120 mph with the kids in the car? On a public road? Really?

This was at a time when affordable was under $600. Brats at that price were done. The one I was about to buy was $900 but not cancerous. Virginia DOT really likes to salt our roads well, which tends to kill the cars I love.

I drove, rescued, flipped(resold: not rolled), hooned and pretty much lived & breathed EA81&2 Subies for 17 years. Lusted after a Brat. Finally had a chance to buy a ok one for decent price. The day before purchase-just one day!-was told of a house I could buy at close to 1/2 market value.

Hey, that one doesn’t have the luggage rack! To me that’s the best part of the series: that it showed the’vette as a useable vehicle rather that a ‘lifestyle accessory’/ garage queen.

2nd that on the EMPI valve covers! Not only do they positively seal, but they also help shed heat. The tin around those air-cooled buggers was pretty well designed to direct airflow where needed. Without it, you need every bit of help you can get.

But you > had < to remember to leave them up when you parked for the night if there was the slightest chance of sleet/freezing rain! My gf burnt 2 motors cause of ice on her 87. Details are hazy, but recall that it was enough of a pita to replace that when she burnt 2nd one I ‘fixed’ by having them up permanently.…

Star for you! I hate the damn things. Extra weight & complexity for a device that-on the 2000 Saturn I service- >>only<< runs for 30 sec on startup. It adds enough air to the exhaust that the initial rich mix is leaned out to bring down NOX levels. No way to defeat/remove as the engine controller expects those low…

Squealing just after you drive thru a puddle: sign that belt is loose/worn. On modern cars can be first clue that the tensioner is getting weak.

I would so rock a set of sheets with these on them! Flannel, please!

I disagree-at least on one front: the front suspension/driveline. Their wheelbearings are not well-spec-ed, so you end up replacing them often, and the hubs are difficult to press them in & out.

Starred for the tag! Thanks for responding. I, too, am saddened by the co-opting of that cool symbol by (again, perception-but some personal experience) reactionary right-wing angry nutjobs.

Wait, so you have one of those ‘don’t tread on me’ plates? Genuinely curious here: do you not see the irony of paying da Gubmint for the privilege of displaying an anti/minimalist-government/taxes message on your vehicle while on tax-funded roads?

‘90 or 91 I finally broke down and bought a Nintendo. Many an hour spent on SMB in all its’ iterations. Couple years back I dug it out, had it refurbished, and still kill the odd afternoon with the brothers. Not being able to save kills me tho!

Not to beat on you, but the question DID include ‘best’, did it not? GM’s passenger diesels of that era do not-imo-qualify.

Excellent! And just maybe the publicity will give him a broader possible pool in which to sell it netting more for retirement.

I almost never l out l, but you got me-and now my phone is covered in Coke: a star, sir!

the new 510-which ain’t gonna happen. Damnitalltohell!

Cheap Saturn. Simple, disposable: no guilt. Do NOT, however, make a habit of spinning 1 wheel: the cheesy dif-pin will snap.

Surely you can find someone in China willing to check out/test drive their new cars and write about it for us? I for one would be quite interested in knowing whether my assumption of cheap materials and lax QC is warranted.

If you are tired of the bullshit reality-TV car shows, see if you can find Full Custom Garage on anywhere. Ian Rousell is a genius sculptor in metal and has interesting visions. Google him to see what I mean.