Please read and provide input!

i used to be on Saturn fans with my 95 sc2. I loved that thing. I now the same car but a 96 that i can buy for scrap value. Should I take it on!?

-starts right up
-vibrates a lot….thats the scariest part
-interior needs work
-leak oil slowly, but from multiple spots
-shifts great, no reverse slam
-power steering leaks

 

No matter how little you pay for it, the amount of work required will cost more than the value of the car will ever be. That means it is a hobby that will require time and money (I hope your wife/GF understands). I love the SC2 series and my "95 but personally I would not get another one unless it was (nearly) perfect or a parts car for the one I own.
Can you isolate the vibration? That would be the key for me.
Interior parts may be difficult or impossible to find.
Oil leaks, It's a Saturn.

 

How many miles?
Do a compression test.

You will indeed not find interior parts unless they are from a different vehicle, first generation SC2.
I think there are quite a few parts that are 95.96 only, but don't quote me on that.

Ultimately, I have to agree that you'll be sinking much more money into it than you'll ever recover.
There's probably a good reason it is priced as scrap.
I would avoid the temptation and move on.

This from the guy in the process of restoring the interior of a 95 SC2 My wife drove off the lot brand new. No kids no pets. I'm redoing the door panels right now. Financially worth it? Depends who you ask. It has been put into service at several critical times as a third car, and it's damn fun to drive for what it is. I even blew money on a custom antique plate for it in PA because it's old enough and why not if I'm going to run into the ground. I'll be starting a GoFundMe for the paint job, but The thing is shiny as hell and all of the clear coat is still there because I wax it twice a year.

I'm willing to bet on that 96 that the subframe is rotted out as well.

I'm a glutton for punishment. Do not follow my example as I didn't have all that much work to do on it because I maintained it myself over the years. You simply cannot find any interior stuff for that first gen of S cars unless somebody who has maintained one all these years is in a wreck and you happen to stumble across it as it's towed into a yard.

Move along. You'll thank yourself.

 

I fully understand that it will never be worth fixing it up financially, but i love me a good project. It has 130k

I have no issues doing work on it but where i draw the line is engine issues. Thats something i cant do. I’m also in PA and have wanted a 95-96 ever since i got rid of my last one. This would be a 3rd car for my single self (maybe that’s why im single). I just finished a 2003 Subaru. Pic for attention

 

If it is vibrating that much, and all the engine mounts are attached you are truly rolling the dice. If it is burning significant oil, you're also looking at an internal rebuild....

Just saying

 

I'm willing to bet that most of the vibration is from broken engine and transmission mounts. You can do that, if you just take your time and pay attention to what you're doing. I loved driving the old SC's that I had and the one gifted to me from a great guy named derf. Unfortunately, my wife has a multitude of health issues and I had to sell the gifted one in order to pay some bills. My wife and daughter both have had back surgeries and the low sitting SC's aren't easy for either of them to get in an out of, so I won't get another. I'd be tempted if I was in your shoes, because those cars are easy to work on and seem to run forever if you keep the engine oil up to full on them. I'd say since you aren't willing to learn or do the engine work, forget it and move on. I DO like what you did to the Subaru. It looks great.

 

Do these engines have balance shaft problems?

 

If you consider not having balance shafts a problem, yes.
Otherwise no.