Every time I've restrained myself with stuff like that I've regretted it. I only bought 3 "performance century" saddles when they were $9.99 three or four years ago. Now they're gone... and I've used up all three saddles. I guess for a saddle that cheap, 7 or 8 thousand miles is all I should expect... but I'm afraid to try others. (I got them because they *looked* like my original that I liked. Medium softness, medium size, just hit me right.) Same with tires...