dell222

Hello,

I'm new to this page, I am considering a '94 Saturn SC2 as a college car while in graduate school. The vechile in question is a 5-speed with 130k miles on it. It appears to be in clean, well-kept shape with no modifications at all. My question to you all (and thanks in advance for any assistance) is what goes wrong with these cars around this age and milage? How much does servicing cost, and what will tend to need repair soon? I believe these car have a timing chain as opposed to a belt, if that is correct, does that ever need to be changed?

Thanks again for the help. The dealer (a Honda dealer) is asking $2200 for the car, I'm prepared to offer 1700 or so for it. Sound like a good price? Cheers!

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dell222

RiceRocket

Welcome to the spot.

Sounds like a good deal to me if you can get it for under $2g. There isn't anything out of the ordinary that goes wrong with Saturns at the mileage that I know of. Check the oil and stuff like that. If you can, look at the spark plugs, that can tell you alot about how its been taken care of.

The timing chains do have to be replaced when they break, I'm not sure at what mileage they usually break....

Other things that might need to be/should be replaced (aside from obvious stuff like oil) are:

Plug wires
Fuel filter
EGR
PCV
Coolant flush
Possiblely the clutch

I know I'm forgetting lots of things.....

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jeep45238

clutch
burning oil (possible)

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mkbuker

Welcome to Da'Spot

I would offer about $1500. Sounds like a good car and should be dependable for you. I've got just under 130k on my 96 and its running fine. Just a few minor things that go with having milage but nothing major.

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95 Taurus GL (the gas guzzler)
92 SC aquired 2/17/07
86 C-10 aquired 11/2/06
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Ssicarman

Welcome to the Board.

Check the engine for a whine that varies with engine RPM, a sign of an alternator ready to go. Make sure that the motorized seat belt tracks are working well with good speed and smoothness. They are very expensive to replace.

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wolfman

The appearance of a car can be decieving (you can frost a brick and make it look like a cake) Have a look at the OWNER or more specifically the current (or last) primary driver of the vehicle.

If they are under 25 and male, I'd consider another vehicle.

If they are under 30 and female AND the dipstick comes out less than full, again, consider another vehicle.

There is much more to maintenance and care than cleaning and vacuuming.

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Smokedya95stang

All saturns i've ever worked with burns more oil than any car i've ever seen.

I've also owned 2,

one timing chaing broke at 50,000 miles with me keeping perfect maintance on it.

the second is at 138,000 miles and its had/has more problems then id like to even deal with.

both those saturns burned oil. the 138 mile saturn has broke a timing chain as well at 70,000.

id look for something else.
i wouldnt ever buy another saturn. ps iam becomming a mechanic. Going to school and working at a auto garage now. Just so u know ./

RiceRocket

[quote="wolfman"]If they are under 30 and female AND the dipstick comes out less than full, again, consider another vehicle.[quote]



To smokedya:

Good luck finding another car for that cheap. All the guy wants it for is college commuting. So what if you got add a quart a month. It's either that or pay $7,000 for a Honda Shatvic with 190k on it.

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CAmos

Sounds like a good prospect,

I second the vote to check the belts operation, other then that, any problems will be pretty apparent.

Pretty good cars for the $$$

IMHO

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2002 SC2 31k 5spd Red / Gray leather
1999 SW2 105k Auto Brown / Tan leather
1998 SC2 106k 5spd(sold) White / Gray leather
1995 SL2 190k 5spd, (sold) Plumb
1993 SC2 121k 5spd, Red / Tan leather

dell222

All good info--things to consider. Other cars I am considering are accords and civics from about '90--'94 and those in Illinois typically tend to suffer the rust syndrome. Most are automatics as well, and Honda's automatics tend to get troublesome when older. Still have not made a final decision, will likely keep looking, but by the way, this car does not burn oil--on a cold start the exhaust is clean, and it's at a dealer, so I have no info on the previous owner. Good thought on owners, however!

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dell222