Live the Longdoor > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/27/2016 at 22:40

You’re right, I mistyped, it’s definitely a SL2. Your even more right about the cavalier, this is in much better shape and feels pretty solid actually.

Long Live the Longdoor > The Lurktastic Opponaught
06/27/2016 at 22:41

Sweet! I’m not sure I’ve ever been this excited about spending $500 before lol.

Long Live the Longdoor > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
06/27/2016 at 22:42

Thanks!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 22:46

Well at the very least the body can't rust!

Long Live the Longdoor > citrus
06/27/2016 at 22:47

Ya sorry, the PO’s son ran it dry of oil and then paid to have the engine replaced. I’ll keep an eye on the oil for sure.

Thanks!

Long Live the Longdoor > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
06/27/2016 at 22:49

Yup, all plastic everything!

Long Live the Longdoor > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
06/27/2016 at 23:14

Ya I recently bought a new car with an automatic because I chickened out from buying a manual and driving it home without really knowing how to drive it. I probably should have done this before buying the car but oh well.

Thanks, I’m super pumped to learn; I’ve wanted to ever since I really got in to cars several years ago and I’m finally doing it. It’s a big scary step in to the unknown, but I think it’ll be a good experience one way or another. I’ll probably post on Oppo with my experiences :)

For Sweden > Long Live the Longdoor
06/27/2016 at 23:17

FYI, we haven’t always had good luck with these cars

http://jalopnik.com/5578590/my-cra…

Khalbali > Long Live the Longdoor
06/28/2016 at 00:32

So jelly! (See my last post)

Mine fell through

Long Live the Longdoor > Khalbali
06/28/2016 at 06:15

Lol, I’m not gonna lie, your post inspired me to even go look at this. In really glad I did :)

Sorry yours fell thru though; the hunt continues!

Rock Bottom > Long Live the Longdoor
06/28/2016 at 09:55

Solid buy! These are the easiest stick-shifts in the world to learn on. Lots of torque, deep gears, easy clutch. I’ve had a couple Saturn S-cars (read: real Saturns) and love the hell out of these. Tough and reliable. Cheap to keep running, too.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Long Live the Longdoor
06/28/2016 at 21:19

Looking forward to reading about it! :D