Saturn SW-1 as a daily?

Hey all, Returning my Elantra Sport lease and found a 1995 Saturn SW-1, 5 speed, 125k miles, for under 800$. are these reliable? anything to look out for? Mind you, I am in the heart of the rust belt.

Thanks!

The body doesn't rust at all, but the structure can and it will be well hidden.  Check the subframes, rear door sill, and where the trailing arms attach to the body/frame.

They are reliable, but there is zero reason to buy a single cam.  A DOHC has an extra 25-40 horsepower, gets about the same mileage and costs the same amount of money.

SW2s are getting very thin on the ground in some places. I looked for over a year to find mine. If i had found a first gen SW1 for $800, I would have snapped it up.  Especially a 5 speed '95, as that is the best first gen to have, since it has an airbag as opposed to those horrid automatic belts. 

I had a '94 SW1 automatic that I bought new.  The single jingle consistently pulled 3-5 MpG better than my twin cam (the green one is an automatic; the red one is my 5 speed)   The 5 speed might be a different story, especially with a 5th gear swap.  

Oh, and 

CHECK THE OIL

Every time you add fuel. 

Oops.  One more thing.  Since it is a single cam, check the coolant reservoir for discoloration and signs of milkshake. The heads were made with a lost foam casting, and many suffered cracks in the cam bearing journals. I never sawany with coolant in the oil, but quite a few with oil in the coolant. 

Cooter said:

Oops.  One more thing.  Since it is a single cam, check the coolant reservoir for discoloration and signs of milkshake. The heads were made with a lost foam casting, and many suffered cracks in the cam bearing journals. I never sawany with coolant in the oil, but quite a few with oil in the coolant. 

It did just have a radiator change, and a coolant flush.....hmmmmm

That's not uncommon.  But usually the reservoir is discolored if the head cracks.  See if is heavily stained.  Or recently replaced.  Check the inside of the cap, as well.   

Check the rear window window stays. They're metal and rust quickly

All Saturns burn oil... some more than others.  You need to get in the habit of checking the oil every time you put gas in the car.

Personally I like the SOHC engine.  It has a different torque curve  and is thrifty at the fuel pump.

Rust areas are limited to front sub frame where the lower control arms attach to the frame.   The rear door sills/ rocker panel.   I have also seen them rust where the rear suspension radius arms attach to the floor pan.

I put 340K HARD miles on my 96SW1 and finialy junked the car because everything on the car was nasty dirty, bent ,cracked, rusted, or missing.... but the car still ran great!

If you're turning in a presumably newish car such as your Elantra, do you truly want an $800 23 year old car as your daily driver?  I used to always drive really cheap beaters as DDs, but at this point I'm long past that.  If it's a financial need, then totally understandable, but beyond that...

I'm 53, and I still DD S series Saturns, Eagle wagons and old K cars. Unless it is brand new, I will put the reliability, ease of repair, and fun factor of my old beaters up against anything newer. 

Cooter said:

I'm 53, and I still DD S series Saturns, Eagle wagons and old K cars. Unless it is brand new, I will put the reliability, ease of repair, and fun factor of my old beaters up against anything newer. 

I’m STRUGGLING with my next daily driver. Altimas, Neons, Civics, Lancers, Maximas, Accords, Focii... all bore me. 

Can you recommend an older, efficient car that’s a good candidate to be a reliable daily driver.

I’m liking the Chrysler K idea 

(I just realized I’m a thread-jacker, sorry)