New guy has questions
 

Hi! Newbie from California here and looking to get a Saturn wagon, it's going to be my work commuter but I also want to have some fun with it so I'm just wondering which model is the best of both worlds and what things I should look for.

Thanks!

Welcome, I have an lw300/auto that I may convert to an lw200/5 speed. Someone that knows the s series will chime in on those, but I bet an s2/5 speed wagon would be a blast to drive also.

Yeah I'm only going to buy a 5spd but they seem like they could be fun, I know the friends I had that had them loved them

The DOHC SW2 will be fun but at the expense of a super cheap interior. Geared low, fun to drive, better gas mileage on the highway than the L series LW200 (4 cyl) LW300 (V6)--

Andy --pls verify -- Sw2 should be above 32 mpg highway.
Nice if you can find one that has been taken care of; oil burning issues plagued many who stuck to the factory recommended 5W30.
Bu they are mostly plastic, so a 15 yr old plastic car should have fewer rust issues with the body.

Never sat in an L car let alone an LW wagon, so I can't speak to their fitness for a particular use.

Just remember that the parts availability for L and S series cars ( and Ions and Vues and Relays and Skys) dwindles with each passing day

Good to know, the quality of the interior and stuff isn't an issue since I'm really only getting it for the mpg. With the oil issue what oil do you recommend?

If you are looking for fuel mileage buy a sw1, the single cam cars have taller gears and get surprisingly good mileage.

I used 10W-30 in both my SC1 and SC2 when I had them. The 2 used about a quart between 5,000 mile changes. The 1 used MAYBE 1/2 quart. Depending on where in CA you live, you might even be able to get by with 10W-40. But, the 1.9 is a known oil user, so just make sure to check it weekly, anyway.

California has a 70 mph speed limit and a lot of mountains. 6 and 7% grades have a tendency to take the fun out of road trips when you have to dog it over in the #1 lane and watch motor homes pass you.
I can't see an s series be what you want, specially an s1. Now take in mind I like the S series and own an s2 coupe and running through California I wish for another 15 HP which today is expensive if possible to find for that era car. I kinda agree with Derf get a later model, parts will be easier to find and as it will be shared with other GM vehicles the odds of finding performance goodies will be increased. Specially affordable ones. -

Use a Oil Viscosity vs ambient temperature chard and select an oil viscosity that the 1st number is representative of the warmest cold temperature you will normally experience and the second number is the highest warm temperature you will also normally experience.

Example: I live in Arizona and rarely will see any temperature colder than freezing (32F) and will commonly see temperatures of over 110 degrees a third of the year.
Thus for me a 20W40 dinosaur based oil or a 15W40 synthetic works well and on an older engine it helps it to run the heaviest oil that the system will allow. but in general a 10W30 will work almost anywhere.