does anyone own a Saturn S-series???

[GiggleGirl]

im considering buying a 2000 saturn s-series with like 57k miles... and i am getting mixed opinions from others...

this is the car: http://www.plattnerpreowned.com/useddetails.aspx?Stock=187318

opinions? tips? pointers? help!

 

[Vetterin]

When I bought my wife her new 2002 SL2 we also test drove the SC2 as I really liked the style and 3rd door of the SC. However my wife did not like the seating position, comfort or ride quality of the SC compared to the SL. She still has the SL with just over 80K miles and it still runs great. FWIW, the earlier year Saturns were notorious for consuming oil so be careful there. You can get all the info you would ever want to know about Saturns by going to: http://www.saturnfans.com/
Good luck.

 

[kornphlake]

I think the asking price might be a tad high, but the mileage is pretty low, probably the best you'll find for the price. My SL-2 has been a good vehicle, S series Saturns do have some quirks to be aware of though. First be sure to keep an eye on the oil, although I've been known to be as much as 2 quarts low, it's best to check the oil with every fill up. 70k is about where you'll start burning at least a quart between oil changes, after about 120k you'll burn a couple quarts between oil changes, I burn about a quart every 1000 miles with 180k on the odometer. Other than that the engines are fairly bullet proof, timing chains will easily go 150k miles without needing to be changed, I haven't changed mine yet and don't plan on ever doing it.

Be aware that around 100k you'll probably need a new starter, alternator and water pump and you may develop a leaky radiator. Motor mounts especially the top mount is a poor design and will break, get a cheap replacement at autozone with a lifetime warranty and learn how to replace it, the upper mount takes about 5 minutes and has to be done every 30k or so. If you can find a factory mount it will last about 2x as long but it costs a lot more and doesn't have a warranty. The valve cover gasket can leak, it seems like Saturn did something to improve the valve cover but I can't remember for certain, the repair is very quick and a new gasket is fairly inexpensive.

There was a design flaw in the plastic end caps on the radiator that was eventually corrected but I don't remember what year that was implemented.

With the exception of the radiator and valve cover gasket I consider the rest normal wear and tear, you stand just as much chance with any other vehicle. There are a couple nags like the EGR valve that likes to get clogged, the throttle body that accumulates carbon and sticks closed and power windows that get sluggish but all it takes to repair these problems is some time to clean them up, they don't require new parts.

If you can deal with the cosmetics and spartan interior they're a pretty decent car, for the price I don't know if you can find anything better.

Edit: Automatic transmissions are known to develop the "reverse slam" where the car hesitates when put into reverse then slams into gear. I don't have an auto so I can't comment from experience but the suggested repair was to dump a bottle of Marvel Mystery Oil (I'm pretty sure that was the stuff) into the transmission and sit at idle with the transmission in reverse for 30 minutes or so. This is supposed to clean out the valves in the transmission and restore the normal shift into reverse. Instructions for just about any repair can be found at www.saturnfans.com

 

[herm0016]

pretty good cars in general. i would make sure they fix that radio install and get a new kick panel for the passenger side.

 

[HannibalX]

The original run cars are the good ones. After 1995 GM started messing with things and it was down hill from there.

 

[Kaervak]

The original run cars are the good ones. After 1995 GM started messing with things and it was down hill from there.

Actually, anything after the S series is when GM started screwing with Saturn. The 91-02 model S series are the same car just with a face lift every now and then. Anyway, the S series cars are dead simple to maintain and work on. Visit http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/ & http://www.youtube.com/user/richpin06a for just about any Saturn issue you might come across. Definitely get that price down. They're great cars, but that asking price is a bit high.

 

[HarryLui]

The price is high. Try craigslist.

I have a 93 Saturn SL2 with over 200,000 miles on the original engine and transmission. They are good cars, but they will need maintenance and repair stuff just like every other car. Keep the oil level and oil change up and you'll have a car that will last.

 

[TruePaige]

Price is high.

 

[waffleironhead]

The sc2 is a good buy, it has the dohc motor which is more powerful, while not sacrificing too much on the mpg. My 97 sc2 still gets around 28 in town and around 40 on the highway.(though I can drop that to less than 18 in town if I get on it)
The engine does consume oil. Which may turn you off, but it isnt a big deal to me. Mine didnt start the oil consumption till around the 120k mark. Mine gets about 1000-2000 miles after an oil change and then uses about a half quart every fill up. Not to bad imo. At 185k it is still going strong.
The only things I have had to do in the last 85k miles is:
Starter $120
brakes(rotors and pads) $75
coolant temp sensor $5
cps $15
tie rod ends (forget what I paid) under $200 for shop to do them both.

(edit: that price seems high)

All in all it has been a very reliable car that has gotten good mpg. They are easy to work on and cheap to maintain.

 

[Vette73]

The S series are good cars. The oil burning was more toward the orignal years and the 2000 should not have a issue if it has been taken care of.
The S cars also get great gas milage and will run forever if taken care of. Replace the trans filter as soon as you get it as many skip it as the trans filter looks like a oil filter and intsalls the same way. Many just drain the fluid but skip the filter.

Good car you linked to but I agree the price seems a little high. Talk the price down or keep looking.

 

[brblx]

engine and most of the accessories bolted to it are junk (everything starts to fail around 100k, just like a cadavalier).

would be enough to keep me away. and no, the oil burning issues were not fixed in 2000. if it's a 1.9, it burns oil.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I had a 96, great for the first 100k miles then everything went to shit on it.

I wouldn't recommend one to anyone.

 

[alkemyst]

The original run cars are the good ones. After 1995 GM started messing with things and it was down hill from there.

my 96 Saturn SC2 Classic was awesome and easy to work on.

my wife's 00 SL just is shy of 100k and outside of battery and tires/alignment hasn't needed much.

My latest vehicle expense was due to Autozone's in my area allowing unskilled laborers to work in their parking lots. My wife had the guy do a battery replacement, which turned into an alternator, then water pump, then I found out about this only after he reported her spare tire was blown out and her manifold was cracked.

I was going to sue them, but $1000 isn't worth my time. Their upper level management even up to corporate didn't seem to care other than offering me $100 back.

I am sticking to online parts only now or paying a little more at a NAPA.

 

[GiggleGirl]

well everyones info has been helpful. needless to say i didnt buy that saturn. aside from the cosmetic issues, the car ran terribly. it idled really really rough and the engine sounded like shit.

i did buy a 2002 saturn SL1 though. it had a little over 100k miles on it and is in really good shape cosmetically and mechanically. it was the best vehicle i had looked at all day and i was shopping for a long freaking time.

and i actually spent a little less than $3500 after taxes, tag, title, fees and all of that. so i think i actually got a pretty good deal!

 

[HarryLui]

Enjoy!

 

[brblx]

well everyones info has been helpful. needless to say i didnt buy that saturn. aside from the cosmetic issues, the car ran terribly. it idled really really rough and the engine sounded like shit.

i did buy a 2002 saturn SL1 though. it had a little over 100k miles on it and is in really good shape cosmetically and mechanically. it was the best vehicle i had looked at all day and i was shopping for a long freaking time.

and i actually spent a little less than $3500 after taxes, tag, title, fees and all of that. so i think i actually got a pretty good deal!

good luck with it. seems like a decent price for an 02.

my major concern would still be the engine. if it's the 1.9L (dunno if SL1 had anything else available), at 100k+ it's probably going to burn some oil. hopefully it never progresses past maybe a quart an oil change.

 

[HarryLui]

Keep the oil level up and use regular oil change interval, the engine would be fine.

 

[Theb]

Hope you enjoy your Saturn. I have a 99 SL1 with 150k on the original engine and manual transmission. I replaced the motor mount at around 100k, but even that I could've left if I wanted to, nothing else has broken on it, I've done irregular maintenance on it but it still runs fine. I do have to add oil, but I can let it get more than a quart low and it still seems fine.
I want to replace it, but it's hard to replace a car that runs so well and needs so little maintenance.

 

[GiggleGirl]

i can actually deal with having to replenish oil.... my 92 jeep cherokee was leaking oil like it was it's job and i was doing it weekly. that AND tranny fluid too.
to be driving a car 10 years newer with about 130k less miles feels pretty fucking good. haha

 

[radioouman]

I had a '95 SW2 that was a pretty decent car. I replaced it with a '00 SW2 that was a piece of crap. (Both the front and the rear wiper controllers failed before 50,000 miles.... kinda dangerous to lose your wipers in a storm. The head developed a nasty rattle at 60,000 and Saturn had to replace the head assembly.. not sure what that meant exactly.) I sold it before it got to 70,000 miles.

 

[Zargon]

S series are the bomb, I still miss my SC2

 

[AMCRambler]

My friend roasted his engine because his was way low on oil and the oil light never came on. Granted he was an idiot for not checking it or having it changed frequently. But still. If it's low enough to cook the engine it should have thrown a CEL or turned on the light.

Also I think they're mostly plastic too. I've seen many driving around with shattered quarter panels on them. I think I'd rather have the body panel just get dented as opposed to shattering or cracking.

 

[alkemyst]

the oil light is usually never for oil level, it's for pressue. Usually on any car by the time you see the oil pressure light, it's too late.

 

[Zargon]

My friend roasted his engine because his was way low on oil and the oil light never came on. Granted he was an idiot for not checking it or having it changed frequently. But still. If it's low enough to cook the engine it should have thrown a CEL or turned on the light.

Also I think they're mostly plastic too. I've seen many driving around with shattered quarter panels on them. I think I'd rather have the body panel just get dented as opposed to shattering or cracking.

the body panels except the hood roof and maybe trunk are plastic

they dont break that easily, and wont dent. way better for getting less door dings.

if they crack and shatter its from a hit that would have disfigured the sheetmetal bad anyways.

 

[Possessed Freak]

My daily driver is a 1994 SL2. Love it. Cheap as hell to work on and maintain.