This weekend we are going to look at cars, and if we find the right car perhaps buy it. I'm planning on doing some more detailed research on some of the suggestions mentioned in this thread. I appreciate all the suggestions and advice, and it is of great help in deciding what is worth looking into. I was talking to my girlfriend earlier today about cars and such and mentioned to her that I hadn't even thought of Saturn... My friend had one a while back and it seemed like a fairly nice car. My girlfriend likes the way they look, she says it looks kinda sporty. We both seem to like the idea of her getting a Saturn, and neither of us have ever heard anything bad about them. According to the EPA they get 35-40 MPG highway depending on year and transmission. What do you guys think about Saturn? Is it a good reliable car? Personally i think they re underpoered and ugly as sin, but astetics aside, i have seen them run around and around, so they are at least fairly dependable.

He overheated his saab and it burnt out the transmission. Most vehicles with automatics have the transmission cooler as a oil-to-water heat exchanger in the bottom radiator tank (or water pump side, for a crossflow rad) this is not an unusual setup.  The easy solution to this problem, of course, is to not overheat the engine For an economy beater, I'd seriously suggest her learning to drive a stickshift as operating costs over the long run will be less. nate Well, we have had a few cars since (1995 Mitsubishi Galant (auto), 1988 Mazda 323(manual), 1980 Datsun 28zx (auto) ) and have overheated the first two a few times (the mazda blew a coolant line, the galant's water pump impeller shredded).  Neither of them killed the tranny.  the GAlant overheated so bad currently the head was warped. I overheated my 289 Galaxie last week. I was driving down the expressway doing ~80 MPH for a good time and stopped for the toll booth and she stalled out. I turned on the heater and it took a couple tries to get it started back up. I got it started and pulled over to the side of the road by the toll booth plaza. Checked my coolant level and it was quite low. I guess when I filled it up there was a lot of air trapped in there. I had shaken the car back and forth with the heater on to dislodge air, which it did, then topped off, then went for a drive and topped off. Guess that didn't get it all out. Thank goodness for my prepared for the apocalypse kit! I had plenty of bottles of water in the trunk so I just filled it up and off I went. It must have been running low and overheating for almost a week though. Right after filling the coolant performance increased greatly. Before it maxed out around 85 MPH. Now it will briskly accelerate from 80-90. It's still slow as molasses with those lame low compression heads, but at least now I am faster than your typical 4 banger. I must have broke my coolant temp sensor when I was removing or re-installing the manifold. One of the prongs was loose. The HOT light still comes on when I turn the key, so I just assumed it would be fine, and if it didn't work we are past the 100* weather so no threat of overheating. What can I say... Oops. heh heh Still, it's amazing it put up with that abuse... 250+ miles of being run hot before it finally got so hot it decided to start stalling out. Runs fairly strong now... Those 289s just keep going... The forever engine. Oh, speaking of which... I missed her birthday by 5.6 miles! 5.6 freakin' miles! I missed my exit on the expressway (wasn't paying attention) and got totally lost trying to find my way back as every expressway entrance was headed the wrong way. While I was terrible, horribly lost the odometer rolled over. I knew it was coming, but didn't expect it until the return trip... I thought I would be able to enjoy the 200,000 mile mark around 0300 alone with my Gal on the expressway. So much for that idea. While I was lost I glanced down and saw it was 5.6 miles past. I even had a camera with me to take a picture... I feel like Hank Hill on that episode where the cop stopped him and he misses the odometer roll over. At least that's what it reminded me of, the way I said damn it! . Oh well. This car will be gone within a year or two probably. Maybe it'll be a fun first car for someone else too. In any case, my '68 has just shy of 98,000 on the clock so I won't miss it with that car. I'll get to enjoy the car's 100,000  with a brand spankin' new 408 Windsor if all goes well. It won't be the same as if it were with the original engine, but the original engine was abused to hell and back by my uncle for 7 years. Maybe I'm just too sentimental. lol I'll stop typing now.

but astetics aside, i have seen them run around and around, so they are at least fairly dependable. That's was my line of thought. Hopefully if she goes with a Saturn it will prove to be a dependable and comfortable car. I've been in one before, a '93 IIRC. It was comforatable, but I wasn't in it for an hour straight on the highway... But at 40 MPG I wouldnt' be complaining. Hell, I thoguht 31 was good!

That's was my line of thought. Hopefully if she goes with a Saturn it will prove to be a dependable and comfortable car. I've been in one before, a '93 IIRC. It was comforatable, but I wasn't in it for an hour straight on the highway... But at 40 MPG I wouldnt' be complaining. Hell, I thoguht 31 was good! I seem to get around 20-25mpg driving a 4cyl Mazda running *premium* fuel, doggone it, so 40mpg is pretty darn economical, even more so if you can use 87 aki cheap plonk instead of real gas. All I can say is, it's a darn good thing (in a twisted sort of way) that in$urance is my main expense, rendering my gas costs trivial, 'cos otherwise I'd be bitching all the time about the cost of gassing up my car (which I have to do quite a bit with 20ish mpg). Obviously I drive like a granny... not.

I seem to get around 20-25mpg driving a 4cyl Mazda running *premium* fuel, doggone it, so 40mpg is pretty darn economical, even more so if you can use 87 aki cheap plonk instead of real gas.    You'd probably get better mileage running the cheap gas, versus premium, unless you need the octane.

I seem to get around 20-25mpg driving a 4cyl Mazda running *premium* fuel, doggone it, so 40mpg is pretty darn economical, even more so if you can use 87 aki cheap plonk instead of real gas.   You'd probably get better mileage running the cheap gas, versus premium, unless you need the octane. Is that really true? I always thought mileage would be slightly better with the higher octane fuel (which is manufacturer recommended in my case). Besides, I do have opportunity and reason to give the motor a good blast, so it makes sense to use the recommended grade anyway. :}