Ok, I guess I expect everyone on this site to tell me to buy this car, but I'm asking for honest constructive opinions.


My wife to be has a 20 year old brother, whom is engaged. They live in a large college town going to school, flat broke, and no car. I've offered to buy them a car and register it, someone else is going to pick up the insurance.


The car I'm considering is a 1993 Saturn SC2. Motor has 95k, automatic. Seems to run and drive good, transmission shifts well, little performance button works...


I know the guy bought it with a miss, turned out to be a bad valve. had the head repaired and put a new timing chain in it. Only issue I've found is the tires are dry rotted, obviously telling me the car has sat for a couple years.


Price is around 1500. Good deal? Will it last? I don't care about namebrand of vehicle, I just want something that is not going to leave the kids stranded. I live 2.5 hours away and they'd be in deep doodoo if they got stuck.


Tips would be greatly appreciated. I've been told by a couple guys to steer clear of the car...

Just one man's opinion . . . but . . .I wouldn't buy any of these smaller 4-cylinder high mileage cars with an automatic transmission. I'd shop for a manual transmission.


(since you asked)Edited by: MINICooperS

The milage really isen't too high for a 1993, I'd expect to see that year car with alot more miles on it. I would check Kelly Blue Book/Edmunds/NADA as well as Ebay under 1993 Saturn to get an idea of what price these cars are selling for. These cars come with model year design flaws as is suggestive of the technical service bulletins (TSB) Saturn put out for each year auto they make. These cars tend to keep there cosmetic looks well because of the plastic bodypanels. My Saturn does not do well when it is not in use. I store it during the summer months when I drive a Mazda Miata. These cars tend to burn oil as the milage goes up due to oil control ring problems. They also need periodic cleaning or replacing of EGR valve/ coolant temperature sensor and wiring harness/ignition control module/ throttle body cleaning. If your handy at doing these things-no big deal-if you have to go to a Saturn dealer- big expense. Hope this helps.

He will be fine with that car if he justs changes the oil every 3k i would put in a new coolant sensor also