You can pick up a 2000-2002 Seville STS for a couple of grand in most areas.. That is a lot of car for two dimes. It looks sexy like a naked woman, 28mpg and 300hp all at the same time, engine and transmission are MADE to abuse- they just don't give a FUCK. You can drive the fucking jesus out of them and christ will appear before they will break. Half the time a mechanic goes out and drives the hell out of the car to FIX it for old people.
Sure the northstar had issues with the head gaskets, but other than that they're amazing cars. As far as I know, the head bolts in '00 and up are twice as long- and most head gasket issues with any of them come from not changing the coolant "ever" or using the wrong shit.