---
title: "What Would You Do With A $100 Car?"
description: "This 2001 Saturn SL1 may look like it got into a fight and lost. But hey! It runs!"
date: "2017-06-16"
modified: "2017-06-19"
authors:
  - name: "Steven Lang"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/steven-lang"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/11625/what-would-you-do-with-a-100-car"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "cheap"
  - "cheap cars"
  - "saturn"
---

# What Would You Do With A $100 Car?

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/06/71.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Sometimes you can buy a crap car that runs like stink.

Take for instance this 16 year old Saturn. You may think that this car may be worth more in parts than as a whole judging by its fat lip front and its right quarter that definitely needs some serious plastic surgery.

But you would be dead wrong.

![message-editor%2F1497647322360-1a.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1497647322360-1a.jpg>)
**Steven Lang**

This is still good wholesome family transportation for someone who isn't looking to out-Jones the Joneses. Don't care about what you drive? This... is... it....

![message-editor%2F1497647352682-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1497647352682-2.jpg>)
**Steven Lang**

I bought it for a hundred bucks at a local dealer sale. Running. With no check engine light, no fluid pissing as it rolled through the block, and no critical issues other than looks.

![message-editor%2F1497647377917-4.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1497647377917-4.jpg>)
**Steven Lang**

It doesn't drink gas. It doesn't smoke out of its tailpipe. It doesn't even hang around with those older bad boys that are closer to becoming crusher fodder at a local junkyard than a reliable runabout for some used car shopper that wants to upgrade from their Chinese scooter.

![message-editor%2F1497647396482-13.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1497647396482-13.jpg>)
**Steven Lang**

Of course there are a few (cough! cough!) engineering shortcuts. Duct tape and zipties have a greater presence on that front bumper than Uber has in San Francisco. Then you have a several old burn holes on the seats and headliner but strangely enough, no smell of smoke.

![message-editor%2F1497647624823-12.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1497647624823-12.jpg>)
**Steven Lang**

Radio works. The roll 'em up windows still offer a mini Jane Fonda workout. Even the dashboard is free of cracks and glue remnants from the prior owner who only drove it around 5,000 miles a year.

![message-editor%2F1497647515921-10.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1497647515921-10.jpg>)
**Steven Lang**

So what would you do with it? Buy, sell, keep, or donate? You can weigh your decision by watching the video [here](<https://www.facebook.com/steven.lang.923>) which features 2500 pounds of rolling plastic.

### Author social links