Looking to sell/trade my current car because its automatic and need to learn manual for work. This has been my daily driver since I got it and have driven her in the fresh fallen snow at 3 am to get to work and from Tonganoxie to Paola during the freezing rain December 2010. Careful responsible driving is the reason I made both trips without indecent.
I've had this car since November 2008 when I was 17 in high school at 135k. I never raced her and have treated her as best I could to keep her running like new even at 170k. This car is a good example that how you care for your car means more than how old and how many miles.
The only accident I've ever been in with this car was in December 2008 when I backed into another car at less than 5mph attempting to avoid getting the front of my car run over by an angry old women. The only damage that resulted was a cracked license plate holder on the other car.
The engine in it is not the original engine the original engine suffered the dreaded timing chain break at 140k. This issue was fixed about halfway through the 2002 year and the engine I have in it is one of those that was fixed and as an extra measure I always use full synthetic oil with Restore engine restorer in each oil change. The mechanic that installed the engine said it was pulled from another Saturn that had about 40k so the engine is roughly 100k less than the body. Although synthetic is a bit more expensive you can safely go 6-12k miles on one change I went 6k in the first change to clean out the gunk 8.5k on the second and I'm on the third since the engine was replaced 2 years ago. Since then she has been running very well and I've been keeping up on the maintenance properly.
She is almost ready for a coolant flush on preventative maintenance in about 5k miles. Oil changed at 169300miles. She unfortunately has no ac and I've narrowed it down to a dirty filter or a clogged hose (most likely the filter element) however I have been able to keep the car cool despite no ac even on the hottest days through some common sense tips.
Engine was replaced at 140k with an engine that was about 40k.
- Oil changes every 6-9k miles on valvoline full synthetic with a can of restore engine restorer as the mechanic who put in the engine said. (yes its more expensive but about $15 extra to keep my car running well is something I'm willing to pay for considering I can wait much longer between oil changes I save money in that respect too.
Recent work done:
- replaced Sway bar links with Moog greaseable links at 165k
- replaced both drive axles and both tie rod ends at 168k
- all four tires replaced at 166k
- rotated last week at 169500
- new battery about 2 weeks ago.
- new front brakes (rotors and pads) a few months ago. (have the receipt but the place that did it didn't put my mileage on the reciept)
Pros-
Lots of room for a family good trunk space good mileage strong engine runs like new good acceleration I routinely get 25-29 mpg and I've got a bit of a lead foot.
Cons-
Not fast not sporty but this car wasn't made for those characteristics
Very few dings and dents and normal use scratches
Back end is slightly out of alignment but in such a way that car is much less likely to fishtail because the wheels have increased negative camber which means the tops of the tires are pointed towards the car like this - /car\. Not that extreme but enough that a rotation every 3-5k miles is recammended (should be down anyway) and ask for a criss cross pattern instead of swapping front to back. With proper rotation the tires should last 36k.
crayon marks in the back seat from previous owner haven't found anything yet but was suggested to use tuff stuff but haven't had time.
The driver's seat belt doesn't like to go up when you unbuckle the reason is the rubber pulley at the top is dry and creates too much friction the actual mechanism that retracts the seatbelt works perfectly.
Modifications-
- removed a hose that goes from the front of the car to the airbox to help mpg and warms up faster in winter. I can put it back in on request of buyer.
- put in mood lighting when I had to drive to work at 3am so it prevented tunnel vision I'd get driving down hwy 68. I installed with adhesive tape so I can remove them without damaging anything or leaving holes in the panels.
- new wheel covers was trying to paint old covers but the weather and my days off have yet to work in my favor so I bought new ones cause I didn't like to look of the plain steel wheels.
- replaced all the sockets in the third brake light with sockets that allow the bulbs to be changed alone not having to by an entire socket to go with it (sockets were $3 each and the bulbs $3 per 2-pack).
- some chrome trim pieces that were just to make the car unique without going overboard in fact people rarely notice and have told me it looks like something the factory would have done.
The reason I'm interested in selling/trading is that I need to know how to drive manual and after getting a taste of driving a manual I just find its more fun than an automatic. That and I'm interested in something a bit quicker while I'm still young and can enjoy it.
Interested in smaller cars coupes rwd manual.
Email or text me at 913-731-3551.
- Location: Paola ks
- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests