What were the compression #'s? Did the mechanic mention if it was piston or valves?
before you toss it I'd try some auto-rx in the engine. My 97 Saturn ran great but the compression was going south. Since I used the ARX my compression is slowly coming back. How far it will come back I do not know yet.
IMO its worth an oil change/filter and a bottle of ARX
www.auto-rx.com