Help me find an efficient new car ... for ~$1200!

[Daox]

Anyone know of any problem areas to look for on a 98 SL1?

[SilverCrown9701]

Originally Posted by Daox

Anyone know of any problem areas to look for on a 98 SL1?

Here is a website that I use to research problem areas on vehicles:
Saturn SL1 Repair: Problems, Cost and Maintenance


Here's another site I discovered featuring reviews from real owners:
1998 Saturn SL Reviews - Carsurvey.org

Finally, another site that I love to use:
Saturn Problems Overview | CarComplaints.com


I hope this helps!

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Daox

Anyone know of any problem areas to look for on a 98 SL1?

I would think hidden rust would be the big thing to look for in your area. Most cars with rust problems show it on the body, but you obviously won't see that with the plastic panels. Look at the subframe, the reinforced part of the unibody where the subframe mounts to, behind each of the wheels, and where the rear trailing arms connect.

Saturns are notorious for using oil. As long as you keep adding more, they seem to run forever though. Pay attention to any knocking or other odd noises from the engine that may indicate it was run low on oil. Ask how much it uses (If they say none, they are probably lying).

Most everything else I can think of likely wouldn't be dealbreakers. Mechanically, Saturns are robust little cars.

[Daox]

Thanks, I'll check out those areas.

Where do they burn oil from? Is it just the valve stem seals that go on them? Or is it the rings?

[Daox]

The SL1 was a no go. Too many untold issues: cracked windshield, rattles up the wazoo, smelled of smoke, and there was an alignment issue that just started happening.

The search continues!

[2000mc]

...yea some of the saturn owners are pretty hands off. i think the oil is going by the rings, and if they say none when you ask how much it burns, theyre probably just ignorant and will be more surprised than you, as you withdraw a dry dipstick from their engine. although i would pass on those cars, or figure in cost of replaceing the engine.
wife thought i was crazy when we bought ours, wipers running into each other when they moved at all, check engine light on, pulled so hard to the right she could hardly drive it. I just used that to drive the price down. the right front tire couldnt of had 10psi in it, stoped at a gas station on the way home, filled up the tires and it drove straight. the check engine light was for a lean code caused by the hose from the pcv valve to the intake being split, easy fix. then i took off the wiper arms, cleaned out the splines, and we were good to go.
i'll try to run through all the stuff i've replaced on mine sometime, as the s series seems to keep coming up as an option for you

[Daox]

Here is our next possibility. They just dropped the price on it recently.

1996 Mazda Protoge 5 SPEED

What are you guy's thoughts on cracked windshields? How hard is it to replace myself? I've never done a windshield. The last one I had replaced was the rear in my last Prius. It cost about $300 I believe.

[Fat Charlie]

I'd pay to have a windshield done.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Daox

Here is our next possibility. They just dropped the price on it recently.

1996 Mazda Protoge 5 SPEED

What are you guy's thoughts on cracked windshields? How hard is it to replace myself? I've never done a windshield. The last one I had replaced was the rear in my last Prius. It cost about $300 I believe.

Windshield replacement is pretty common, and I typically find it cheaper to replace than most other pieces of glass (other than door glass, because you can easily grab it from a junkyard) and it will be in stock. I recently had it done on my Mustang and it was about $200 and the guy drove out and did it in my driveway.

The issues on the Protégé seem minor and easy to deal with. Looks like a buy!

[Xist]

How to Replace Your Automobile Windshield: 7 Steps looks pretty good and car-part.com shows Protegé windshields in Wisconsin for $60-100.