New Member: '01 Saturn SL1
 

Hey guys,

I'm 16, and this is my first car. My parents picked it up locally and let me have a look at it, and offered me the deal of them buying it and letting me pay it off. (Can't drive it till school starts, though) It's costing me $2400.

So it's the 1.9 SOHC/Auto (I was dissapointed there...my uncle's '94 Corrolla has a LOT of pep compared to this thing...)

It's a bit different from most SL1's, it's a salvage title (hit in the rear) and the parts donor was a better car I'm guessing. You'll notice it has the reflex panel, and it has the spoiler and alloy wheels as well. Overall, it's a fairly sharp car with few defects...nicks and scratches here and there, but it's a first car.

As far as interior options go, it's manual door locks and windows (less to break) And it does have the better stereo I think. Unlike most teens, I'm sticking with this unit. It's great, it looks nice and factory and it sounds AWESOME.

Future plans include simple things...like when it needs any maintenance, I'm putting better than what came out. K&N (just the drop in, not a CAI) oil, etc.

I'm planning on taking really good care of this car. It's nice for what it is, and I think it looks great. I should mention I detail cars for most of my income, and this one's gotten my best treatment: Meguiars Clay Bar and Cleaner Wax.

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I'm officially a Saturn Fan now. :D

Very well done photos, and the car is looking exceptionally well. Welcome to the Forum

welcome to the forum.

The most common cause of Saturn death is oil related.

Check your oil weekly
change it at 3K religiously

......................................

Good to see you made it over here.

Thanks for the input guys. I'm just looking to get some help here and there when I need it, and this is a great looking forum. Seems like there's plenty of activity.

A sharp little car. And your story made me think, my first car was a 4 door DeSoto, 1947 purchased on sale from a Lincoln Mercury Dealer for $17.00. My dad bought it for me. A bent up rear fender, a hole in the Blue mouse fur rear seat and I blew it up before the summer was out because I had not yet learned what oil should be used in the thing.
I hope you learn faster than I did.

Haha, wish I had that little in my car. And thanks for the compliments, I think it's pretty good lookin' for a first set of wheels. Of course, a little googling and I do wanna do a little to it...nothing major. I'd just like to lower it and maybe some intake exhaust work. Don't wanna exceed the value of the car or it's usefullness, but I mean hey...I gotta tinker a little bit.

I am a big fan of Tinkering! As to Exceeding the value or usefullness, that is a judgement call I'd rather not approach.
I prefer to use;
My Budget
which is altered by not counting the amount of work I do in order to not spend the Money.
My Saturn exists because I like it and when it came time to replace my happy little coupe with a money eating sunroof! I did not like the replacements enought to obligate myself to spending the money on
When!
I could do a $6000.00 paint job for $500.00 in materials (in my budget) and about 100 hours of work.
Free, I did not pay myself.
Also spent about $300.00 in parts to do an estimated $4500 in repairs on a car that at the time was worth about $1500 in cold hard cash but was mine!
And I Tinker too
I probably should not mention the $16,000 I spent on my $150.00 dollar car that now might be worth? Well, possibly $1500.00. Not one of my smarter moves, but I had fun.

Damn, I'd hate to see this account shut down for being inactive.