Advice?

So I need to buy a used car this summer; I'm pretty unspecific about what I want. Basically, I just need a car that I can trust to run on long distance trips and is good with altitude changes.

So I found a 95 Saturn - I'm not sure what model it is - at a local used dealership that I really like. It's in great condition; I drove it, and it drove perfectly. But then, I'm an eighteen year old female, and I definitely follow the stereotype in that I know nothing about cars. This one has 79K miles and a new transmission; that's about the extent of the mechanical stuff I know about it. But the transmission works perfectly, it has as much power as can be expected from such a little car, it has a lot of amenities that I would appreciate, and... well, it's cute. =D

But I've heard so many mixed opinions about the quality of Saturns that I don't know what to think. I've had people say that they wouldn't even bother looking at Saturns because they're such pieces of shit, but then I've had other people tell me that they love them. Nobody's been able to provide any kind of solid advice, like why they think that Saturns are so awful or so good, so I really don't know what to think.

The only argument I can think of against this car is the fact that it needed a new transmission after only 79K miles, and I have to wonder why a ten year old car has such a low mileage, too.

So can anyone offer me any advice on this buy or on Saturns in general? I'd really appreciate some unbiased information, which I haven't been able to find.

most people i know that don't like saturns a pretty closed minded IMHO, i know a few people that ether have or haven't driven them in the past and don't love them and don't hate them. most people who drive/own them become hooked and love them (i think you are almost there too)

why does it have low mileage? who knows, maybe it was only a backup or long trips car, or a weekend driver, a winter driver, maybe it was parked for a year or two, maybe it was used to tow behind a RV. all cases i have seen before.

why the transmission was replaced? most likey i would guess ether the last owner abused it(excessive wheel spin or using a donut spare are great ways to destroy a transmission) or it was missdiagnosised(i know a few things that should be small repairs but some people swap the trans instead). ask to see the service records if you can, they may give you a clue.

i personally think they are great cars, good economy(i took a 400 mile trip without stoping once, and with the car out of tune), pretty reliable if you take good care of them(i know of at least one saturn with 400+K miles), very easy to work on(i'm working on a few performance cars at school right now, PITA, saturn spoiled me), they are versiatal(gotta love the fold down seats, and one time i drove around town with a lawn mower straped to the roof), early saturns are in high demand right now and for good prices.