Something just occurred to me about this new Let’s Make A Deal idea, something I hadn’t thought of. I’ve just given myself fifty percent more work when it comes to finding cars. I don’t feel like doing that, so here’s how it’s going to work: Yesterday’s winner advances, gains a new challenger, and there’s a new mystery car. We’ll keep going like that until Friday, when I’ll figure out how to wrap this all up.
Yesterday’s winner was the super-clean Chrysler Concorde, a fine machine if not a particularly exciting one. The Pontiac Bonneville came in a fairly close second, and 188 of you were brave enough to choose the mystery car.
Would the Chrysler have still won, if the mystery car option wasn’t there? Was there some amount of Ross Perot Effect going on there? We’ll never know.
So not that it matters, because it didn’t win, but what was the mystery car yesterday? To quote Samuel L. Jackson, hold on to your butts…
1988 Buick Skyhawk – $1,000
And some of you thought it was going to be a Ford Tempo. Ha! You should be so lucky. This lesser-known J car is for sale at a tow yard in South Carolina. It’s a repo, which means someone was making payments on it, I guess? Or not making payments, as it were? I can’t even make a joke about that. If you’ve had a Buick Skyhawk repossessed, you’ve got enough problems without me piling on.
I imagine the badge on the back sums up how most of you feel about this car. The Skyhawk was available with either the Cavalier’s 2.0-liter pushrod engine or the 1.8-liter OHC from the Pontiac Sunbird. I have no idea which one this car has. Either way, it’s eighty-something horsepower going through a three-speed automatic. But hey, it only has 76,000 miles on it, and the interior isn’t as dreadful as you’d guess.
All right; enough about that. Let’s do a quick recap of the Concorde, just in case any of you missed it yesterday.
1994 Chrysler Concorde – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 3.3-liter OHV V6, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: New Lebanon, OH
Odometer reading: 165,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
I know a lot of you aren’t big Mopar fans, so this car’s victory yesterday surprised me a little. I think its super-clean condition gave it the edge; that Bonneville wasn’t bad, but it was a little rough around the edges. This is also not your typical Mopar. The early to mid 1990s were a good time for Chrysler; new ideas were flowing after years of K-car stagnation, and this car was the first fruit of those ideas. It’s a hell of a car, and this is a fine example.
It’s sort of an “old man” spec, with the base 3.3-liter engine and a bench seat, but that also probably means it was treated gently. It has 165,000 miles on it, but you’d never guess from looking at these pictures. Is it still your top pick, though? Let’s take a look at its rival and find out.
1995 Saturn SL2 – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.9-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Lynnwood, WA
Odometer reading: 82,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Now this is a different kind of car, from a different kind of company – or so GM led us to believe back in the 1990s. That lasted about a decade before Saturn devolved into just another GM brand, and then got the ax during the post-bankruptcy restructuring. But those ’90s Saturns were pretty cool cars, and this is a good example. It’s an SL2, with the twin-cam engine and some other sporty touches, and it’s in great shape.
Saturn rather pompously referred to its engine and transmission as a “power module,” and it came in four flavors: single- and double-overhead-cam engines were both available with four-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions. The SOHC cars were geared for economy, while the DOHC engines got shorter gearing to make better use of its extra power. And they’re a lot more fun. This car has only 82,000 miles on it, all from the same owner. It runs and drives great, and comes with maintenance records. Can’t ask for more than that.
No one is ever going to mistake a first-generation Saturn for anything other than an economy car, even the “fancy” SL2 model. There’s an awful lot of hard gray plastic inside, and the seats are only so-so comfort-wise. This one is a little short on options; it has crank windows and probably manual door locks as well. It has sheepskin seat covers, which, in this case, I imagine were installed for protection or comfort rather than to hide damage.
The outside looks great too, and it doesn’t get more mid-’90s than teal. Saturns, of course, famously use plastic for all the vertical body panels to avoid dents, but the underlying structure is steel, and can rust. The seller helpfully includes a couple of under-car photos in the ad, and it’s as clean as a whistle under there.
Mystery Car – $?
Tomorrow’s mystery car can’t possibly be as bad as today’s, can it? It isn’t. It’s much shinier and way more expensive. But it probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
I’m still playing with this format, and I’m not sure it’s going to stick around, but I’ll stick it out for the week and see how it goes. Let me know in the comments if you’re digging it. In the meantime, it’s business as usual, with a new twist. Vote for your favorite, or take a chance on the unknown.
Yeah I actually want that Saturn!
Teal is always the answer. I’m still not craving for a FWD landyatch enough to pick the comfier but way more mileage Chrysler.
PS. I’m not falling for the mystery car yet, and something tells me is some kind of 3rd gen or 4th gen BAE with taped mirrors screwed in bumpers (or what’s left of it)
Manual SL2 all day long! I drove a stick-shifted SL1 back in the day. It was relatively peppy for what it was, as long as it had the manual transmission. So the SL2 should be even better. Another SL1 I got to drive back then had the auto and it was sad just like every other auto-equipped small car of the era was.
I feel bad about this because the mystery car is probably a SAAB 9000 turbo or a Dodge Viper,but I am voting for the Saturn today.
Door #3 – “much cleaner but not everyone’s cup of tea” no way its a Viper, maybe a Mary Kay Allante
*fingers crossed*
Mary Kay Allante would be a good fit,and a good reason to vote for the Saturn instead.
Saturn SL2 all the way for me. Will take a manual with a higher revving twin cam engine any day over the lower-revving OHV V6 with the slush box.
It’s an I4, not a V6. I should know, I own and daily one, but agree and would gladly take the manual SL2 all day over my sad auto SOHC SL1 🙂
Oh I know it’s an inline 4… a twin cam 16V inline 4. It’s probably not faster than that V6 chrysler… but it’s likely to be way more fun and fuel efficient.
I’d learn to drive stick just to drive that happy little Saturn.
Did you talk to Matt before you picked that Buick? Both chanelling Jack White “got that icky thump with a lump in my throat”
I’ll try door #3 again. Saturn ticks most of the boxes but imma hold out hoping its RWD or a Caddy.
If the skyhawk was anything but a sedan maybe. A chance to deal with the infamous kennyg. But the Saturn is so clean and original owner who you can tell is really an original Saturn owner. He must have just picked up his 2nd bolt and needs the room in his garage. Didn’t want to move one of his sheds to make a center door garage shed for the Saturn so it must be rid of.
Having picked up my first Saturn late last year, your comment on owner personalities is spot on! My mom actually had a skylark from this vintage (she imbued her love of shitbox cars to me!) and it wasn’t half bad for a late 80’s crap-mobile but I wanted the skyhawk because, it sounded cooler? Still, I’d take the Saturn.
My dad was always appearing with $50 to $300 crap boxes. Something they were so bad they were free. So I know the life and how it’s contagious. He tried to keep it to GM and Ford but sometimes threw something exotic in. I know he brought back some j body’s but I can’t recall skyhawk. I do feel like he maybe ranted at me about how he wanted to find one or something at one point. Skylarks were his favorite but he had a long history with them.
If you never experienced a Saturn dealer prior to maybe 05 you missed something interesting. The people working there normally were normally big in to Saturn then they got too GM. It was those personalities showing you but but selling you a car, quite interesting and different experience. I felt like half the people working there were former science or math teachers that couldn’t take the noise of children anymore. Or had retired after 30 years and just wanted to hang around and talk to people. There can’t be that many of those original Saturn guys left. The ones that are around have to be the old guys driving bolts with all the stickers.
That Saturn owner must be a unique individual. Dueling backyard sheds!
Fits original Saturn owner to a tee. 3rd shed on the left probably full of bolt or leaf part. Or a mysterious project he has been working on for 30 years.
I always liked the theory of these big Chryslers. The reality of them is it’s a damned miracle this one still exists.
I hated Saturds. Never got the appeal of them at all in a universe where VW made perfectly delightful Golfs and Jettas and Honda was in peak form. Or if you just want “car” some of the best ever Corollas too.
So what the heck, I will take a flyer on the mystery behind door number 3. Can’t be worse than the “Ick”, can it?
“ICK!” Ha ha…this is why I’m glad I didn’t vote mystery yesterday… although that Bu”ICK” engine will “run badly longer than other cars will run at all”
This was easy- I gotta go Saturn…there are so many positives. Nice looking body style, that paint is absolutely wonderful, low miles, plus MANUAL?! Awesome…this is no mystery to me. I do like this format since it changes things up, but only temporarily which I knew it would be; especially since I probably won’t vote mystery unless the 2 cars are EV’s, Fords, or K-cars or awful choices. I like the regular format most of the time, although it would be awesome if you did that whole run through the alphabet format again!
You got me on the last one, but you can’t possibly get me two days in a row can you?
CAN YOU???
Door #3
Mom and Dad bought the updated version of that Saturn to tow behind their Motorcoach.
What a miserable car – only to be surpassed in misery by the Ford Focus which replaced it.
I’m sticking with the Chrysler.
Because I’m an old man and I can now appreciate a big sedan with the gear selector on the column and power split-bench seats
The Concorde ist fine, I really don’t like the greenhouse styling in the Saturn. Mystery car!
I’m sticking with that Chrysler.
Fun fact: Less than 1% of all cars in North America are painted green.
It truly is a uncommon car.
so then the saturn would work, its teal!
It’s only lunchtime, but that’s the most depressing thing I’ve seen so far today.
I don’t even see how that’s worth $1000, I wonder if it was a toad on an RV or something? Who would write a loan on…. never mind I just remembered what timeline we’re in.
What about a possessed Skyhawk?
Wouldn’t that be scary…
Had the next generation Saturn sedan with a 5 speed. All around it was fine, bu no better than that. Steering, clutch, shifter feel for all were just acceptable. At 60k the head cracked but Saturn had already sent notice that this happens and extended warranty to 100k for engine. And to Saturn and the dealer’s credit they replaced the head as well as any rubber or plastic parts in the cooling system (overflow tank, hoses, gaskets, pump, thermostat, etc). And drove me down to Enterprises where they rented a Dodge Neon for me for almost two weeks. Did not cost me a thing. Later on at 100k the manual steering rack became stiff and was sticking. Not under warranty but the Saturn dealer gave the lowest quote and that is what they charged. Frankly, I do not miss the car, but I do miss Saturn.
Still prefer the Concorde. The Saturn looks good, but it’s a vastly lesser car with a higher price.
As for the mystery car, no, we don’t want a $12.000 stanced ’16 Nissan Rogue.
Easy choice: a ’93 SL2 with this color was my first proper car (not counting my mom’s old Grand Am), and I loved it and drove it into the ground, something like 150k miles in 7 years. Very tossable, shockingly good in the snow.
I actually thought the SL2 only came with power windows, but I guess I’m misremembering 30-yo spec sheets.
I have a soft spot for Saturns, so that’s my pick. And also, never picked the mystery door!
Never really a fan, but that design aged well. Good looking car, con manual and my pick.
The Saturn is definitely the more Autopian choice and the one I selected. I have legitimately always hated the styling on those Concordes. No logical reason, just a strong dislike whenever I see one.
It’s fun for a week. I’m not gonna say you should come up with a new “gimmick” every week, I’m good with the bog-standard SBSD format. I did dig the four-way showdown at the end of the week, that’s fun and makes your job a bit easier. Maybe you could throw in a 5th choice, to see if it usurps the previous winners? I don’t know man, I’m not a writer.
Occasional gimmick is cool, but the showdown stands on its own, especially with the four-way.
I have a soft spot for Saturns, and especially after my own SL2 (“Goldie”). I’ve always loved the styling of LH Chryslers, and this gorgeous green one remains my pick today. I agree that’s there’s no need for a new gimmick every week.
I will say if I was forced to get an LH Chrysler, the two tone with the deep green is THE choicest color combo.
I have a soft spot for manual Saturns, and that one looks pretty quality. If it were closer to me I might actually try to buy it.
Let me know in the comments if you’re digging it.
I don’t hate it, but I still think the third option should be the previous day’s loser (even if they managed to sell the heap in the meantime). Also, it saves you a little work – no need to seek out a third mystery option every day.
Also, don’t keep carrying the loser forward if it keeps losing (although that could also be entertaining, just to see how far it gets). Give it one shot at redemption, then move on to the loser out of the two new choices. For example, Monday would have been Bonneville vs Concorde vs Prius. But regardless of how the Prius fared, the Bonneville (provided it got fewer votes than the Concorde in that three-way matchup) would be our third option today.
Not a sermon, just a thought.
Honestly either car is fine, but they’re very different as others have pointed out. Neither one is really something I would look for either. I went with the Chrysler because it’s cheaper.
These choices are tough because one is a highway cruiser, the other is better for around town and twisties. So like.. I refuse to pick.