I can already tell this new format isn’t going to stick around. But we’ll tough it out for this week, and go back to normal next week. I’ll throw in a few “mystery car” days here and there, but this feels too gimmicky to be a regular thing. Hey, you don’t know unless you try, right?
Yesterday’s winner, to the surprise of probably no one, was that amazingly clean Saturn SL2. It took quite a few of you on a trip down memory lane; Saturns were popular enough in the ’90s that almost everyone has a story about one. And they were good solid used cars for a lot of years, too. I had one for a while, a royal-blue SC1, and it was a fine car. I bet this one with more power and better gearing is a lot more fun to drive, though.
There were some dissenting voices, and some nearly-heated discussions in the comments. Goodness, I hope none of you are here looking for actual car-buying advice. Like those old 1-900 numbers, the information presented here is for entertainment purposes only. Don’t get me wrong; we’re very serious about cars around here, but that certainly doesn’t mean you should take everything we say about cars seriously.
With that in mind, let’s reveal yesterday’s mystery car:
2006 Chevrolet Corvette convertible – $27,900
Kachow! That’s right; it’s a C6 Corvette done up as a tribute to everyone’s second-favorite sentient Disney race car, Lightning McQueen. This baby has just 56,000 miles on it, and the seller says it’s “ready to go.” But lest you think that some copyright-infringing graphics are the only thing this car has going for it, check out what’s under the hood:
Yep, it’s supercharged. The seller doesn’t provide any other information about it, so I can’t tell you what else has been done, but I bet it’s putting quite a lot more power than stock through that 6L80 automatic. But is it enough to win the Piston Cup? Doesn’t matter, I guess; it lost here. Let’s take a second look at the Saturn before we move on to today’s new challenger.
1995 Saturn SL2 – $3,500
The 1990s were a good time for sporty sedans, and nearly all of them were offered with a twin-cam engine that brought a little more heat to the party. This Saturn SL2 is an economical and practical little sedan, but you can also toss it into a corner or wind it out in second and third gear on an on-ramp, and it doesn’t act all offended like some lesser economy cars do.
Sure, there are any number of more modern cars available for the same price that might be “better” in some ways, but just look at what this thing has to offer: acres of glass for good outward visibility, a 2,400 pound curb weight to keep it light on its feet, three pedals on the floor, and bright shiny teal paint. Now that’s living.
1986 Toyota MR2 – $4,700
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Pico Rivera, CA
Odometer reading: 155,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Of course, if you don’t need four doors or a lot of cargo room, there are a whole lot of small, economical cars that are a lot more fun. Want great gas mileage and Toyota reliability, but in a wedge-shaped sports car with the engine in the back? You’re in luck. I present to you the first-generation Toyota MR2. Mind you; it’s economical, but not cheap. These cars have gone up in value quite a bit in the past few years, like everything interesting from the ’80s. A used MR2 used to be a thousand-dollar car, but times have changed. I think the only reason this one isn’t ten times that much is that it has a salvage title.
Nestled behind the seats of the MR2 is Toyota’s 4A-GE four-cylinder engine, mounted transversely and driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. It’s the same basic layout as a Fiat X1/9 or a Pontiac Fiero, but, you know, a Toyota. This car should be as reliable and efficient as any Corolla. The seller says it runs great, but they don’t elaborate. The ad contains more enthusiasm than information.
There has to be a catch, right? There is: the interior is hosed. It’s badly sun-damaged, and has ill-fitting covers on the seats. I don’t know what the seats look like under the covers, but I fear that if you looked, you’d want to put the covers right back on. It’s still more or less functional, but it sure isn’t pretty. Oh, and the air conditioning doesn’t work, but kudos to the seller for not trying to claim it “just needs a charge.”
The outside looks considerably better, but I don’t think it was originally black. Based on the photo of the engine compartment, I think it started out as champagne gold. The black paint suits it, though, and it goes well with the gold aftermarket wheels. I’m less enthusiastic about the dark window tint, but if the AC doesn’t work, then it probably helps keep it cool inside. There are some slightly wonky panel gaps around the front bumper and headlight doors, which may have something to do with the salvage title. It’s not perfect, for sure. But if you always wanted an MR2, waited too long, and don’t want to pay auction-site prices, this could be a decent deal.
Mystery Car – $?
You can’t blame me for today’s mystery car. The Bishop is the one who found it; I just picked it up and ran with it. All I’ll say is that it comes with a parts car.
Fun and reliable is a good combination of traits for a car to have. I would say both of these cars have those traits; the mystery car has the potential to have one or the other, but probably not both. So it’s up to you: are you sticking with the Saturn sedan you loved so much yesterday, dumping it for the Toyota sports car, or rolling the dice on the mystery car?
Once bitten… I voted for mystery car yesterday and never again! I’m sticking with the solid citizen Saturn.
That MR2 is roached and I wouldn’t touch it for more than $1500. I’ve driven a car with tint that dark and you had to roll the window down for sharp left turns or you literally couldn’t see the road or what was in it. I know tint is easy to remove but it’s the shit cherry on the crap sundae for me.
I like that clean, manual, teal Saturn and voted for it yesterday, but I just need to know what set of cars is behind door number three. I mean you get two cars, that’s better than one, right? The question is what parts will be required from the donor car, or are they both actually donor cars.
I trust the Bishop not to pick a K-car so I went mystery. Though that Saturn is still a good choice.
Same thought I have. Hope I’m right.
I’m going MR2. I’ve always found them interesting and kinda wanted one. I’d prefer one maybe a little less beat to crap but here we are. I have a thing for Fieros, too. Maybe I have a type.
You need an X/19 with a Fiat Uno Turbo engine in it. If you have a type, hold out for the hot, crazy Italian one.
No the Pacific Rim always has less hair than an Italian style.
I’ll take a clean stock manual Saturn over a questionable modified and ragged out anything.
Plus, TEAL!!!
I have had 4 of those Aw11 mr2s. All with hardtop, 2 with the same color. this one being from California will not have rusted sides.
Interiors are Toyota parts bin, so they can be fixed up. Plus it’s small inside so there is less interior to fix. The T top ones leaked so bad that there is a wealth of info on fixing the insides.
I have to vote Mr. 2. I know I’m a sucker, but I do miss my tiny sports car.
I’m one of the few who voted to keep the LH around yesterday, but given today’s options the Saturn wins. I actually love the way the MR2 presents, with the black paint and gold wheels, but that’s all it has going for it. And I’m not falling for the old, “or do you want what’s behind door number three?” trick. It’s probably a literal donkey.
That Saturn is so clean it still wins for me. Hell it’s so clean if I had a place to store it, I’d have already bought it.
I think the “mystery car” gimmick actually works well. Though when I saw y’all dangle the MR2 in the top shot, I knew it would be stinky bait of some kind. I figured it would be an automatic or a non-runner, but that tragic interior is impressive.
I wanted to vote for the MR2, but it is simply too beat and rough to give it the nod over the cheaper Saturn. A good first gen MR2 can be a lot of fun, but that one just gives me a feeling that it will chew through tires because getting a proper alignment is impossible after the wreck that totaled it.
I’ll keep rolling the dice.
Props for at least offering an interesting car with the MR2 though even if you picked one that lives up to the name of the series.
I really wanted to pick the Mister Deuce because Toyota and tons of aftermarket support if you want to spice it up a bit. But that interior is just hideous.
I’ll take the Saturn, only because it’s a known quantity and if I wanted Tucker’s mystery machine it better be a van and come with a talking great dane and enough food to satiate the munchies that I’m always getting.
That MR2 looks beat to hell. I used to own one. Engine and Transmission was reliable. Needed a new exhaust system every few years. T-tops were fun but leaked.
Mystery car again. I don’t want to be overnighting (interior) parts from Japan, and I despise these Saturns.
The SuperVette feels like a win from yesterday.
Saturn is the correct answer here, but I voted for whatever shenanigans the Bishop has stumbled into.
Just looking at the lede, I was all set to stick with the Saturn vs a tinkered-with Señor Dos, but I promised to keep an open mind in case it turned out to be a diamond in the rough.
That MR2 not a diamond; it’s just rough. Easy pick for the Saturn today.
Much as I want an mr2 at some point, dear God, not that one. My sl1 in dark teal was one of my favorite cars so sticking with the Saturn to remind me of the days of 4 doors with manuals.
that Saturn looks to be in incredible condition. the MR2… not so. I adore the MR2, but yikes. 4.7k for that car is just too much. no AC might be okay in CA, but in central North Carolina? Absolutely not.
Not even the supercharged MR2?
Saturn again
MR2. I voted for the mystery car last time around, and the C6 was no disappointment. But I’d rather have the MR2 over even that. Their CdA values are about the same, but the MR2 is much lighter, and I don’t give a crap about the interior when I can just gut out all that dead weight and make it lighter!
It’s lighter until you strap 300 liters of guzzleline to it. But it is how we ride, all shiney and chrome
I still voted for the MR2. NO REGRATS.
Gotta put Mister 2 second behind Mister Beer. I’d rather have a case of Meister Brau than the Toyota for the same price.
And I believe that should be regerts
I had an 85 MR2. I voted for the ratted out MR2 because of memories. That being said, I would expect an exam would find the car is 90% Bondo and 10% “other”. Other being stuff that would blind you if you turned on a black light. The biggest problem with MR2s of that era is that they could rust to the ground on a dry desert day.
However, even with the likelihood of tetanus, rabies, covid, Ebola, AIDs, scurvy, the black plaque, small pox, herpes, and heat exhaustion, I STILL want it.
Surely there’s not enough room inside an MR2 for there to be that many bodily fluids, right?
MR2s are horrible for passengers. Nobody can resist the urge to turn up the wick and drive around with a grin that an Anime artist would consider too broad. I’ve been a passenger in a 1st Gen MR2 and it’s a horrible experience. Screaming engine a couple inches from you and what appears to be the Joker on Meth cackling beside you.
Thus, any bodily fluids inside of a MR2 must be “self generated” if you know what I mean.
Let that sink in. Because it has in this particular example.
Where we’re going we don’t need passengers!
Sorry Doc Brown
No gonorrhea? Ha ha
Kramer: Well, I got gonorrhea.
Elaine: That seems about right.
Kramer: That’s what they gave me.
George: They? The Government?
Jerry: No, no. He’s pretending he’s got gonorrhea so med students can diagnose
it.
Kramer: And it’s a waste of my talent. It’s just a little burning. Mickey, he
got bacterial meningitis.
(I also voted for the awesome MR2!)
Well, the MR2 post was swiftly deleted… that front-end looks a bit… jacked.
The trash bag in the background didn’t help. I’ll have to admit I voted for this thing… I have ragerts.
I’ll be honest, the only way I’m not going to vote for that Saturn is if you put it up against a better Saturn.
I’m with you. SW2 with the same options in like condition would knock it off its perch easily.
Same here, but for me it’s an SC model – 2 preferred but will still take a 1.
based on previous trends a clean manual saab would probably give it a run for it’s money, but not much else.