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?
As a former Saturn S-series owner, the wagon wins here.
I liked the Protégé until I saw the rust, which was Mazda’s weakness until the 2000s. I’d take my chance with Saturn since the base unit will hold together until the transaxle grenades. I know because we had a 97 SL2, and drove it for 15 years until the differential exploded. There’s a known issue with a pin in the differential backing out and destroying the transaxle case.
My now-wife’s grandparents (rip) had a Saturn sedan of this era, and even with the auto, was fine enough. We used to borrow it for day trips out to the coast when we were dating.
Now that they have both passed on (at an old age after a life we’ll lived) I can admit to taking it out to Oceano Dunes and doing donuts on the beach. Yeah, we were rebels. 🙂
We eventually got a VUE for our first family car – 2.2 with a stick – and it served us well. I really miss Saturn, and affordable stick shifts for the young kids to run around in.
I was going to say both until I saw the rust on the Mazda.
I’ve never had a wagon, nor a Saturn so 2 check marks off the bucket list. It would be nice if manual but hey.
That poor Mazda, no way. Rode hard and put away wet doesn’t even begin to describe it. Saturn it is. I had a first-gen SL1 (with the 5-speed manual), purchased new. It was actually a decent car. A plastic wagon is way more useful than rust holes in the trunk, for however much longer it lasts.
Saturn because wagon.
Saturn without a doubt – my dad had a 97 SC2 and my now wife used to have a 2002 SL2 – both were great cars. I’d love to find a minty SW2 manual somewhere but they’re practically non-existent up here in Southern Ontario
The wagon would be a fine hauler addition to my fleet.
I’d take the Saturn even if the Mazda didn’t have rust. The autos in the Saturn were actually pretty good, great gas mileage and would take a beating like a red headed step child. Being a mini wagon on top of that? Shit, where is it again? I want it.
I would just be too nervous about that Mazda turning into rust powder in an otherwise very survivable collision.
I had 2 3rd Gen Proteges and they’re tanks, but that 2nd is way past its safe and useful life. GM got Saturn right. It’s a terrible shame what happened to it. I still stand by my opinion that Saturn should be today’s GM EV brand.
I’ll go for the Mazda.
1: It’s very close to me.
2: it’s not a (yet another!!) GM product
3: I have a buddy who needs some sidework doing body stuff, and it could be a good project for him.
4: It’s cheaper than a week’s worth of rental car.
5: Even if I didn’t have the bodywork done to it, I could use it as a very disposable apparatus for teaching some teenagers I’m related to how to drive. Also their experiencing such a dilapidated vehicle would be good for them, since they’ve largely experienced newer vehicles in good shape, and they’re usually a luxury brand.
6: I could negotiate the price to less than my insurance deductible.
7: The Mazda engine is generally a good one.
The Saturn’s sole advantages are that it’s in better body condition, and that body is a (short) wagon. If I’m gonna get a clapped-out bottom-of-the-market wagon it’s gonna be a Volvo or something with RWD.
I shudder to think what condition a $600 Volvo would be in. Parts car without engine or transmission probably
Sc1 is pretty indestructible plus it’s a little wagon and seems in decent condition parts were still cheap and plentiful last time I checked a few years ago so Saturn for sure.
The difference between the SOHC and DOHC variants of that 1.9 is nothing short of astounding. The SOHC is a cromulent economy car engine that gets the job done, the DOHC will chirp the tires of an automatic shifting into second.