Try a Chevy Geo Prism. Same as a Toyota Corolla, but cheaper for some reason. My daughter has a '91, and it's been a great car for her. Picked it up for $2k. She's had it for couple years now, and only needed a clutch and front brakes.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

cops don't automaticly look at saturns with distrust either, unlike hondas.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I agree, this is what I was going to suggest.

Same insides as the Corolla and run great forever. I sold one once with 156k and ever single thing worked including the ac and returned good MPG (can't remember exact numbers). A bit cheaper than Toyota. If I got one I'd pick up a stick shift.

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1994 C 280 117.5k, White (Good as new)
1997 Toyota Camry 149k Miles (Not so pretty anymore)

1990 190e 2.6 95k (Sold-Should not have)
1981 240d Stick ??? Miles...sold

I'd get a Civic(had 2 that both lasted well over 100K with little or no maintenance)or a Corolla-I'd watch out for the Saturns-I've seen an awful lot of them burning oil like crazy(like a Mitsubishi?)-I don't know if it is a ring problem or what. They also seem to be a grannymobile around here-I see an awful lot of them just after the first of the month

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1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

I, like others, recommend the Mazda Protege. It is bullet-proof. Extraordinarily reliable. Our '94 Protege LX was the most perfectly reliable car we have ever owned. Their suspension set-up is very sporty, too.

This car has been a perennial top pick by the likes of Consumer Reports.

Because everyone is fixated on Honda's and Toyota's, the Mazda's get overlooked.

Many people like Saturn's, but they are a mixed bag. Of late, their reputation for quality has been poor.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I have friends with saturns. They all like them. The plastic panels also dont rust so they stay looking respectable for quite a while. Plus the power window controls are where we are used to them being, right in the middle. They report good fuel economy and reliability.
Wodnek

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Get A American Car For A Beater, Not A Cheap Ass Toyota!!!!!

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

Actually I am looking at the Saturns because they are cheap and the same mileage and year of Toyota/Honda goes for twice as much.

Mazda is possibility. My Uncle goes to the dealer auctions so he can probably snag me a clean trade in for cheap. I would love another Toyota I miss my Camry it was dirt cheap to run and very solid.

With the Saturns you either love them or hate them. But from the research I have done is that they don't just start burning oil usually the owner doesn't change it. Finding one that has been taken care of is going to be a challange.

In the paper this week their was a 1998 SL1? with 78k on it they are asking $2,300 I think. Civics with 140k on them go for at least twice that.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Wow, now it's time for "flame on"-when the American manufacturers stop building their total P.O.S. economy cars,we can talk about "cheap a$$". As the unfortunate former owner of 2 Escorts, 2 Pintos, an Oldsmobile Starfire(think Monza/Vega), and now a new Vibe that's been to the dealer 4 times in the last month for throwing codes over and over, I think I might be a pretty good judge of beater/economy cars. The Corolla is the most popular car ever made worldwide for a reason(and is made right here in the US in Fremont, CA) and even though I have a lemon off the same assembly line, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. The Saturns, IMHO, have been little, overhyped POSs since day 1-Hatterasguy, you should find yourself a 240D or something similar-there's a reason Saturns are so cheap-you'd need 1 to drive and one for parts!

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1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

I have had less trouble with my saturn in the 119,000 miles I have driven it that I have had with my Mercedes in the first year I owned it. Before the current trouble. By your standards MB is an even worse turd.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

The new Chevy Aveo is pretty damn nice and from what ive seen, pretty realiable. Its also under 10,000 for a new car, base with rebates around $7xxx. Little bit of a different price range but Cadillac cars (excluding deville, older design getting redone very soon) surpassed Lexus cars in quality and are now #1.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

Not sure what this one goes for....it looks pricey

http://www.topgear.com/content/fun_stuff/carbage/carbages/80/04/

That is a prime example why some people just should not be allowed to own a car much less be allowed to actualy work on it.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

The Saturn SL cars were the best of the brand lineup. Go to www.saturnfans.com to get a rundown on the years that had the oil consumption issues. It was a ring problem when GM was contracting with Hastings for supplying the piston rings. As with most domestic products, the is going to be SOME stupid obnoxious quirk about the car, that makes you wonder what the designers were thinking. As for the Aveo, it is a Daewoo Kalos as sold in Europe. It hasn't been around long enough yet to really set up a track record. The former Daewoo Lanos is what the car replaced, and this engine had a history of premature timing belt failure. It was common knowledge to owners to replace that belt at 50K miles instead of waiting for the 60k interval. Since the engine is carryover, and the plant managed by GM now, expect that problem to continue persist with the Aveo. That said, I liked my Lanos, and miss that crude little car. It ran great, and I would consider an Aveo for an econobox. With the 0% interest programs going on, that would make for a very cheap payment on a brand new car. But, understand that you aren't buying a Toyota.

Thanks for the advice. Now Saturns can't be that bad I see tons of old ones on the road. Granted their no Honda/Toyota but for what they go for I can afford a few more problems and still be ahead. Besides I'm not looking at keeping it long.

Now as to financing a chreap new car that is not going to happen.If I am going to take out a car loan I might as well just trade the SDL in on an E430.

Say $8k for some super cheap new pos vs selling the SDL for $6k+$8-10k=E430!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200