It’s been a while since we really scraped the bottom of the barrel of the used car market, so I thought it was high time to look at some cheapies. I looked at several cities and dozens of ads before deciding on these two; cars this cheap in running condition are not easy to find. But they are, I feel, a fair representation of what six hundred bucks can buy you these days.
You were mostly in agreement about two things yesterday: the Toyota was the better deal, and both cars were overpriced. As I’ve said before, I don’t price ’em; I just present ’em. Were they overpriced? If they don’t sell, then yes. But I have a feeling they will. The Camry’s fuel injection and extra gear in the transmission gave it the edge, it sounds like, but the Nissan’s possible smoke issues didn’t do it any favors.
All things being equal, I’d prefer the Nissan. I just like the feel of them better. A three-speed automatic doesn’t bother me, and my old carbureted Nissan/Datsun pickup ran like a top, so I’m not too worried about the carb either. However, since I quit smoking in 2003, I can’t stand the smell of cigarettes. I’d have to give this Nissan a good sniff test before deciding.
Now then: You lot are a tough audience, do you realize that? Every car I show you, someone thinks it’s too boring, someone else thinks it’s too expensive, or too this, or too that. I figure if I keep mixing it up, and everyone is disappointed once in a while, I’m doing okay. Money is the most common complaint; I see a lot of comments like “That’s a $500 car at best.” Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but some of those were $500 cars, several years ago, but not today. In fact, I wanted to find $500 cars for today, and didn’t find any that I personally would drive home after purchasing. $600 was the best I could do. Let’s check them out.
1996 Mazda Protege LX – $600
Engine/drivetrain: 1.5-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Arnold, MO
Odometer reading: 200,000 miles
Operational status: “Runs and drives fine”
Mazda is sometimes overlooked in favor of other Japanese makes when it comes to cheap used cars, but over the years, it has actually become my favorite. Mazda cars are just a little bit sharper, a little bit zippier, than its competitors, especially if you find one with a manual transmission. And apart from some rust issues – in which Mazda is by no means alone – they’re very reliable and long-lived. Witness this second-generation Protege sedan, which has been ridden hard and put away wet, but still does its job without complaint.
This generation of Protege came with one of two four-cylinder engines, either a 1.5-liter in the DX and LX models, or a racy 1.8-liter in the rare ES model. This is an LX, so it has the 1.5 liter, coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox. The seller says it runs and drives fine, but the clutch is getting a little soft. It will probably need replacing eventually, but if you’re careful with it, it should last a while yet. I’ve nursed soggy clutches for years before they became a problem.
The only interior photo we get was taken through the driver’s side window, so it’s a little hard to see. But it looks like typical cheap-car fare: some wear and tear, a possible cigarette burn on the driver’s seat, and so on. When you get down into this price range, you pretty much get what you get when it comes to interior condition. It does have some creature comforts like power windows – assuming they still work.
The seller says it’s “not winning any beauty contests,” and I think that’s an understatement. Rust has had its way with this car’s underside, and the rocker panels are more or less gone. And the wheel arches aren’t far behind. But it’s the price of one payment on a new car these days, so if it holds together until the clutch gives out, you’ve gotten your money’s worth out of it. Driving a car this cheap is all about managing expectations.
1996 Saturn SW1 – $599
Engine/drivetrain: 1.9-liter OHC inline 4, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Inglewood, CA
Odometer reading: 139,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Saturn is a maddening chapter in the General Motors saga. Conceived as an import-fighting brand of inexpensive cars, borrowing nothing from the existing GM family of vehicles, the first Saturn cars did exactly what they were supposed to do. They were cheap, well-built, and practical, if a little rough around the edges. True to form, GM spent years improving the breed, and then ruined the whole marque by turning it into Chevy Light. But for a while there, in the middle, Saturns were really good little cars, with a lot going for them.
This is a second-generation SW1, S for S-series, W for wagon, and 1 for the base model, with a single overhead cam engine and a basic equipment package. This one isn’t quite as basic as some I’ve seen, though; it does have power windows, air conditioning, and cruise control. It also has an automatic transmission, which is a bit of a letdown for some, but at this price point, beggars can’t be choosers. It runs well, but hasn’t been registered for over a year, so it’s got some cobwebs to blow out. Hopefully it wasn’t sidelined because it won’t pass smog.
It looks good inside, but it doesn’t have that many miles on it, so it should. The driver’s seat bolster is a little smashed down, but that’s about the only flaw I see. These old Saturns aren’t anything fancy inside, but they’re functional and sturdy, and that’s all you really need. We could do with some more straightforward, honest cars like this these days.
The clearcoat is toast, sacrificed to that warm California sun, but the beauty of early Saturns is that they never look beat-up, because you can’t dent them. It does have some pretty good scuffs on the bumpers, but that just means they’re doing their job. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, reading the ad for this car, and it just never did. But there has to be something wrong with it, for this price, right?
I am eternally grateful that my days of having to rely on cars like these just to get to work have passed. Handing over a few hundred dollars, often all I had in the world, for some clunker and then hoping it started and ran the next morning as well as it did the night before, was nerve-wracking. It’s always a gamble, and all you can do is use your best judgment. One of these looks to be on its last legs, but its last legs are known to be pretty good. And the other looks really good at first glance, but is it too good to be true for the price? There’s only one sure-fire way to find out. Which one would you gamble on?
That Mazda is way too crusty even for NEPA standards.I’ll take the wagon,put some snow tires on the front and drive it until it dies.$600 is a steal considering I saw some lawn mowers advertised for that much last summer.
Protege for a Gumball Car, if it runs, but with the state it is in, I suppose you would be picking up pieces that fall off versus just regular trail debris.
Saturn, if it runs still is pretty nice. would definitely want to drain the fuel before trying to drive it anywhere though. Hopefully there is not two year old Corn augmented Fuel in that tank.
The Protoge is ready to be rallycrossed until it snaps in half. It’s too rusty to put on the road. It’ll wad up like a beer can on a frat boy’s head in a wreck.
The Saturn is actually a great deal. I’ve got no problem with the automatic. I’d daily that for sure.
Gimme the SW-agon.
The manual might have tipped me more Mazda here against an SW1, but the Saturn is an SW2 with the DOHC motor. Body color bumpers (only ‘1’ that had that then were coupes) and door handles plus adjustable front headrests where 2nd gen SOHC cars went to integrated/high back front buckets. Gauge clusters were also different and though there’s no clear shot of the gauges, SOHC redlines started at 5500 RPM and this shows no redline at the 6 mark. So even more points to the Saturn here.
Ahhh now THIS is a Shitbox Showdown I can get with! Saturn all the way!
I usually pick the 3-pedal option, but a California Saturn wagon? I’d even daily-drive it! (I live in a no-smog test area)
Reading about the Protege left me feeling like I’ll never dabble in the sub-$1000 range again. It’s probably worth $600 if you can get a couple of months out of it then scrap it for $100, but I wouldn’t bother.
But the Saturn seems like a real steal at that price, enough that I’d really consider it.
I’m fortunate and grateful I don’t need to rely on this price range anymore, but I’m glad there are still some options out there.
The Mazda looks like it would crumble in a light breeze. Gotta be the Saturn.
Very grateful I live thousands of miles away from that Saturn or I’d be on my way to get it at this very moment.
Same!
First things first: 1) check the head on that Saturn. Those mid-90s SOHC engines were prone to develop a crack in the head.
2) Take it home. Take it home regardless; checking the head is only to determine whether you drive it home or trailer it. But take it.
3) Drive right past that Protege. The Saturn is the runaway prize in today’s comparo.
The Saturn lineup was fabulous until GM deciding they wanted to stop trying, at which point they really stopped. I say “fabulous” in that it hit the import competition exactly where it hurt them the most: Saturns were competitive, reliable and economical at a time when most other American choices made you choose two out of those three (two if you were lucky).
It’s a bit of a shame this car isn’t one year older. The previous generation body style was much better looking in my opinion.
I’ve owned several Saturns with great success on each, so why not pick up another beater?
That Saturn would be a trusty and useful friend until you could afford better. And when you could afford better, you should probably just keep it because it’ll still be trusty and useful.
Wagon beats the stew outta the rusty manual! It’s even a great color!
Not even a question today — that Mazda is done. Nfw would I want to get in a car with that much rust, it’s long gone and likely unsafe at this point. The Saturn looks to be in great shape with reasonable mileage and they’re also known for their durability.
In 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, etc. One of these cars will still be on the road and it aint the mazda.
If they hadn’t disclosed the soggy clutch in the ad the potential for the Mazda to be enjoyable enough to drive for the short period of time it will remain on this earth would be worth it. That rust is terminal though, and nobody is going to replace a clutch on that level of beater. Having to baby the clutch also kills any real sense of enjoyment too, so it’s done. Saturn for the win today!
Normally I would choose the Mazda, but bad clutches don’t get better, they get worse. The Saturn should survive any apocalypse, and keep running (poorly) for a very long time.
Someone needs to Old Yeller that poor Mazda. The little red wagon is hard to argue with at that price. Even if you quickly find it needs a $1,000 in brake and suspension work you still come out on top.
Yeah. “It’s my car Ma, I’ll do it….”
Both look like something Jesse Pinkman would drive.
Jesse would drive the Saturn but not that beat to shit Mazda.
That Mazda is for ‘Saul Goodman’.
Umm, both?
But really? A plastic bodied station wagon? Are you kidding me? Of course I’ll take the Saturn.
Let’s see, airfair uber and gas would almost get it to about 1000 all in, unless the seller met me at the airport.
Oh wait I’m moving to the land of rust, and already have too many cars but red plastic wagon oh my.
Oh, and apparently an LS4 engine pops right in there, so there’s that !
https://ls1tech.com/articles/ls4-swapped-saturn-definition-sleeper/
A CA station wagon with a 60K fewer miles. easy one today.
Were it not for the terminal case of rust I’d easily choose the Mazda as it would be a heck of a lot more fun to drive. However I’d be worried about making it home without the car collapsing on itself so the Saturn wins.
Saturn, easily. A friend had one nearly identical to that one and it wasn’t fast, but it was super practical, got good fuel mileage, and his was well over 300,000 miles and running great.
Conversely, my wife had a similar Protege, and that bad boy rusted like crazy. The rust you can see in that car is light compared to the rust you can’t see…
The Mazda becomes my next rallycross car. At $600 if it died on course we could push it into the woods and I’d never look back.
That’s more or less exactly what I just commented. No way I’d drive that on the road, but it would be fun to beat on in a field until it breaks in half.
Saturn. For my $600 it’s by far the better choice. Even better that I don’t live in CA so the lapsed registration fees and inability to smog don’t matter. As far as I know. Road trip here I come!