Long story short: my sister owns a 1996 Saturn SL2. It burns an oil tanker of oil every couple hundred miles. My dad and I spend a lot of time (and money) rebuilding an engine for it, and getting it installed. 2,000 miles later, Sister claims someone clipped the back end of the car (though there's no mark on the car to prove it), sending her off the road and onto a wire that holds a telephone pole up, messing up the front quarter panel and the front door hinge a bit. She then decides that the car is worthless and buys a '05 2.5RS.
Now, I was, needless to say, a little mad. I literally bled to rebuild that engine (have the scar to prove it). Then she just decides to just sell it? Hell no.
I tell her she's gifting the car to me. It is in pretty poor shape, 1. because she doesn't know how to drive, and 2. has no idea how to care for a car. I convince her she wouldn't get much money for it (which is probably true).
So, long story short, for the cost of a title transfer and a new license plate, I am now the proud owner of a 1996 Saturn SL2. It has a messed up front quarter panel, the clearcoat is peeling in several spots, an abundance of scratches in the paint, bald tires, enough NVH to drive a Zen Buddhist master to murder, a non-functioning fuel gauge and a temp gauge that reads "PANIC!" all the time, a helluva shimmy at about 63 mph, no radio, a constantly-on SES light, and a 1/4" thick layer of dust on everything inside. But, it has a brand-new engine, with all-new accessories, a new clutch, it has no sunroof, crank windows and manual locks, rear discs, and the DOHC motor.
A hint as to the future: red primer paint like the GRM Civic, custom coilovers, sticky tires, a boost gauge, and the normal accessories that go with one 
