Just to be clear, I was talking about budget aluminum frames like this one or this one. Not about the $99 X-Mart bikes that come with aluminum frames.

THe modern $99 aluminum frames are actually very good quality. Cannondale now get their frames made in Asia, probably in some of the same factories as the budget frames are made, as well as frames from Specialized, Kona, Trek, Giant, Jamis, Rocky Mountain, Iron Horse... (all major manufacturers, really) and there are fewer difference than you would think. Also, you would be amazed if you knew how much these good quality frames cost to manufacture in Asia

It's actually kind of odd that you are considering riding on a broken 20 year old 1st generation aluminum frame but would not consider buying a modern good quality aluminum frame (if you were talking about buying a $99 frame and not a $99 X-Mart bike)