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?
That MR2 is a disaster, run away. The Saturn ticks the it just works box and wins. Though I want to see the mystery car.
What was done to that honorable Mister Two should never be done to any four wheeled conveyance.
SL2 again FTW.
Knowing that engine bay as well as I do there’s something wrong with the throttle cable mount. That worries me more than the interior, and the interior terrifies me.
Let’s go Mystery car!!!
Oh – This is gonna be an easy one!
I’ll take the – WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT INTERIOR?!?!
I’ll take Door Number Three.
The MR2 was so much more exciting than the Saturn, I was ready to vote for it. But thinking it over, it’s beat and possibly modded in unknown ways. Since I was rewarded with an expensive mystery Corvette yesterday (is $28k a good price for a C6?), I’m voting for Mystery Car #3. That MR2 will be a money pit.
I’m happy with my mystery car from yesterday, so I am going to keep rolling the dice until I lose it all. Mystery car for me, even though coming with a parts car should be a huge red flag!
Side note- was in downtown Detroit last week and watched a tow truck recovering a wrecked late-model Mustang in Lightning McQueen livery on Fort Street. Even a redditor was looking for photos or info.
First sports car I ever rode in was a red AW11. Its too bad that interior is so thrashed but its still my pick.
Was all set to vote MR2 unless it was roached out. I voted Saturn yesterday, but not sure it’s really worthy of two votes in a row. IRL, I’d take the known (and decent) quantity of the Saturn, but in our little corner of the internet I’ll go crazy and vote mystery today.
Man, the wheels on that MR2 are the wolf’s teats!
That said, I really do like that little Saturn. My mom and sis both had SL2’s of the next gen, mom got hers new as a 5 speed, I learned to drive stick on that car. And this one is the perfect color for a mid 90’s Saturn. In 1995 I was working on getting my first car, a squarebody Chevy pickup, road ready for when I got my DL. My dream was to paint it teal, lol. Funny enough though, the original 1973 paint was very close to teal. Budget did not allow for a real paint job, so I went with desert-tan primer, shot by me in my dad’s buddy’s garage.
The MR2 is a roach, so no, even though I had one for 25 years and loved it. The Saturn looks decent, but eh, no thanks. So the mystery-mobile it is.
It’s 11:43 a.m.
If I was a day-drinker, that MR2 might appeal. Alcohol would need to be involved there.
I had a couple of Saturns before. They’re alright cars, and that one’s in pretty good condition. Yesterday, the practical side won that one. But relentless practicality is like Swedish crispbread, and life is too short for that all the time.
I haven’t made a terrible decision yet today and I’m not really a day-drinker, so the Mystery Mobile it is.
Not a day drinker?
It’s five o’clock somewhere!
That MR2 is trashed. I can’t vote for the Saturn 2 days in a row, it’s not that good. Mystery car it is today.
MR2! Wow, yeah that Vette is pretty cool…I wonder if Griffin likes it (probably) or DT since it has “Rust-eze” on it…oh, that doesn’t mean it’s rusty ha ha. Still glad I didn’t pick it since this is “Shitbox” Showdown. This was an easy day too: Even though that beautiful Saturn is great, an MR2 always wins over that…yeah, it’s not in the best shape but I’d fix it up good- it will be a blast to drive!
I’d bet the seats and interior are the least of the problems on that MR2.
I’d still fix it up really good…to me it’s still the preferred choice even though that Saturn is beautiful
Interiors swap out easier than rust is stopped or electronic gremlins are caught.
Door #3 has netted me an absolutely wretched J-car, and a lightning McQueen ‘Vette that could readily be de-lightninged. I’m ahead, and since this is a one-week thing, I’m surely going to let it ride on the Bishop-infused Door #3.
Going with the Saturn. Unlike the MR2, it’s clean enough that you wouldn’t feel the need to decontaminate yourself after driving it. And the “it comes with a parts car” aspect of the Mystery option is enough to keep me away from it.
I was almost going to have a tough choice between the SL2 and the MR2, but then I saw the salvage title. As for the C6… just… no.
The brain says Saturn, the heart says Mystery Car(s). Trusting The Bishop on this one.
Does that mystery-vette come with a preinstalled homunculus? Or… am I to become the homunculus? Either way, I would consider both mystery cars so far to be a nightmare situation for me, and I no longer trust the mystery car will ever be better than a teal Saturn. So Saturn it is.
I’ll add that I like the mystery car gimmick quite a lot, even if my trust is eroding by the selection lol.
Came prepared to go with the Mr. Two (I have a soft spot for the AW11) but the salvage title, roached interior, and wonky front end left me more curious about the mystery car!
I’m going with the mystery car. It can’t be off 3 days in a row can it? I like the Saturn and voted for it yesterday but am ready for something new and hopefully more interesting (come on mystery car!).
Bummer about that Mr. 2. My dad had one of those in dark blue and supercharged. Fun little car. Unfortunately, this one is gone or has just been screwed with too much and wrecked. It may just be the photos but it almost looks lifted as well. Too bad.
Sticking with the Saturn over the MR2 that might as well have trash bags over the seats.
On the one hand, I can appreciate the attention to detail on Lightning McQueen’s decals, although it is odd that a Corvette owner who puts a supercharger on it would provide zero detail on it. But if it is my $27k I prefer to not have decals and a mystery supercharger on my Corvette.
I actually went to the listing, then the lister’s profile. The car is at a dealership. That’s why there’s no detail–it’s not only sitting on a lot, but the person who listed it works in the back office and looked to just be excited about the Disney decals.
Not to say it won’t be a roll of the dice, but you might get better details calling the dealership that has it.
“a bird in hand is worth two in the bush” only holds true when the two in the bush are both “operable” and not one needing to be put into the other to make one.
Unless it’s something magnificent for cheap.
Yep, Saturn again. I thought about the mystery car(s) but I have no room for two POS in the driveway at the same time. And as much as I would like an MR2, that one is just nasty. I bought a new SL1 5-speed in 1992 and it was a damn good car, if not particularly exciting, for 100K miles when I gave it to my kid. I’ll go with what I know.
I think “Pimp my Ride” forgot to finish the MR2.I will stick with the Saturn.