Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I'm stuck between purchasing two saturns.
one is a '94 SL 2 with auto and ac and has 112k miles. This one is going for about $5,000
The other is a '95 SC 2 with 35,000 miles. This also has auto and ac but is around $8,300.
I would prefer not to spend the extra 3,300 but am concerned that my Saturn will die very quickly with those miles on it. Which one would you get? Thanks!
I had to have the alignment done during my first year ownership of 95 SL2. It was done at the dealership. The mechanic could not get the alignment while he was just using the threads on the alignment linkage. He had to enlarge the mounting hole on the strut to finally get it right.
And yes, the steering must not be loose, it could be dangerous if it's not made tight soon.
If your looking for sporty, IMO , The Saturn 3 door coupe blows away anything around 15k as far as style goes. However, the 3 door coupe rides lower to the ground then the SL 4 doors, providing for countless scrapes on the bottom front bumper. Also, insurance will be significantly more compared to a SL2 4 door with the same engine and equiptment.
The choice is up to you, if your marginal benifit (what your gaining) is greater then your marginal cost(what your giving up) then a 3 door coupe is the way to go. Good luck.
Mikeknight
I would try to get the price down a bit on the 94 SL2 to around 4500.00. For some reason, the SL2 4 door model's are rated more reliable then the SC's. A friend of mine has a 94 SL2 in tan with around 150k on the original engine, trans. Don't see anyreason why this SL2 wouldn't go the same distance. Good luck.
The 2 little squares cover one screw each. These screws hold the whole top of the dashboard.
The people there know everything about Saturns and can probably help you
Yeah, squealing is normally caused by a piece of dirt attached onto - or around - the brake pads. If "rust" builds up on the pads, it is the same thing. "Rust" can be caused by not driving the car much.
See the article at
http://www.detnews.com/2000/autos/0010/06/b01-130505.htm
Overall satisfaction ranked by consumer reports - Saturn #1
Have any info on the technical specs??
They have a good deal of info on the new Saturn SUV. I know it will have a continuously variable transmission like the one used in the Honda Civic HX, available 4 wheel drive, the base engine is the 4 banger used in the L Series, around 135 horses, 145ft lbs of tg.
Should start around 17 to 18k. I believe it will also share the V6 with the L series, which was taken from the Saab 9-5 and Caddy Catera.
For the smoothest shifter I have ever driven though try out the L series stick. Its pulled from the Saab 9-5. Wow thats nice.
I would go the Saturn route again. I have a SC2 and it is a lot of fun to drive - has given me no trouble, and LOOKS a lot cooler than a Civic. You can get a 2001 SC2 manual for 16000 - this includes all the power features with remote keyless entry ect ect. Thats a LOT of car for the money.
Finally for me I like to be a little different and EVERYONE has a Honda (so it seems) Boring.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Saturns are not perfect cars by any means. If you want to see how reliable they are, go to consumer reports and check out their reliablity rankings. Also Saturn has a better track reccord than any other Auto manufacturer for resolving customer issues - hence Consumer Reports ranks them number 1 in this regard. Finally - Saturn currently enjoys the highest loyalty rate of any auto manufacturer. If Saturn owners were really so unhappy, wouldn't they be buying something else?
I question the credibility of a site where the person who runs it has very questionable credibility.
Even so, it is a CAR and as such there will be people who have problems with them and will be unhappy. Read back in this thread... I have posted some interesting observations about disgruntled Saturn owners.
Note that the Saturnexposed site has not been updated since dec, 1999. Saturn did offer to buy back his car even thou they had no responsibility for it's problems that were caused by him. He decided he wanted to try to suck money out of Saturn cause he felt it was "owed to his lazy A##".
As far as the numerous complaints, many of those cannot be proved as to their authenticity, I myself posted a messege on their where in which I had a few choice words to say about the lawyer who created that site regarding sheep and it was posted right along with the others. For all you know, he could have sat there for days and posted a hundred or so messeges, you wouldn't be the wiser.
It is best to listen to large independent, un biased sorces like www.consumerreports.com, www.jdpower.com, www.intellichoice.com who all have relativly good things to say about Saturns. Are they perfect, no. Are they as bad as some people say, No. The choice is up to you, and as a smart consumer just like the other 2 million plus Saturn owners, I am happy with my first Saturn SL, and plan on getting another Saturn next year, not sure which model, except it will be a Saturn.
I have been reading other's responses and have to add that I also have problems with my key getting stuck in my ignition switch. I'll be able to pull the key out, however it will not be in the 'off' position so the bells will go off, etc. I just 'wrote it off' as having an older car, but it seems very common from the different responses I've seen on this site as well as others.
So far, I don't think that is that much for a 94 with almost 105k miles on it. But, as Murphy's law goes, the big money items always happen after the car is paid off!!
As with any car, you can have problems that take awhile to resolve. Oil burning is at times caused by the driver/owner, ie not changing oil and filter on a regular basis, and driving habits I see people that have to be going the speed limit or faster as soon as possible. that type of drving takes its toll on the engine and transmission. Other times it is a defect in the engine casting and without removing and taking the engine apart, you don't know which is the cause of oil burning. This is my own opinion and real life observations. Also I would not be afraid to buy another Saturn!
Has anyone else had this trouble? If so, is it indeed fixable? Or should I just give it back to them?
It amazes me how many Saturn Bashers there are out there.
When comparing REAL invoice numbers to MSRP, the Saturn SL compact is close to $ 600.00 over invoice at MSRP plus the dealer holdback. The Saturn L 100 Midsize sedan is around $ 1000.00 over invoice plus the dealer holdback.
At this time, Saturn is essentially discounting there cars, Saturn Corp. currently offers 1.9 % Financing across the board for all Saturn models- which means Saturn had to buy down the interest rate= discounting cars. Also, untill the end of november in some parts of the US, if you take delivery of a 2001 Saturn SL compact (base model) only, they will give you 90 days to make your first payment.
With GM's 1.5 Billion investment dollars coming, Saturn is offering low interest rates and competitivly priced cars compared to the competition to aid sales untill newer and more exciting cars roll out in years ahead. In which case, Saturn's glory days may return by retaining more, and regaining loyal Saturn owners.
A Saturn SL has about 400 in GROSS profit - SL2 has about 1000.
L100 has 800 - L300 has 1200.
Holdback is not dealer profit. They help offset the cost of doing business. NET profit is a different story altogether. I don't know why anyone would worry about how much money a dealership is making anyways. Compare the price of the car and the value you get for it to other similar cars and the price you can buy them for. Make your decision from that.
Deciding what car to buy based upon how much "profit" a dealer is making doesn't make any sense.
Saturnboy, what does what I own have to do with anything? I am proud to own a Hyundai Accent. I have had no problems with my car in its first very crucial 7400 miles (the first 10k tends to mark the car a lemon or not). I am not bashing Saturns; only the blatantly ridiculous statements said by Republican. You have to admit that him claiming his Saturn is reliable after 3 major repairs in only 60K is ridiculous. I wouldn't call it a piece of junk, but it is far from extremely reliable. I do not think, however, that his car is the norm representative of Saturn's quality. At least, I seriously hope not, for Saturn's sake and everyone who buy's them.
If you car has not had a couple of problems before 60,000 miles such then you aren't paying attention. My Saturn have the three problems I listed before 60,000 miles. None of them were that serious so I think the Saturn is a good car.
You're moms Honda might be the one in millon that have no problems! The Saturn have the least problems of any car I have bought in my lifetime! I like the little Saturns I think for the money you are getting a darn good product. Probably the best of all little cars!