Shopping For A College Beater: Success!

Katakuna

I spent weeks searching: through lots full of dealership trade-ins, back alleys, and even junkyards. Where’d I find my beater? In my driveway! Read more…

I bought my mom’s 1994 Saturn SL2, the same one I featured in August. Under 100k on the clock, mint condition, two new tires and new brakes all around, and it’s got a great sound system. No power windows or locks, but those are just two less things to haywire on me later on. It’s an auto, but it’s equipped with the factory “performance package,” a switch that makes it shift harder, faster and at higher points. The interior is a bit smelly and need of a cleaning, but I can fix that. The best part? It handles like a Lotus. You can pull Batman turns without breaking a sweat!

I think $1,800 is perfectly fair. It’s a bit out of my price range, but I can handle making payments. Plus it is my mom’s car, so that takes a bit of the buyer-beware out of the equation. How about you guys–ever drive a hand-me-down from your parents or buy a car from a family member? How did it work out?

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Posted at 7:59 am in Alex Vickers, Saturn, SL2

Comments

latemodelmopar93
Mar 29, 2010 at 12:36 pm

I still am cruising in my dad’s 1993 Chrysler Lebaron convertible. I got it through my brother but still, its nice and quick, it can take corners like a dream and its still going strong after 130,000 miles.

GTwildfire
Mar 26, 2010 at 6:02 pm

I thought it was a SC, but a SL2 is fine. That was Saturn’s flagship through the early days when they didn’t have much trouble whipping up enthusiasm. I think those were the best day Saturn had. Resale prices may not have been kind to them, but their mistreated reputation has been disproportionate. As you know they can really rack up the miles. This one can go another 200,000 + miles. It’s certainly possible.
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You made the right move, definitely.

swensonhimer
Mar 26, 2010 at 10:47 am

I inherited the family minivan. I still have it 6 years later, granted its on a different motor and all, but I got some great memories from that thing

snowboarding125
Mar 26, 2010 at 9:38 am

I got a 98 Dodge Stratus from my sister for a weekend of baby sitting her 3 year old daughter. It had snapped a timing belt and she wasnt sure how much damage was done and already bought a new car. It cost me 700 to fix then another 600 6 months later when it broke down again. So I’m into my “free” car for 1300 so for which is not too bad unless it breaks down again.

simplyj
Mar 26, 2010 at 8:15 am

In an effort to make my sister and I more fiscally responsible as teenagers, my parents made us buy our own cars. My sis decided on a 93 ford probe (back in ’97) or so and a year later I made an offer on my dad’s 95 Isuzu rodeo. I bought it with 94k on the clock and drove the piss out of it for the next 2 1/2 years. Lifeguarding every summer, I drove that thing on the beach, through shallow salt water, and used to do garbage can slalom races with buddies on rainy days. I sold it with 33k miles later. Aside from a little rust on the front fender creeping out from under the fender trim, that thing had no issues. All it needed from me for those 33k miles was oil and gas.