Hey all. I'm looking at buying a 97 SW2 and would like to hear opinions on the reliability, maintenance requirements and gas mileage. I've heard good things and bad things about this model and year. I want a reliable, economical vehicle.
p.s. I absolutely hate spending money on cars. I'm motorcycle guy, but need a car for bad weather.

 

My 93 SW2 had 470K on it when my Daughter sold it to a friend two years ago, that friend is still driving it

My X-wife has my old 98 SW2 and it's getting close to 300K

Daghter in law drives a 97 SW1 back and forth to work with about 260K on it

In other words, taken care of they will last forever.

Most of the S-Cars get around 38 hiway
Change the OIL every 3K, 6K with Mobil One

Now like any other car, if you find that it's doing something you can't live with..don't buy it.
If the car looks like it's been ignored inside and out, chances are it's been ignored under the hood.

 

Well, I'm currently driving a '93 SW2. It's a DOHC engine, and the head has not been off. Current mileage is just a tad over 200,000 km. It is an automatic, and I do not baby it either around town, nor on the roads. Did change out the starter about 30,000km ago, and have replaced the passanger side motor mounts, but that's about all. The car was originally bought in Washington state, but spent some years in Alaska, so it's been up and down the ALCAN Highway.