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Author Topic: Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's  (Read 3650 times)

Dawn

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« on: February 17, 2005, 10:38:44 am »
Ok..help advise please.
I've my eye on a 1993 Saturn; very clean and well kept and loaded. It shall be e-tested and certified and asking price is 1,500 (CAD).
My concern is; it's got 278,000 k's on it.
Am I wasting my money here or what's the engines like in a Saturn/are they easily enough replaced with parts etc, should something go wrong?
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Offline ArticSteve

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2005, 10:52:33 am »
That is amazing mileage on a Saturn.  I didn't know they went that far.  That motor may not be the original.

I think you are wasting your money, but I'm saying that only based on the extremely miserable history of those cars.  One would need to see it before giving a real answer.

You know nothing is descent for 1500 bucks unless it is an inside deal.  Certification has nothing to do with the running condition of the motor or transmission.

Is this a private sale?  Have you driven it at high speed and given it a good long ride?  Spend 50 bucks and have a mechanic drive it and have a look at it for you.
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Ericthejet

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2005, 12:49:25 pm »
Pass!  It'll cost you more in 2 weeks after you find the suspension is original. :-)
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Barrie1

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2005, 01:27:26 pm »
Dawn Welcome to the Forum. The engine in a 1993 Saturn was made by GM and usually are a fairly Strong engine with parts very easy to obtain and at a reasonable price. Definitely have this or any other car properly looked at before buying by a reputable mechanic as you don't need problems later.
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Offline Craig

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2005, 03:56:18 pm »
"The engine in a 1993 Saturn was made by GM..."

Don't scare the poor girl.
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Offline maritime_storm

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2005, 12:49:43 am »
You didn't mention what model and transaxle is in it. So here what I can tell you. It depends on the owner, it will most likely be burning oil{the pre-98 SOHC had a track record for stuck oil rings, which is actually cheap to fix}. If it's a 5spd you could be looking at a clutch shortly, if it's a slushbox, see if it has a delay engaging in reverse{if it has a delay pass on it}. Drivetrain wise they're a tough unit, the bad years we're 1995 and 1996 SOHC engines{head cracking 0.001% of those built in those 2 years}. Have it checked out, as long these things and the floor are good, then it probably has some life left in it. There's a good forum on www.saturnfans.com , look for posts by a guy called wolfman, he's a walking service manual on these cars.

P.S. Don't set up the same thread on differnt sections it wastes space.
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Sterling

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2005, 12:58:07 am »
$1500 is virtually nothing in the car-buying world, but even so, you should be able to do much better than a 270,000+km Saturn.
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Dawn

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2005, 11:21:07 am »
Thanks, guys for the advice..it's truly taken into consideration!
I'll keep looking too, for a different car.
I'll test drive the Saturn and come back with a report :-)

Dawn

PS: Maritime Storm: I value what you've posted and for pete's sake..I'm certainly not savvy as you when it comes to transaxles, slushboxes, etc!  :-)  
This is the thing you see, being a single woman and going to look for cars can place me in a vunerable position. I'm not a dummy by all means and I do have some, good knowledge on vehicles however, this is where I wish I'd someone knowledgeable to come with me!
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Ericthejet

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2005, 11:27:43 am »
You keep posting and we'll keep helping :-)

Good luck with the search.
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Offline safristi

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2005, 11:27:55 am »
Geez guys I guess WE have been voted in as the SMARTER SEX fer 2005....DON'T ARGUE!! WIF THAT......NO it won't make yer a*s look FAT....
Good luck on the Saturn..it will run rings!! around a LADA.........Friend has had a Saturn fer 8 years still gets her around town (Alabama) and back and forth from there to Ottawa twice a year..so they can be reliable......fingers crossed....
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Offline maritime_storm

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2005, 01:13:24 am »
Slushbox is old auto slang for automatic, Transaxle is a transmission and driveaxle combination{almost all FWD cars use this}.
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Dawn

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2005, 10:58:04 am »
Well, back again..  
I didn't get the Saturn. I'm still looking for somethin' else...more on that later :-)

PS: pssst... Safristi; don't flatter yourself thinking that guys are the 'smarter sex' for 2005...   ;)  hehe
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Offline safristi

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Buying a Saturn with 278,000 k's
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2005, 11:40:38 am »
Hell I should bottle 'My Charm" and sell it..!!!!....any suggested names...
 "Charlemange" the guy wid da dog disease??? catchy NO????.....which do ya all prefer....m99....bottled
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