SL2: Rebuilt from Salvage

I've an opportunity to buy a 2000 SL2 from a Recycled Auto Parts Dealer, with whom my family has known for 20 years. I've purchased one other vehicle from this person and was pleased by it's performance. He's a 2000 SL2 (gold exterior, camel color leather interior), auto trans, 4 cyl. I'd be moving from a 1991 Honda Accord w/187k miles to the Saturn. I'm in TN and the car is in PA close to Father -in-Law's house. F-I-L has bought two cars off this fellow, too. Salvager is in a VERY small community, so it wouldn't do for him to have a bad reputation of selling complete crap. So, being as I'm so far away, is the SL2 smaller than an Accord? I've popped onto Edmonds.com and Cars.com to compare and found size comparisons and it seems a smaller vehicle. Issue is that the Honda is due for some major maintenance that I can't do because I don't want to foul it up (valve adjustments, timing belt, water pump) and it's possible the Trans Control Unit may be going (a $400.00 fix to get exact numbers for the model). I've been a Buick and Honda owner only. My spouse had 2 Fords (Granada & Tempo). I've done maintenance on all 4 of those, so I'm not afraid of getting greasy. How do ya'll like yer SL2s? Would having a 9 year newer Saturn be better than a 15 year old Honda?

well like with any car, it kind of depends more on how the previous owner treated it and since it was salvaged, depends on what kind of replacements the guy has made.

i mean i loved my sl2, before it got smashed up, and i took great care of mine so i didnt have any of the typical problems other saturn owners have had. mine has 161K on it and its sitting in my garage now because im building a new one. i absolutely loved my sl2, great car. going to miss being out of it and in a early sc.

but space wise, i cant say for sure on it. i thought the sl had some great space for the little car it is. felt very roomy inside and back seats had very decent room. trunk had pretty good space and split fold down rear seats. id say get it, but you of course never know its past, and take great care of it and it will take great care of you! i know people are putting well over 300K on their sl2's and a guy near me, as of last year, had over 700K on his and all are stock motors